You take a sip of your tiny can of soda, swallow, and instead of a normal gulp, you hear a loud . Suddenly, the world goes quiet. The person next to you is talking, but it sounds like they are speaking from the bottom of a well.

You have just been struck by the dreaded .

Pinch your nostrils shut. Keep your mouth closed. Then, gently try to breathe out through your nose. You should feel a soft "pop" as air is forced up the tube. Warning: Do this gently. If you blow too hard, you can rupture an eardrum.

Ask the flight attendant for hot water with lemon or a hot tea. The steam rising into your face helps loosen the mucus in your nasal passages, and the act of swallowing helps the mechanics.