Blocked nose!

[Established !]

Why is it that airlines give out sweets for sucking during descend. Isn't it the reverse required, ie. blowing with nose pinched for blocked eustachian tubes. Also isn't chewing better for blodked sinuses? Can any medical types comment.

[SuperNige]

There are two techniques recognised to clear the eustachian tubes (that thing we have to do to equalise pressure in the middle ear with that in the external ear canal and surrounding air). Firstly, Valsalva's is the one of which you speak. It is forcibly blowing while holding the nose to increase pressure in the pharynx/nasopharynx. This will hopefully open the tubes momentarily and pressure is equalised. The second manouvre is called Toynbee's. This is holding the nose, closing the mouth, and swallowing two or (if possible) three times. The resultant decreased pharyngeal pressure may lead to eustatchian tube opening when the middle ear pressure is well above the phayrngeal pressure. Equalisation will hopefully follow. Sucking the sweet is close to the latter manouvre but is more subtle than both. Swallowing and yawning can elicit a eustachian tube opening especially when there's a pressure change to be made.
There can be several reasons for lack of equilibration including infection, and obstruction (and others!). The latter particularly in children who have a funny shaped eustachian tube (a bit like a dog's leg) and often have enlarged adenoids which can block off the eustachian tube openings. Adenoidectomy as well as tonsillectomy is historically a cure in young boys for all ailments ranging from chronic apple-stealing to fits.

Anyway, hope this helps.

Ciao ciao

Nige