A plugged ear from a cold is miserable but almost always temporary. Be patient, keep your mucus thin, and gently try to pop your ears. Avoid the urge to poke or prod. Your ears will clear when your nose does.

Ear congestion, clogged ear, "airplane ear" sensation. Primary Cause: Complications from the common cold (Upper Respiratory Infection).

This blockage prevents the tubes from opening and closing properly. Air cannot reach the middle ear, creating a vacuum-like effect that pulls the eardrum inward, leading to that "stuffy" sensation.