how come when your on a plane, your ears HURT when your acsending or decsending and how do you prevent it?

Question: how come when your on a plane, your ears HURT when your acsending or decsending and how do you prevent it?
- Keywords:
  ear,
  plane,
  pressure
Asked by niishad to Dalya, Derek, Sarah, Tim, Tom on 19 Jun 2011.
- Dalya Soond answered on 17 Jun 2011:
  
  There is a change in air pressure which pushes your inner air against your ear drum, which can be painful.
  You need to relieve some of the pressure building up in your ear to relieve this. Try chewing gum or swallowing hard.
- Tim Millar answered on 17 Jun 2011:
  
  Just to add a pretty picture
  
  http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Ears-and-Flying.htm
- Derek McKay-Bukowski answered on 17 Jun 2011:
  
  It is the swallowing that often helps the most. Sweets are probably better than gum, as you swallow a lot when you dissolve these in your mouth.
- Tom Crick answered on 19 Jun 2011:
  
  Pressure difference between your sinuses and the cabin — you can usually fix it by swallowing, yawning or chewing.
- Sarah Thomas answered on 19 Jun 2011:
  
  It’s because of the changing pressure – I think the best way to cure is to swallow a couple of times, especially when you are ascending. 🙂

Question: how come when your on a plane, your ears HURT when your acsending or decsending and how do you prevent it?