Ear — Clogged From Cold ((link))

If the Valsalva feels too forceful, try this: pinch your nose closed and swallow. This helps pull the tube open via muscle movement rather than air pressure.

Forcing a yawn opens the tensor veli palatini muscle—the muscle that actually pulls the Eustachian tube open. Immediately follow the yawn with a hard swallow. This is more effective than the Valsalva maneuver for viral clogs. ear clogged from cold

It starts with a sniffle, then a sneeze, and suddenly, the world sounds like it is underwater. You speak, and your own voice echoes inside your head. You chew, and the sound is deafeningly loud. If the Valsalva feels too forceful, try this: