Try Stretching the Jaw. Some people are more sensitive to pressure changes in the air. Swelling inside the ear canal can cause a loss of hearing that may result in sounds breaking up in a crackling noise.
Deep Coughing: Start by taking a deep breath. Hold the breath for 2-3 seconds. Use your stomach muscles to forcefully expel the air. Avoid a hacking cough or merely clearing the throat. A deep cough is less tiring and more effective in clearing mucus out of the lungs.
1 Post-nasal drip (thick mucus). Take an expectorant (this thins mucus and phlegm), drink lots of fluids, breathe through a warm washcloth, and use steam to make the mucus more liquid.  Congestion (blocked nose). This is mostly due to swollen nasal membranes, so shrinking those membranes is the goal.