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Is your flight time approaching, but your nose is completely blocked by a cold? Is this reason to give up your trip? And how can you avoid discomfort if you board? We have the answers to all of this.
The holidays are off to a good start: a few hours before boarding your holiday flight, you suddenly find yourself suffering from an allergy, a cold or a small virus that is completely congesting you. Is it dangerous at altitude and how to deal with it? In the media HealthlineDr. Megan Soliman reviews the different situations.
Stuffy nose: to take or not to take your flight?
A stuffy nose can have many causes: infections, allergies, viruses… But whatever the cause, the buildup of mucus and inflammation in your sinuses and eustachian tubes can create pressure or intense pain.
However, when you fly, changes in air pressure require your ears and sinuses to adapt quickly. Fluid and swollen tissues can prevent pressure regulation when congested, this can lead to increased sinus or ear pain, headaches or even barotrauma to the ear in extreme cases. Should we therefore give up our flight and our vacation? Not necessarily.
“The general recommendations are to avoid flying if you are very crowded. But specific strategies can make your trip more comfortable if you have mild to moderate crowding and cannot miss the flight.”
It is therefore better to make your arrangements before boarding, especially if you are planning a long-haul flight for the holidays.
- Consult a doctor for decongestant medication. If you have time, the best thing to do is to talk to your doctor about what treatment can help you. He or she will also be able to assess whether you have a sinus infection or other condition causing congestion. If you must keep medication with you, remember to keep the prescription with you and keep your tablets in their original packaging;
- Stay hydrated. This can help thin mucus and allow your body to expel it efficiently.”For this, warm water is ideal: the heat can stimulate circulation to eliminate inflammation.” Complete with an irrigating nasal spray to moisten the tissues of your sinuses. On the other hand, avoid alcohol during the flight;
- Tilt your head back. It’s not always easy to find a comfortable position on a plane, but you will feel worse if your head is tilted forward. Reclining with your head tilted slightly back can help if you become congested during the flight. Consider bringing a neck pillow to provide stability, or if necessary, roll a blanket behind your neck;
- Apply some heat. If you’re congested, you can ask a flight attendant for a warm towel. Applying heat to your face promotes circulation, which can reduce inflammation and soothe congested areas;
- Use pressure regulating earplugs. When ear pressure is a problem, pressure regulating earplugs slow the change in pressure in your ears by filtering the air entering your ear cavity. However, they are not always suitable. If you have a history of ear problems, you may want to discuss the use of these devices with a healthcare professional before flying
- Yawn or swallow. These actions help contract the muscles. attached to your eustachian tubes, allowing them to open and relieve pressure. While you can’t always force a yawn, you can encourage swallowing by chewing gum or eating hard candy. Taking small sips from a bottle of water or soda during the flight can also help.
These reasons that don’t allow you to fly
Even if your congestion is mild on the ground, there is no way to predict what you will feel once the plane takes off during the pressure change. That is why if you have a cold or a stuffy nose, it is wise to consult your doctor to discuss your symptoms.
For certain reasons, they may unfortunately advise you to cancel or postpone your flight. This is the case when:
- The congestion is severe or your Eustachian tubes are significantly blocked;
- You have an active infection causing congestion;
- Medications or other strategies do not significantly improve your congestion;
- You are at high risk of barotrauma;
- Symptoms such as headaches, earaches or facial pain are already present;
- You have underlying health conditions (such as breathing problems) that may worsen;
- You have a history of sinus or Eustachian tube problems;
- You have recently had surgery on your face and/or ears.
In these cases, it is better to stay on dry land while the problem is controlled.
Slide: 10 health reasons that may prevent you from flying