Airplane Altitude Sickness: Prevention Tips Learning to handle airplane altitude sickness is important for everyone who travels. It can make you feel sick. Symptoms include feeling dizzy, getting headaches, or just feeling bad in general. This can really spoil your trip. We’ll share some tips to help you stay well in the air. Keep reading to find easy ways to feel better and enjoy your flight more.
Understanding Airplane Altitude Sickness
Lots of air travelers face a problem at high altitudes. This happens because plane cabins are like high areas. They have less air pressure and oxygen. This makes some people feel sick. It’s important to know the signs and reasons for this kind of sickness before we talk about how to stop it.
What Causes Airplane Altitude Sickness?
Several things can make you feel bad at high places in airplanes. Some of these include:
- Reduced Cabin Pressure: There’s less pressure in the plane than on the ground. This means there’s less oxygen, which affects us.
- Lower Oxygen Levels: High up, the air has less oxygen. This can cause a problem called hypoxia, which is not enough oxygen for the body.
- Dehydration: Air in the cabin is dry. This can make us lose more water, making symptoms worse.
Knowing these points helps us see how sickness from flying can happen.
Common Symptoms of Airplane Altitude Sickness
It’s good to know what to look for in altitude sickness. Signs often include:
- Dizziness: Changes in high and low air pressure can make us dizzy. It’s hard to keep our balance.
- Nausea: Motion sickness is common in planes. It makes us feel like throwing up sometimes.
- Headaches: High places and less oxygen can give us bad headaches.
- Fatigue: Not enough oxygen can also make us feel very tired, even with enough sleep.
Learning about these signs is key. It shows us what to watch for. Later, we’ll talk about ways to not get sick on planes.
Pre-Flight Preparations
To have a smooth flight, you need to plan. This is especially true to avoid feeling sick from the altitude. It’s key to drink water and eat right before you fly. This will help you not get sick in the air. Here’s what experts say you should do:
Hydration Tips Before Flying
Keeping yourself hydrated is very important. It helps your body deal with the plane’s changing pressure. Before your flight, drink lots of water. Try not to drink coffee or alcohol because they make you lose more water.
- Start drinking more water a whole day before your flight.
- Drink 8 ounces every hour as your flight time gets closer.
- Bring a water bottle you can fill up after passing security.
Recommended Foods to Eat Before Your Flight
The foods you eat before flying really matter. The right foods can battle flight sickness. They make you feel better during the flight. Below are food ideas from Acibadem Healthcare Group:
- Complex Carbohydrates: Eat things like whole grains, oats, and brown rice. They prevent dizziness and nausea. These foods also keep your energy up and your blood sugar steady.
- Lean Proteins: Foods like chicken, turkey, and fish are good. They keep you full without making you feel bloated.
- Fresh Fruits and Vegetables: These are full of water and vitamins. They help you stay hydrated and boost your immune system.
Following these tips from Acibadem Healthcare Group makes flying easier. You’ll be ready for the flight. And you won’t feel sick from the high altitude.
Hydration During Your Flight
It’s very important to stay hydrated on a flight. This helps you avoid feeling sick and stay comfortable. If you drink the right things and avoid alcohol and caffeine, you’ll have a better time flying.
The Importance of Staying Hydrated
Flying high up makes the air in the cabin dry. This can make you thirsty and even sick. By drinking lots of water, your body stays in good shape. You won’t feel as many headaches, dizziness, or tiredness.
Best Beverages to Drink
Nothing beats water for staying hydrated in the air. But, herbal teas, drinks with electrolytes, and natural juices are great, too. They don’t just hydrate you. They give your body important things that help fight off feeling sick.
Avoiding Alcohol and Caffeine
It might seem fun to have coffee or a drink on the plane. But, alcohol and caffeine make you pee more. This can dry you out. Staying away from them is a smart choice for your health during the flight. Instead, pick drinks that help you stay hydrated.
Effective Breathing Techniques
To beat sickness on planes, learning how to breathe right is key. The best breathing tricks help people stay calm, fight sickness, and breathe well.
Deep Breathing Exercises
Deep breaths are a great tool against feeling sick on a plane. First, make sure you’re sitting in a comfy spot with your back straight.
- Inhale deeply through your nose slowly.
- Then, hold that breath for a moment.
- Finally, breathe out gently through your mouth.
Keep doing this breathing exercise. It will help you get more oxygen and feel less worried.
Relaxation Methods
Relaxing also helps fight off sickness feelings. It makes your body feel less stressed.
- Progressive Muscle Relaxation: Tightening and then relaxing your muscles, from toes to head, helps let go of stress.
- Visualization: Imagine a peaceful place with your eyes closed. See it clearly in your mind.
These tricks are quiet and can make your flight better. They help you relax and breathe well.
Managing Cabin Pressure Sickness
Many travelers feel cabin pressure sickness at high altitudes. This sickness happens because of quick changes in air pressure inside the plane. It’s not the same as getting motion sickness.
Picking a seat wisely can help. Seats near the wings can give you a smoother ride. This makes your flight more comfortable.
Wearing special earplugs can also make a big difference. They balance the air pressure in your ears. This stops ear pain and dizziness, making your trip nicer.
Chewing gum or yawning is good on takeoff and landing. It helps your ears adjust to the pressure changes. Also, drink lots of water to stay hydrated. This prevents getting sicker from the high altitude.
Remember, choosing the right seat and using earplugs is key. And don’t forget to chew gum. By following these tips, you can fight cabin pressure sickness. Then, you’ll have a better flight experience.
Using Over-the-Counter Remedies
Getting sick while flying can be tough. But, many over-the-counter medicines can help. This part talks about both drugstore options and natural choices to feel better.
Medications for Airplane Altitude Sickness
Different over-the-counter meds fight motion sickness on planes. Dramamine and Bonine are favorites. They stop brain signals causing you to feel sick and dizzy.
- Dramamine: It’s great for both stopping and treating sickness on flights. You might feel sleepy or have a dry mouth.
- Bonine: Good for longer flights, it causes less sleepiness and works for more hours.
Think about side effects and drug interactions first. Talk to a doctor before you use any of these. Make sure they’re okay for your health.
Natural Remedies and Supplements
If natural ways are more your style, there are lots of helpful things. Ginger is famous for stopping nausea. You can take it as a pill, candy, or in tea form.
- Ginger: It helps lower sickness and throwing up. You can find it as pills or chewables.
- Peppermint: Peppermint oil is fast for motion sickness. It helps as a smell or a drink to calm your stomach.
Wristbands for acupressure can work too. They press a spot on your wrist that eases sickness. Natural remedies are usually safer. But, still talk to your doctor first. This is especially important if you take other medicines or have health issues.
Addressing Jet Lag Alongside Altitude Sickness
Combating jet lag and dealing with airplane altitude sickness together can seem hard. This is especially true for those who fly a lot or take long trips. But, using strategies that fight both issues can make your travels much better.
Adjusting Your Sleep Schedule
One way to fight jet lag and altitude sickness is by changing your sleep times before your trip. Try to sleep more like the people at your travel destination a few days before you leave. It can help your body get used to the new time faster when you arrive.
If you’re flying east, try going to sleep an hour earlier each night. If you’re going west, stay up an hour later. This slow change helps lessen the shock to your body’s clock. It makes dealing with jet lag and altitude sickness easier.
Light Exposure Strategies
Changing when you see light can also help fight off jet lag. When you arrive, try to get natural light during the day. It helps your body know it’s daytime and not night. But, if you need to sleep when it’s still light out, you might need an eye mask to block light.
This smart use of light is a top way to beat jet lag. It gets your body’s clock in tune with the local time at your destination. This can also help lessen the effects of altitude sickness. It makes your body feel more steady and well.
Exercises You Can Do While Seated
It’s key to stay active during a flight. This lowers the chance of air travel sickness and keeps you feeling good. Doing simple exercises boosts your blood flow. This lowers any aches or pains. Try these tips to feel awake and comfy while flying:
- Ankle Circles:
- Sit with your feet flat on the floor comfortably.
- Raise your feet off a bit and move your ankles in circles. First, do this to the right, then to the left. Repeat for a few minutes each way.
- Knee Lifts:
- Lift one knee up towards your chest while seated. Do this gently. Hold for a bit, then lower.
- Change to the other leg. Alternate legs, doing several lifts with each.
- Seated Marching:
- Lift your right foot off the floor, then back down.
- Follow with your left foot. This is like you’re marching while sitting. Keep doing this back and forth for a few minutes.
- Neck Rolls:
- Sit up straight and lean your right ear towards your right shoulder.
- Gently roll your neck forward and to each shoulder. Do this both ways.
- Shoulder Shrugs:
- Bring your shoulders up to your ears and hold for a few seconds.
- Then let them down. Repeat this 10 to 15 times.
In-flight health tips also include wearing pressure socks. They boost your blood flow and cut the risk of DVT. These exercises plus wearing pressure socks are good ways to enjoy your flight and avoid air travel sickness.
When to Seek Medical Advice
Trying to avoid getting motion sickness on flights is important. But, you must know when to ask a doctor for help. Think about getting help if you have bad symptoms that don’t go away, like a big headache or constant feeling dizzy.
Special hospitals like Acibadem Healthcare Group know a lot about helping with air sickness. If you feel worse at high altitudes or have health problems already, you should really see a specialist. They make a plan just for you to be safer when flying.
If you can’t catch your breath or your chest hurts while flying, see a doctor right away. Those problems could mean something serious, like a blood clot. Places like Acibadem Healthcare Group can check you out and help you stay healthy when you fly.
FAQ
What Causes Airplane Altitude Sickness?
Flying high brings lower cabin pressure and less oxygen. This makes you feel dizzy or sick. It's why we sometimes get headaches or feel uneasy on flights.
What are the Common Symptoms of Airplane Altitude Sickness?
You might feel dizzy, sick to your stomach, or have a headache. Your body doesn't like the low oxygen and changing pressure.
How Can I Hydrate Before Flying?
Start drinking water a day before your flight. Stay off alcohol and coffee. These dry you out and make sickness worse.
