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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Sinusitis / September 2006Can plane travel cause sinus problems???
I have been free of sinus problems for several months now. My ENT has me using Rhinocort AM and PM, I have been feeling great. Over Labor Day weekend, I flew to Montreal and back, and since then have been having sinus problems. I think I heard that flying can cause problems like this. I don't know if I'm imagining it, but I do think I recall my sinuses getting worse last winter when I travelled by plane a few times. Can this be? If so, is there something I can do to prevent this from happening? I am planning on a trip in November and would like to be prepared. Thanks, Nahanton > I have been free of sinus problems for several months now. My ENT has > me using Rhinocort AM and PM, I have been feeling great. [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > happening? I am planning on a trip in November and would like to be > prepared. Get plenty of sleep, and irrigate your sinuses and take a decongestant before travel starts. And make sure you're very well hydrated before you board the plane; drink a gallon of water if need be. Due to the new restrictions on carry-on baggage, I'm not sure you will be able to irrigate your sinuses during the flight, or get much fluid to drink during the flight either. (And even if you could irrigate your sinuses during the flight, your hands have likely picked up all kinds of germs from other passengers and you're taking a risk by touching your nose with your hands anyway.) Avoid airsickness medications like Dramamine, because they typically have a drying effect on the sinuses.  SignatureSteven D. Litvintchouk Email: sdlitvin@earthlinkNOSPAM.net Remove the NOSPAM before replying to me. >> I have been free of sinus problems for several months now. My ENT has >> me using Rhinocort AM and PM, I have been feeling great. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >> >> Can this be? Oh, yes, I see you also asked how this can be. Here's how: The air quality in jetliner cabins is poor: it's dry, air changes are few to lower fuel expenditure, and cabin pressure is typically what you would experience on a mountain at 8,000 feet altitude. That dries out the sinuses and can cause them to swell shut. I got my very first sinus infection by flying just as I was getting over a cold and my nose was still a little stuffy. 6 hours of flying through the stratosphere and my sinuses got shot to hell the next morning. I now make it a standard rule NEVER to fly with a cold. I will cancel the trip rather than fly when I've already got an upper respiratory infection. You are also stuck inside this cylinder with passengers for hours, a few of whom invariably have colds, flus, etc. Many of my friends get low-grade infections every time they travel by air. I make it a standard rule NEVER to touch my nose or eyes while flying, before washing them first. SignatureSteven D. Litvintchouk Email: sdlitvin@earthlinkNOSPAM.net Remove the NOSPAM before replying to me. >>> I have been free of sinus problems for several months now. My ENT has >>> me using Rhinocort AM and PM, I have been feeling great. [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > standard rule NEVER to touch my nose or eyes while flying, before > washing them first. Thank you for your response. About 5 years ago, I flew to Denver, Colorado to visit with a friend. We drove up into the mountains. I think it was over 11,000 feet. After a few days I had severe vertigo and had to be taken to the ER. After coming home, it was then that I realized that I was having sinus problems/inner ear (?). I had never had them before. After reading your post, I now believe that this trip is what started the whole thing for me. Thank you. I had often wondered about this, but never heard more than "maybe" from the ENT. Nahanton At 11,000 feet you can get altitude sickness and that may also present as central nervous system problems. You can get pulmonary edema at that altitude as well. Air travel is a real problem for me. I flew with a cold, after a sinus surgery once, and got a horrible sinusitis. Now, I use a decongestant, like afrin, before take off, and try to irrigate as soon as I get off the plane, and drink a lot of water on the plane. And, I pack lots of antibiotics. For so many years, I had a sinus infection on most family vacations after I flew--now I try to avoid flying, but I'm getting sick of not traveling. Both my allergist and ENT report that they see a lot of infections brought on by flying: the dry air, the barometric pressure and the poor air quality are a toxic mix. Judy > >>> I have been free of sinus problems for several months now. My ENT has > >>> me using Rhinocort AM and PM, I have been feeling great. [quoted text clipped - 35 lines] > > Nahanton Since returning from my trip, my sinuses have been really troublesome, and my ears feel blocked a lot. It feels similar to the way your ears feel while on the plane, except I can't seem to get rid of it. So, I guess that this was due flying, huh? I don't seem to have an infection, just the discomfort. I have a tentative trip coming up in November, and now am wondering about going through with it. I love the idea of finally being able to travel, and now it seems that this problem may prevent that. Nahanton > At 11,000 feet you can get altitude sickness and that may also present > as central nervous system problems. You can get pulmonary edema at that [quoted text clipped - 50 lines] >> >> Nahanton I do not travel much but when I do I was told to chew gum or keep on swallowing as I would get off the plane with the feeling of my ears blocked. This was on short trips of 2-4 hours. shirleyann > I do not travel much but when I do I was told to chew gum or keep on > swallowing as I would get off the plane with the feeling of my ears [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > shirleyann Yes, I agree. I did do this. However, my trip was completed a week ago (last Monday), and I still have the blocked ear sensation, nasal congestion and headache. Nahanton Maybe time for a doctor visit? Judy > > I do not travel much but when I do I was told to chew gum or keep on > > swallowing as I would get off the plane with the feeling of my ears [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Nahanton I believe you're right Judy. :-) I have an appointment next week. Thanks. Nahanton > Maybe time for a doctor visit? > Judy [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] >> >> Nahanton > I have been free of sinus problems for several months now. My ENT has > me using Rhinocort AM and PM, I have been feeling great. [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > Thanks, > Nahanton Lots of people get sick when they fly. Problem is the dryness of the air at altitude can impair cilia function so when the bug gets into your nose, it is not washed away by cilia function. Lots of tea - carry tea bags - and moisturizing nasal gel. My company, Hydro Med markets my product Breathe.ease Nasal Gel to prevent getting sick when you fly by moisturizing the nose and acting as a "cellophane" cover to help prevent illness. >> I have been free of sinus problems for several months now. My ENT has >> me using Rhinocort AM and PM, I have been feeling great. [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > you fly by moisturizing the nose and acting as a "cellophane" cover to help > prevent illness. Thanks for this information. Can I buy Breath.ease Nasal Gel in a drugstore, or do I have to special order it? Nahanton Yes, you can buy nasal gels in the drugstore or a chain food store. I buy AYR brand it comes in 2 flavors? A mint and non-mint. I mostly have to use mine in the winters as the air is dry in our house with the heat on. shirleyann > Yes, you can buy nasal gels in the drugstore or a chain food store. > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > shirleyann Thank you, shirleyann. Nahanton >I have been free of sinus problems for several months now. My ENT has me >using Rhinocort AM and PM, I have been feeling great. [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > Thanks, > Nahanton I traveled cross country by air three weeks ago and my sinusitis is still flaring despite doing a prednisone pulse a week after returning. I took my Hydropulse and despite daily irrigations I had a tremendous amount of PND and phlegm in my chest. Mucinex helped some. I didn't get a full blown sinus infection but still having major drainage problems. My advice is to be prepared any time you have to fly. For me this means packing my Hydropulse, an antihistamine, decongestant, prednisone, a Z-pack, some Simply Saline and some diluted pheylephrine nasal spray for emergencies. Fortunately I only needed the Hydropulse, some Astelin and a couple squirts of nasal spray plus the prednisone after I got home. I guess I'm improving, since past flights always meant a month or more of serious sinus infection. AW |
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