Can flying cause brain fog?

Jet lag impacts most people, but its symptoms can go far beyond disrupting your sleep schedule. For many, the symptoms include fatigue, brain fog, stomach problems (always a treat when you're sightseeing or in a meeting), mood changes, dehydration, and the general feeling that things are off.



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“At oxygen levels equivalent to altitudes above 12,000ft (3.6km), healthy adults can start to show measurable changes in their memory, their ability to perform calculations and make decisions,” BBC had reported earlier.

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How long jet lag lasts will depend on several factors. These include how far you traveled, your body's unique rhythms and your overall health. Many people who experience jet lag feel better a few days after arriving to their destination. For some people, it can take up to one week to feel fully back to themselves.

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At these altitudes, there is a reduction of between 20 and 26% of available oxygen, resulting in haemoxyhaemoglobin saturations between 83 and 85% of normal. In fit people this can cause tachycardia, tachypnoea, headaches, dizziness, impaired coordination, fatigue and confusion.

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The rate of change in oxygen levels can affect physiological response. There is individual variation in physiological response to increasing altitude and in how people feel with reduced oxygen levels. Symptoms of altitude sickness include headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, fatigue and insomnia.

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The effects of flying on the human body vary from mild skin dryness to more severe problems like deafness. Flying increases the risk of catching a cold, dehydration, aging faster, reduced alertness, increased risk of diseases like cancer, fuzzy thinking, and many others.

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While many love the experience of travelling by flight, it can be a nightmare for others who often complain of experiencing jet lag, nausea, memory loss, or brain fog post their journey. Some studies show that even relatively mild levels of hypoxia (deficiency in oxygen) can alter our ability to think clearly.

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Traveller's thrombosis (economy class syndrome) is a condition that occurs when you have to sit in the same position for a long time, such as when on an airplane. Traveller's Thrombosis can occur if you stay in the same position for a long time without much movement.

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At high altitudes, cerebral hypoxia triggers the upregulation of VEGF. In turn, the VEGF increases capillary permeability and contributes to cerebral edema. Note, however, that brain swelling attributable to ascent to high altitudes may occur without any associated symptoms.

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For those who are already nervous fliers, there is perhaps some more bad news. “Anxiety levels can increase with hypoxia,” explains Valerie Martindale, president of the Aerospace Medical Association at King's College London. Anxiety is not the only aspect of mood that can be affected by flying.

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Use a saline solution frequently—before, after, and even during—air travel to help maintain moisture in the nose, and clear pathogens and irritants from the sinus area.

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The list of triggers is long: turbulence, take-off, landings, terrorism, crashes, social anxieties, or being too far from home. Some people fear fire, illness spread through the air system, using the toilets, or violence on a plane.

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