Can flying cause confusion?

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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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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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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Jet lag is a common but short-lived sleep problem you can get after traveling across more than two time zones. Jet lag can make you feel out of sorts due to an abrupt change in your body's internal clock or circadian sleep rhythms.

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Flying does two things that are relevant to dizziness-- it may induce motion sickness, and it may stimulate the ear through pressure changes. There is a small literature about alternobaric vertigo. In small planes, dizziness may come from either or both mechanisms.

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Disembarkment syndrome is a neurological condition usually occurring after a cruise, aircraft flight, or other sustained motion event. The phrase “mal de débarquement” is French and translates to “illness of disembarkation”.

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It is not recommended to fly with acute intracranial hypertension because the conditions in the plane can worsen your condition and cause excruciating pain. If you have chronic or benign intracranial hypertension, you might be able to fly if your condition is under control.

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Blame jet lag, when your body's circadian rhythm — its expected sleep and wake times — is out of sync with your new location, leaving you with brain fog at midday or insomnia in the wee hours.

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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 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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It affects how you feel, think, behave, and relate to others, including lack of motivation in daily life and reduced social interactions. Travel does not cause schizophrenia, but it can trigger a psychotic episode.

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Hypoxia is a state of oxygen deficiency in the body sufficient to impair functions of the brain and other organs. Because of the nature of flight, flight crews are much more likely to suffer from hypoxia than “normal” people.

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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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Aerotoxic syndrome relates to ill-health effects associated with breathing contaminated air in an airliner cabin. Researchers have associated aerotoxic syndrome with exposure to substances such as engine oil and hydraulic fluid.

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Guess what? Something is off, and it's totally normal to feel the way you're feeling. Post-travel depression is a real thing, and after spending time challenging yourself abroad, coming home can feel like the hardest part.

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