Can flying trigger a sinus infection?

The dry air, low pressure, and the low amount of oxygen cause the immune system to weaken and can lead to inflamed sinus cavities. This, in addition to being confined in a small area with little airflow, makes it hard to avoid getting sinusitis from another sick passenger.



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Avoid Sinus Pain on an Airplane By: Drinking plenty of water will help your body resist the effects of poor ventilation and high altitude. Before and during the flight, make sure you drink about 5-8 glasses of water in order to maintain healthy levels of hydration. Invest in a Saline Solution.

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PLEASE NOTE: You should avoid flying if your nose is congested from a cold or allergies. In the most severe case, this may lead to a permanent decrease in your hearing, prolonged dizziness, or severe pain.

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Use alternative travel or avoid travel when you have an ear infection or sinusitis. Staying awake during flight takeoff and landing. Using earplugs with filters to help equalize pressure. Use decongestant spray.

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Airplanes can be breeding grounds for bacteria and viruses, from cramped conditions to the low humidity that characterizes the air circulating on board. Low humidity can dry out your nasal passages and irritate your throat.

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Feeling unwell directly after a flight is often the cause of low humidity. Planes have a different atmospheric pressure than we are used to, which can cause the nasal passages to dry, leading to symptoms resembling flu.

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Planes also have very little humidity and the dry air can irritate the mucous membranes of the throat.

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In terms of the common cold, it is now well-accepted that acute respiratory infections are frequently experienced after air travel. So it's no surprise when we find ourselves getting sick after flying. Studies have found a high prevalence and wide array of respiratory viruses in people who have recently traveled.

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Air travel Airplanes can be breeding grounds for bacteria and viruses, from cramped conditions to the low humidity that characterizes the air circulating on board. Low humidity can dry out your nasal passages and irritate your throat.

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