How can I breathe better while flying?

Choose a seat in the middle of the plane. As the air circulates across the rows and not up and down the plane, some experts believe the worst air is in the front or the back of the plane. Stay well hydrated by drinking lots of fluids (water or fruit juice) and avoiding caffeine and alcohol, which will dehydrate you.



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Check the airline's oxygen policy Others will allow you to bring your own Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved portable oxygen concentrator (POC) onto the flight, but will often specify the type of device you can use.

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The air on a plane contains less oxygen than the air we normally breathe in. This leads to lower levels of oxygen in the blood. If you do not have a lung condition, the drop in oxygen is not enough that you would feel the difference.

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Pharmacological treatment These drugs are usually taken shortly before a flight. They include: Anti-anxiety medication, such as diazepam (Valium) or alprazolam (Xanax). Motion sickness medication, such as dimenhydrinate (Dramamine).

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If oxygen deficiency continues over a long enough period of time, it can cause unconsciousness, permanent brain damage or even death. So, in order to keep everyone maintained with enough oxygen, the masks fall down and provide a personal flow.

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Without oxygen, you will quickly feel drowsy and even euphoric, a phenomenon known as hypoxia, but as time passes, continued lack of oxygen to the brain will lead to blackouts, passing out, and possibly even death.

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A simple pulse oximeter reading while you are at high altitude, at rest and during activity, can determine if oxygen is needed at altitude. Alternatively, some pulmonary function labs can perform an altitude simulation test to determine your oxygen saturation at altitude.

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Airlines are not required to provide oxygen service and many do not. Passengers may carry portable oxygen concentrators (POCs).

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Oxygen production cannot be shut off once a mask is pulled, and oxygen production typically lasts at least 15 minutes, sufficient for the plane to descend to a safe altitude for breathing without supplemental oxygen.

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Anyone travelling in an aircraft will have a drop in the amount of oxygen getting into their blood, although they are unlikely to feel any different. When you have a chronic lung condition this can make your chest symptoms worse. You may feel more breathless, your chest may feel tight.

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When you fly on an airplane, the flight attendant instructs you to “put your oxygen mask on first,” before helping others. Why is this an important rule for ensuring survival? Because if you run out of oxygen yourself, you can't help anyone else with their oxygen mask.

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In the unlikely event that the system fails, and the aircraft is above 14,000 feet (4,267 meters), oxygen masks will drop from overhead. While passengers and cabin crew are provided with these unmistakable yellow cups, pilots have different – much more interesting – equipment.

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Answer: No. The cabin is pressurized between 6,000 and 8,000 feet on long flights. Adding supplemental oxygen is not necessary, because the percentage of oxygen is the same as being on the ground at those altitudes.

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Traveling by airplane exposes people to decreased air pressure and lower than normal oxygen levels. For most people, these changes are not noticeable. However, for patients with certain underlying lung conditions, small atmospheric changes can have significant and potentially severe effects.

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Having a lung condition should not stop you from travelling by air. Whether you are going on holiday, a business trip or a visit to family and friends, it should be possible to make the necessary arrangements - as long as you plan ahead.

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Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): CBT focuses on helping you change the way you think about flying. It might include learning about how planes work, or reviewing safety statistics for air travel versus other forms of travel. Your therapist can also teach you techniques to manage certain triggers.

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What Are the Best—And Safest—Sleeping Pills for Flights?
  • Ambien. Ambien—the most powerful option on this list and the only one that requires a prescription—works as a sedative-hypnotic medication that slows your brain activity to make you feel very sleepy. ...
  • Tylenol PM. ...
  • Melatonin.


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