What does flying do to your head?

Some studies suggest that the cabin pressure changes in the airplane, which are more pronounced during takeoff and landing, affects the head and sinuses in a way that triggers a headache. Another possible explanation for AHs is a fear of flying, which can cause stress and anxiety and subsequently trigger a headache.



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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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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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What Effects Does Long-Haul Flying Have On The Human Body?
  • Jet lag. Indeed, the most common symptom of a long-haul journey is jet lag. ...
  • Fatigue. Another common side effect of being airborne for long periods is mild fatigue. ...
  • Ear, nose, and gut problems. Pressurization doesn't just affect oxygen levels. ...
  • Dehydrated skin.


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Jet lag is a temporary sleep disorder, but not temporary enough for many travelers. If you're flying from San Francisco to Rome for a 10-day trip, for example, it may take six to nine days to fully recover. That's because it can take up to a day for each time zone crossed for your body to adjust to the local time.

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The change in atmospheric pressure can mess with our body's defences, leaving our immune system weakened and consequently, we are left feeling rotten. In addition, due to the conditions, germs can hang around for days or even weeks in an airplane, even after previous passengers have departed.

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Yawn or swallow during takeoff. Try chewing a piece of gum or candy during takeoff, if yawning and swallowing don't work for you. Pinch your nose and keep your lips closed, then blow gently. This may pop your ears and relieve pressure.

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The air pressure on board is therefore almost 19% lower. Accordingly, the cerebral oedema will expand, not in the same proportion, since the human body is itself a kind of pressure suit, but a few millimetres is enough to increase the pressure in the brain to the extent that it becomes life-threatening.

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First, your blood receives less oxygen, which can cause fatigue, foggy brain and more. Additionally, cabins are kept at around 10-15% humidity which is why many of us leave flights feeling severely dehydrated.

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It is well known that imbalance between atmospheric pressure changes and pressure inside the sinuses can cause tissue damage [43–45]. This means, for example, that the pressure in the sinuses is lower than the cabin pressure during the landing [6, 26]. At take-off, the cabin pressure is lower than the sinuses [6, 26].

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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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Interestingly, large systemic studies point to a surprisingly low association between AHs and other diagnoses, such as migraine headaches, tension headaches, and chronic sinus allergies. There is also no documented association between AHs and any adverse health risks. Some patients are especially prone to AH.

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In addition to the obvious connection with air travel, they are generally associated with landing, tend to be very painful and throbbing, are usually unilateral, and often resolve after approximately 30 to 60 minutes.

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Jet belly: (noun) the bloated state in which your stomach inflates post-flight. Also, a very unpleasant feeling. May also make you look like you're 3 months pregnant. So how does one prevent this jet belly? Well, it all depends on what you eat on the plane.

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Low air pressure during air travel also decreases the amount of oxygen in the air. This effect is modest and generally not noticeable for healthy travelers. For patients with significant lung disease, a small decrease in available oxygen can cause significant symptoms, especially with exercise.

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Flying can indeed affect your hearing and irritate your sinuses, particularly due to the changes in cabin pressure and the dry air in airplane cabins.

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Aircraft cabin air is also very dry... This will make you dehydrated whether you feel thirsty or not.... and dehydration adds to fatigue after flights. Combine the two.... less oxygen per breath and dry air, and no wonder you feel done in at the end of a flight.

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Jet lag symptoms usually occur within a day or two after traveling across at least two time zones. Symptoms are likely to be worse or last longer the farther you travel. This is especially true if you fly east. It usually takes about a day to recover for each time zone crossed.

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