What happens if you have a stroke on a plane?

If you were to experience a stroke on a plane, the pilot may attempt to make an emergency landing to get you the emergency medical attention you need. Although lives have been saved by emergency landings before, the time it takes for you to receive appropriate treatment may still be prolonged.



People Also Ask

Your blood pressure could rise
The higher you are in the sky, the less oxygen your body will carry, and less oxygen means higher blood pressure. If you typically have a regular blood pressure or even a low blood pressure, this increase will likely have no effect on you.

MORE DETAILS

recent operation or injury where trapped air or gas may be present in the body (e.g. stomach ,bowel, eyes, face, brain) severe long term diseases that affect your breathing. breathlessness at rest. unresolved pneumothorax (punctured lung)

MORE DETAILS

Air travel increases the risk of developing blood clots in the veins of the legs, which can then enter the bloodstream and block an artery in the lungs, a condition called pulmonary embolism. In some cases, the opening can allow the blood clot to enter the arteries of the brain, causing a stroke.

MORE DETAILS

Blood clots can sometimes form in your legs during air travel because you are immobile for long periods of time, often sitting in cramped spaces with little leg room. The clinical term for this type of blood clot is deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The longer the flight, the more at risk you are for developing a clot.

MORE DETAILS

Some main concerns include exacerbations of chronic medical conditions due to changes in air pressure and humidity; relative immobility during flights leading to thromboembolic disease; and risk for infection due to proximity to others on board who could have communicable diseases.

MORE DETAILS

Hemorrhagic strokes are often difficult to treat because they're difficult to reach directly. That means it's often not possible to stop bleeding directly.

MORE DETAILS

“They should not go to sleep, and they should not call their primary care doctor first. Instead, they should just go immediately to the emergency room.” And no matter how much someone might try to talk you out of taking them to the hospital, don't let them, says Dr. Humbert.

MORE DETAILS

Talk to your doctor about wearing compression stockings or taking medicine before departure if you have additional risk factors for blood clots. Taking aspirin to prevent blood clots when traveling is not recommended. If you take aspirin for other reasons, check with your doctor.

MORE DETAILS