Why do my lungs hurt on a plane?

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.



People Also Ask

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.

MORE DETAILS

Air pressure is lower at higher altitudes, which means your body takes in less oxygen. Airlines “pressurize” the air in the cabin, but not to sea-level pressures, so there's still less oxygen getting to your body when you fly, which can make you feel drained or even short of breath.

MORE DETAILS

Severe episodes (massive embolism) present with collapse, severe breathlessness, and central chest pain. Symptoms of VTE commonly develop during or immediately after a flight, often while still in the airport.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

What can I do?
  1. Choose a seat in the middle of the plane. ...
  2. Stay well hydrated by drinking lots of fluids (water or fruit juice) and avoiding caffeine and alcohol, which will dehydrate you. ...
  3. If you wear contact lenses, take them out before you fly–or have your lens case handy in case you need to take them out in-flight.


MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

Sitting down in a tight seat for 13+ hours can sometimes lead to circulation issues, including swelling in the feet. According to The Healthy, the chance of your body forming blood clots increases when blood isn't moving correctly, such as when onboard a long-haul flight.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

The hypoxic challenge test, also known as a fit to fly test, recreates the oxygen levels on an aeroplane and measures how your body responds. The test involves breathing in air containing less oxygen than normal and seeing how it affects you in a controlled environment.

MORE DETAILS

The main risk of flying commercially while suffering from a chest infection is acute respiratory distress. The oxygen level and atmospheric pressure are respectively lower and higher than we are used to in a pressurized cabin. Passengers with a chest infection are especially vulnerable to these changes.

MORE DETAILS

Airplane passengers have an 80% chance of getting sick on a flight if they sit in the wrong spot, scientists have found. Data scientists traveled across the US on 10 transcontinental flights to investigate your risk of getting sick on a plane.

MORE DETAILS

The Airport and Airplanes are Full of Germs Airplanes are just as dirty. Studies have shown bacteria and viruses living on armrests, seat belts, window shades, tray tables, toilet handles, and more for DAYS.

MORE DETAILS

Remember that anything over 6 hours flying time is considered long haul, but flights of longer than 10 hours are not uncommon either. One important thing to remember is to keep your seat belt fastened at all times in case of unexpected turbulence.

MORE DETAILS

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

MORE DETAILS

The cramped conditions and long periods of being less active on a flight can cause pain, stiffness or swelling of your legs. Being less active can lead to slow blood flow in your veins which increases your risk of developing a blood clot, known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT). DVTs most commonly form in the legs.

MORE DETAILS