Why does my heart beat fast on a plane?

Airplane Travel and Blood Oxygen Saturation Local hypoxia causes vasodilation (decrease in blood pressure) and increased capillary permeability, as well as increased ventilatory effort and heart rate. One study found a passenger had a blood oxygen saturation of 94% at ground level and 85% at altitude.



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Cardiac arrhythmia. Hypoxia and increased sympathetic activation may increase the risk of cardiac arrhythmias at high altitude2; however, the incidence of significant arrhythmias during air travel is rare.

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Air travel itself does not cause paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, atrial fibrillation, or atrial flutter.

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In the U.S., there are no FAA age limits for pilots except for commercial airline pilots employed by airlines certificated under 14 CFR Part 121. These airlines cannot employ pilots after they reach the age of 65.

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Unstable heart disease is associated with a higher risk of adverse events due to flying, and you may need to avoid flying, at least temporarily, until your condition is well controlled. People with pacemakers or implantable defibrillators can fly safely.

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Some common triggers for people include: Turbulence. Germs or cleanliness of the plane. Fearing the onset of a panic attack mid-flight.

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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. The potential dehydration factor and sitting for long periods of time doesn't help.

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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)

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Try holding your breath and then breathing deeply, or better still, force yourself to breathe out for as long as you can and then take a long, deep breath. Seif and Farchione both recommended taking deep breaths, since this triggers the calming response and can help to prevent hyperventilation.

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Distract yourself
Reading a book or listening to a good podcast can refocus your mind and attention. Distracting yourself from the fact that you are flying can be a great way to keep calm if you're a nervous flyer.. Time tends to pass much more quickly when adequately distracted.

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8 Steps to Overcoming Your Fear of Flying
  1. Latch on to triggers that set you off. ...
  2. Step onto the airplane with knowledge. ...
  3. Anticipate your anxiety. ...
  4. Separate fear from danger. ...
  5. Recognize that common sense makes no sense. ...
  6. Smooth over things that go bump in the flight. ...
  7. Educate fellow fliers how to help you. ...
  8. Value each flight.


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You are never too old to travel. You just have to know your limits. Once you have seen a doctor, got your check up, and made some decisions, then there is one more thing you really MUST DO. Take out Travel Insurance.

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If he/she decides that you may be unfit for flying, you may have to show a doctor's certificate to that effect. That is all. There is no maximum age limit for traveling on airlines.

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