Treatment FAQ

sinus pain when flying treatment

by Mr. Korbin Torp I Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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However, we understand that life doesn’t stand still, so if you must fly while suffering from sinus pain, here are some tips to ease the pain and pressure:

  • Chew gum when the plane is taking off and landing
  • Swallowing water while taking off and landing can help relieve sinus pressure. If you don’t have water, just swallowing,...
  • Use decongestants or other medications bef...

Two of the most common ways to manage sinus pain while flying are chewing gum or sipping water during take-off and landing. You can also try taking medications such as decongestants or using the Valsalva maneuver.

Full Answer

How can I relieve sinus pressure when flying?

You can try to remedy the sinus pain when landing by taking the following steps: Keep your mouth closed Close your nostrils with one hand Very gently, try to exhale out of your nose slowly Continue until the pressure is lessened

How to avoid a sinus infection when traveling?

Sep 23, 2021 · If you have time before your travel, have a history of trouble flying in the past, a history of allergies, sinus issues or ear infections and you are having mild symptoms, then start using saline nasal irrigation such as NeilMed (hyperlink to my video of sinus irrigation), wait a few minutes then use an over the counter (OTC) nasal steroid spray like Flonase, Nasocort, or …

How to relieve sinus pressure?

You can try to remedy the sinus pain when landing by taking the following steps: Keep your mouth closed Close your nostrils with one hand' Very gently, try to exhale out of your nose slowly Continue until the pressure is lessened

Can flying cause sinus problems?

Once again, it may be very difficult to equalize pressure between the sinuses and the nose when descending, leading to sinus pain. In order to maximize the ability of the eustachian tube and sinus passageways to work, we will give you a few helpful hints: Spray Afrin nasal decongestant spray twice into each nostril one hour prior to flying.

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How do you stop sinus pain when flying?

How can I prevent sinus pain while flying?Keep your mouth closed.Close your nostrils with one hand'Very gently, try to exhale out of your nose slowly.Continue until the pressure is lessened.

What can I take for sinus pressure on a plane?

Spray Afrin nasal decongestant spray twice into each nostril one hour prior to flying. Begin taking a decongestant, like Sudafed, one hour before the flight. Both of these medications can be purchased over-the-counter in a drug store.

How do you treat Aerosinusitis?

Relieve pressure by chewing gum, yawning, sucking on candy, and breathing with your mouth open. Avoid sleeping while the plane is landing to make sure that you are swallowing enough. Take a decongestant pill or nasal spray before the flight. Do not let a baby sleep during descent.Jul 15, 2014

Why do my sinuses hurt when I fly?

Why You Experience Sinus Pain and Pressure While Flying? When you are flying in an airplane, the changes in elevation can cause the delicate tissue lining in the nasal and ear openings to cause you pain and feel pressure.Sep 23, 2021

Is it OK to fly with sinus pressure?

Adults can also exacerbate sinus infections, or even cause them, by engaging in air travel. Doctors recommend patients avoid flying altogether when dealing with sinus problems. However, sometimes people must fly due to work, a wedding, a funeral, or even a family vacation.

When does sinus block occur during flight?

According to the Aeronautical Information Manual, a sinus block occurs when air pressure in the sinuses does not equalize with the aircraft cabin pressure, usually due to congestion around an opening in or near the sinuses. Sinus blocks occur most frequently during descent, and that is what happened to me.Apr 24, 2012

Why does my face hurt when I fly?

The exact cause of airplane headaches remain unclear, but it's likely due to several factors such as the shape of the sinuses, as well as the speed of the aircraft, cabin pressure, and even the maximum altitude reached.Apr 30, 2012

Why does my face hurt when the plane is landing?

Typically, sinus barotrauma is preceded by an upper respiratory tract infection or allergy. The affected person suffers a sudden sharp facial pain or headache during descent, which increases as the aircraft approaches ground level. The pain can ultimately become disabling unless the ambient pressure is reversed.

What does a ruptured sinus feel like?

Pain can be severe, sometimes accompanied by facial tenderness on palpation. Rarely, the sinus may rupture and cause pneumocephalus with facial or oral pain, nausea, vertigo, or headache. Rupture of a maxillary sinus can cause retro-orbital air with diplopia due to oculomotor dysfunction.

What causes sinus pain?

It is essential to know your sinuses and what can cause sinus pain to understand why you suffer from sinus pain while flying. Your sinuses, or sinus cavities, are hollow spaces around your nose and eyes.

What causes sinus pain when flying?

During a flight, your body constantly reacts to pressure changes to stop additional pressure from building up. However, if you are suffering from an underlying sinus issue, your body may be slow to react. This slow reaction can lead to increased sinus pressure and pain.

Do I suffer from sinusitis?

When the sinuses become inflamed and swollen, the nasal passages cannot flush toxins out, and sinusitis or sinus infections occur. The buildup of toxins can cause painful symptoms like:

Tips for Relieving Sinus Pain While Flying

We recommend not flying with sinus pain or infection if possible. However, we understand that life doesn’t stand still, so if you must fly while suffering from sinus pain, here are some tips to ease the pain and pressure:

What is sinus pain?

Sinuses are spaces inside your forehead, cheekbones and behind the bridge of your noise. They are the airways for you to breathe. These air-filled spaces become inflamed because of an allergic reaction or infection they will begin to swell and create an excess of mucus which prevent these channels from draining and they become blocked.

Why You Experience Sinus Pain and Pressure While Flying?

When you are flying in an airplane, the changes in elevation can cause the delicate tissue lining in the nasal and ear openings to cause you pain and feel pressure.

How to Prevent Sinus Pain and Pressure While Flying

Begin to Use Saline Nasal Rinse 10 Days Before Flight.

What is sinus pain?

Your sinuses play an important role in your health. When they are blocked, inflamed, or disrupted, you can experience symptoms and pressure. This pressure can cause pain, which gets worse when bending over. Pain can be felt around your nose, cheekbones, forehead, and eyes, and it can range from being mildly irritating to unbearable.

What causes sinus pain while flying?

The body reacts to changes in pressure, and pressure changes several times during the course of a flight. When pressure changes quickly, your ears and sinuses must adjust fast to avoid additional pressure and pain from building up to an intolerable level.

How can I prevent sinus pain while flying?

Two common methods used to ease this pain while taking off and in-flight include chewing gum or another substance and/or swallowing water. By chewing and swallowing, you can temporarily relieve pressure that is building in your sinuses due to the change in cabin pressure.

What is sinus pain?

Your sinuses play an important role in your health. When they are blocked, inflamed, or disrupted, you can experience symptoms and pressure. This pressure can cause pain, which gets worse when bending over. Pain can be felt around your nose, cheekbones, forehead, and eyes, and it can range from being mildly irritating to unbearable.

What causes sinus pain while flying?

The body reacts to changes in pressure, and pressure changes several times during the course of a flight. When pressure changes quickly, your ears and sinuses must adjust fast to avoid additional pressure and pain from building up to an intolerable level.

How can I prevent sinus pain while flying?

Two common methods used to ease this pain while taking off and in-flight include chewing gum or another substance and/or swallowing water. By chewing and swallowing, you can temporarily relieve pressure that is building in your sinuses due to the change in cabin pressure.

Can hearing loss be reversible after a plane crash?

Most patients who experience a decrease in hearing associated with severe pain after a plane flight have a readily reversible hearing loss and should be seen by an otolaryngologist (ENT) within several days of the event, as this makes it easier to correct the problem.

Does a plane have ear pain when it descends?

However, when the plane descends, air must be forced through the congested eustachian tube into the area behind the eardrum, which can be more difficult. Therefore, ear pain will almost always be experienced on descent if there is any problem at all.

Can congested nose cause sinus pain?

Second, when the nose is congested, the passageways between the nose and the sinus cavities can be swollen as well. Once again, it may be very difficult to equalize pressure between the sinuses and the nose when descending, leading to sinus pain.

Take preventative measures with your sinus pain

Is it safe to fly when congested? Yes, but these and other sinus infection symptoms grow worse during air travel because you must contend with air pressure changes.

Eat certain foods

If you know you’re going to have a sinus infection and be flying at the same time, there are dietary changes you can make to help lessen your symptoms. Spicy food, pineapple, and ginger are all included on the list of the best food for a sinus infection!

Consider balloon sinuplasty treatment

While having a sinus infection and flying may be unavoidable at times, it’s not a process many people want to repeat. If your sinus infection is severe enough, it is even possible that you may rupture an eardrum while flying (which takes around two months to heal and may even require surgery).

How to avoid pain when flying?

The best way to avoid pain and complications is to not fly with an active sinus or ear infection but what if you have to fly? If you must fly with sinus issues there are some steps you can take to reduce the blockages and avoid the pain. Take either oral or topical decongestants before the flight to avoid blockages.

How to stop ear pain during flight?

Take over the counter pain medications to reduce the pain from the air pressure. Chew gum or swallow frequently to “pop” the ears. Use the Valsalva Maneuver - Hold your nose and try to exhale through a closed mouth to “pop” the ears.

Why is flying with allergies more painful than being on the ground with one?

Why is flying with allergies or a sinus infection more painful than being on the ground with one? The main reason that flying with hay fever or any other sinus issue might be more painful than normal is due to air pressure. When the plane changes elevation during descent and ascent the sinuses must equilibrate to match the air pressure in ...

Can flying cause ear pain?

Not only does flying with a sinus infection lead to pain, it can also lead to other inner ear symptoms. When the eustachian tube is blocked and pressure changes inside the ear it can lead to: Vertigo - the feeling of moving or spinning while sitting still. Tinnitus - ringing or perception of noise in the ears. Hearing Loss.

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