Can you fly with a cold? - You have to be aware of that

introduction

Colds are common in the winter months. If a cold occurs close to a planned flight, the question arises whether you are still fit to fly. As long as you don't develop a fever or have other serious complications, you can generally fly with a cold.

If there is any uncertainty as to whether you are fit to fly, your family doctor should be consulted in advance. You should be aware that the changed pressure conditions in the aircraft cabin can lead to discomfort during the flight.

Can you fly with a cold?

In principle, you can fly with a cold. Even if it is associated with a cough and runny nose. Since pressure conditions prevail when flying, as they occur at an altitude of approximately 2400 meters, problems with the pressure equalization can occur, which can normally be controlled with certain pressure equalization techniques. If you are unsure whether you are fit to fly, you should consult your family doctor before starting the flight and discuss the individual risks with him.

It is important that flying with a fever is strongly discouraged. A fever is caused by the upregulation of the body temperature controlled by the pituitary gland. The increased temperature helps the body fight the pathogen. However, it also acts as a stress factor on the organism and this stress is increased by a flight.

In addition, the pressure equalization can be very difficult, so that damage to the eardrums occurs and the risk of thrombosis is increased.

In the case of a thrombosis, a blood clot forms anywhere in the body and is carried through the vessels with the bloodstream. If the vessels become too small for the blood clot, as can occur in the heart or lungs, for example, the clot gets stuck and blocks the vessel. The result is an interrupted blood flow to the organ, which can lead to a heart attack or pulmonary embolism, for example.

Possible discomfort during the flight

The pressure in the aircraft cabin is adjusted during the flight. However, it does not resemble the pressure that one is used to on the surface of the earth. The adjusted pressure leads to the fact that the air expands and there is about 1.5 times the volume of air in the body. This expansion can, for example, put pressure on the sinuses and cause pain in the nose and forehead area. Especially if they have already swollen from a sinus infection. This can also lead to a slight headache.

In addition to the paranasal sinuses, the duct connecting the middle ear and the nasopharynx, the so-called ear trumpet (tuba auditiva), can also be swollen. This connecting passage enables pressure equalization. If too much air collects in the middle ear, it can escape into the pharynx by moving the jaw when swallowing or yawning via this connecting duct. If this connecting duct is also swollen in the course of the cold, the pressure equalization is made more difficult and the pain described above occurs. Due to the connection of this passage to the middle ear, swelling and the changed pressure conditions in the aircraft can also lead to feelings of dizziness, tinnitus or, in the worst case, hearing loss. Tinnitus describes hearing noises without them being able to be assigned to an external sound source.

Read more on the subject at: Tinnitus

Discomfort in the ears

The first complaints you notice in the ears are caused by the difficult pressure equalization. You feel an intense pain in the inner area of ​​the ear, which only improves with successful pressure equalization. If this pain persists, it can lead to a headache. If, due to excessive swelling of the mucous membrane of the paranasal sinuses, it is not possible to equalize pressure, the eardrum may tear in the worst case.

If there is severe pain in the ear area that persists even after the flight, an ear, nose and throat doctor should be consulted, as a tear in the eardrum does not necessarily lead to hearing loss, but should still be treated early.

What can I do in advance so that I can fly with a cold?

If you have a cold or a feeling of pressure in the area of ​​the nose or forehead, treatment with a decongestant nasal spray or nasal drops can be carried out in advance. These lead to a swelling of the nasal mucosa, which facilitates or even enables pressure equalization during the flight. The decongestant medication should be used approximately half an hour before the start of the flight.
As before every flight, you should ensure that you drink enough fluids. This is especially true with colds, as the risk of thrombosis can be increased.

For more information, see:

• Therapy for a cold
• Home remedies for a cold
• Naturopathy for a cold

What can I do if I get complaints during the flight?

First of all, pressure should be equalized when pain begins in the area of ​​the ears. Yawning, swallowing, and pulling the lower jaw down can help. Chewing gum during takeoff and landing can help manage the pressure equalization. You can also use the so-called Valsalva maneuver to equalize the pressure. To do this, the nose is held shut and the mouth is closed. Then you try to exhale against your closed nose. If the maneuver is successful, you can hear either a soft pop in the ears or a high pitched tone.
Small children who take a flight with a cold can be given a bottle or a pacifier during these two phases, as they are sometimes not yet able to generate pressure equalization on their own and the movements of the jaws when sucking can help.

If, despite repeated attempts, no pressure equalization is possible, a decongestant nasal spray or nasal drops can help. If you don't have this with you in your hand luggage, you can ask the flight attendant about it. These are often found in aircraft. On long flights this decongestant medication should be used in the event of complaints and at the end of the flight at the beginning of the landing approach.

Otherwise, not much can be done about the specific complaints during the flight. Some general measures can be taken for this. Above all, care should be taken to ensure sufficient fluid intake, as the body loses a lot of fluid due to the dry air in the aircraft. In addition, due to the potentially increased risk of thrombosis, appropriate compression stockings should be worn.

You might also be interested in this: How can I shorten the duration of a cold?