Is it common to have a stroke on a plane?


Is it common to have a stroke on a plane? Stroke related to air travel is a rare occurrence, less than one in a million. Although 20% of patients had a PFO, distribution of stroke aetiologies was diverse and was not limited to PFO and paradoxical embolism. Keywords: Airplane; Aviation medicine; Flight; Plane; Stroke; Thromboembolism.


What is the safest altitude?

One thing that pilots and prospective aircraft dispatchers need to understand is that there is not one universal safe altitude since some terrains or objects may be taller than others. Rather, the accepted metric is that this altitude needs to be at least 500 feet above the terrain or obstacle in question.


What is the medical risk of flying?

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.


Who should not fly on a plane?

This includes those with cardiac failure, recent myocardial infarction (heart attack) or stroke, angina (chest pain) at rest, heart rate or rhythm disorders, uncontrolled arterial hypertension, severe anemia, sickle-cell anemia, acute mental disorders, epilepsy, and any serious or contagious diseases.


What is the riskiest part of a flight?

Approach and landing is the highest risk phase of flight, accounting for over 50 percent of all accidents at every level of aviation.