Why does my head feel like it's gonna explode when the plane lands?

Why does my head feel like it's gonna explode when the plane lands? Some studies suggest that the cabin pressure changes in the airplane, which are more pronounced during takeoff and landing, affects the head and sinuses in a way that triggers a headache. Another possible explanation for AHs is a fear of flying, which can cause stress and anxiety and subsequently trigger a headache.

How do you relieve pressure in your head on a plane?

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.

How painful is airplane headache?

The pain is very severe and is often described as 8–10 on a pain scale from 0 to 10, where 0 is no pain and 10 is the worst imaginable pain [2, 4, 6, 9, 25, 35, 40]. The pain disappears within 30 min in most cases, where it seems that the AH duration might correspond to the duration of take-off and landing.

How rare is airplane headache?

The frequencies of AH-attacks are relatively high; 42 flight passengers experience AH in every flight travels and 39 flight passengers experience AH in more than 50% of the flight travels [4–6, 12, 19, 21, 27, 39, 40].

How do you not feel pressure on a plane?

Why does my head hurt when the plane descends?

The phenomenon of squeeze happens on descent, when air trapped in the sinuses, contract and predispose to development of pressure gradient, hence air is ultimately shifted to center of sinuses, predisposing to mucosal edema and or submucosal hematoma, predisposing to further occlusion of sinus atrium and thus ...

Is plane anxiety common?

Aerophobia is a fear of flying. It's very common, affecting more than 25 million adults in the U.S. Psychotherapy can usually help people overcome their fear and fly without extreme anxiety or panic attacks.

How do I keep my head from falling on a plane?

The easiest thing you can do is to rest your head against the bulkhead beside you. To stop yourself from shifting, recline your seat just enough so you can rest your forehead on the window lip and the back of your head on your seat. This will keep you wedged in place and let you settle in properly.

Why does my head feel weird after flying?

Some studies suggest that the cabin pressure changes in the airplane, which are more pronounced during takeoff and landing, affects the head and sinuses in a way that triggers a headache.

Does flying affect brain pressure?

It is not recommended to fly with acute intracranial hypertension because the conditions in the plane can worsen your condition and cause excruciating pain. If you have chronic or benign intracranial hypertension, you might be able to fly if your condition is under control.

How long do airplane headaches last?

Airplane headache (AH) is an intense, short lasting headache - usually lasts around 30 min [1], and is exclusively related to airplane travels.

Is it OK to take ibuprofen before flying?

3. Take your medication at least an hour before your flight. If you're taking antihistamines, decongestants, or over-the-counter pain medicine like ibuprofen or acetaminophen, it's important to take your medication at least an hour before your flight so it has time to work before your plane takes off.

How long does airplane ear last?

Airplane ear typically lasts no longer than 20-30minutes from the time a plane starts to descend, however it is not uncommon for symptoms to last for up to an hour. If your symptoms, especially pain, persist for longer than one or two hours, you should call an ENT specialist.