The vacations mark the beginning of the travel season. Many Germans are then drawn to faraway places: Spain, Italy and Croatia, but also distant destinations such as the USA and the Caribbean enjoy great popularity. At the same time, the number of air travelers is rising steadily: more and more vacationers are reaching their destinations by plane. But what happens if you catch a cold shortly before departure or have just had an operation? What if you recently had to have your wisdom teeth removed or are chronically ill? Should you board a plane at all, or is it too dangerous? In general, anyone who does not feel well or is unsure should consult a doctor. However, whether you really need to switch to a car depends on the nature and severity of the illness. We explain what you should do if it’s not just wanderlust that’s bothering you.
Traveling with a cold
A mild cold usually does not make much difference. Only pressure equalization during air travel is harder to do with a stuffy nose, so use a decongestant nasal spray or drops before each departure and landing. Chewing gum or yawning can also help. If the pressure just won’t go away, the so-called Valsalva maneuver helps: hold your nose, inflate your cheeks and push air into your ears.
Do not fly with sinusitis
It gets riskier with a real sinus infection. If the mucous membranes are severely swollen, the eustachian tube, which is responsible for equalizing pressure, cannot open. This causes extreme pressure in the ear, which is very painful and often accompanied by limited hearing and severe headaches. In extreme cases, bleeding in the middle ear and long-term damage can occur. So with a full-blown sinus infection, it’s best to avoid airplanes.
Plane despite bronchitis or cough?
Bronchitis or cough, on the other hand, should not cause major problems. However, the dry air on board can cause coughing fits. Therefore, make sure to drink enough during the flight to keep the mucous membranes moist. Throat tablets can also provide relief.
Ear problems as a vacation stopper?
If you have an acute middle ear infection, you should rather go on vacation by car or train. This also makes it more difficult to equalize pressure, which can lead to unbearable headaches and long-term damage to the eardrum. For mild earaches, some absorbent cotton in the ear and seawater nasal spray can help.
Eye problems when flying
Due to the dry airplane air, wearers of soft contact lenses often have problems when flying. The eyes burn and the lens feels like a foreign body in the eye. Especially on long-haul flights, they should therefore better put on glasses. If you are generally prone to dry eyes, they should put eye drops with artificial tears in their hand luggage.
Dental treatment before departure
It could be so nice. During the vacations, you finally have your troublesome wisdom teeth extracted, then you fly off on vacation and recover from the operation (surgery) in the shade of palm trees. If you are planning something similar, you better start the trip by car. After more serious operations such as root canals, implants or extracted teeth, it takes three to four weeks before you can board an airplane again without hesitation. Otherwise, there is a risk of bleeding, infection and immense pain. After a new tooth filling, the gas in the cavity underneath can expand within the following 24 hours. This can be exacerbated by the fluctuations in air pressure when flying. So if you have fresh fillings and acute tooth pain, it’s better to wait a few days or take painkillers on board.
Gastrointestinal problems with when traveling
Especially on the return trip, many vacationers often have to fight with gastrointestinal issues. Whether it is due to unfamiliar food and poor hygiene conditions in the vacation country or due to travel sickness – the flight with a rumbling stomach can be very unpleasant. From a medical point of view, however, there is nothing to be said against air travel in principle. However, the changed pressure conditions above the clouds can cause flatulence. So it is better to avoid legumes, carbonated drinks, salad and fresh vegetables before and during the flight if you do not want to make your seatmate uncomfortable. Capsules containing the active ingredient loperamide are helpful for acute diarrhea. Ginger preparations or medicines containing the active ingredient dimenhydrinate can relieve the feeling of nausea.
Thrombosis inclination
If you smoke, are very overweight, take birth control pills or have varicose veins, your risk of venous thrombosis increases. Sitting for long periods of time and limited movement on airplanes impedes blood flow. Therefore, try to get up as often as possible and walk a few steps or stretch your legs out while sitting. Compression stockings increase the flow rate of the blood. Be sure to drink plenty of fluids and avoid alcohol.
Flying after surgery
Minor surgeries and even broken bones usually affect patients’ ability to fly for only a short time. Often, air travel is possible again after just 24 hours. Nevertheless, as a matter of principle, you should consult with your physician after any surgical procedure. Some airlines also have their own regulations regarding how long patients who have just undergone surgery are not allowed to fly. After eye surgery or laser treatment, visual acuity may be reduced and sensitivity to light may increase. However, these phenomena quickly disappear after landing.
