What can I do in advance so that I can fly with a cold? | Are you allowed to fly with a cold? – You must consider this

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 nose or forehead area, treatment with a decongestant nasal spray or nasal drops can be carried out in advance. These lead to a decongestant swelling of the nasal mucosa, which makes it easier or even possible to equalize the pressure during the flight. The decongestant medication should be used about half an hour before the start of the flight. As before every flight, care should be taken to ensure sufficient fluid intake. This is especially important for colds, as the risk of thrombosis can be increased.

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

First of all, pressure should be equalized when pain in the ear area begins. Yawning, swallowing and pulling down the lower jaw can help here. During take-off and landing, chewing chewing gum can help to equalize the pressure.

You can also use the so-called Valsalva manoeuvre to equalise the pressure. For this the nose is closed and the mouth is closed. Then one tries to exhale against the closed nose.

If the manoeuvre is successful, you will hear either a soft plop in your ears or a high-pitched sound. Infants who start 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 equalise the pressure on their own and the movements of the jaws can help with sucking. If pressure equalisation is not possible despite repeated attempts, a decongestant nasal spray or nasal drops can help.

If you do not have these in your hand luggage, you can ask the flight attendants for them. Often these are available in airplanes. For long flights, this decongestant medication should be used in case of complaints and at the end of the flight when the landing approach begins.

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