How to Avoid Headaches on Planes
Flying can be stressful with missed connections, delays, and long security lines. While on a plane, changes in altitude can cause headaches, called aviation headaches. An aviation headache happens when the air pressure inside your body is different from the pressure outside, causing inflammation in the air-filled spaces in your sinuses, between your nose, and eyebrows. The difference in pressure can also cause blood vessels in your body to expand and lead to head pain. Stress, dehydration, dry air, strong odors, and weather changes can also cause migraines during air travel.
TAKE IBUPROFEN BEFORE YOU BOARD
If you get headaches on airplanes, take ibuprofen (like Advil) one to two hours before your flight to prevent pain. If you don’t take it beforehand and feel a headache coming on, take it right away to stop it from getting worse. It’s a good idea to bring a small bottle of ibuprofen in your carry-on bag so you don’t have to ask the flight attendant for medicine during the flight.
SKIP TRIGGERING FOODS
Within 12-24 hours of your flight, pass on the red wine, aged cheeses, chocolate, and processed meats, all of which contain tyramine, a chemical compound that can signal pain pathways for those with a predisposition to headaches and migraines, says Dr. Monteith. Instead, try sticking to a natural plant-based diet just before and while you’re traveling, which will not only help you avoid the potentially ache-inducing triggers, but also could also give you more energy so you don’t feel sluggish before you board.
AVOID DARK ALCOHOLS AND SUGARY DRINKS
During flights, it is important to drink lots of water as it prevents dehydration. In order to keep your body hydrated, you should avoid drinking too much coffee, alcohol and sugary drinks before and during your flight. If you want to have an alcoholic drink to calm your nerves, stick to clear liquors such as gin and vodka instead of wine, beer or fizzy cocktails. This is because clear liquors contain fewer byproducts that can make you feel uncomfortable. However, some people find that caffeine helps prevent migraines, so if you feel one coming on, it might be helpful to have a cup of coffee. Nevertheless, you should still keep drinking water to keep your body hydrated.
WARD OFF MOTION SICKNESS
Turbulence can make you feel sick and give you a headache. If you get sick easily, keep medicine in your carry-on bag. This will help you avoid feeling sick and getting a headache. A scary experience on a United Airlines flight in 2014 showed how dangerous turbulence can be.
PACK YOUR SLEEP GEAR
Dr. Monteith recommends getting good sleep and possibly taking melatonin if needed to prevent migraines caused by changes in sleep or jet lag. It’s important to rest well the night before a flight and also sleep on the plane during long journeys. Wear comfortable clothing and bring items such as an eye mask, ear plugs, and socks to ensure a headache-free trip, especially on red-eye flights.