There is normal atmospheric pressure in the aircraft cabin. Is it possible to fly on an airplane if you have hypertension: does your blood pressure rise or fall? Air environment on board an aircraft

When the time comes for a long-awaited vacation, most vacationers purchase trips to warm countries. Meanwhile, flying by plane and spending a long time in a hot climate can negatively affect the health of a person suffering from hypertension.

Before flying on an airplane, hypertensive patients should properly prepare for the flight so that the body can fully withstand the trip.

As a rule, at altitude the pressure of most passengers increases. And, if with hypertension you can feel pain in the chest, shortness of breath, and rapid heartbeat, then during the flight the symptoms intensify significantly. How to fly an airplane correctly so that the stress on the body is minimal?

The pressurized cabins of modern aircraft have an artificial climate system that allows you to regulate the temperature, movement and humidity of the air.

Meanwhile, during takeoff and landing, a change in pressure occurs, which is often accompanied by stuffy ears and a feeling of noise that can last for the next two days.

This is due to the fact that the air pressure in the middle ear is different from the pressure on board the plane. To avoid unpleasant sensations, it is recommended to yawn, swallow, or slightly open your mouth before takeoff and landing. To achieve this, flight attendants always offer passengers drinks.

Even a healthy person feels when the atmospheric pressure changes during takeoff. Some people may experience headaches, a feeling of fullness in the ears, nausea, and in some cases vomiting.

When a person is on an airplane, the atmospheric pressure on board increases to levels equal to the pressure at an altitude of 2500 meters. As is known, when the pressure in the atmosphere decreases, the volume of oxygen decreases. This in turn causes a person’s blood pressure to increase.

For sick people, such an increase can be very dangerous for health, since at this moment the oxygen level sharply decreases. If you do not follow the necessary rules, this condition can provoke a heart attack.

In the hermetically sealed cabin of an airplane, there is enough oxygen for a healthy person. Compensate for the deficiency with more frequent and deep breathing movements. All passengers feel the increase in pressure on the plane, but the changes affect the cores the most.

Atmospheric pressure drops sharply, causing the volume of oxygen to be greatly reduced when the plane reaches an altitude of 3,000 meters. During a long flight, the altitude can reach 11,000 meters. In this case, the person’s heart rate increases, shortness of breath appears, sweating increases and the face turns pale. Due to a sharp decrease in the supply of oxygen to the blood, a person requires additional air inhalers.

Since any air travel involves the passenger being in a sedentary position for a long time, increased load is placed on the blood vessels passing through the lower extremities. Blood circulation in the legs is greatly reduced, the blood becomes more viscous, and the blood vessels narrow. This causes the legs to swell and ache.

A similar condition occurs when pressure drops on an airplane, which increases the risk of blood vessel thrombosis.

Hypertension is an increase in blood pressure, this disease is accompanied by the following symptoms:

A person experiences headaches in the temporal and occipital parts;
Pain, discomfort and burning may appear in the heart area;
The limbs become numb and there is a slight chill throughout the body;
Dizziness and nausea may occur, and vomiting is sometimes observed;
Increased sweating, swelling and redness of the facial skin;
The patient may begin to feel fear, excitement and panic.

This condition can not only cause inconvenience during air travel, but also lead to stroke, pulmonary edema, serious cardiovascular diseases, kidney disease and other complications.

During flights, high blood pressure can lead to a heart attack and even death. The reason for this is the sharp change in atmospheric pressure during takeoff and landing.

When the plane gains altitude, the oxygen level on board decreases, which often affects the well-being of hypertensive patients.

For whom air travel is contraindicated?

In addition to the fact that a person has high blood pressure, air travel may also be contraindicated if:

The presence of thrombophlebitis;
Development of vein thrombosis in the lower extremities;
Development of pneumonia;
Bronchial asthma;
Pulmonary hypertension;
Carrying out surgery in the chest area;
Having a heart attack;
Mental illnesses.

You should also be careful when flying with hypertension if a person has:

Increased or decreased blood clotting;
Atherosclerosis, angina pectoris, ischemic disease;
Chronic diseases of the respiratory system;
Endocrine system disruption.

The question of whether patients with hypertension can fly on an airplane cannot be answered unequivocally. First of all, it depends on how advanced the disease is and what the patient’s state of health is.

If hypertension is severe, flying on an airplane is definitely contraindicated. If a person’s condition is favorable, it is possible to fly, but it is necessary to strictly follow the recommendations of the attending physician.

To minimize the negative impact on the cardiovascular system and alleviate a person’s condition while on board an airplane, you can take care of booking seats with oxygen inhalers. If the trip is ordered through a travel agency, you should ask in advance whether this service is provided during the flight and how it is ordered.

As for oxygen pillows, today many airlines refuse to use them due to the explosiveness of oxygen. Alternatively, on the eve of your trip, you can order an oxygen bag at your local clinic. To do this, you need to contact your doctor, who will issue a special certificate stating the need to provide additional oxygen when flying on an airplane.

Before. When flying on an airplane, it is recommended to take Validol the day before boarding. The tablets can be kept with you to take when you feel afraid or anxious.
If a person has angina, take one tablet of Nitroglycerin and 70 mg of Aspirin to prevent a heart attack.
Heart attack survivors are prohibited from flying for at least six months after the attack occurs. This will prevent another heart attack.
You can also take Corvalol or a few drops of valerian before boarding the plane. The medicine will relieve feelings of anxiety and fear, reduce rapid heartbeat and relax the body.

While on board, passengers are advised to abstract themselves as much as possible from everything that is happening around them; they can distract their attention by reading a book, solving crosswords, watching movies, communicating with people, and so on. It is strictly forbidden to drink alcoholic beverages or eat salty foods. During the flight you need to drink at least two liters of water.

To reduce pressure on blood vessels, it is important to choose the right posture while sitting. There is no need to cross your legs, as this position strongly compresses the blood vessels, causing additional stress on them. Periodically you need to bend and straighten your legs so that they are not in a bent position for more than one hour.

In particular, you should not often press your legs under you, which leads to poor circulation and increases pressure in the blood vessels. To speed up blood flow, keep your legs straight, and it is useful to perform any physical activity.

Every thirty minutes you need to get up from the passenger seat and, if possible, walk. To make this convenient, you can worry about purchasing tickets in advance for seats next to the aisle, this will allow you not to disturb your neighbors and get up more often.

If a person has , it is best to fly with one of your family or friends, who can always come to the rescue in time in case of a panic attack or deterioration of the condition.

Thus, hypertensive patients can fly on an airplane, but it is important to follow the contraindications and recommendations of the attending physician in order to avoid complications during travel and endure air travel as easily as possible. The video in this article is designed to help hypertensive patients improve their lives.

You may already have an idea of what not to do on a plane to avoid being the most unpleasant passenger. For example, you should not watch a movie on your tablet without headphones or eat strong-smelling food. But other subtleties are not so obvious. If you can't name yourself experienced traveler, check out the list of things not to do to feel more confident.

Don't sleep during takeoff or landing

When the plane rises or falls, the pressure around the ears changes faster than inside the ears. Every person who has ever flown on an airplane knows that it is very unpleasant, but this is only a temporary feeling. To equalize the pressure, use chewing gum. You can also inhale slowly, pinch your mouth and nose and try to exhale, eat a piece of candy, or yawn. And most importantly, you should stay awake. If you sleep during a change in pressure, the discomfort will be very strong afterwards. You may then experience dizziness, ear infections, mild hearing loss, damaged eardrums, or nosebleeds. In the worst case scenario, hearing problems can be very severe and long-lasting. So it’s better not to fall asleep during important moments of the flight.

Don't sit motionless for the entire flight

The reduced pressure inside the cabin leads to a significant slowdown in blood circulation, which can cause blood clots, especially in the legs. If you are in a sitting position, the situation gets worse. This is especially dangerous for girls taking contraceptives, because such medications increase the risk of thrombosis. To avoid risking your health and to avoid blood clots that can travel to your lungs, brain, or heart, you should get up and move from time to time. Of course, some are just lazy, and some got a seat right next to the window, but this is truly important. If you can choose a seat in advance, choose an aisle seat. If you can’t get up, try simply raising your heels, leaving your toes on the floor, and then vice versa. Tighten your leg muscles and relax them. Repeat these simple movements regularly throughout the flight. Constantly change your position, move your legs every time you remember it. You should not take sleeping pills - they immobilize a person and increase the danger.

Don't fall asleep if you're flying to a place where it will be daytime upon arrival.

If you fall asleep while traveling, you'll have a particularly difficult time adjusting to your new time zone. You will ruin your whole day after the flight. Just change the time on your watch to your destination as soon as you get on the plane. And behave accordingly. If it's night, go to sleep. If it’s daytime, go about your normal activities, even if it’s dark outside.

Don't forget to drink water

The air in the cabin is very dry. With every exhalation, your body loses moisture, so even sitting motionless at that height still means you're at risk of dehydration. If a flight attendant passes by, don't forget to ask her for a glass of water.

Don't order tea or coffee

And the point is not even that the coffee in such a drink is just the same name. Drinks are made from airplane tap water, which can contain a variety of bacteria. Twelve percent of planes are contaminated with bacteria, which are perfectly harmless if you have a strong immune system, but can pose a threat if you are weakened. So there is no need to take risks, it is better to drink water from a bottle. Don't drink drinks with ice if it's made from airplane water.

Don't drink carbonated drinks

Pressure changes cause gases in the body to increase in volume by a full quarter. The same thing happens with carbonated drinks, so consuming them can lead to discomfort. Avoid these drinks if you don't want to experience post-flight swelling.

Don't drink alcohol

Alcohol may help you relax and fall asleep, but the quality of your sleep will not be great. In addition, your body will be dehydrated, and then you will get a hangover, accompanied by irritation and drowsiness. It’s better not to indulge in alcohol until you land upon arrival, even if its cost is included in the ticket price, and the flight attendant’s offer seems extremely tempting.

Don't overeat on airplane food

Of course, if you're hungry, you should eat, and it doesn't matter whether you're on a plane or not. But there’s no point in just eating all the food off the tray out of boredom. And you will get less pleasure - dry air in the cabin and low pressure reduce the ability to sense salty and sweet tastes by several tens of percent, making the taste of food seem unpleasant. And the noise of the engines does not contribute to appetite. It has been proven that your environment can influence your perception of tastes. Some airlines try to compensate for this by adding extra salt to the food, but this will leave you with too much salt in your system. Therefore, it is better to refrain from eating on the plane and eat only during very long flights, when you are truly hungry, and not trying to distract yourself.

Don't eat something that fell on the folding table

Jump tables have been proven to be the dirtiest areas on the entire aircraft. Some passengers change their children's diapers right on these tables. Considering this fact, it is hardly worth eating from the same surface. Of course, employees must wipe down tables between flights, but it is impossible to thoroughly check cleanliness. If you haven't wiped down the table with an antibacterial wipe, it's best not to eat anything that spills on it. No food is worth the danger that such an act may pose.

Don't touch the safety belt

There are also plenty of bacteria on safety belts. Of course, you definitely need to fasten your seat belt, but it’s best not to touch the belt after that. Control yourself if you have a habit of fidgeting with something in your hands when you are lost in thought. You can wipe your hands with antibacterial gel when you fasten your belt, and after that try not to think about it.

Don't go barefoot

Of course, it’s nice to completely relax, especially if the flight lasts all night or is simply very long. However, you should not walk barefoot - even if the floor is clean, you may step on trash or leftover food scattered by passengers. In addition, it is somewhat disrespectful towards other passengers. And if you plan to go to the toilet, then it is dangerous - barefoot you can slip on the splashed floor.

Don't wait if you want to go to the toilet

The toilet on an airplane can hardly be called the pinnacle of comfort, but you don’t have to endure it either. During a flight, urine left in your bladder can lead to infection, making your vacation a nightmare. So don't try to wait until the end of the flight out of disgust - get up and go to the toilet if you need it.

Long-awaited vacation and flight to warm country for relaxation - a wonderful event. To maintain your health and avoid risks, it is important to ask the question: does a person’s blood pressure increase or decrease on an airplane?

Hypertensive patients and people suffering from periodic hypertension need to be more careful with air travel!

In most cases, even healthy passengers on an airplane begin to experience high blood pressure.

In this case, alarming symptoms may appear. For example, heart pain, dizziness, nausea, etc.

Causes of hypertensive crisis

Why does a person's blood pressure increase on an airplane? As the airliner rises to altitude, there is less oxygen in the air! This often causes unpleasant symptoms for people suffering from cardiovascular diseases. In addition, excitement appears on a subconscious level, which causes changes in blood circulation in the body.

Unpleasant symptoms

Even healthy people feel changes during takeoff and landing, and each body reacts to this differently.

The following symptoms may appear at altitude:

headache;
nausea and even vomiting;
Almost everyone has blocked ears;
pain in the temples and back of the head;
pain in the heart, often cramping;
fears and panic attacks;
the face and neck may become red;
increased sweating.

All these unpleasant signs are characteristic of hypertensive patients, but some of them also appear in healthy people. More often this is the body’s reaction to changes in air humidity and atmospheric pressure.

Is it possible or not for hypertensive patients to fly?

If it is not possible to control the level of blood pressure or it is at critical levels, then the flight is prohibited. In the case when the signs of a hypertensive crisis are easily copied by prescribed drugs, and the patient is not susceptible panic attacks— air travel is acceptable!

For people suffering from persistent hypertension, air travel can be very dangerous! In worst cases, a heart attack or stroke may occur. There is also a possibility of pulmonary edema and the appearance of a hypertensive crisis or other pathologies associated with cardiovascular activity.

For those who have already had a heart attack, additional oxygen inhalation will definitely be needed. IN air transport There are special pillows with oxygen that will help bring breathing back to normal. If help is not provided to the patient, this can lead to serious complications.

What to do if a crisis occurs

Every plane has a first aid kit!

For hypertensive patients, oxygen inhalations are a must! Before your flight, do not forget to check whether there are special oxygen bags on board. If the airline doesn't have them, order one for yourself in advance.

In any case, a patient with high blood pressure should take with him on the flight a first aid kit with the necessary medications (capaten, validol, corvalol, valerian).

In the worst case scenario, the plane may land at the nearest airport, where assistance will be provided by qualified doctors.

Before you set off, check your first aid kit and be sure to take a validol tablet. To prevent possible motion sickness, purchase a drug that prevents this phenomenon in advance. It is better to visit your doctor before your flight for advice and instructions.

Try not to eat foods that cause bloating or gas, and don't drink alcohol.

If possible, wear suitable clothing that will prevent blood clots from forming. These could be compression stockings or tights. Shoes should be comfortable.

When taking off and landing, it is better to turn on music and close your eyes

Changing time zones can also affect the body in a negative way! For those who fly to westward(from the east), the flight is best picked up at morning time. If from west to east, then vice versa - in the evening.

Be sure to have a pre-flight examination to check your lungs and their capacity.

Check with your doctor: Is it possible to fly with your blood pressure or is it better not to risk it? It may be better to postpone air travel for a while until your health condition improves. This applies primarily to those planning a long flight.

Contraindications

Air travel can be very dangerous for people if they have problems with cardiovascular activity, nasal congestion (sinusitis and other ENT diseases), stomach problems, etc.

For some passengers, flying on an airplane may be contraindicated to avoid death or serious complications.

Diseases for which air travel is very dangerous:

angina pectoris;
intracranial blood pressure;
chronic lung diseases (pneumonia, bronchial asthma, etc.);
if there are blood clots, venous circulation disorders or severe varicose veins;
when you have already had heart surgery;
if you have had a heart attack or hypertensive crisis;
with sinusitis (acute and chronic), it is also dangerous to fly, but you can stock up on the necessary medications if flying is a necessary measure;
During pregnancy you also need to be very careful, especially if it is late (after 35 weeks).

For older people, flying is possible if there are no serious health problems. But you will need to take care of medications that prevent motion sickness (the same applies to children).

To sum it up, we can repeat it! For hypertensive patients whose disease is already in severe form, it is better to avoid flying. If hypertension is mild, you need to take care of your own first aid kit and oxygen inhalations. Long flights are highly undesirable for anyone suffering from heart disease.

THERE ARE CONTRAINDICATIONS
CONSULTATION WITH YOUR DOCTOR IS REQUIRED

Author of the article Ivanova Svetlana Anatolyevna, general practitioner

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When an airship rises high in the sky, the atmospheric pressure outside the ship drops. Therefore, there must be a special air conditioning system on board the aircraft to pump air into the cabin and maintain a pressure there that is safe and familiar to people.

Such a life support system takes part of the air coming from outside from the aircraft engines and supplies it to the cabin. The amount of incoming air is controlled by a series of pressure valves. At the same time, unclean, stale air is released outside. Most passenger airliners maintain a pressure of about one atmosphere (that is, equal pressure at sea level) until the flight altitude exceeds 22,500 feet. At altitudes between 22,500 and 36,000 feet, the air pressure inside the aircraft is maintained at 80% of the pressure at sea level.

Air circulation inside the aircraft

The air conditioner directs air from the engines into the aircraft through ducts in the ceiling. After passing through the entire interior of the aircraft, the air exits through pressure valves.

Air conditioner

Air conditioners are located in the center of the aircraft. Each air conditioner consists of a circulation pump and a heat exchanger for cooling the air, which is taken from the engine before entering the cabin.

Air environment on board an aircraft

As altitude increases, the pressure and temperature of the atmosphere drop. At a typical cruising altitude of 36,000 feet, the air pressure barely reaches one-quarter of an atmosphere, and the temperature there is a brutal -50°C. In order for the crew and passengers to feel comfortable on board the aircraft even in such an external environment, part of the warm air from the engines is pumped into the ship by pumps. And so that people always breathe fresh air, it is replaced. In the cockpit - every two to three minutes, and in passenger compartment in three to four minutes.

Air intake device on an aircraft engine

This mechanism cools and cleans the hot air coming under high pressure from the engines. And then the air enters the interior of the aircraft.

Air circulation

Air begins to move inside the ship from the ceiling ducts. It passes through the cabin, the interior, goes down into the luggage compartment and exits through the exhaust valves.

It is physically difficult for people with hypertension and acute heart disease to fly on an airplane, although it is considered one of the most comfortable and fastest Vehicle for long trips. Shaking and turbulence at high pressure cause dizziness, noise in the head, weakness, nausea, and sometimes vomiting. Before buying a plane ticket, hypertensive patients should consider all the risks in order to long-awaited trip It didn't turn into torture.

Does your blood pressure go up or down on an airplane?

An intense negative effect on the human circulatory and cardiovascular system occurs at the beginning and end of the flight during sudden changes in atmospheric pressure - a rapid decrease during takeoff and an increase during landing. Despite the regulation and maintenance of constant temperature, humidity and air circulation in the cabins of modern aircraft, even healthy passengers experience unpleasant sensations.

Enter your pressure

Move the sliders

As the plane gains altitude, passengers' blood pressure rises. This is due to the difference between the external air pressure and the pressure in the tympanic cavity of the ear.
Constriction of blood vessels rapidly increases blood pressure.
In pressurized aircraft cabins, reduced pressure, which is 75% of normal atmospheric pressure, leads to a decrease in the level of oxygen in the blood, and in severe cases, to hypoxia or, in other words, to oxygen starvation. First of all, the brain and myocardium react to a decrease in oxygen concentration in the air. Hemodynamics in the legs gradually worsen, blood viscosity increases, the lumen of blood vessels narrows, which often provokes increased pressure, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, dizziness, fainting, abnormal heart rhythm, and increases the risk of heart attack or stroke. An oxygen bag or inhaler, which is equipped on the planes of some airlines, helps against such conditions.

Can someone with hypertension fly?
To minimize risks, you need to take into account in advance the possible deterioration of your health on board the aircraft. The danger of flying depends on the degree and stage of hypertension. If you feel normal and have a stable course of the disease, you can fly, but it is important to strictly follow the recommendations of your doctor. Flights are contraindicated for hypertensive patients who suffer from other diseases, namely:
aortic aneurysm;
pericarditis;
ischemic disease;
congenital heart defects;
angina pectoris;
respiratory tract diseases;
leukocytosis;
anemia.

Increased stress on the heart causes pain.
The younger and healthier a person is, the easier the blood vessels cope with overloads at altitude; accordingly, the longer a person suffers from hypertension, the worse the blood vessels react to physical activity. The elasticity of blood vessels can also be affected by high level cholesterol, which reduces the ability of blood vessels and heart muscle to quickly respond to changes in pressure associated with acceleration, takeoff and landing. In such situations, hypertensive crises, heart rhythm disturbances, and pain in the heart area occur.

Use of medications
Turbulence and low level oxygen increases the load on the heart, causing it to work harder. This leads to a sharp increase in blood pressure, which can trigger a heart attack and even stroke. Therefore, it is advisable for people with high blood pressure to take antihypertensive medications before flying.
There is a first aid kit on board the plane, but it is better to take with you medications prescribed by your doctor that will help stabilize your condition and quickly bring yourself back to normal. Medications should always be at hand, so you need to take them hand luggage on the plane. If you feel unwell and have a headache, it is advisable to try to relax, try to fall asleep or at least take a nap. This will make the flight faster and easier.

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