2023-08-13 07:34:00
“The planes fly at 30,000 feet, that is to say 10,000 meters above sea level. Since it would not be possible to survive at this altitude, the cabins are pressurized, at a pressure equivalent to 2000 to 3000 meters above sea level, or as if driving up a mountain pass. The oxygen concentration is the same (21%) but the oxygen partial pressure is lower than at ground level. World, there is generally no problem. It’s like going to the mountains”, explains Philippe Burette, general practitioner, lecturer at ULiège and Health and disaster readiness manager at Liège Airport. On the other hand, some physical inconvenience can be felt, especially during long hauls of more than six hours.
Dehydration
“In pressurized cabins, the air conditioning is very dry and contains only between 10 to 20% humidity.” In the event of prolonged exposure, the risk of dehydration is there, indicates the doctor. It is therefore advisable to drink before, during and following the flight. Besides, drinking a lot during the journey can also help counteract the harmful effects of air conditioning on people with more sensitive sinuses. The trick to remember not to pay a fortune for your bottle of water at the airport? Go through the security with your empty water bottle and fill it at a fountain or at the toilet tap. “You have to hydrate properly and urinate, in order to also kill two birds with one stone: by moving!”
Swollen feet and thrombosis…
“Because, yes, the second problem is edema of the lower limbs and the risk of phlebitis and therefore of venous thrombosis. There is a risk, which is not very serious; some have phlebitis without realizing it account.” To avoid swollen feet and legs, you have to move. “Move your feet every 15 minutes, flex your calves, even while seated. The more you move, the better!” Prefer loose clothing and, if necessary, put on retention stockings. “For those who have significant risks, we can give them injections of low molecular weight heparin. Ask your doctor for advice.”
sore ears
“In the middle ear, following the eardrum, there is a small cavity where the ossicles and air are, which is connected to the nose by the eustachian tube. When this eustachian tube is blocked and you go quickly from 100 m altitude to 2500 m altitude (felt), the pressure outside is no longer the same as that in the small cavity: the eardrum swells and hurts.” Chewing gum or yawning is recommended to balance the pressure. “If you have a cold, get prescribed drops to decongest the Eustachian tube during the flight. If you’re traveling with a baby, remember to wash their nose well too.” Finally, giving the breast during takeoff allows chewing but above all reassures the baby.
Intestinal gases
Pressure acts on everything that contains gas. “There is always an air bubble in the stomach, which can cause possible discharges but also gurgling or gases, since the intestinal gases will expand a little with the pressure.
Here are four situations when it is better to avoid flying
If you are sick
“Flying is not recommended for people who have just had a heart attack or stroke, because they need all their oxygen. The same for those who have significant respiratory problems.” Ask your doctor for advice.
If you are pregnant
If there is a risk of premature labor or you are in the last four weeks of pregnancy, do not fly, advises the specialist. The same if you gave birth less than 7 days before your flight.
If you have been scuba diving
Be careful not to fly back directly following scuba diving. “Ask your instructor when you can get back on the plane, it all depends on the depth, the stops. There are tables to follow.”
After an operation
“Finally, it is not recommended to fly within three to four days following an operation on the digestive tract, eyes or even the brain… Always ask your surgeon for advice.”
Six out of ten times there is a doctor on board
According to statistics, almost 6-7 times out of 10 there is a doctor or paramedic on the plane. ©Have a nice day – stock.adobe.c
Respiratory disorders, syncope, nausea… Of course, medical problems and emergencies can occur anywhere, whether at home, at the station or on a plane.
“According to statistics, practically 6 to 7 times out of 10, there is a doctor or a paramedic on the plane. In a plane with 500 people, there is a good chance of having one”, explains Philippe Burette, who himself responded several times to the pilot’s famous call: “Is there a doctor on board?”
Airline personnel are trained in the use of the semi-automatic defibrillator, he says. “We then have a medical case at our disposal.” Its content varies according to each airline. “It contains a blood pressure monitor, a stethoscope, often an oximeter… Either basic equipment as well as medicines and – obviously – there is always oxygen on an airplane.
If the patient’s life is in danger, the pilot must make the choice whether or not to divert the plane, in order to land at the nearest airport. “He asks the doctor but it’s up to him to decide. It obviously has a huge cost for the company.”
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