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How To Prevent Vertigo While Flying?
I would like to know if there is anything I can do to prevent vertigo before flying.When I fly from NC to WA it doesnt bother me but when I fly back from WA to NC a few days later I get vertigo.This happens everytime I fly there and come back.I have used meclizine and the patch and I still get vertigo.And it takes a few months to go away.Edith
Wed, 10 Sep 2014
Hi, welcome to our site. I am Dr Saumya Mittal, MD.
Read your query. That is a very significant question and i appreciate your problem. I will try my best to answer your query
Three possible causes I can think of-
1. too much stress, tension and anxiety
2. too low a fluid intake
3. sinusitis
The flights have a maintained air cabin pressure. So the old causes like reduced oxygen and pressure will not be in consideration.
Now any condition that causes problem from one side will also cause headache from other side unless, there has been too much work at one place leading to vertigo due to fatigue on return. A tension or anxiety about return could also cause vertigo.
So a spondylosis and a tension headache (does not always cause headache) and stress induced migraine should be considered.
If you are having too low a fluid intake when at work, the return may cause problem. The minor pressure differences may cause trouble because the original pressure control system- the fluid balance- is already compromised. So make sure you rehydrate yourself regularly.
Sinusitis and other causes should cause trouble on both ends of travelling. So I wont consider them too significant.
If they have been persistent, doing an MRI will be a good option to be considered
I hope this helps you. Inform the reports mentioned above/if any other so I can be of help further.
I have given you the answer to the maximum considering the information provided. The results of the tests could further enhance my answer to you.
Please do understand that some details could be extracted from a detailed history and examination.
Please feel free to ask another query. I would be glad to help you. Looking forward to your return query with the details asked so that I can help you further.
(If the answer has helped you, please indicate this)
Best of luck.
Dr Mittal.
MBBS, MD (Internal Medicine), CC (Diabetes Mellitus), DNB (Neurology)
Consultant Physician and Diabetologist
JS Hospital
Ex Apollo Hospital, Delhi
Ex Kailash Hospital, Noida
Read your query. That is a very significant question and i appreciate your problem. I will try my best to answer your query
Three possible causes I can think of-
1. too much stress, tension and anxiety
2. too low a fluid intake
3. sinusitis
The flights have a maintained air cabin pressure. So the old causes like reduced oxygen and pressure will not be in consideration.
Now any condition that causes problem from one side will also cause headache from other side unless, there has been too much work at one place leading to vertigo due to fatigue on return. A tension or anxiety about return could also cause vertigo.
So a spondylosis and a tension headache (does not always cause headache) and stress induced migraine should be considered.
If you are having too low a fluid intake when at work, the return may cause problem. The minor pressure differences may cause trouble because the original pressure control system- the fluid balance- is already compromised. So make sure you rehydrate yourself regularly.
Sinusitis and other causes should cause trouble on both ends of travelling. So I wont consider them too significant.
If they have been persistent, doing an MRI will be a good option to be considered
I hope this helps you. Inform the reports mentioned above/if any other so I can be of help further.
I have given you the answer to the maximum considering the information provided. The results of the tests could further enhance my answer to you.
Please do understand that some details could be extracted from a detailed history and examination.
Please feel free to ask another query. I would be glad to help you. Looking forward to your return query with the details asked so that I can help you further.
(If the answer has helped you, please indicate this)
Best of luck.
Dr Mittal.
MBBS, MD (Internal Medicine), CC (Diabetes Mellitus), DNB (Neurology)
Consultant Physician and Diabetologist
JS Hospital
Ex Apollo Hospital, Delhi
Ex Kailash Hospital, Noida
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