Advice for Migraine Sufferers Traveling by Air
An
aircraft headache, which develops quickly and lasts for around 30 minutes and
is caused by changes in cabin pressure during take-off or landing, is common.
However,
experiencing a migraine attack before, during, or after a flight is a different
matter.
Travel-related
issues of many types might cause migraines. If you don't have the necessary
defensive and preventive strategies, a migraine attack can substantially
interfere with your travel plans because it can linger for anywhere between 4
and 72 hours.
Here
are some suggestions for managing air travel when you have this illness,
whether you're attempting to prevent a migraine attack during your journey or need
to rapidly cure one.
1. Get lots of rest
Get
adequate sleep the night before your journey, even if it can be challenging
depending on the time of your flight.
Since
a lack of sleep is a frequent migraine trigger, try to maintain it within the
parameters of your typical sleep routine.
Try
to at least take a nap before your travel if you are unable to keep a regular
sleep schedule.
2. Bring refreshments , food and Water
Water,
as basic as it may sound, is a crucial remedy for migraine. Make sure to drink
enough of water because dehydration might be a trigger.
Similar
to this, missing meals or consuming processed or sugary foods can cause
migraines. Bring along a variety of wholesome snacks that are high in protein,
whole grains, and healthy fats. You can stay away from the airport snack bar
and junk food by doing this.
Good
choices consist of:
- Protein or oat bars
- Nuts
- Fresh fruit and veggies
- Popcorn
- Grain-based crackers
While
you're sitting about while awaiting your flight, be careful to refrain from
drinking alcohol and/or consuming too much caffeine. Both can cause migraines.
3. Make plans.
There
may be a link between stress and migraines due to changes in serotonin levels.
Make careful to schedule every aspect of your vacation well in advance.
Plan
enough time to get at the airport, check your bags, and locate your terminal.
Rushing around before take-off makes you more susceptible to an incident.
4. Bring your prescriptions.
Check
your medicines before taking off to make sure you have enough of your rescue
and preventative meds. If required, talk to your doctor regarding refills.
Instead
of checking your luggage, pack a carry-on emergency kit of migraine drugs. You
should make sure you have such pills with you just in case.
5. Be prepared to react
It's
crucial to take action to address a migraine attack if it begins while you're
waiting for your trip. If you take your rescue medicine straight away, you
might be able to stop it from growing worse.
Before
your journey, choose a quiet, dark, and comfortable area in the airport to
relax in.
6. Make flight and landing preparations
Even
while migraines can occur at any moment, they are most likely to occur during
take-off and landing. Once more, pressure is a factor here.
There
is a difference between the pressure inside and outside the cabin. Possible
internal contrast may also be present. The pressure within the cabin is still
higher than the pressure inside your nasal cavity.
There
is no foolproof method to stop this imbalance. However, some people discover
that doing so may be sufficiently mitigated, especially during take-off and
landing, by utilising earplugs and chewing gum.
7. Avoid triggers
Perhaps
you're seated directly beneath the air conditioner's blower. Possibly your
seatmate choose the tuna salad sub. It's possible that the passenger sitting in
front of you has left their overhead light on the whole journey.
Regardless
of the cause, being on a plane can result in sensory overload. Migraine
prevention can be greatly aided by being ready to combat your main triggers.
Here are some typical triggers and strategies for avoiding them.
- Bring a sleep mask or a pair of dark, rimless sunglasses.
- Bring earplugs or headphones that block out sounds.
- Bring a tiny amount of your favourite or most relaxing scent, such as peppermint essential oil in a roll-on container.
8. Treat migraines as quickly as you can
As
soon as you get the first migraine symptoms while in flight, don't wait to take
your rescue medicine. The time to "wait and see" whether it gets
worse has passed. Get immediate migraine relief.
9. Interact with the cabin crew
Migraine
sufferers can feel ashamed of their illness. The flight attendants can make
your trip considerably more comfortable if you let them know that you're having
an episode.
They've
probably assisted many other travellers with migraine or other travel-related
headaches in the past. They could be able to provide you items that will
increase your level of comfort, like:
- Blankets or pillows,
- Warming packs,
- Ginger ale,
- More water
10. Calm down your digestion
Prepare
an air sickness bag for yourself and concentrate on keeping your stomach
stabilised if you frequently experience nausea and vomiting during migraine
attacks. helpful acts consist of:
consuming
saltines, drinking ginger ale, and using any anti-nausea medications you
carried in your carry-on
11. Take a break and relax
Take
some time after your flight to exercise some self-care, whether you are
thirsty, hungry, sore, or simply grumpy. Most of the time, your destination can
wait while you drink, replenish with a nutritious meal or snack, stretch your
body, and get some fresh air.
Go
somewhere quiet and empty and take a few deep breaths. If you're feeling
worried, go through a brief mindfulness exercise or phone a buddy.
12. Take additional time to relax.
Avoid
the need to start unpacking or starting the next task as soon as you get at
your location.
Find
a quiet area to unwind and let your body to adjust. The impact of a well-timed
snooze cannot be overstated.
Takeaway
When
you have a migraine, boarding an aircraft might be intimidating. Since migraine
attacks can occur at any time, flying presents several potential causes.
However,
there are several techniques to both avoid and manage migraines when flying.
Prepare in advance to stay away from triggers, have a treatment strategy in
place in case of an episode, and take care of yourself before, during, and
after a flight.
Myths and Facts
Over
1 billion individual’s globally and more than 47 million people in the United
States suffer from migraine, one of the most prevalent neurological diseases.
Many
people have personal experience with migraines or have heard about someone else
who has it. However, there are still a lot of misunderstandings around what a
migraine is, what it isn't, and how to treat it.
To
learn more about the eight migraine misconceptions, see the info graphic below.
1. MIGRAINE ATTACKS ARE JUST REALLY BAD HEADACHES.
Although
a strong headache is the most typical and noticeable symptom of migraine, other
symptoms can also occur. The most frequent ones include sensitivity to light
and sound, nausea and stomach problems, and dizziness.
Even
without a headache, people can have silent migraine, which includes all of the
other migraine symptoms.
2. A MIGRAINE IS NOT A MIGRAINE IF IT DOES NOT BEGIN WITH AN AURA.
A
migraine aura is a group of sensory symptoms, such as slurred speech, numbness
or tingling in the hands or face, and muscular weakness, that appear soon
before the beginning of a migraine headache. Many people think an aura is
necessary for a headache to be classified as a migraine, although according to
some estimates, only around one-third of migraine sufferers have an aura, which
may not always appear with an episode.
3. MIGRAINE CAN BE IDENTIFIED AND TREATED BY ANY DOCTOR.
Some
doctors might not have had the necessary training to identify or treat
migraines. Less than one in five individuals in a research conducted in 2020
had a proper migraine diagnosis.
Less
than 2% of people with chronic migraine received the proper treatment for their
symptoms without overusing medication, compared to just around 9% of those with
episodic migraine. Contacting a migraine expert might be helpful if your
migraine symptoms aren't being appropriately treated.
4. MIGRAINE CAN BE CURED WITH A SPECIAL DIET.
There
is little to no evidence to support the use of certain diets to lessen migraine
symptoms. While eliminating foods that are known to cause your migraine attacks
might be helpful, research indicates that severe exclusion diets often don't
work and may even cause more significant issues like under nutrition. The
American Migraine Foundation advises consuming a diet high in omega-3 fatty
acids, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Additionally, several supplements,
including magnesium, coenzyme Q10, and riboflavin (vitamin B2), may aid in
migraine prevention.
5. BETTER RELIEF WILL BE PROVIDED BY MORE MIGRAINE MEDICATION.
The
contrary is frequently true with migraine drugs that you take as required,
despite your instinctual belief that taking more may improve pain relief. In
fact, taking too much painkiller—typically opioids or trip tans—can make
headache symptoms worse.
The
major headache type for around four out of every five persons with drug overuse
headaches is a migraine. Your doctor can suggest an alternative course of
therapy if your present medication isn't effectively controlling your migraine
symptoms in place of upping the dosage.
6. ONLY WOMEN ARE AFFECTED BY MIGRAINE.
Women
are twice more likely than males to get migraines during adolescence. Women are
three times as likely than males to get migraines by the age of 35. However,
migraine affects around 1 in 13 males and can afflict persons of all sexes and
genders. There hasn't been much study on migraine in transgender persons, but what
is known indicates that transgender males may be less likely to develop
migraines than either cis- or transgender women.
7. A Migraine Attack lasts only a few hours.
Although
it often lasts only a few hours, the real headache phase that many people
identify with migraines can occasionally last up to three days. Others may even
have symptoms in between migraine episodes. Some people may suffer symptoms
before and after migraine headaches that can last anywhere from a few hours to
a few days. These include feeling run down and having trouble focusing, mood
swings, and gastrointestinal issues including food cravings or nausea.
8. Everything is in your head.
Many
individuals mistakenly think that stress-related psychiatric disorders like
migraine are what cause them. Despite the fact that stress can start a migraine
attack, it is not the primary reason. The genetic, anatomical, and chemical
alterations that lead to migraine make the brain more susceptible to headache
triggers like stress.
In
addition, compared to those without the disease, migraine sufferers are more
likely to report both the physical and mental signs of worry and sadness.