Airplane travel can increase the risk that one may develop an intense headache. Previously it was thought that headaches developed on the plane or after flying were due to two reasons, high altitude or tension headaches. Now a new study published in Cephalgia found another possible cause of headaches; barotrauma.
Simply put, barotrauma is the result of the pressure in the body changing at a different rate than the pressure in one's surrounding. It is most common for divers, who reach great distances under water, but can also happen on the take off or landing of an airplane. The most common symptom of barotrauma is plugged ears, resulting from trapped fluid or air in the middle ear. But headaches are now thought to be a more common symptom.
The authors of the study sight several case studies, primarily of men, who experienced a severe headache on more than one occasion that began during landing. Each of the men had more than one experience of a similar headache.
The headaches as described by the patients were different from any other classifiable headache type. They were one sided, short (15-30 minutes), and did not occur with any other symptom. Most often the headache pain was centered behind an eye or were facial in origin.
For individuals who experience a severe headache or facial pain on landing or take off of an airplane, a new important cause to consider is barotrauma. The authors did not site any treatment recommendations.
Posted by Dr. Christina Gutierrez on July 28, 2006 03:10 PM
