Sleep during takeoff and landing can lead to health problems: pressure drops are dangerous for the eardrums and can lead to prolonged problems. This was stated by British pharmacist Angela Chalmers in an interview with Express.
“Rapid change in altitude affects the air pressure in the ear. This leads to a vacuum in the Eustachian tubes, which makes the ears seem closed and the sounds are muffled. Try not to sleep during takeoff and landing, because you will not swallow often, and this can lead to ear blockage, “- said the expert.
According to Medlineplus, if the ears remain closed, it can create a number of health problems. These include dizziness, ear infections, eardrum damage, and even nosebleeds and hearing loss. Remaining vigilant during takeoff and landing, passengers can plug their ears to equalize the air pressure on the eardrums.
“Swallowing or yawning opens the Eustachian tube and allows air to enter or leave the middle ear, which helps to equalize the pressure on both sides of the eardrum. If the Eustachian tube is blocked, the air pressure in the middle ear is different from the pressure on the outside of the eardrum,” said doctors.
Among the prohibitions is one – do not lean against the window when you want to sleep during the flight. And there is a disgusting reason for this. According to crew member Linda Ferguson, who has worked for airlines for 24 years, the surface near the window is the dirtiest part of the plane, as passengers regularly cough and sneeze, pointing their faces in that direction.
Not only tourists but also airline employees suffer from ear congestion. For example, Tom Tripp, a former aviation journalist and CEO of Boeing, once recounted a case from his experience: “I once flew from Washington to Los Angeles suffering from a very mild cold. I didn’t have a fever and I didn’t feel particularly sick. However, my sinuses and inner ear had great difficulty equalizing the pressure when descending to Los Angeles. In fact, one ear did not recover, and I almost cried from the excruciating pain of landing.
For those who care about a healthy lifestyle, we recommend reading: “Research: How many hours of sleep is the ideal norm for the elderly.”