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    Home > Active Ingredient News > Study of Nervous System > How much do you know about the headaches associated with flying by plane?

    How much do you know about the headaches associated with flying by plane?

    • Last Update: 2021-05-09
    • Source: Internet
    • Author: User
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    Aviation-induced headache (AH), as a headache induced by aviation activities, has obvious characteristics and unclear mechanisms.
    There are many problems that need to be solved urgently.

    Aviation-induced headaches are often induced by flight or onset during flight, and are manifested as severe, unilateral, periorbital headaches without autonomic symptoms.

    This article briefly summarizes the clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment of AH.

    Yimaitong compiles and organizes, please do not reprint without authorization.

     Diagnosis of aviation-induced headache AH is caused by air travel and often afflicts some travelers.

    Because there are many reasons for confounding, it is difficult to assess the prevalence of AH.

    And patients who are prone to AH may change their life>
    In addition, because of the short duration compared to other types of headaches, many people who have experienced AH probably did not mention the symptoms to their doctors.

     At present, due to the different physical conditions of air passengers, various discomforts caused by flying by planes occur from time to time.
    Among them, headache, as a common problem, has also received more and more attention.

    Therefore, the headache caused by aviation exposure was included in the new diagnostic criteria of headache by the International Headache Association, and appeared as a new diagnosis-aviation-induced headache.

    Therefore, paying attention to the headaches caused by aviation activities is of great significance to ensuring the health of air passengers.

     Aviation-induced headaches are often induced by flight or onset during flight, and are manifested as severe, unilateral, periorbital headaches without autonomic symptoms.

    In addition to the obvious connection with aviation flight, these manifestations are usually related to the landing of the aircraft.
    They are often very painful, usually unilateral, and usually disappear after about 30 to 60 minutes.

    The current pathogenic mechanism is unclear.

    Most of these scholars believe that they are related to physiological reactions caused by air pressure changes, including reversible barotrauma, inflammation or body fluid pressure mechanisms.

    The diagnostic criteria: ①At least 2 attacks that meet criterion 3; ②Onset and during flight; ③At least meet the following 2 proven triggers: headache only occurs during the flight journey; headache worsens and rises after takeoff and/or Headaches related to aircraft landing before landing are relieved at the same time 30 minutes after the end of the take-off or landing phase; ④The headache symptoms are severe, and the clinical features meet at least two of the following three characteristics: unilateral attacks; the main site is the orbitofrontal (may be Spread around the sinus cavity); throbbing pain or tingling; ⑤ cannot be explained by other ICH-3 diagnosis
     The clinical manifestations of aviation-induced headaches.
    Interestingly, a large number of systematic studies have shown that the association between AH and other diagnoses (such as migraine, tension headache, and chronic sinus allergy) is very low.

    And there is no association between AH and any adverse health risks.

     Some patients are prone to AH.

    For example, a Danish study simulated the pressure environment of an airplane flying, and the results showed that subjects with a history of AH experienced the same symptoms as AH after entering the pressure chamber, while subjects without a history of AH had no similar symptoms appear.

    The study itself was to explore biomarkers of AH.
    The results showed that subjects with AH-like episodes had increased salivary prostaglandin levels, changes in cortisol levels, and slight changes in blood oxygen saturation; rather than headaches Of the subjects did not have these changes.

     Treatment and prevention of aviation-induced headaches Most AH patients do not have headaches frequently, so if they are not traveling by air, they usually do not carry headache medications with them.

    This means that they need to bring prescription or over-the-counter medicines prescribed by a doctor during their travels.

    At present, there is no complete or standard method for the treatment and prevention of AH.

    Due to the short duration of these symptoms, medications are usually required within a few hours after the flight.

    The main drugs currently used are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory analgesics, antihistamines, and nasal mucosal contractors.

    Among them, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are the most used and effective drugs.

    Antihistamines and nasal mucosal contractors are used as adjuvant treatments, whether they are used as preventive treatment before the flight or as treatment after headache attacks.

    Exploratory measures for non-drug treatment include local pressing, nasal bulging, chewing, earlobe pulling, etc.
    Some reports are effective.

     Summary Aviation-induced headache, as a new type of secondary headache, has special predisposing factors and limited research methods.
    The treatment is mainly symptomatic exploratory treatment.
    Prevention is only corresponding to the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and other symptomatic treatment in advance, although it is extremely important.
    Most are relieved, but treatment for the cause will be the real solution.  References: [1] BuiSBD, Gazerani P.
    Headache attributed to airplane travel: diagnosis,pathophysiology, and treatment-a systematic review.
    J Headache Pain.
    2017;18:84.
    [2] Bui SBD, Petersen T, Poulsen JN, Gazerani P.
    Simulated airplane headache: aproxy towards identification of underlying mechanisms.
    J Headache Pain.
    2017;18:9.
    [3] AirplaneHeadaches: What the Research Says.
    Neurology times.
    2018.
    [4] HeadacheClassi f icat ion Commit tee of Internat ional Headache society (HS).
    The International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition (beta version).
    Cephalalgia, 2013, 33(9): 629-808.
    [5] Ge Wei, Wu Xiancong, Liu Ruozhuo, Yu Shengyuan.
    Research status and prospects of aviation-induced headache [J].
    Air Force Medical Journal, 2017, 33(01): 23-25.
    [6] Huang Dan, Qu Yun.
    Research progress of aviation-induced headache[J].
    Journal of Aerospace Medicine,2016,27(03):381-383.
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