Can you fly with intracranial hypertension?

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A condition that is not so common but cannot affect anyone, the onset of intracranial hypertension can be sudden and acute or chronic and long-lasting. This medical condition requires some lifestyle changes and must be treated with caution. Can you fly if you have increased pressure around your brain?

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What do you have to know about flying with intracranial hypertension?

• It is not recommended to fly with acute intracranial hypertension because of the change in air pressure
• A consultation with a doctor is primordial to determine whether you are fit to fly
• Sea-level flights are safe ways for patients with intracranial hypertension to fly
• It might be possible to fly if the intracranial hypertension is under control in the case of chronic IH or IIH
• A medical escort can help you have a smooth and comfortable flight if you can fly commercially

What is intracranial hypertension?

Intracranial hypertension is the build-up of cerebrospinal fluid, the water-like liquid, in your brain, causing increased pressure around your brain. Intracranial Hypertension (IH) can be acute or chronic.

What are the types of intracranial hypertension?

• Acute Intracranial hypertension occurs suddenly because of a specific condition: such as a severe head injury, stroke or brain abscess.
• Chronic Intracranial hypertension is persistent and long-lasting. While this condition is more rare, the causes of chronic IH are often unknown.
• Idiopathic Intracranial hypertension (or benign IH) is the term used to describe IH with an unknown cause.

What are the symptoms of Intracranial hypertension

The increased pressure around the brain causes several symptoms such as:

• Throbbing headaches
• Temporary loss of vision / Blurred vision/dimming of vision or any other disturbances
• Constant fatigue and drowsiness
• Feeling sick

Can you fly with intracranial hypertension?

It is not recommended to fly with acute intracranial hypertension because the conditions in the plane can worsen your condition and cause excruciating pain. If you have chronic or benign intracranial hypertension, you might be able to fly if your condition is under control.

What are the dangers of flying with intracranial hypertension?

Flying with acute intracranial hypertension if your condition is not under control can be dangerous because of the changes in cabin pressure. As the plane flies higher in the sky, the air becomes less dense and the air pressure drops, meaning that there is less oxygen. In a plane, the cabin pressure is lower, even if this decrease is not felt by healthy passengers.

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However, if you have a medical condition, such as uncontrolled intracranial pressure, the lower cabin pressure and lack of oxygen can exacerbate your condition. For instance, it can lead to gasses expansion, promote the occurrence of blood clots and exacerbate your intracranial hypertension, increasing the pressure surrounding your brain.

Besides the excruciating pain, this fluctuation in air pressure can lead to a lack of oxygen reaching your brain, having dangerous and fatal consequences such as a stroke.

Sea-level flights are safer for patients with acute intracranial hypertension

Patients with uncontrolled intracranial hypertension and who are at risk in conventional commercial flights are recommended fly on a sea-level flight.

What is a sea-level flight?

During a sea-level flight, the cabin pressure is adjusted so that the air pressure inside the cabin is closer to the pressure at sea-level. Consequently, it seems as if there is no change in air pressure, even as the plane is flying to its destination.

This sort of cabin pressurization is ideal for passengers, especially during long-haul flights, since it prevents the expansion of gasses and the worsening of the intracranial pressure, ensuring the safety of the patient during the flight.

Medical Air Service conducts sea-level flights in its air ambulances

Patients with intracranial hypertension require an air ambulance to be able to conduct a sea-level flight.

An air ambulance is a private medical jet. It is an airplane fitted with medical equipment that has been specifically designed for patient transportation. With its main purpose being to transfer patients from one location to another, the safety of the traveler is paramount during the flight.

Medical Air Service allows patients to travel in these air ambulances while enjoying the added benefit of being able to customize the plane based on their medical conditions and needs. As such, not only can the air ambulances of Medical Air Service fly at sea-level for patients with intracranial pressure, but they can also be fitted with additional equipment to ensure safe monitoring of the patient’s condition and efficient administering of treatment in case of an emergency.

Flying with Idiopathic Intracranial hypertension or chronic IH: is it possible?

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Patients diagnosed with chronic intracranial hypertension are faced with a life-changing situation. In some cases, there is the misconception that they will not be able to fly because of this condition, especially in cases of idiopathic intracranial hypertension since the cause is unknown.

However, flying is possible for cases of controlled chronic intracranial hypertension. In many cases following treatment and medications, the increased fluid and pressure around the brain is under control and flying is possible, but not completely painless. It is important to have your doctor’s approval before taking any flight. The medical professional will assess the situation and determine whether you are fit to fly.

What are some risks of flying with controlled intracranial hypertension?

Even if your medical condition is under control and flying is considered to be safe, there are some repercussions to flying with intracranial hypertension. Patients flying with IH report:

• Extreme pain, more often in the ears, during the flight. The pain can be exacerbated during take-off and landing and can last for days even after the flight
• Blocked ears
• Constant headache
• Temporary loss of vision
• Fatigue

If your symptoms persist for days after the flight, consult a doctor.

How can a medical escort help patients with intracranial hypertension?

Patients with intracranial hypertension have to sustain several lifestyle changes to ensure that their medical condition is under control. They often report a feeling of being constantly tired and being unable to perform strenuous activities.

Medical escorts can considerably help patients traveling with idiopathic intracranial hypertension. These are medical professionals who will assist the patient, oversee his condition during the flight and provide emergency treatment if needed.

Some benefits that you will enjoy if you fly with our medical escort are:

• The medical escort will help with boarding and check-in activities so you can avoid strenuous activities that will increase your heart rate.
• The medical escort will help with your luggage so that you do not have to lift heavy objects
• The medical escort will assist you and take care of you throughout the flight
• The medical escort will oversee your condition to detect any changes
• The medical escort will ensure medication administration if needed
• The medical escort will provide emergency treatment if needed

Contact us for a medical escort or an air ambulance

If you need have intracranial hypertension and you need to fly, get in touch with us. Our agents are available 24/7. During a free consultation session they will determine whether you need a medical escort or an air ambulance depending on your condition. We can organize both types of patient transports quickly, safely and efficiently.

Get in touch now

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Danh mục: Info