Medical Experts Warn: Dozing During Takeoff May be Hazardous to Health

Passengers who aren’t alert to the discomfort caused by the air pressure fluctuations associated with takeoffs and landings could in rare cases suffer permanent damage.

Medical experts generally agree that airplane ear or ear barotrauma, the uncomfortable pressure in the ears or behind the sinuses that air travelers sometimes feel after takeoff or before landing, is mostly harmless. The Mayo Clinic recommends yawning, chewing gum or swallowing to help correct the unpleasant condition, but a new study finds that ignoring or sleeping through the discomfort might have serious consequences.

According to a report from the American Academy of Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS), in some severe cases, trapped air causing a blockage of the Eustachian tube can cause permanent damage when left untreated – even if that treatment is a simple self-care step such as yawning. Passengers who experience airplane ear while sleeping are less likely to take corrective steps and therefore are at an elevated risk of complications.

The study notes that small children are also vulnerable to the sometimes serious effects of pressure change during ascent and descent. Feeding babies just after takeoff or just prior to landing is recommended to help mitigate the risks.

“If the tube remains blocked, fluid (like blood serum) will seep into the area from the membranes in an attempt to overcome the vacuum,” the AAO-HNS warns. “This is called fluid in the ear, serous otitis or aero-otitis. Uncommon problems include developing a hole in the ear drum, hearing loss and dizziness.”

While sleeping through takeoff or landing is still considered a relatively low risk habit, it is still recommended that flyers wait for the aircraft to reach cruising altitude before catching 40 winks, when changes in air pressure are significantly less dramatic and the only real risk is missing the inflight beverage service.