AIR CARE
The horrifying reason you should NEVER fly with a cold – or risk horror bleeds and permanent damage
Everything you need to know about dreaded 'airplane ear' - and how to lower your risk of it
IF you come down with a cough, sneezing or sniffles in the days before you're due to travel, cancelling your flight can seem like overkill.
After all, it's just a cold - right?
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But a pilot has recently gone viral for warning passengers not to set foot on a plane while battling a common cold, or risk permanent ear and hearing issues.
Captain Jaimes García who works for Colombian airline Avianca shared to TikTok, explaining the risks of air travel if you have a cold.
He warned that the change in altitude could trigger what's known as ear barotrauma - a type of ear damage caused by pressure differences between the inside of the ear and the outside of the ear.
It can lead to ear pain and, in some cases, permanent hearing loss.
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The pilot said: "If it's very severe and you're very congested, your eardrum could even rupture. It's very serious."
Professor Franklin Joseph, consultant physician in general internal medicine and head of clinic, told The Sun: "Flying with a cold can indeed increase the risk of ear barotrauma."
He pointed out: “Given the recent increase in flu cases, many individuals are experiencing head colds and congestion
"It's important to be aware of these risks and take appropriate measures to protect your health while travelling.”
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According to Prof Joseph, ear barotrauma "occurs due to a blockage in the Eustachian tubes – the small passages that help regulate pressure in the ears".
"When you're congested, these tubes struggle to equalise pressure during takeoff and landing, leading to discomfort, pain, or even more severe symptoms such as hearing loss or fluid build-up behind the eardrum," he said.
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If your ears become blocked and painful during takeoff and landing - the dreaded "airplane ear" - you're experiencing ear barotrauma.
Symptoms of the condition will vary according to whether it's mild or severe - but having a cold might put you at risk of more long-lasting damage.
Prof Joseph said: "Mild cases may cause a feeling of fullness, temporary hearing loss, or ringing in the ears – also known as tinnitus.
"However, in more severe cases, individuals can experience persistent pain, vertigo, or even perforation of the eardrum, which may lead to ear discharge and longer-term hearing issues."
Ear barotrauma explained
Ear barotrauma is a type of ear damage caused by pressure differences between the inside of the ear and the outside of the ear.
It can cause pain and sometimes lifelong hearing loss.
The middle ear is an air-filled space between the inner and outer parts of the ear.
It contains the opening of the eustachian tube, which connects to an area behind the nose. This tube stays closed most of the time.
For your hearing to work normally, the pressure inside the middle ear has to match the air pressure in your environment. If the external pressure is greater or less than the middle ear pressure, the eustachian tube should open to equalise the pressure between the middle ear and the outside.
Sometimes the eustachian tube can’t open normally when there are changes in pressure.
When that happens, the difference in pressure can damage the eardrum.
An imbalance in pressure between the inner and outer ear can happen during scuba diving and air travel.
Most people in these situations don’t develop ear barotrauma.
This condition happens when there is also a problem with the eustachian tube.
Anything that causes inflammation or fluid buildup in the area around the tube may cause it to not open normally.
These may include factors, such as:
- Allergies
- Sinus congestion
- Having a cold or other infection
- Anatomical abnormalities
- Exposure to irritants, such as tobacco smoke
- Certain hormonal changes (for instance, during pregnancy)
Common symptoms of ear barotrauma may include:
- Feeling of pressure in the ear
- Ear pain
- Dizziness
- Feeling like you have a blocked ear
- Bleeding from the ears or into the middle ear
- Ringing in your ears
- Hearing loss
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In some cases, people may even experience bleeding from their ear.
"While most cases resolve on their own, serious cases may require medical intervention," Prof Joseph said.
Ear pain and hearing loss aren't the only health consequences of flying with a cold, he added.
"Aside from ear barotrauma, flying with a cold can also exacerbate sinus pressure, leading to intense headaches or facial pain," the specialist explained.
"Additionally, congestion and dehydration in the cabin environment may worsen symptoms, prolong recovery, or increase the risk of spreading illness to fellow passengers.
"Those with pre-existing respiratory conditions, such as asthma, may also find that cold symptoms make breathing more difficult at altitude."
Tips for avoiding ear damage
Prof Joseph shared some tips for avoiding ear barotrauma - and staying generally healthy - if you really can't put off your travel.
"If flying with a cold is unavoidable, using a decongestant nasal spray before take-off and landing can help reduce nasal congestion," he advised.
"Chewing gum or swallowing during ascent and descent can also aid in equalising ear pressure.
"It's essential to stay well-hydrated and avoid caffeine or alcohol, as they can contribute to dehydration."
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You might also find sipping on water and yawning helpful to ease pressure in your ear, according to Ana Kim, an associate professor of otolaryngology at .
She also suggested pinching your nostrils closed with your fingers and then gently blowing air into your nose, or giving earplugs a go.
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