The horrifying reason you should NEVER fly with a cold – or risk horror bleeds and permanent damage
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?
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.”
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.
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.
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.