One of the main questions I get asked is how to deal with a plane ride. People are often terrified their vertigo and dizziness is going to explode when they’re on the flight and are fearful of getting on the plane.
Rest assured, dear readers - you will be fine! The pressure change that occurs when you are at altitude is across the ear drum which separates the outer ear from the middle ear - the inner ear isn’t involved! Only a few conditions are affected by pressure change, the most common one being Meniere’s Disease.
The worst part of air travel is dealing with the airport - the lines, the people, the busy-ness that everyone else hates, too. There are some ways to make sure the trip you are about to take is going to be a great one. Without further adieu, I present:
Devon’s Top Ten Times for Travel with Vertigo and Dizziness
Get to the airport early and give yourself time to get through the security line ups. The less stressed you are, the better you’ll feel.
Get a good night’s sleep the night before your flight. The less fatigue you start with, the more prepared your brain and vestibular system will be for the day’s journey and will result in less symptoms.
On the airplane itself, the worst parts are take off and landing - the acceleration and deceleration tend to trip up your vestibular system a bit. Once you’re airborne, there’s no crazy stimulation of your vestibular system. Knowing this, you can prepare yourself and use your strategies for setting your symptoms: feet firmly attached to the ground, look at something stable and BREATHE.
If you have to deal with a significant time change, give yourself a few days to switch to the new time zone. By giving yourself this time, you’ll enjoy your trip much more from the get go.
Riding on a bus? Sit close to the front with the few out of the front window. This way, if motion sickness starts to set in, you can combat that by looking out the front window and not the side windows.
Renting a car? Plan on doing a significant part of the driving. It’s less taxing on your vestibular system if you’re controlling the motion as the driver, instead of reacting to it as the passenger.
Plan for a rest in the middle of your day. It doesn’t need to be a nap but just a time where you can deal with any symptoms you may have and plan for the evening ahead.
Keep the alcohol to a minimum. Alcohol thins the fluid in your inner ear, making it more sloshy (you know how when you get drunk, you spin? Now you know why). Avoid drinking too much will help you avoid the worst of your symptoms.
Don’t overschedule yourself. Leave time in your day for optional adventures or time to just sit with a good book and a tea. Give yourself the extra space to ensure it’s going to be a great trip.
Stay hydrated. I always pack along an empty water bottle with I go on trips - it helps remind me to keep my fluid intake up.
If you are experiencing dizziness or vertigo and would like an assessment, give us a call at (778) 630-8800.