Flight-associated headaches—prevalence and characteristics

  1. I Potasman1,*,
  2. O Rofe2,
  3. B Weller3

Article first published online: 21 MAY 2008

DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-2982.2008.01601.x

Issue

Cephalalgia

Cephalalgia

Volume 28, Issue 8, pages 863–867, August 2008

Additional Information

How to Cite

Potasman, I., Rofe, O. and Weller, B. (2008), Flight-associated headaches—prevalence and characteristics. Cephalalgia, 28: 863–867. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-2982.2008.01601.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Infectious Diseases,

  2. 2

    Travel Clinic, and

  3. 3

    Neurology Departments, B’nai Zion Medical Ctr. and the Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Haifa, Israel

*Professor Israel Potasman, Infectious Diseases & Travel Med., Bnai Zion Medical Ctr., 47 Golomb St., Haifa 31048, Israel. Tel. + 972 4835 9624, fax + 972 4835 9755, e-mail israel.potasman@b-zion.org.il

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 9 JUL 2008
  2. Article first published online: 21 MAY 2008
  3. Received 18 October 2007, accepted 9 February 2008

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Keywords:

  • Barometric pressure;
  • flight;
  • headache;
  • migraine;
  • travel

Environmental factors in airplanes may precipitate headaches. We conducted a questionnaire-based study among consecutive travellers to determine the rate, severity and duration of flight-associated headaches (FAHA). Of the 906 eligible travellers (mean age 33.3 ± 13.8 years), 22.3% reported headaches at least once per month. FAHA occurred in 52 travellers (5.7%), of whom 34 were women (P = 0.0023 vs. none FAHA). The duration of pain was 4.0 ± 10.2 h after takeoff and continued for 5.7 ± 14.2 h after landing. Migraine was diagnosed in 19.2% of those with FAHA. The magnitude of headache was 6 ± 2 (on a scale of 1–10). Among those who suffer from FAHA, 45.4% reported that their pain was unilateral, in contrast to 72.7% among those with ‘non-flight’ headaches (P = 0.019). Nine travellers had headaches when descending to −400 m below sea level, and nine upon climbing to high altitude. This preliminary observation indicates that FAHA is not uncommon and should be further investigated.

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