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Prevalence of Headache Attributed to Airplane Travel Among Medical Students in Brazil
Author(s) -
Lima Guilherme Antonio Morais,
Vasconcelos Júnior Francisco Clezion Franca,
Morais Isadora Maria de Almeida,
Cruz Víctor Trindade,
Krymchantowski Ana Gabriela,
Jevoux Carla,
Krymchantowski Abouch,
SilvaNéto Raimundo Pereira
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
headache: the journal of head and face pain
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.14
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1526-4610
pISSN - 0017-8748
DOI - 10.1111/head.13983
Subject(s) - takeoff , airplane , takeoff and landing , medicine , descent (aeronautics) , air travel , aeronautics , psychology , geography , engineering , aviation , aerospace engineering , meteorology
Background Headache attributed to airplane travel is a rare form of headache that develops exclusively during airplane travel. It is characterized by occurring during takeoff, landing, or both, and improves spontaneously within 30 minutes after the ascent or descent of the airplane is completed. Objectives Our objectives were to determine the prevalence of headache attributed to airplane travel among medical students who traveled by plane, the time of flight when it occurred, and the emotional state of passengers on new trips. Methods The study was prospective, cross‐sectional, using a non‐random sample of medical students who traveled by plane. In total, 155 passengers who traveled by plane on at least 3 flights, regardless of duration were interviewed. Results Headache during flight occurred 3 or more times in 7.5% (80/1070) of the trips and 14.2% (22/155) of the passengers, especially during takeoff or landing (17/22; 77.3%), having a stabbing character and lasting less than 30 minutes. The headache improved spontaneously at the end of the landing phase (17/22; 77.3%). When traveling again, 68.2% (15/22) of passengers traveled normally, despite previous painful experience. Conclusions This study demonstrated that headache attributed to airplane travel is not as rare as previously thought, being predominant during takeoff or landing. In addition, despite the bothersome feeling, most passengers who experienced this headache traveled normally, despite previous painful experience.