Managing Migraines In The Skies: How To Fly Pain Free This Summer / Publisher LLM Reporters

There are few things more exciting than boarding a plane for your next adventure, but for migraine sufferers, air travel can be more painful than pleasurable and can quickly take the shine off that long-awaited luxury holiday.

The cabin pressure, bright lights and irregular schedules can wreak havoc on our bodies and, combined with dehydration, which is common thanks to the dry cabin air, can create the perfect storm, triggering painful episodes right at the worst possible time.

But the good news is is that there are some ways around it, and a few simple steps taken before and during your next flight could see you navigating the entire journey pain free.

It’s entirely possible to arrive at your dream destination feeling ready to get out and enjoy it rather than having to spend several hours lying in a darkened room first.

Here, we take a look at how to fly smarter – and more importantly, migraine-free.

Pre-flight prep

The are a variety of things you can do to help migraines stay away during a flight

Preventing migraines begins long before your plane takes off, and there are some strategic moves you can make when planning your next flight to ensure that it supports your pain-free goal.

If possible, opt for a mid-morning flight, as this departure window tends to be the least disruptive to your routine; you’ll have had sufficient sleep the night before with no need to get up at dawn, and you’ll also get ahead of that fatigue that often descends later in the day.

Ensuring you get enough sleep and feel energised on the day of travel is key and will help you to avoid the major trigger of sleep deprivation.

Choosing direct flights, if you can, is also wise because doing so will make the journey quicker, easier and limit travel-related stress – which, you’ve likely guessed, can also be a trigger for migraines.

If you can get a flight that arrives in the evening so that you can go straight to bed on arrival and wake up fresh the following morning, then even better.

Booking first or business class will ensure you have the extra space and quieter environment to get some rest during the flight, and the elevated level of service will make it easier to stay hydrated throughout.

Packing for prevention

Packing sensibly is key; be sure to include noise cancelling headphones to block out the sounds around you

Once you’re on board, you won’t have access to much that you haven’t brought with you, so packing sensibly is key.

Some helpful items to include in your carry-on are some noise-cancelling headphones to block out the drone from the engine and the sound of other passengers around you, and an eye mask to shield your eyes from glaring light from the windows.

Both are also extra handy tools to have up your sleeve for getting some shut-eye during the flight, which is another great tactic for avoiding migraines.

Carrying essential oils like peppermint and lavender in roll-on form can also be helpful for offering some much-needed relief, and their calming and soothing properties can make a migraine more bearable if one does arise.

Just apply to your pulse points and your temples and inhale deeply when you start to feel one coming on.

Having a travel-ready migraine treatment on hand is also a good idea and will ensure you have access to a solution if all else fails; carry both a preventative and rescue medication in your hand luggage so that it’s always in easy reach.

In-flight techniques

Be sure to get as comfortable as possible during your flight

There are also some simple strategies you can apply during your flight to help keep the threat of a migraine at bay. First, get comfortable; set your lighting and temperature to your liking, and experiment with your seat position until you find what feels best. If you’re in first class, then be sure to make use of the lie-flat option later on in the journey to squeeze in a quick snooze.

Staying hydrated throughout the flight is crucial, so make sure you’re stocked up with plenty of water and keep it somewhere accessible before take-off.

Avoid caffeinated drinks like tea and coffee, as well as alcohol; while both can be dehydrating, the latter also carries an increased risk of triggering headaches and migraines, so while that welcome glass of Champagne might be tempting, it’s best to give it a miss.

The bottom line

Air travel should be an exciting experience rather than a painful one, and by implementing these simple tips, it can be just that.

Prevention is better than cure, and thankfully, there’s a lot you can do to stop migraines before they arise – but if it does happen, then you’ll have some fast solutions at hand to help you still arrive feeling ready to experience all that your destination of choice has to offer.