Why you should avoid sleeping during takeoff or landing on a plane?

Passengers often seize the chance to close their eyes while flying. However, it's advisable not to fall asleep before landing or taking off.

Why you should avoid sleeping during takeoff or landing on a plane?

Takeoff and landing are two moments when the air pressure in the cockpit changes rapidly due to altitude differences. Without preparing to adapt to this change, your eardrums could be seriously affected.

British pharmacist Angela Chalmers explains that rapid altitude changes affect the air pressure in the ears. This leads to the formation of low-pressure areas in the Eustachian tube, causing discomfort and a sensation of clogged ears. “You should try not to sleep during takeoff and landing. When you're asleep, you don't swallow saliva as frequently as when you're awake, making you more prone to ear discomfort,” she says.

According to Medline Plus, a health information page from the U.S. National Library of Medicine, prolonged ear discomfort can lead to various health issues such as dizziness, ear infections, eardrum damage, even ruptured eardrums, and hearing loss.

Instead of sleeping, you should stay alert and try to equalize the pressure on your eardrums. The simplest method is to swallow saliva or yawn. These actions help open the Eustachian tube, allowing air to flow in the middle ear. This helps balance the pressure on both sides of the eardrum.

Additionally, you can chew gum, drink water, or blow your nose to avoid ear discomfort during the flight.

According to Lệ Lệ/Vnexpress

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Reference: Travel guide Mytour