Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Headache Attributed to Airplane Travel: A Review of Literature

  • Uncommon and/or Unusual Headaches and Syndromes (J Ailani, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Pain and Headache Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Headaches due to airplane travel are rare but documented in the literature. We aim to provide a review of diagnostic criteria and treatment for this condition.

Recent Findings

Several cases of this syndrome have been reported since it was first described in 2004. Airplane headache is classified as unilateral, stabbing, orbito-frontal pain, lasting under 30 min, and occurs during ascent or descent of a plane. Patients with this condition can develop anxiety and fear of flying given the intensity and severity of the pain. The pathophysiology of this syndrome is unknown, but theories include suspected barotrauma given changes in barometric pressure during ascent and descent. There are no randomized controlled trials regarding treatment, but case reports suggest headache prevention with pre-treatment with naproxen, decongestants, and triptans prior to air travel. Some non-pharmacological therapies reported include Valsalva maneuvers, chewing, relaxation techniques, and pressure at the pain area.

Summary

As more cases of headache attributed to airplane travel are reported, epidemiological data can be obtained to further understand the incidence and prevalence of this condition, which can lead to improved treatment options for patients.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

  1. Atkinson V, Lee L. An unusual case of an airplane headache. Headache. 44(5):438–9.

  2. Headache Classification Committee of the International Headache Society (IHS). The international classification of headache disorders, 3rd edition (beta version). 10.1.2 Headache attributed to aeroplane travel. Cephalalgia 2013;33(9):750–750.

  3. • Berligen MS, Mungen B. Headache associated with airplane travel: report of six cases. Cephalalgia. 2006;26(6):707–11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Mainardi F, Lisotto C, Palestini C, Sarchielli P, Zanchin G. Headache attributed to airplane travel (“airplane headache”): first Italian case. J Headache Pain. 2007;8(3):196–9.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  5. Evans RW, Purdy A, Goodman SH. Airplane descent headaches. Headache. 2007;47(5):719–23.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Han-Joon K, Yong-Jin C, Joong-Yang C, Keun-Sik H. Severe jabbing headache associated with airplane travel. Can J Neurol Sci. 2008;35(2):267–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Baldacci F, Lucetti C, Cipriani G, Dolciotti C, Bonuccelli U, Nuti A. Airplane headache’ with aura. Cephalalgia. 2010;30(5):624–5.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Pfund Z, Trauninger A, Szanyi I, Illes Z. Long-lasting airplane headache in a patient with chronic rhinosinusitis. Cephalalgia. 2010;30(4):493–5. xx

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Berligen MS, Mungen B. A new type of headache, headache associated with airplane travel: preliminary diagnostic criteria and possible mechanisms of aetiopathogenesis. Cephalalgia. 2011;31(12):1266–73. xx

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Nagatani K. Two reports of flight-related headaches. Aviat Space Environ Med. 2013;84(7):730–3.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Domitrz I. Airplane headache: a further case report of a young man. J Headache Pain. 2010;11(6):531–2. xx

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  12. Kararizou E, Anagnostou E, Parskevas GP, Vassilopoulou SD, Naoumis D, Kararizos G, et al. Headache during airplane travel (“airplane headache”): first case in Greece. J Headache Pain. 2011;12(4):489–91. xxx

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  13. Mainardi F, Lisotto C, Maggioni F, Zanchin G. Headache attributed to airplane travel (‘airplane headache’): clinical profile based on a large case series. Cephalalgia. 2012;32(8):592–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Cherian A, Mathew M, Iype T, Sandeep P, Jabeen A, Ayyappan K. Headache associated with airplane travel: a rare entity. Neurol India. 2013;61(2):164–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Rogers K, Rafiq N, Prabhakar P, Ahmed M. Childhood headache attributed to airplane travel: a case report. J Child Neurol. 2015;30(6):764–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Bui SBD, Petersen T, Norgaard Poulsen J, Gazerani P. Headaches attributed to airplane travel: a Danish survey. J Headache Pain. 2016;17(33):1–5.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Mainardi F, Maggioni F, Lisotto C, Zanchin G. Should aircrafts never land? Headache attributed to aeroplane travel: a new series of 140 patients. J Headache Pain. 2015;16(Suppl 1):A166.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  18. •• Bui SBD, Gazerani P. Headache attributed to airplane travel: diagnosis, pathophysiology, and treatment—a systematic review. J Headache Pain. 2017;18(84):1–14.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Bui SBD, Petersen T, Norgaard Poulsen J, Gazerani P. Simulated airplane headache: a proxy towards identification of underlying mechanisms. J Headache Pain. 2017;18(9):1–10.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. •• Mainardi F, Maggioni F, Lisotto C, Zanchin G. Diagnosis and management of headache attributed to airplane travel. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2013;13(335):1–6.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Mainardi F, Maggioni F, Zanchin G. The case of the woman who never dare to fly: headache attributed to imbalance between intrasinusinal and external air pressure. Headache. 2016;56(2):389–91.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Ilker Ipekdal H, Karadas O, Oz O, Ulas UH. Can triptans safely be used for airplane headache? Neurol Sci. 2011;32(6):1165–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Inova Medical Group, Department of Neurology, McLean, VA, USA

    Hida Nierenburg & Katelin Jackfert

  2. Health Quest Medical Practice, Kingston, 12401, NY, USA

    Hida Nierenburg

Authors
  1. Hida Nierenburg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Katelin Jackfert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hida Nierenburg.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

Hida Nierenburg has received honoraria from Promius Pharma in the past. Katelin Jackfert declares no conflict of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

Additional information

This article is part of the Topical Collection on Uncommon and/or Unusual Headaches and Syndromes

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Nierenburg, H., Jackfert, K. Headache Attributed to Airplane Travel: A Review of Literature. Curr Pain Headache Rep 22, 48 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-018-0701-9

Download citation

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-018-0701-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation