A commercial airline pilot has warned passengers of the potentially “very serious” risks of flying while suffering from a cold, urging people to take precautions
Hopping on a plane with a common cold might not raise any eyebrows, but Captain Jaimes García – a pilot sensation with over 156,000 TikTok fans – has sounded the alarm on doing just that.
In a clip that’s attracted roughly 800,000 views to date, the Avianca captain has underscored the very real risk this can pose to one’s ears due to changes in cabin air pressure. According to his viral video, those with colds could face havoc inside their ears because inflamed Eustachian tubes can’t uphold the balance between the middle ear and the atmospheric pressure outside.
Captain García warned viewers: “If I have a cold, those Eustachian tubes become inflamed; they can’t equalise those pressures, and that’s when you feel ear pain.” He highlighted the gravity of the situation by adding: “This causes barotrauma, and if it’s very severe and you’re very congested, your eardrum could even rupture. It’s very serious.”
Ear Barotrauma refers to stress on the eardrum caused by pressure differences between the middle ear and external environment, a condition often encountered during flights or diving adventures. From a slight fullness and discomfort to ear pain, these are signs of the condition that, if ignored, can escalate from minor annoyances to substantial health issues, reports the Express.
The pressure imbalance during flights can mess with your eardrum and middle ear, leading to hearing that’s all muffled or even a bit lost. In the worst-case scenario, if the pressure gets too much, it could even burst your eardrum.
Signs of this include a sharp pain, a sudden drop in your ability to hear, a constant ringing, or gunk coming out of your ear. Other rare but serious issues might be bleeding in the middle ear or long-term ear problems.
If you’re suffering from ongoing ear pain, feeling dizzy, or your hearing’s on the blink, you need to get yourself checked out by a doc. Captain García has given us the lowdown: “A passenger flying with congestion might experience significant discomfort, but we pilots who makeup to five or six trips daily face greater risk if we’re not in optimal condition.”
But don’t fret, he’s got some top tips to keep those ears clear. He recommends popping a decongestant, chomping on some gum, and doing a few simple exercises to sort out the pressure in your ears.
He also said: “Passengers make only one trip but still need to be careful – take something to decongest, chew gum, and do exercises to equalise pressure.”
The captain is also urging his fellow pilots to put their health first, even if it means taking time off work. He shared that he’s just getting back in the cockpit: “That’s why today is my first flight of the year.
“I was supposed to fly on December 30th, 31st, January 1st and 2nd but couldn’t because I had a cold. It’s better to take leave; otherwise, with barotrauma, we could be incapacitated for almost a month.”
