Flying & Stroke
A stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted by the formation of a clot in a damaged blood vessel or because a damaged vessel bursts. According to the Stroke Association, stroke is the biggest single cause of disability.
Dangers of Flying
The reduced air pressure in the passenger cabin of an aircraft cruising at, say, 35,000 feet can reduce the amount of oxygen in the blood and increase the likelihood of stroke. Walking around the cabin encourages circulation, and taking an aspirin reduces the stickiness of the blood-meaning that blood clots are less likely to occur.
Identification
Symptoms of stroke include weakness or paralysis in one side of the body-including the face-slurred speech, blurred vision, confusion and severe headache.
Flying After Stroke
If you are considering flying after a stroke, you should take medical advice. Guidelines from the Aerospace Medical Association suggest that it is safe to fly if at least two weeks have passed after a stroke.
