Simviation Forums

I was a student pilot back in the late 80's.  I never did get my license but I was at the point of doing some solo flights.  One thing I remember was getting some of the worst headaches I've ever experienced about 30 minutes or so after training flights.  Seemed like the longer the flight the worse the headache.  Have any of you ever experienced this or heard of it?  I never found an explanation....?

I never experienced that or heard of it, don't know what to say

Sounds like inner ear problems .... and the pressure not equalising properly ........ even @ low altitude theres a difference in pressure between the aircraft and the ground.

Did you have the same problem even when flying as a passenger? A headache could also be due to the tension of the lesson.

You can check the ocndition of your ears doing a test usually performed by sea divers: Block your nose pressing with your index and thumb fingers and at the same time try to breathin (from the nose) bu tdo not allow any air to pass from your blocked nose. Do you experience difference in the sounds you hear? Now, do the same but the other way. With your nose blocked try to breath out. Normally you will feel preasure in your ears and your hearing feeling will change again. If you can do this your ears are ok.

I almost always get headaches flying, usually at the end of a long day though. I put it down to sun, concentration, and having a good time.

We're you wearing a headset? or a headset with sun glasses?

No headset. I'm wearing one now though, as I do while on my PC. It is light and causes no probs at all.

I have snorkeled since I was a kid, and pressure equalisation has always been easy for me.

Maybe flying is different.

Personally, I just think it's the intense environment of my average flying day, mental and physical. Typically, for me, I'm exposed to the sun much of my flying day; despite protective clothing , hat, sunglasses, I think the sun contributes to the headache. I drink a lot, up to 4 or 5 litres a day while out there. So, dehydration is not the prob.

I have sometimes gotten a headache after a short flight.

no other ideas.....that's what used to give me BAD headaches(the headset).

[quote]The RATE of pressure change is actually less(in Air vs. Water).

Yes, headaches are common after flying. Not everyone gets them though. I have found that the most common cause is dehydration. Drink plenty of water when you get back. If you go for a longer flight, take some water with you. Be sensible though, you don't want to divert just because you need to go to the toilet.

Yeah, sometimes I get headaches.  This last year I've been working on my Instrument rating, toughest thing I've ever done, I can't even believe how much of a struggle it's been... but after some particularly challenging flights I'd get a headache.  A few times though I did have some inner-ear problems and would not equalize... and  :-X  that didn't feel good. lol  was grounded for a few days.  I remember I was just heading direct to an NDB for an approach, and started to notice the pain coming on.  I was stubborn and continued the entire approach (even partial pannel. lol :p  ) and thought that when I climbed back up it would go away... but nope, if anything it got worse with altitude, and on the descent it still didn't do anything... I was doing everything to get my ears to pop... they squeaked a few times... lol  but that's it.  Other times it's been because of my freakin' headset and/or sunglasses.  And others still from the tension of everything going on around me.  

Hi Jim:

Have been an Air Transport Rated Pilot for 20 years and flying both military and civilian now for nearly 36 years.
Have never had cephalalgia which is a pain in the head caused by dilation of cerebral arteries or muscle contractions or a reaction to drugs.
Retired now I still get around to many military messes and flying clubs.  
I read your post quite a while ago so I started to ask around about the symptoms you described.
Ninety-five per-cent of the aircrew I spoke with can not remember any medical problem during training, after training (de-briefing) or have had any problems over their years of flying.
Now that brings us to the Five per-cent.  
All the aircrew I talked to said the problem was with their glasses.  If a pilot must wear prescription glasses then his sunglasses should also be prescription glasses.
A couple of the aircrew also told me they had a problem between progressive lenses and bi-focals.  Bi-focals seem to be the most popular with the aircrew I spoke with however I don't like and don't wear bi-focals, I prefer the progressive lenses which darken with the amount of light.
We all agreed that a good eye exam  along with a medical yearly is very important and wise.  Also we all agreed that a pilot or a person learning to fly experiencing those symptons you described should stop flying until he finds out what the medical problem is.
Also since I have been wearing glasses for the last eight years my optometrist not only checks my eyes but both pairs of glasses at each visit.  
Hope you have not given up wanting to fly Jim....I am sure the solution to the "headache" problem is a simple one
Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug