Cutting pain under eyebrow on plane landing
Since last couple of years I've started experiencing pretty severe cutting pains in the left eyebrow region on plane landing. The strange thing is that it doesn't happen every time. I think it's like 50/50. One time it hurts like hell and the other time it's nothing at all.
A week ago I had it very bad on my way to a vacation. It hurt for 2 days after we landed. And on the way back it didn't hurt at all.
So I guess there must be some factors that affect this and some ways to prevent or at least minimize the probability and severity of the pain. I've heard that this could be related to stuffed nose. So, even though I had no noticeable cold, I tried to blow my nose when the plane started descending on the way back and that might be what helped. But it's hard to tell for sure since, as mentioned above, it didn't happen on every landing anyway. Maybe it just depends on the landing "style" (speed, etc.) and there's nothing I can do about it.
Any advice?
Best Answer
This is almost certainly air pressure related.
It's also not a mysterious phenomenon at all. In particular the problem arises in scuba diving and has been solved*. No need to resort to folk remedies like gum and blowing your nose, the cause is known and the solutions are well documented.
Briefly: when a plane lands cabin pressure increases. The tubes that connect your sinuses to your nose and throat can be clogged, resulting in sub-atmospheric pressure in your sinuses, which is what causes the pain. If you can unclog the tubes (even momentarily) or force air through them the pain will go away.
Personally, I pinch my nose, close my mouth, and try to blow out. For the related ear pain, many people can train themselves to use "béance tubaire volontaire" (hold their eustachian tubes open), which is much gentler than other methods.
*scuba divers routinely experience pressure increases of several atmospheres, since a 10 meter dive under water increases pressure by one atmosphere (note that a landing plane can never experience a pressure increase in excess of 1 atm).
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Why does my eyebrow hurt on the plane?
Why does this happen? Known as aerosinusitis, the inflammation in the paranasal sinus cavities (those are the air-filled spaces that stem from the sides of your nose to between your eyebrows) is caused by a difference in air pressures inside and outside the body.Why does my head hurt when the plane is landing?
Within minutes of the plane touching the ground, the headache usually goes away. As for why airplane headaches occur, scientists think "it's due to an imbalance between the air pressure in the cabin and those in the frontal sinuses," says lead author Dr. Federico Mainardi.Why does it hurt under my brow bone?
People may experience pain behind or around the eyebrows for many reasons. Blocked sinuses or headaches can lead to increased pressure and pain around the eyebrows, which should pass once the cause resolves. In other instances, eyebrow pain is due to an underlying condition, such as glaucoma.How do you get rid of Aerosinusitis?
Two common methods used to ease this pain while taking off and in-flight include chewing gum or another substance and/or swallowing water. By chewing and swallowing, you can temporarily relieve pressure that is building in your sinuses due to the change in cabin pressure.How To Survive Airplane Crash - Ditching, Fire, Jungle and Arctic
More answers regarding cutting pain under eyebrow on plane landing
Answer 2
Cabin Pressurisation
This issue is most probably related to the increase of cabin pressure as the altitude of the plane decreases. This inevitably causes an increase of the pressure of the air trapped inside the inner ear and sinuses, which cause the squeezing, pushing, piercing sensation you mention. Various techniques exist allowing you to equalise the pressure in the inner ear and sinuses.
Yawning or Swallowing
As soon as the first signs of pressure-related discomfort in the inner ear and sinuses arise, you should try yawning or swallowing. Both movements contribute to a slight opening of the Eustachian tube, which can help in releasing pressure in the inner-ear and sinuses.
Valsalva Manoeuvre
If the pressure build up is too high for yawning and swallowing to be ineffective, several other techniques have been proven to be effective. The most common manoeuvre to compensate and equalise pressure in the inner ear and sinuses is the Valsalva manoeuvre (pinch your nose, close your mouth and blow). Whilst very effective, if performed incorrectly this manoeuvre comes with a set of possible serious consequences, including the increase of intraocular pressure which can lead to retinal detachment, as well as damage in the inner ear due to over-pressurisation, and various other cardiac-related problems.
Marcante-Odaglia or Frenzel Manoeuvre
One valid, and safer, alternative to Valsalva is the Frenzel Manoeuvre. This is performed as follows:
- Pinch your nose
- Place your tongue on the roof of your mouth
- Swallow
The Frenzel manoeuvre is safer than Valsalva because it does not cause the same large increase of intraocular pressure. Moreover, this manoeuvre does not inhibit the venous return to the heart, which is the main cause of the cardiac problems related to the Valsalva manoeuvre.
Answer 3
Apparently this phenomenon is called "Airplane Headache" and scientist are looking into it. http://www.cnbc.com/id/47226552
Blowing my nose constantly on landing seems to be really helping. And using some nasal spray is another sure way to avoid this. At least for me.
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Jeffry Surianto, Pixabay, Lennart Wittstock, Pixabay