What is recommended for nasal or sinus congestion prior to flight?

• A. Ignore symptoms if you can breathe through mouth.
• B. Treat properly prior to flight.
• C. It only matters at sea level.
• D. Increase altitude quickly to relieve pressure.

Answer: (B)

The main idea is that pressure changes during flight must be balanced by clear nasal and sinus passages. When you have nasal or sinus congestion, the sinus openings and the Eustachian tubes can’t equalize pressure effectively during ascent and descent, raising the risk of sinus barotrauma or ear pain. Because of that, the safest and most effective plan is to treat congestion before flying, so drainage pathways are open and pressure can equalize smoothly as the cabin pressure changes. This may involve addressing the congestion with appropriate remedies and postponing travel if there’s an active sinus infection or significant obstruction.

Ignoring symptoms—even if you can breathe through your mouth—doesn’t protect you from pressure-related injury, since mouth breathing doesn’t equalize sinus or middle-ear pressures. The issue isn’t limited to sea level; altitude changes require proper drainage and pressure balance. Rapidly increasing altitude isn’t a fix and can worsen pressure differences, potentially causing injury.