Flying with asthma: humidity of air on a plane

[runcyclexcski]

Hi all,

I just have returned from an international trip from hell. Thankfully, I was able cut my trip short when I felt I was deteriorating, and a friend drove me to the airport. I might share the story later, but for now I just wanted to share some data I got on air humidity on the plane (there is always a chance to do basic science ).

This was a short 1.5 hr flight (I would not date take a longer one with poorly controlled asthma). At the ground level humidity of the air coming out of the vent was about 40% (makes sense -- it's the cold outside air warmed to 21C). Once the plane has reached the cruising altitude (above the Channel) the humidity of the air coming from the vent was 13%. This, combined with the fact that the planes are pressurized to 8,000 feet (2.5 km or so), could explain why some of us feel that their asthma gets worse at when flying. I guess it's a good test for how bad asthma is.... but I would rather be in a car in the Alps than stuck on a plane.

Until now, I assumed (not sure why) that it was only the 8,000 ft pressurization on the plane that affected asthmatics. Now I realize it's also could be the dry air. I further learned that the air is not humidified (indeed, why would they bother). The dry air could potentially be handled with a heat/humidity recovery mask.

Perhaps, pre-covid they partially recycled the air inside which helped the air retain some of the humidity (from all the humans perspiring, ha-ha). Now they provide more fresh air (good idea, in principle, as long as it's conditioned). I've had asthma for 20 years, but only noticed recently that flying affected me.

[Homely2 Administrator]

Thank you, as always

[Singinglouder]

Many years ago I sat next to someone on a plane who wore a damp flannel over his mouth and nose - not asthma in his case, but he said it stopped his mucous membranes from drying out, so he was less likely to catch bugs from his fellow passengers. Maybe he had a point after all…

[runcyclexcski in reply to Singinglouder]

I started wearing masks on planes years before covid, for the bug-catching part, did not know about the humidity part until now (should have thought about it).

[Poobah]

Low humidity is a trigger for me and I used to end up with a chest infection every time I flew. Last year I had a holiday with return 10 hour flights, so I wore a mask and kept hydrated, drinking water at regular intervals during each flight. It's great now, as no one bats an eyelid if you wear a mask. I have tried the usual blue mask, 3 layers, but the one that really works for me is also 3 ply, but its material is more robust and it's made in Germany. It's not something I could wear during activity, but ideal while sitting.

[runcyclexcski]

Poobah -- wow, a 10-hr flight. Considering that you used to get infections from flying, I am impressed with how brave you are to fly. I can't even handle an hour of chest tightness w/o feeling sorry for myself.

I think the ply masks work well for catching the humidity of the exhaled air. I am not a fan of them in terms of particle filtration and instead wear cup-shaped FFF2 or FFP3 ones that seal around the face, with a thin bandana on top. The ones with exhalation valve are expected to lose the humidity, so I need to get ones w/o the valve, so that some of the humidity is retained in the mask.

[ewusia28]

Hi. For me, flying by plane is not a problem, the problem for me is people who use perfume on the plane and before boarding the plane. I'm very afraid of this🙄

[runcyclexcski in reply to ewusia28]

ewusia28 -- I am the same way, and an FFP2 mask with a charcoal layer solves this issue for me. One is also now forced to walk trough the duty free area (this experience is like a WWI gas attack for me). FFP2 masks with activated charcoal are usually sold for welders. These are not as efficient as full respirators, but I can barely smell anything when I walk through the duty-free. Still, I try to be out of there as fast as I can. I wish the mask manufacturers made the charcoal layer thicker.