Why does my head hurt when I'm on a plane?

Question

Sometimes after I wake up from a nap on a plane, there is like this crazy painful pressure in my head which makes me feel like my skull and jaw bone are about to crack any second. It hurts like crazy, its like 30 seconds of like some sumo wrestler squeezing my head but worse. Why does it hurt so much? Why does this happen?

Answer 1

Most people who have problems in the air have them with their ears. Air pressure changes as the airplane climbs or descends produce unequal forces on each side of the eardrum, which must be equalized by opening the eustachian tubes ("popping" the ears). If this can't be done, it can produce severe pain.  You might be feeling referred pain from that.

However, other problems are possible, especially if you have chronic sinus problems or an infection that affects your sinuses, nose, ears, etc. Inflamed sinuses might intefere with pressure equalization and cause pain.  Other upper respiratory infections might cause problems with the ears.

If you are only getting a headache after sleeping, though, chances are that you're just sleeping in an awkward position.  It's hard to sleep in an ideal position in an airplane seat.

Answer 2

its the pressure of the air

Answer 3

Maybe its because of the position of how you sleep. The air pressure can also be the cause

Answer 4

Lower air pressure than you're used to, probably.

For me, it's particularly bad when I'm congested and the plane is descending. It feels like my eyes are popping out.