This is a difficult question to answer scientifically. A group of John’s Hopkins University researchers investigated the association between airline flight and sinonasal symptoms. They studied flight attendants closely and compared the overall sinus health with the amount of time spent on the plane. They found a direct correlation between sinus symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, and thick nasal discharge and the amount of days and hours flying on a plane.
There are several reasons that flying in an airplane may have a negative influence on sinus health:
The study does show an association between frequent air travel and sinus problems, but it does not provide the actual cause. Additional factors that potentially play a role include disrupted sleep cycle or exposure to new environments.
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Shargorodsky, J., Zheng, L., Stillman, F. A., Soong, A., Navas Acien, A., & Reh, D. (2016). The association between airline flight and sinonasal symptoms. International Forum of Allergy and Rhinology, 6(4), 437-444. https://doi.org/10.1002/alr.21647