The reduced air pressure in the passenger cabin of an aircraft cruising at, say, 35,000 feet can reduce the amount of oxygen in the blood and increase the likelihood of stroke. Walking around the cabin encourages circulation, and taking an aspirin reduces the stickiness of the blood—meaning that blood clots are less likely to occur.
Symptoms of stroke include weakness or paralysis in one side of the body—including the face—slurred speech, blurred vision, confusion and severe headache.
If you are considering flying after a stroke, you should take medical advice. Guidelines from the Aerospace Medical Association suggest that it is safe to fly if at least two weeks have passed after a stroke.
