Aviation health: Why you should avoid sleeping during takeoff and landing

Medical experts recommend that passengers avoid sleeping during airplane takeoff and landing to prevent ear injuries and maintain situational awareness for potential evacuations.

According to the Official College of Pharmacists of Valencia, rapid pressure changes during these phases can cause barotrauma. This occurs when the air pressure in the middle ear fails to equalize with the cabin pressure.

MedlinePlus notes that the Eustachian tube connects the middle ear to the nose and throat, helping to balance pressure through swallowing or yawning. Doctors from the Mayo Clinic explain that sleeping makes it less likely for individuals to perform these spontaneous movements, which can lead to ear pain, a sensation of fullness, temporary hearing loss, or even eardrum damage.