Can changes in air pressure trigger weakness and speech problems during a flight?

Details

This single-patient case study describes a 46-year-old woman who developed hypertension, tachycardia, dysarthria (difficulty articulating speech), and leg weakness provoked by pressure changes associated with flying. Typically during landing, she felt dizzy and experienced speech difficulties and leg weakness. Her leg weakness persisted for several days after the flight. Her symptoms were reduced when she took labetalol, a combined alpha-beta blocker, before flying.

To determine whether her symptoms were related to atmospheric pressure changes, she was referred for testing in a hyperbaric chamber. She was exposed to increased atmospheric pressure, reaching a maximum of 1.2 ATA, while her heart rate and blood pressure were monitored. Within 1 minute, she developed tachycardia and hypertension. She also quickly developed slurred speech, weakness in her left arm and leg, and sensory changes in her left leg. When the chamber was returned to sea level pressure, her symptoms gradually improved.

A full neurological workup revealed no explanation for these findings. She had no air collections, cysts, or other anatomical findings that could be sensitive to atmospheric pressure changes.

The authors considered the pattern most consistent with a vascular event stimulated by altitude exposure. This case suggests that atmospheric pressure changes can produce neurological symptoms, although the mechanism is unknown.