Aerospace medicine is a medical field dedicated to treating patients who suffer health issues caused by being in an aerospace environment. This field also has the goal of preventing any problems that can be caused by air travel.

When looking for trusted Aerospace medicine specialists, Honolulu has several doctors who offer such services. Such doctors offer Aeromedical Examinations, which include screenings for serious health conditions that could be dangerous during flight. Such problems may include a tendency toward myocardial infarction, or heart attack; epilepsy; lung disease; or, diabetes. These professionals may also test pilots for color blindness, because if a pilot cannot distinguish colors, it may be impossible to perform a certain task while flying.

Many times while flying, a passenger may complain of intense ear pain. This is caused by the unequal pressure that develops on each side of the eardrum as the plane is descending. Most of the time, this problem can be treated simply by sucking on a piece of candy or chewing a piece of gum during flight. But for some, the pain doesn’t go away even after having landed. In this case, it is wise for such ones to seek the help of a doctor who will analyze the symptoms experienced and prescribe the medicine needed, which in many cases is an antibiotic.

If one already has a cold or sinus infection before traveling by airplane, the traveler will want to put off the flight if possible, as the symptoms will only get worse during travel. If traveling is unavoidable, the help of an aviation doctor should be sought beforehand. The doctor will analyze the health situation, and prescribe the needed treatment, such as a decongestant; or in the case of a sinus infection, an antibiotic.

Through careful research, aerospace health professionals have also created a G-suit, for pilots who fly fighter planes. These G-suits are needed because as a fighter plane rapidly ascends, the blood of the pilot or passenger concentrates in the feet and legs. Thus, in some cases, a sufficient amount of blood cannot be pumped to the brain, resulting in immediate unconsciousness. The G-suit is basically a special pair of pants that causes the blood not to concentrate only in the legs, but to flow up toward the heart so the pilot can maintain good blood circulation.

Aerospace professionals dedicated to space medicine have found that a lack of gravity often produces negative effects, such as disorientation and motion sickness. Such doctors ensure that the astronauts are equipped with the necessary medicines for such situations before takeoff.