Flight in an air balloon

Question

Can a flight in an air balloon cause problems for a CF person with an FEV1 of 60%?

Answer

Dear questioner,

Thanks for this great question.

You probably know that the partial pressure of oxygen in the air decreases at altitudes above sealevel. This occurs during mountain climbing or when travelling in an airplane.

When you have a lung disease such as CF, you have less reserves and the risk of an important drop of the oxygen content in your blood (oxygen desaturation ) associated with an increase of shortness of breath. Several formulae exist to predict the fall in oxygen content that will occur, taking into account the altitude you want to travel to and your lung function. It can also be tested in a ‘low pressure chamber’ that simulates the lower atmospheric pressure at higher altitudes. This is however not a routine test.

A recreational balloon flight does not really go very high: from the tree tops to about 800m. The difference in oxygen tension will thus not be very important and will not cause shortness of breath or difficulties breathing. Just to give you an example: travelling by airplane is the equivalent of about 2000 m altitude.

When you chronically need oxygen, it is not advised to go on a balloon flight, because oxygen bottles are highly flammable and cannot be taken on a balloon flight.

For who really wants to know everything: the oxygen concentration in the air is about 21% and this is constant wherever you are. The total air pressure (barometric pressure) is however 760mmHg at sea level and decreases with increasing heights. Therefore also the oxygen tension or oxygen pressure will decrease because it will always be 21% of the total air pressure. At sea level the oxygen tension will thus be 760mmHGx0.21= 160mmHg. At an altitude of 2000m, the barometric pressure is about 604 mmHG and the oxygen pressure will thus be 604mmHgx0.21= 127mmHG.

We hope that this answers your question.

Best regards,

Dr. M. Proesmans, K De Boeck

04.08.2011