Doctor from the Medical Center Hospital of the President’s affairs Administration of the Republic of Kazakhstan Saves 60-Year-Old Passenger Onboard Flight

Dr. Zhanna Sadybekova, a rheumatologist at the Medical Center Hospital of the President’s affairs Administration of the Republic of Kazakhstan, provided life-saving assistance to a passenger with high blood pressure during a flight.

According to the doctor, the incident occurred on a flight from Baku to Astana.

“About 1 to 1.5 hours after takeoff, the flight attendants asked in English, ‘Are there any doctors or paramedics on board?’ I looked around and saw a woman, approximately 60 years old, who had fainted in the rear of the plane, and I immediately rushed to help. First, we brought her back to consciousness, and then asked what symptoms she was experiencing,” the doctor said.

However, the passenger was unable to respond clearly.

“In addition to hypertensive complications, the woman vomited twice due to changes in cabin pressure. We decided to gradually reduce her blood pressure. Unfortunately, there were no antihypertensive medications in the aircraft’s medical kit, so I asked the flight attendants to check if any passengers had Captopril. After taking the medication, her blood pressure began to stabilize,” said Dr. Sadybekova.

The rheumatologist noted that, in cases of elevated blood pressure, one of the best methods — in addition to antihypertensive drugs — is a hot foot bath. Since this was not possible onboard, she improvised with the crew's help: “We poured hot water into a bottle, wrapped it in a towel, and placed it under her feet.”

“All of this helped bring her blood pressure down to 130/80. But she was still weak and nauseated. I stayed with her until her condition stabilized. When we landed, an ambulance was already waiting at the aircraft door. Once I handed the patient over to my colleagues, we were finally relieved,” the doctor explained.

This is not the first time Dr. Zhanna Sadybekova, who frequently travels by air, has provided medical assistance during a flight. Previously, she rendered help on flights from Kutaisi to Astana and Astana to Turkey when passengers' conditions worsened mid-air.