What are the physical changes that our bodies undergo when taking a plane? From the obvious, like jet lag, to the more serious, such as deep vein thrombosis, there are a number of ways flying can affect our bodies – and a range of ways we can physically prepare.
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
DVT, as the name implies, means a blood clot in a deep vein, with those in the legs being a prime example. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), not just flying but any form of travel over about four hours can induce DVT due to the long periods spent sitting immobile in confined spaces.
The solutions? Getting up and moving around or wearing compression socks, which come in mild to firm and help to reduce swelling and fatigue and stimulate circulation.
Increased blood pressure
Blood pressure is a major risk factor when flying due to cardiovascular changes that take place at very high altitudes. Whether it’s due to flight anxiety or a more serious comorbidity such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), congenital heart problems or high blood pressure, some people may be more at risk of an increased heart rate, more contracted heart muscles, and changes in how much blood the heart can pump.
There are a range of things you can do to help that tie in with common sense advice for everyone. Give yourself the opportunity to feel more relaxed with loose, comfortable clothing. Move around. Stay hydrated and avoid alcohol, caffeinated drinks, and sleeping medication; and avoid large meals just before flying.
Jet lag
Jet lag is the common term for sleep disruption and disturbances in energy, focus, and mood that occur when we travel – usually over two or more time zones. Some studies suggest flying eastward worsens the impact on our Circadian rhythm. Working changing shifts can also have the same effect.
Prepare physically in the days before by going to bed an hour or two earlier than usual. As you travel, try to match your sleep pattern to nighttime at your destination. Use an eye mask if needed. But if your trip is for around three days or less, the advice is to try to stay synced with home.
Airplane ear
Changes in air pressure and altitude on planes mean that the Eustachian tube connecting our ears, nose and throat is working overtime to equalise pressure. This can cause temporary hearing loss and pain, especially if the ear, nose and throat system is already under stress due to a cold or a condition such as sinusitis.
Children can be particularly vulnerable as they cannot do many of the things that help relieve the pain, such as swallowing, pinching their nose and blowing, sucking on a sweet or chewing gum.
Viral infection
When we travel, we’re often in close proximity to those around us, with more people around us than usual. There’s an increased risk therefore of picking up an infection from direct contact and touching surfaces others have been in contact with.
Wearing masks, frequent hand-washing and use of disinfectant gels, can all help. Thankfully, aircraft cabin air is refreshed once every five minutes approximately, but this can bring its own hazards, such as dry eyes, worsened anemia and heart and lung conditions because the high altitude air being drawn into the plane lacks humidity.
Dehydration
That fresh air the plane is sucking in is in fact so dry it is probably drying out your skin, by as much as 37%, according to some studies. Bad breath can be another result, as well as headaches and thirst, but if chronic dehydration sets in, the effects can be serious, including fatigue, irritability, confusion and extreme listlessness.
Sip small amounts of water regularly, around every 20 minutes. Use skincare moistening and protective barriers to stop your skin from suffering.
Cosmic radiation
Neutron radiation may not reach ground level, but it can reach a plane. Emitted in solar storm events, the radiation is best avoided by planes diverting from the North Pole during radiation showers.
