How Flying Does the Body Bad

It's no secret that spending hours in a pressurized metal tube 35,000ft above the ground makes you exhausted, stiff and cranky. Forget your skin, which practically turns into paper by the time you land. But Travelle wants to clue you in on the rest of air travel’s negatives so you know exactly what’s happening to your body and how to ease the effects. After all, spending a lot of time on the road for work or having a passion to explore the world should not make you achy and wrinkly.

Once you know the negative facts of flying, Travelle can help you stay healthy and beautiful while on the fly. 

The Cosmic Effect

It sounds cool but it kind of isn't. We're not scientists, but we did read that our planet's atmosphere starts to thin out above 30,000ft. This means our bodies are exposed to higher levels of cosmic radiation while in the air. Think a roundtrip flight across the US or from the US to Europe is equivalent to one chest X-ray. Now, don't freak, this is mostly a concern for pilots and flight attendants. There are ways to help mitigate some of the effects of this on our bodies, and Travelle will discuss these in future posts!

A Desert In The Air

We're not kidding! The humidity level on the airplane drops dramatically soon after takeoff. Your body likes humidity most when it's between 40 and 70%, and you’re likely to get only about 20% in the cabin, unless you're flying the new Dreamliner where you will find it to be just slightly higher. This means dry eyes, throat, nose and mouth. Let's not forget the skin. Becoming dehydrated also makes us cranky and dizzy.

Bodies Must Move 

Sitting in one place for hours combined with the low pressure isn’t great for your body. The cramps, neck ache and stiff limbs from poor blood flow are no fun and if you’re a smoker or on the pill, you’re at greater risk of suffering from blood clots.

Feeling "Pressured" Is Not Healthy

The cabin pressure is equivalent to what you’d find over 6,000ft above sea level, which isn't the altitude at which you normally operate unless you live in the mountains. Lower pressure = lower oxygen absorption. Popping ears is one thing, but it also leads to swelling, tiredness and headaches. The lack of movement combined with slow, concentrated circulation in the bottom part of your body actually impairs your thinking. No wonder you can feel a little "slow" when trying to work on the plane!

Flying Like A Balloon

Your body is jumping through hoops as is. Feeding it garbage inflight only adds to the challenge. Plane food is filled with preservatives and ingredients that are hard to break down and makes you feel so bloated it's amazing you don't float off your seat. As if you didn't feel gross enough already.

Planes Produce Dry Air

Recycled dry air means your defense system is down. Without protection in your nose and throat from letting cooties in, it means you're more likely to catch something. Watching out for that sneezy neighbor and keeping your hands clean when touching your face are some of the ways to steer clear of germs.

Now, I hope I didn't scare you off. Travel means extraordinary adventures, new business relationships and opportunities to seize! Keep reading and Travelle will get you to your destination looking and feeling great. This means keeping your tummy happy, your skin glowing and your body hydrated.