The Health Dangers of Flying
6 Health Hazards of Flying
A plane crash is the least of your worries
Blood clots. Don’t rule out a blood clot even if you’re young and healthy—you might have a higher risk! In fact, 85 percent of all blood clots victims are athletic, according to findings by Airhealth.org . “The thought is that their more efficient cardiovascular systems lead to slower blood flow, thus more pooling of blood,” says Ryan Venis, M.D., co-vice director of emergency medicine at St. Vincent Hospital, Indianapolis. And be aware that long hauls are more likely to put you in the red zone for a clot. In a 2001 Italian study , researchers found 4.5 percent of passengers developed leg clots after 10 to 15 hours of flying. “One reason clots form is that your knees tend to be at 90 degrees on a plane, so blood can’t pass these ‘kinked” veins,” says Dr. Venis. Your solution? Keep the blood flowing by flexing your muscles every 30 minutes while seated, and walk around every hour. Or try compression stockings: The study found passengers who wore these stockings were nearly 20 times less likely to develop a clot.
Bloating. Intestinal gas can expand up to 30 percent during air travel as the decrease in pressure (because of the altitude) causes an increase in volume. And sitting in a confined space with gas isn’t ideal. Since you can’t control what your body will do once you’re in midair, try calming your stomach before you board: Avoid eating any foods that could potentially upset your gut, like beans, dairy, and carbonated beverages. If there isn’t much gas in your stomach to begin with, it won’t matter as much if it expands.
Colds. Contrary to common belief, a plane isn’t a Petri dish for germs. After the plane takes off, the cabin air goes through a series of filters about 20 to 30 times an hour, killing most bacteria and microbes. But beware of your neighbor: If he’s sick, you’re more at risk than you would be on the ground. Here’s why: The humidity in the cabin is usually maintained at less than 20 percent—about as dry as a tropical desert. And in an arid environment, our mucous membranes dry out even more and inhibit our ability to fend off bacteria or viruses like the common cold, says Dr. Venis. Your prescription? Water. Keeping hydrated on a plane has multiple benefits—less swelling, decreased risk of constipation—but it can be a strong asset against colds by keeping your membranes moist and effective at stopping germs.