16 JAN 2018: Every time I board a flight, I always hope that my body has somehow managed to find a way to adapt and allow for a more pleasurable flying experience. Regrettably, at least until now, my prayers have been ignored. Since the thought of never boarding a flight again is simply not an option, I have taken matters into my own hands to figure out how to best manage the – situation. I’m not even talking about jitters or jet lag, just the in-flight experience. One that I’m sure I do not experience alone.
You know the feeling.
Completely dried out, headaches, feeling dopey and tired but you can’t sleep because, well those chairs, not to mention your ears hurt from the earbuds, your burning eyes are terminally dry (even through closed eyelids, what’s that all about?), your stomach is turned upside down and around, and you feel bloated and gassy. Don’t even get me started on the nausea that ensues as that wafting scent of whatever ‘food’ they are serving comes around. Ugh, someone get me a stiff drink and wake me up when we land. Am I right, or am I right?
Whether you travel for business or pleasure, here is some insight as to what is actually happening, and what we can do, when cruising at an altitude of 35,000 feet.
Dehydration
First – that dreadful dryness, the one that makes you feel shrivelled and dehydrated. The one that’s responsible for your raspy throat, burning nose and dry eyes that get in the way of sleeping. While the descriptions may sound dramatic, dehydration is a very real side effect of flying.
Humidity levels drop the higher we fly, and levels on board an aircraft fall between 4% and 10%. A value less than even the driest of deserts, and far below typical humidity levels, which (depending on your local climate) hover around 40%. A lower humidity level means less moisture in the cabin air of the aircraft. Due to the natural balancing tendencies of water with its environment, moisture will evaporate away from your skin, and out into the cabin air.
Your body will lose an estimated 1.5L of fluid on a 3 hour flight. Jinkies! I’m thirsty just thinking about it.
Clearly, it is crucial to make a conscious effort to drink lots of water in flight. Do yourselves a favour and refuse alcohol or caffeinated beverages, even if they are free, as these will only compound the dehydrating effects of flying.
Even in mild cases symptoms include fatigue, headache, muscle cramps and even dizziness. Drinking lots of water in the days leading up to your flight to ensure adequate hydration can help put you ahead of the curve.
Moisturizer and movement
Moisturizing creams before and/or in-flight can help provide a barrier to slow the evaporative process. Even though drinking lots of water may sound like a nightmare of endless bathroom trips, embrace the movement those walks up and down the aisles provide. The much needed movement will get the heart pumping and help to reduce muscle stiffness and cramping, not to mention the pooling of blood in the legs during longer flights.
At higher altitudes the cabin is pressurized to the equivalent of Mexico City, which is about 7,000 feet higher than that of Toronto or New York City. Higher elevation equals less oxygen in the air. If professional athletes have been known to train in thinner air to have a super edge on race day, imagine the opposite effect on us. Low oxygen is associated with fatigue, headaches and an overall dullness. Getting your blood moving through your system is important to get whatever oxygen you do have access to, up to your brain to keep you feeling sharp and refreshed. Interestingly, at this higher altitude we also lose 1/3 of our sense of taste. That airplane food never stood a chance…
Gassed up
Nobody likes a gassy seat mate. That familiar pop in your ears especially at takeoff and landing is an indication that pressure inside the plane is changing. As air pressure decreases with increasing altitude, the air inside of us expands against the lower pressure. That includes our bellies as well as our ears. Ever since I can remember I had always brought a tin of Pringles on a flight to snack on, (I may have a chip problem), and naturally the structure of the packaging was best suited to protect them from being crushed in my (only slightly) overpacked carry-on luggage. However, at 35,000 feet, the air within the tube had expanded to the point where the seal beneath the plastic cap was about to burst.
Your insides are experiencing the same expansion as that can of Pringles.
Gas and bloating is uncomfortable, not to mention embarrassing, but it is best to let ‘er fly, because holding it in can create more painful side effects. While there is little you can do to control the effects of the pressure changes in flight, do your best to avoid gas producing foods in advance. I love tacos as much as the next gal, but Mexican food, beans, cabbage, broccoli or whatever else may be troublesome for you, should be avoided like the plague. A ginger herbal tea can be hydrating and provide you with some digestive support to ease your discomfort. Your body (and seat mates) will thank you.
It’s worth it
Flying may knock us down slightly in the process, but the gain that awaits on the other side is definitely worth the pain. By ensuring we board hydrated and prepared, we can minimize the discomforts, and strut right out the other side without missing a beat.
The world awaits!