Are you planning to travel by plane for your upcoming holiday vacation? It’s important to be aware of certain health risks associated with air travel. Read on for essential advice to help you stay safe and healthy during your journey.
- Why should you pay attention to your health when flying?
Air travel is a popular, accessible, safe, convenient and fast choice for travel, especially for year-end gatherings. However, there are also some health risks when we are in the airplane. Sudden changes in pressure and temperature will damage your body, from your skin, your ear to your heart. What health risks do we need to pay attention to and who needs to consider more about health care when flying? What should we do to stay healthy when traveling by this modern means of transport?
- Health risks when flying:
- Dehydration: The airplane’s humidity is maintained only 10-20%, lower when compared to normal everyday environments is 35-65%. This condition can lead to quicker dehydration, causing the throat, nose and skin to feel dry and even heart rate, blood pressure.
- Earache during takeoff or landing: This symptom happens during takeoff and landing due to unbalanced pressure in the middle ear and in the environment.
- Cardiovascular caused by hypoxemia: At high altitudes, the oxygen concentration will be lower and the atmospheric pressure will also decrease. Although the aircraft cabin has been pressurized to prevent problems caused by altitude, some people still experience drowsiness, headaches. It also affects the circulation, including coronary, cerebral and pulmonary vascular, and increase in pulmonary artery pressure, to increase in heart rate, blood pressure, and myocardial contractility.
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT): This is the severe consequence after a long flight or even a short flight with people who have underlying disease. Sitting for a long time in a closed space can make blood circulation in the lower limbs difficult and then cause blood clots to form in the deep veins of the legs. Flights lasting 8 to 10 hours or longer pose the greatest risk [1]. Passengers with heart disease, phlebitis, blood clotting problems and those recovering from leg vein surgery are at higher risk.
- How to lower healthy risks when flying
- Drink plenty of water, one liter of water every five hours. Avoid stimulant drinks such as coffee, coke or alcohol due to its increased risk of dehydration. Bring your own bottle of water and ask the flight attendant to fill it when you are in the airplane. They are always willing to help you with this stuff.
- When the plane takes off or lands: Swallow saliva, yawn or pinch both nostrils and exhale through your mouth to equalize the pressure in and out of your ears. If you have a stuffy nose, use a nasal spray or take medicine to clear your nose.
- Breathe slowly and deeply to increase oxygen to the lungs to supply the blood
Increase blood circulation in the legs: move your toes and feet, move around every two hours to walk a distance. Stretch your feet for 5 seconds and then return to the normal position, repeat many times, especially for the muscles;
Some herbs such as parsley, red grapes help blood circulation and prevent edema
- Advice for passengers with chronic diseases:
- Asthma: If you have asthma, make sure to carry your inhaler with you and avoid all causes of asthma while flying
- Heart disease: Heart attacks are twice as likely to occur in the air than on the ground. Do not fly if you have recently had a heart attack
- Diabetes: Pre-order special meals when booking tickets. Carry medication in hand luggage. Always carry with you a medical record containing information about your health status
- Who need to consult with health provider before flying:
- People with severe heart disease, serious respiratory diseases, difficulty breathing or severe bronchial asthma; high blood pressure or with low blood pressure (80/50 mmHg);
- People with injuries that cause symptoms such as recurrent hemoptysis, hemoptysis, hematemesis, bloody stools; infants under 14 months of age, pregnant women from 32 weeks of age or older, women immediately after giving birth, etc.
- Conclusion:
There are many health risks when traveling by plane, not only for people with chronic diseases but also for healthy people. If you plan on traveling soon and have concerns about these risks, talk with your doctor to fully prepare for a safe flight.
At Northern Medical Center, we are willing to help you with our experience and compassionate physicians to ensure that you have a safe and healthy flight.
Reference
[1] American Society of Hematology – Clots and Travel