The lifting of travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic has given way for people to revenge travel. Now, more individuals are traveling to different corners of the world to make up for all of the trips they couldn’t take amid the lockdowns.
But did you realize that long-haul flights are also linked with certain risks? Knowing about them is particularly crucial now, as Qantas just announced its plan to supply non-stop flights from Australia’s east coast to London starting in 2025. Travelers who can be on these flights may have to be within the air for greater than 19 hours straight, in accordance with ScienceAlert.
So, let’s take a have a look at a few of the effects and risks that long flights can have on an individual’s body.
Dehydration
This is often experienced by people on long-haul flights. It’s the rationale why one’s nose, throat and skin often feel dry on an airplane.
The low level of humidity present in cabins ends in this effect, mainly because many of the air circulating within the cabin comes from outside, where there’s little moisture as a result of high altitude. This also explains why the longer the flight is, the greater the danger of dehydration.
Not drinking sufficient water or drinking more alcohol may result in dehydration on airplanes.
The underside line is that you must remember to consciously drink more water before boarding and in the course of the flight.
Radiation
Being that prime up within the air increases one’s possibilities of exposure to cosmic radiation. While there may be currently no known limit to secure exposure, radiation may increase the danger of cancer and reproductive issues, in accordance with the outlet.
Nevertheless, that is unlikely to be an issue unless one is a frequent flyer. Nevertheless, pregnant women and other people with other health concerns should seek the advice of their doctor before flying.
Blood Clots
Staying immobile for long periods of time is related to the event of blood clots. The clots can form within the leg, called deep vein thrombosis or DVT, which might migrate to the lungs where it results in pulmonary embolism.
Certain aspects like obesity, old age, pregnancy, previous history or a family history of clots and up to date surgery increase the possibilities of developing clots.
A scientific review in 2022 found that the longer one travels, the greater the danger of blood clots. Overall, there may be reportedly a 26% higher risk related to every 2 hours of flight duration, starting after 4 hours of air travel.
Subsequently, be sure to maintain moving at regular intervals during a flight.
COVID-19
Do not forget the rationale why traveling was restricted in the primary place. Humanity continues to be not done with the pandemic. Hence, remember the standard precautions — wash hands recurrently, wear a mask and refrain from flying if sick.
Recent reports of COVID-19 cases increasing by leaps and bounds in China has the world on the sting.
“Without delay, the pandemic situation in China will not be transparent. We’ve a really limited grasp on its information, and it is not very accurate,” Wang Pi-Sheng, head of Taiwan’s epidemic command center, said.
Nevertheless, Chinese officials debunked these claims, noting they’ve at all times reported recent virus strains in a timely manner. “We keep nothing secret. All work is shared with the world,” Wu Zunyou, chief epidemiologist at China CDC, said.