Warning: flying is bad for your health.
Flying is the safest way to travel … or is it? Some doctors think the aeroplane is a dangerous place, especially for the old or the unhealthy.
Although the aeroplane is pressurised, there is less oxygen than on the ground. Anyone with heart disease or a lung problem notices the difference much sooner. Even healthy people find it difficult to concentrate after hours of breathing less oxygen than usual. So anyone who has had a heart attack should not fly for at least two weeks after the attack. After an operation you should stay on the ground for at least ten days.
Because of changes of pressure pregnant women shouldn’t take a flight lasting more than four hours after their thirty fifth week or a shorter flight after 36 weeks. People with bad colds will probably get earache during take-off and landing.
Even if you feel well when you get on the plane, you will possibly feel ill when you get off. Sitting on a plane for many hours – especially in economy class where there isn’t very much leg room – gives everyone aches and pains, so you should take some exercise, especially on long flights.
Most of the air you breathe is recycled so you will possibly catch a cold or flu from one of the other passengers.
Flying also causes dehydration. If you drink or eat too much, you’ll wake up feeling ill. Everyone needs to drink more in the air, but you shouldn’t drink alcohol because it makes you even more thirsty.
The most common problem is jet lag. But there isn’t much you can do to prevent it. You change to your new time zone as soon as possible and you shouldn’t sleep if it’s still daylight.
Crowded airports, long queues and delays cause stress and high blood pressure. So, be careful! Flying is the safest way to travel, but is it the healthiest?