Sure, we all know that due to having hundreds of people packed into an enclosed space for a long period of time, we’re more likely to catch a virus, and most of us have heard of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), which can result in blood clots after passengers are forced to sit in small spaces for long durations of time. But there other health risks of flying you may not yet be aware of.
Severe Dehydration
Aircraft air is so dry that on a long-haul flight, a passenger should consume about a pint of water every three hours.
That may seem a lot—but don’t forget: on the ground we also consume fresh fruit and veg, which contributes to our water intake during the day. This extra H2O is certainly not provided by the tiny meals and limited range of drinks served by most airlines. Indeed, drinking the tea, coffee and alcohol commonly offered on flights will only worsen the problem of dehydration, which can cause severe headaches, parched skin and lips and a sense of fatigue. Having dehyrated mucous membranes (especially in the nose) leaves us more vulnerable to airborne viruses.
To combat these threats, drink lots of water—and nothing but water—on your flight, and bring an organic facial spray, like those by Luxsit or AEOS, to mist your face throughout the flight. For extra peachy skin when you land, smooth on an ‘invisible’ face masque, like Aromatherapy Associates’ rose mask, and wash off when you land.
