When it comes to criss-crossing the globe by plane, it seems jet lag is the least of our worries. Whether you're suffering from dehydration due to low cabin humidity or suffering from pain in your ear canal during takeoff and landing, everything from oxygen deprivation to inactivity can contribute to passengers feeling unwell in the air. Here are some of the scariest health effects of flying... and some suggestions to prevent and combat them. Everything from dehydration to inactivity can contribute to passengers feeling unwell while in the air. Dehydration. While bodies are most comfortable at around 50 percent humidity, an aeroplane's cabin humidity can be as low as 10 per cent. That is drier than being in a desert. Naturally, this extreme dryness will only lead to only one inevitable conclusion: a very dehydrated traveller. According to NHS, the symptoms of dehydration include 'dizziness or light-headedness, headache, tiredness, dry mouth, lips and eyes, and the passing of small amounts of urine infrequently.' Dehydration can also lead to a loss of strength and stamina and dry sinuses, nostrils and throat that make you far more prone to infection. Combat all of this by drinking plenty of water and keeping away from beverages with diuretic properties, like alcohol or coffee. Low humidity in cabin air means that passengers should keep diuretic beverages, like alcohol, to a minimum. Ear pain. Ever wondered exactly why you feel pain in your ears during takeoff and landing? It turns out that the uncomfortable feeling a product of the air on your ears expanding and causing increased pressure to build up within the ear canal. But it's only when this pressure cannot be released, such as due to blockage from a cold, for example, that the passenger will really be made aware of the change. Luckily, alleviating the pressure in most cases is relatively easy - simply by swallowing, chewing or yawning. Additionally, the motion sickness that you may feel in the pit of your stomach actually also starts in your inner ears, when your balance is thrown off by something like turbulence. Ear pain during take off and landing is due to the air on your ears expanding and causing increased pressure. In this instance, the best bet for preventing nausea is to book a seat over the wings, which is the steadiest part of the plane. And the final ear-related concern to contend with on board has to do with hearing. Whether watching a movie or listening to your iPod, the sounds you're blasting to block out engine noise and passenger chatter are probably wreaking a bit of havoc, since it's a different listening environment than you're used to with different levels of ambient noise to tune out. Although your hearing won't suffer any permanent damage after a plane ride or two, frequent fliers should take note of the decibel difference to avoid any sort of long-term effects. Lower levels of oxygen in the plane's pressurised air can cause light-headedness and shallow breathing. Oxygen deprivation. It may be a small difference, but the lower oxygen levels in the plane's pressurised air can lead to minor oxygen deprivation in travellers. This could cause light-headedness, shallow breathing or difficulty concentrating. If this happens to you, be sure to alert a flight attendant, as he or she may be able to provide you with additional oxygen or even increase the overall airflow to the plane. The lower pressure in the cabin can also affect your blood circulation, which could lead to swelling in your lower extremities - especially on long haul flights when you're cramped in your seat. Ideally, walk around the aircraft every 30 minutes, or, at the very least, flex and stretch your feet regularly. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) occurs when blood clots develop in the legs due to long periods of inactivity. DVT. Deep vein thrombosis (or DVT) occurs when blood clots develop within the deep veins of the legs, causing pain and swelling. Occasionally, it may lead to complications such as pulmonary embolism, which is when a piece of blood clot breaks off into the bloodstream and blocks one of the blood vessels in the lungs. Anyone sitting for more than four hours, as most people do during long-haul flights, is at risk of developing DVT, however, certain groups may be at greater risk. Virgin Atlantic encourages anyone aged 40 or over, anyone with a family history of blood clothes or anyone being treated for cancer, heart failure or circulation problems to be especially cautious. To help prevent clots, moving around during the flight and wearing support stockings will both help to keep blood circulating. However, if you begin to feel short of breath, experience chest pain, or if your legs are still swollen after the flight, you should seek medical attention immediately. On long-haul flights, your exposure to radiation from cosmic rays, energetic particles from space, is higher. Radiation exposure. While on international flights, you're exposed to more than a tiny amount of radiation from cosmic rays, which are energetic particles from space, mostly made up of protons. The longer the flight and the higher and closer the plane flies to the North Pole, the greater the dose of radiation that crew and passengers alike will experience. While it's of most concern for those who fly for a living, frequent flier passengers will experience more of this exposure than people who spend more time on the ground. Several studies have found also that cancer rates among flight personnel are marginally higher than the rest of the general population, although a recent Center for Disease Control (CDC) report did not find further support of such a claim. However, the CDC does admit that experts are still not sure of the health risks associated with cosmic radiation and because you cannot see or feel it, often people do not just precisely when they are being exposed. Flying roundtrip from New York to Los Angeles, for example, three times per year, would expose passengers to the equivalent of 3 chest X-rays, or about 100 microSieverts. On a roundtrip flight from New York to Beijing, however, you can easily exceed that amount. Sun damage from UV rays. It is not something passengers would necessarily think to do before a flight, but applying suncream could well protect against UV damage in the skies. 'At high altitude, over 54 per cent of UVA rays penetrate glass, making pilots spending long periods in the cockpit up to twice as likely to develop melanoma,' Abi Cleeve, MD at UltraSun UK tells MailOnline Travel. 'In fact, 56.6 minutes in the air is equivalent to 20 minutes on a tanning bed.' When flying, a passenger is 100 times more at risk to catch a common cold than when not on a plane. Common cold. Finally, and what may seem insignificant in comparison to the other risks that befall frequent travellers, those who travel often may be at a greater risk for catching a common cold. A 2004 study in the Journal of Environmental Health Research found that when you're flying, your risk for catching a cold is over 100 times higher than when you're not on a plane. Take proper precautions and be sure to wash your hands frequently, and carry anti-bacterial hand sanitiser, when globe trotting. After all, the last thing you want is for a simple cold to slow you down on your next glamorous getaway.

Write highlights for this article.
When it comes to flying, there are plenty of health concerns to look out for.
Due to the lack of cabin air humidity, dehydration and swelling are common.
Cosmic radiation is also higher when in flight and closer to the North Pole.
När det gäller att korsa jordklotet med flyg verkar jetlag vara det minsta av våra bekymmer. Oavsett om du lider av uttorkning på grund av låg luftfuktighet i kabinen eller av smärta i hörselgången under start och landning, kan allt från syrebrist till inaktivitet bidra till att passagerarna mår dåligt i luften. Här är några av de läskigaste hälsoeffekterna av flygning... och några förslag för att förhindra och bekämpa dem. Allt från uttorkning till inaktivitet kan bidra till att passagerarna mår dåligt medan de är i luften. Uttorkning. Medan kroppar är bekvämast vid omkring 50 procents luftfuktighet kan ett flygplans kabinfuktighet vara så låg som 10 procent. Det är torrare än att vara i en öken. Denna extrema torrhet kommer naturligtvis bara att leda till en oundviklig slutsats: en mycket uttorkad resenär. Enligt NHS, symptomen på uttorkning inkluderar "yrsel eller yrsel, huvudvärk, trötthet, muntorrhet, läppar och ögon, och passage av små mängder urin sällan. " Dehydrering kan också leda till en förlust av styrka och uthållighet och torra bihålor, näsborrar och hals som gör dig mycket mer benägna att infektion. Bekämpa allt detta genom att dricka mycket vatten och hålla sig borta från drycker med urindrivande egenskaper, som alkohol eller kaffe. Låg luftfuktighet i kabinluften innebär att passagerarna bör hålla urindrivande drycker, som alkohol, till ett minimum. Öronsmärta. Har du någonsin undrat varför du känner smärta i öronen under start och landning? Det visar sig att den obekväma känslan av en produkt av luften på öronen expanderar och orsakar ökat tryck att bygga upp inom hörselgången. Men det är bara när detta tryck inte kan släppas, till exempel på grund av blockering från en förkylning, som passageraren verkligen kommer att bli medveten om förändringen. Lyckligtvis är det relativt lätt att lätta på trycket i de flesta fall - helt enkelt genom att svälja, tugga eller gäspa. Dessutom börjar den åksjuka som du kanske känner i maggropen också i dina inre öron, när balansen kastas av av något som liknar turbulens. Öronsmärta under start och landning beror på att luften på öronen expanderar och orsakar ökat tryck. I det här fallet är den bästa insatsen för att förhindra illamående att boka en plats över vingarna, vilket är den stadigaste delen av planet. Och den sista öronrelaterade oron att kämpa med ombord har att göra med hörsel. Oavsett om du tittar på en film eller lyssnar på din iPod, ljuden du spränger för att blockera motorljud och passagerarsnack är förmodligen orsaka lite förödelse, eftersom det är en annan lyssnarmiljö än du är van vid med olika nivåer av omgivande buller för att tona ut. Även om din hörsel inte kommer att lida någon bestående skada efter en flygtur eller två, bör frekventa flygare notera decibelskillnaden för att undvika någon form av långsiktiga effekter. Lägre syrehalter i planets tryckluft kan orsaka yrhet och ytlig andning. Syrebrist. Det kan vara en liten skillnad, men de lägre syrenivåerna i planets tryckluft kan leda till mindre syrebrist hos resande. Detta kan orsaka yrsel, ytlig andning eller koncentrationssvårigheter. Om detta händer dig, var noga med att varna en flygvärdinna, eftersom han eller hon kanske kan förse dig med extra syre eller till och med öka det totala luftflödet till planet. Det lägre trycket i kabinen kan också påverka blodcirkulationen, vilket kan leda till svullnad i de nedre extremiteterna - särskilt på långfärdsflygningar när du sitter trångt i sätet. Idealiskt är att gå runt i flygplanet var 30:e minut, eller åtminstone spänna och sträcka på fötterna regelbundet. Djup ventrombos (DVT) uppstår när blodproppar utvecklas i benen på grund av långa perioder av inaktivitet. DVT. Djup ventrombos (eller DVT) uppstår när blodproppar utvecklas i benens djupa vener, vilket orsakar smärta och svullnad. Ibland kan det leda till komplikationer såsom lungemboli, vilket är när en bit blodpropp bryter ut i blodomloppet och blockerar ett av blodkärlen i lungorna. Den som sitter i mer än fyra timmar, som de flesta gör under långdistansflygningar, riskerar dock att utveckla DVT, vissa grupper kan dock löpa större risk. Jungfruatlanten uppmuntrar alla som är 40 år eller äldre, alla som har blodkläder i släkten eller någon som behandlas för cancer, hjärtsvikt eller cirkulationsproblem att vara särskilt försiktiga. För att förhindra proppar, flytta runt under flygningen och bära stödstrumpor kommer båda att bidra till att hålla blodet cirkulerande. Om du börjar känna andfåddhet, får bröstsmärtor eller om benen fortfarande är svullna efter flygresan, bör du omedelbart söka läkarvård. På långdistansflygningar är er exponering för strålning från kosmiska strålar, energiska partiklar från rymden, högre. Strålningsexponering. Medan du flyger internationellt utsätts du för mer än en liten mängd strålning från kosmiska strålar, som är energiska partiklar från rymden, mestadels bestående av protoner. Ju längre flygningen och ju högre och närmare planet flyger till Nordpolen, desto större strålningsdos kommer både besättning och passagerare att uppleva. Även om det är av största vikt för dem som flyger för ett levande, kommer frekventa flygare att uppleva mer av denna exponering än människor som tillbringar mer tid på marken. Flera studier har också visat att cancerfrekvensen bland flygpersonal är marginellt högre än resten av befolkningen i allmänhet, även om en färsk rapport från Center for Disease Control (CDC) inte fann ytterligare stöd för ett sådant påstående. CDC medger dock att experter fortfarande inte är säkra på de hälsorisker som är förknippade med kosmisk strålning och eftersom man inte kan se eller känna det, gör människor ofta inte just när de exponeras. Flygande tur och retur från New York till Los Angeles, till exempel, tre gånger per år, skulle utsätta passagerare för motsvarande 3 bröströntgen, eller cirka 100 mikroSieverts. På en tur och returflygning från New York till Peking kan man dock lätt överskrida den mängden. Solskador från UV-strålar. Det är inte något som passagerarna nödvändigtvis skulle tänka sig att göra före en flygning, men att applicera solkräm skulle mycket väl kunna skydda mot UV-skador i himlen. "På hög höjd, över 54 procent av UVA strålar penetrerar glas, vilket gör piloter spendera långa perioder i cockpit upp till dubbelt så stor risk att utveckla melanom," Abi Cleeve, VD på UltraSun UK berättar MailOnline Travel. "I själva verket, 56,6 minuter i luften motsvarar 20 minuter på en solsäng." Vid flygning löper en passagerare 100 gånger större risk att fånga en vanlig förkylning än när man inte är på ett plan. Vanlig förkylning. Slutligen, och vad som kan tyckas obetydligt i jämförelse med de andra risker som drabbar ofta resande, kan de som reser ofta löpa större risk att drabbas av en vanlig förkylning. En studie från 2004 i Journal of Environmental Health Research visade att när man flyger är risken för att bli förkyld över 100 gånger större än när man inte är på ett plan. Vidta lämpliga försiktighetsåtgärder och se till att tvätta händerna ofta, och bära antibakteriell hand saniter, när globen trav. Det sista du vill är en enkel förkylning som saktar ner dig på din nästa glamourösa flykt. Skriv höjdpunkter för den här artikeln.
When it comes to crossing the globe by air, jet lag seems to be the least of our concerns. Whether you are suffering from dehydration due to low cabin humidity or from ear canal pain during take-off and landing, anything from lack of oxygen to inactivity can contribute to passengers feeling bad in the air. Here are some of the scariest health effects of flying... and some suggestions to prevent and combat them. Everything from dehydration to inactivity can help passengers feel bad while in the air. Dehydration While bodies are most comfortable at about 50 percent humidity, the cabin humidity of an aircraft can be as low as 10 percent. It's drier than being in a desert. Of course, this extreme dryness will only lead to an inevitable conclusion: a very dehydrated traveller. According to the NHS, the symptoms of dehydration include "dizziness or dizziness, headache, fatigue, dry mouth, lips and eyes, and passage of small amounts of urine rarely." Dehydration can also lead to a loss of strength and endurance and dry sinuses, nostrils and neck that make you much more likely to infection. Fight all of this by drinking plenty of water and staying away from beverages with diuretic properties, such as alcohol or coffee. Low cabin air humidity means that passengers should keep diuretic beverages, such as alcohol, to a minimum. Ear pain. Have you ever wondered why you feel pain in your ears during takeoff and landing? It turns out that the uncomfortable feeling of a product of air on the ears expands and causes increased pressure to build up within the ear canal. But only when this pressure cannot be released, for example because of blocking from a cold, will the passenger really become aware of the change. Fortunately, it is relatively easy to relieve pressure in most cases - simply by swallowing, chewing or yawning. In addition, the motion sickness that you may feel in your stomach pit starts also in your inner ears when your balance is thrown off by something similar to turbulence. Ear pain during take-off and landing is due to the air on the ears expanding and causing increased pressure. In this case, the best effort to prevent nausea is to book a seat over the wings, which is the most steady part of the plane. And the last ear-related concern to struggle with on board has to do with hearing. Whether you are watching a movie or listening to your iPod, the sounds you blast to block engine noise and passenger talk are probably causing a bit of devastation, because it is a different listening environment than you are used to with different levels of ambient noise to fade out. Although your hearing will not suffer any lasting damage after a flight or two, frequent flyers should note the decibel difference to avoid any form of long-term effects. Lower oxygen levels in the plane's compressed air can cause dizziness and shallow breathing. Oxygen deficiency. There may be a small difference, but the lower oxygen levels in the plane's compressed air can lead to less oxygen deficiency in travellers. This can cause dizziness, shallow breathing or difficulty concentrating. If this happens to you, be careful to warn a flight attendant, as he or she may be able to supply you with extra oxygen or even increase the total air flow to the plane. The lower pressure in the cabin can also affect blood circulation, which can lead to swelling of the lower limbs - especially on long-haul flights when you are confined to the seat. Ideally, walking around the aircraft every 30 minutes, or at least span and stretch your feet regularly. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) occurs when blood clots develop in the legs due to long periods of inactivity. DVT. Deep vein thrombosis (or DVT) occurs when blood clots develop in the deep veins of the legs, causing pain and swelling. Sometimes it can lead to complications such as pulmonary embolism, which is when a piece of blood clot breaks out into the bloodstream and blocks one of the blood vessels in the lungs. However, those who last more than four hours, as most do during long-haul flights, risk developing DVT, some groups may be at greater risk. The Virgin Atlantic encourages anyone who is 40 years of age or older, anyone who wears blood clothing in the family or someone who is being treated for cancer, heart failure, or circulatory problems to be particularly careful. To prevent clots, move around during the flight and wear support socks, both will help keep the blood circulating. If you start to feel short of breath, chest pain or if your legs are still swollen after your flight, you should seek medical attention immediately. On long-haul flights, your exposure to radiation from cosmic rays, energetic particles from space, is higher. Radiation exposure. While flying internationally, you are exposed to more than a small amount of radiation from cosmic rays, which are energetic particles from space, mostly composed of protons. The longer the flight and the higher and closer the plane flies to the North Pole, the larger the radiation dose both crew and passengers will experience. Although it is of paramount importance to those flying for a living, frequent aviators will experience more of this exposure than people spending more time on the ground. Several studies have also shown that the cancer rate among flight personnel is marginally higher than the rest of the population in general, although a recent report from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) did not find further support for such a claim. However, the CDC admits that experts are still not sure of the health risks associated with cosmic radiation and since you cannot see or feel it, people often do not do just when exposed. Flying roundtrip from New York to Los Angeles, for example, three times a year, would expose passengers to the equivalent of 3 chest X-rays, or about 100 microSieverts. However, on a return flight from New York to Beijing, you can easily exceed that amount. Sun damage from UV rays. It is not something that passengers would necessarily think of doing before a flight, but applying sunscreen could well protect against UV damage in the sky. "At high altitude, over 54 percent of UVA beams penetrate glass, making pilots spend long periods in the cockpit up to twice as much risk of developing melanoma," Abi Cleeve, CEO of UltraSun UK tells MailOnline Travel. "In fact, 56.6 minutes in the air equals 20 minutes on a sunbed." In flight, a passenger is 100 times more likely to catch a common cold than when not on a plane. Common cold. Finally, and what may seem insignificant in comparison with the other risks that often affect travellers, those traveling may often be more likely to suffer from a common cold. A 2004 study in the Journal of Environmental Health Research showed that when flying, the risk of contracting a cold is over 100 times greater than when not on a plane. Take appropriate precautions and be sure to wash your hands frequently, and wear antibacterial hand sanites, when globe trotting. The last thing you want is a simple cold that slows you down on your next glamorous escape. Write highlights for this article.
När det gäller att flyga finns det gott om hälsobekymmer att se upp med. På grund av bristen på kabinluftens luftfuktighet är uttorkning och svullnad vanligt förekommande. Kosmisk strålning är också högre när man är på flykt och närmare Nordpolen.
When it comes to flying, there are plenty of health concerns to beware of. Due to the lack of cabin air humidity, dehydration and swelling are common. Cosmic radiation is also higher when you are on the run and closer to the North Pole.