The stomach-churning hidden health risks of frequent flying

Taking to the skies is a regular activity for many of us, but what is it doing to our health, asks Amanda Hyde

Earlier this month, passengers on a Delta flight from Atlanta to Barcelona had a nasty surprise when their plane was diverted due to a bout of diarrhoea. “It was a mess,” one of them wrote on Twitter. “The pilots made the right decision to turn around. The ground crew ripped out the carpet and put a new one in.”

From light bloating to DVT (deep vein thrombosis), the list of possible air-travel-related ailments runs from the trivial to the potentially fatal, via the downright embarrassing. But it’s stomach upsets and viruses that you’re most likely to pick up en route. And the danger starts before you’ve even boarded.

“Infection from airport touch points is very common and could ruin your holiday,” said Dr Preethi Daniel of the London Doctors Clinic. “Avoid things like lift buttons and escalator handles (but obviously be mindful of safety).”

Once you’re on board, the chances of illness or infection are fairly slim, though “babies, the very elderly, pregnant women and people with weak immune systems should all be careful of the health risks,” said Dr

Daniel. What are these and is there anything you can do to prevent getting sick? We spoke to the experts to find out.

Stuck in the middle

Taking to the air can undoubtedly do strange things to your stomach. “Plane cabins have low humidity levels, which can cause dehydration and lead to digestive issues,” said Ashleigh Tosh, a health and nutrition expert at Prepped Pots. That could mean constipation and bloating or, worse, the dreaded diarrhoea.

To dodge embarrassment, Tosh recommends avoiding caffeine, alcohol or heavy or spicy foods and drinking plenty of water (although not tap water from the plane, which may be contaminated). If you can afford to upgrade, it’s worth splashing out on a flatbed too. “Lack of sleep can impair your immune system and impact your digestive health,” she said.

What about catching a cold or other virus from a sniffly passenger? “Viruses are not ‘spread’ by air in a flight,” said Daniel. “Of course, if someone sneezes next to you there is a chance you could catch something, but plane filtration systems and high-velocity airflow make this less likely.”

You’re unlikely to get sunburnt either. Despite recent speculation about the risk of skin cancer through sun exposure via cabin windows, Australia’s Cancer Council has said that “windows in the passenger cabin are generally constructed of three layers of plastic. These materials are highly effective at blocking both UVA and UVB, ensuring passengers are not at risk”.

The dangers of DVT

Another well-publicised danger is DVT, when a blood clot forms in a deep vein. “It’s not that common and tends to affect populations with a predisposition to it, such as those who are obese, pregnant or suffer from clotting disorders, but it is very serious if it occurs as it can be life-threatening,” said Daniel.

Physiotherapist Helen Davison recommends checking if you’re at risk with your GP before flying, as well as wearing compression socks and making time to move around the cabin regularly, as lack of movement over a long period of time increases the probability

‘Deep vein thrombosis is not that common – and tends to affect those with a predisposition to it’

of a clot. Exercise should also help stem post-flight stiffness.

“I normally say to my clients, watch a film and then, when it’s ended, walk up and down on tiptoes, march on the spot, do some ankle circles. Then sit back down, watch the next film and repeat,” she said.

Babies on board

Children have their own plane-related issues. There’s a reason babies scream on flights: though older children and adults are generally able to relieve ear pressure by swallowing, younger kids find it difficult, though crying helps. People with ear infections might find the process more difficult and, in severe cases, could even experience a ruptured eardrum: for this reason, the CAA advises anybody with an ear, nose or sinus infection not to fly.

If you’re travelling with kids, choose your seat carefully too. Sitting at the back of a plane makes motion sickness more likely – and, with it, more tears. Also, “watch out for communicable infections,” warned Dr Daniel. “Children tend to touch (and even lick!) things they shouldn’t.”

i Cabin fever: viruses are not ‘spread’ by air on a flight; young children can find it difficult to relieve ear pressure