Welp, the world is opening up and folks have taken to the roads and the skies.  This post isn’t about whether or not you choose to mask while you are fleeing to parts hither and yon; it’s about ways to keep your body healthy during your journey.

• Hydration is important anyway but even more so while flying.  According to Bob Bacheler, managing director and in-flight nurse at Flying Angels, “When at altitude, commercial airliners bring in outside air as part of the normal circulation process…One advantage of this is air is exchanged more often than [almost] any other building, making the air safer to breathe from a viral transmission perspective. The downside of this is the lack of humidification, usually around 15% to 20%, which is half of what people find comfortable.”  Mr. Bacheler goes on to state that the human body loses 8 oz of water per hour at altitude, mainly from breathing.  The Aerospace Medical Association (AsMA) recommends drinking 8 oz of water per hour.  Read more here.
• Get up and walk.  Sitting for long durations of time, especially while flying, can cause blood to pool in the lower extremities and increase your risk of developing blood clots in the form of a pulmonary embolism (PE) or a Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT).  Walk the aisle, stand up, perform heel raises in standing and toe taps while sitting.  You can also do glute sets (squeezing your buttocks) while sitting.
• Maintain proper alignment to prevent low back pain/stiffness.  Roll up a pillow/blanket or your own jacket to support your lumbar spine and prevent slouching.
• Limit alcohol consumption which causes dehydration.  If you do have a cocktail, follow it up with 8 oz of water.

#Safetravels #Movewhileflying #PulmonaryEmbolism #DeepVeinThrombosis #AsMA #FlyingAngels