Hazard 1: Back pain and stiff neck:

Sitting for a long period of time can cause stiffness in the neck as well as back pain.

How do I prevent this?

• Use good posture: Whenever possible, sit up straight instead of reclining. Sit straight with your shoulders relaxed and place your feet flat on the floor
• Move around: Move around a little. Light exercise is better than no exercise. Also wear loose fitting clothes.
• Support your back and neck: Use a pillow/blanket so that you can support your neck and lower back.

Hazard 2:  Deep Vein thrombosis (DVT)

You may have heard of this before, Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) is where sitting for long periods of time leads to development of blood clots in your legs, which leads to swelling, muscle pains and redness around the area. This can be pretty serious if the clot gets lodged in the lungs, which can cause chest pains and lead to difficulty breathing.

How do I prevent this?

• Wear comfortable, loose socks in order to assist blood flow
• Walk up and down the aisle every hour or so and do a little stretching
• Drink lots of water and stay hydrated

Hazard 3. Jet lag

As we’ve mentioned a little earlier (jet lag link) , Jet lag occurs when you cross a lot of time zones quickly, which means your body’s internal clock takes time to adjust.

How do I prevent this?

• Have a look at our detailed blog post about how to minimize the effects of jet lag here 

Hazard 4. Exposure to airborne diseases

It should come as no surprise that being in a cabin full of people can lead to a transmission of airborne diseases such as the flu.

How do I prevent this?

• If you eat and exercise often, it’ll keep your immune system stronger which means you’ll be less likely to fall ill. In addition, drink lots of water to stay hydrated.
• Use the soap and ensure that you wash your hands often.
• Wear a face mask if you’re already feeling unwell, although you may be subject to a few awkward stares.

Hazard 5: Ear pain

Anyone who has ever been in an airplane has felt the effects of a ‘full’ ear when you change altitudes- ie: when you’re ascending on descending a flight. So, the idea is you need to equalize the air pressure by getting as much air as possible.

How do I prevent this?

• Swallow and/or yawn: Probably the easiest and oldest trick in the book, but is still works
• Try to avoid sleeping when you’re landing or taking off
• Take lots of water

Like these tips? Share them with someone who finds this useful and leave your ideas in the comments section!