How do you stay healthy on a plane?

10 Tips for Plane Travel
  1. Drink more water. Hydration will help you handle anything air travel sends your way. ...
  2. Drink less alcohol. Alcohol presents a double threat to airplane wellness. ...
  3. Pack for hydration. ...
  4. Prepare your immune system. ...
  5. Flex your calves. ...
  6. Stretch everything else. ...
  7. Sleep near the window. ...
  8. Make your own legroom.




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According to a review in 2022, combining data from 18 studies, the longer you travel, the greater the risk of blood clots. The authors calculated there was a 26% higher risk for every two hours of air travel, starting after four hours.

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Compression socks prevent swelling
Being able to stand up and walk around or stretching is limited on a plane; therefore, promoting blood circulation is necessary. “Compression socks help to increase circulation, thus preventing swelling in your lower legs and feet,” he explains.

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Below are some tips to help prevent or manage jet lag.
  1. Adjust to a new time zone by following the local sleep and meal schedules as soon as possible.
  2. Listen to your body and rest when needed.
  3. Avoid drinking too much alcohol.
  4. Eat well-balanced meals and avoid overeating.
  5. Exercise as much as you can.


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How to Stay Fresh on a Red-Eye or Long-Haul Flight
  1. Skin. Prep your skin with exfoliation. Keeping your skin hydrated actually starts at home, not on the plane, says, dermatologist Dr. ...
  2. Hair. Prevent “Post-Flight Flathead Syndrome” ...
  3. Nutrition. Drink up, the smarter way. ...
  4. Makeup. Prepare for a makeup touch-up.


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Your eyes, inner ear, and brain are sensing conflicting movement, creating motion-sickness symptoms. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, illness, certain medications, alcohol, anxiety, and stress can all make a person more susceptible to airsickness.

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Airplane passengers have an 80% chance of getting sick on a flight if they sit in the wrong spot, scientists have found. Data scientists traveled across the US on 10 transcontinental flights to investigate your risk of getting sick on a plane.

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Your best bet is water, a light pre-flight meal, and—if you know you're highly-affected during flights—Gas-Ex, which can help if your belly starts acting up, says Dr. Sam. Also make sure to go for a walk every now and then—either to the bathroom or just down the aisle. Moving around can help keep things...well...

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Prevention. Most people don't need to worry much about clots on short flights. But if you're already at risk for clots and you plan to take a plane trip that's longer than 6 hours, you can do a few things to avoid them. Get up and walk around every 2 to 3 hours.

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But as the flights get longer, the microbes on your skin can grow and that can get a bit smelly, says Tetro. If you do happen to pick up bacteria or fungi that's not your own, this may lead to itchiness and bumps on the skin and scalp. Showering after flights is probably a good thing—regardless of the length!

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Empties your energy tank
Air pressure is lower at higher altitudes, which means your body takes in less oxygen. Airlines “pressurize” the air in the cabin, but not to sea-level pressures, so there's still less oxygen getting to your body when you fly, which can make you feel drained or even short of breath.

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Enter compression socks. Yes, really. Your grandmother and marathon runners are on to something. These stockings help increase circulation and reduce the risk of swelling or worse deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and clotting on a long flight.

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