What is plane flu?

Feeling unwell directly after a flight is often the cause of low humidity. Planes have a different atmospheric pressure than we are used to, which can cause the nasal passages to dry, leading to symptoms resembling flu.



"Plane flu," also colloquially known as the "post-flight flu," refers to the respiratory infections or general malaise travelers often experience shortly after a flight. Contrary to popular belief, it is rarely caused by "recycled air," as modern HEPA filters remove 99.9% of airborne bacteria and viruses. Instead, it is caused by extremely low humidity (often below 10-20%) which dries out the protective mucus membranes in your nose and throat, making you more susceptible to germs. Furthermore, high-touch surfaces like tray tables, armrests, and seatback pockets are breeding grounds for pathogens left by previous passengers. When you combine this with the physical stress of travel, disrupted sleep cycles, and the close proximity to hundreds of strangers in a confined space, the "plane flu" is essentially a perfect storm of environmental factors. Symptoms typically include nasal congestion, fatigue, headache, and a sore throat, usually appearing 24 to 48 hours after landing as the body reacts to the viral load encountered during the journey.

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Feeling unwell directly after a flight is often the cause of low humidity. Planes have a different atmospheric pressure than we are used to, which can cause the nasal passages to dry, leading to symptoms resembling flu.

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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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More Information for Travelers These symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headache, and fatigue. Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.

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Planes also have very little humidity and the dry air can irritate the mucous membranes of the throat.

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recent operation or injury where trapped air or gas may be present in the body (e.g. stomach ,bowel, eyes, face, brain) severe long term diseases that affect your breathing. breathlessness at rest. unresolved pneumothorax (punctured lung)

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Jet belly: (noun) the bloated state in which your stomach inflates post-flight. Also, a very unpleasant feeling. May also make you look like you're 3 months pregnant. So how does one prevent this jet belly? Well, it all depends on what you eat on the plane.

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Low air pressure during air travel also decreases the amount of oxygen in the air. This effect is modest and generally not noticeable for healthy travelers. For patients with significant lung disease, a small decrease in available oxygen can cause significant symptoms, especially with exercise.

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If you don't shower and bacteria and fungi do catch a ride back to your hotel with you, Tetro says you may end up depositing germs that aren't your own into your new space—particularly your bed.

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Jet lag is a temporary sleep disorder, but not temporary enough for many travelers. If you're flying from San Francisco to Rome for a 10-day trip, for example, it may take six to nine days to fully recover. That's because it can take up to a day for each time zone crossed for your body to adjust to the local time.

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High altitude is generally considered to be 2,400 metres (8000 feet) and above. Aircraft cabins are kept at a pressure approximately equivalent to between 1,800 to 2,400 metres; developing symptoms due to high altitude (altitude sickness) is not usual during flights for most people.

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In terms of the common cold, it is now well-accepted that acute respiratory infections are frequently experienced after air travel. So it's no surprise when we find ourselves getting sick after flying. Studies have found a high prevalence and wide array of respiratory viruses in people who have recently traveled.

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Takeoff and landing are widely considered the most dangerous parts of a flight.

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The cramped conditions and long periods of being less active on a flight can cause pain, stiffness or swelling of your legs. Being less active can lead to slow blood flow in your veins which increases your risk of developing a blood clot, known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT). DVTs most commonly form in the legs.

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It's possible that traveler's diarrhea may stem from the stress of traveling or a change in diet. But usually infectious agents — such as bacteria, viruses or parasites — are to blame. You typically develop traveler's diarrhea after ingesting food or water contaminated with organisms from feces.

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Eat Light. Contrary to popular belief, flying on an empty stomach doesn't help you combat air sickness. In fact, an empty stomach actually exacerbates symptoms. Eat a light meal such as crackers, fruit, and other light snacks.

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Accident statistics suggest that flying by night accounts for about 10% of the general aviation accidents, but 30% of the fatalities. That suggests night flying must be inherently more dangerous than aviating when the sun is up.

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