Why is traveling hard on your body?

How come? “The pressure, temperature and oxygen levels in the cabin fluctuate, and the humidity level is lower than it is at sea level,” says Matthew Goldman, MD. All of those things can mess with some of your body's normal functions.



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The effects of flying on the human body vary from mild skin dryness to more severe problems like deafness. Flying increases the risk of catching a cold, dehydration, aging faster, reduced alertness, increased risk of diseases like cancer, fuzzy thinking, and many others.

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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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Risks Associated with Flying
  • You may be at risk for developing Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) ...
  • Your blood pressure could rise. ...
  • You might develop an earache or temporary hearing loss. ...
  • You may become dehydrated. ...
  • You could experience jet lag.


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Nerves and tension can cause muscles to tense, resulting in pain following a flight.

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When we travel our bodies endure a lot of stress, says Gretchen Genato, a nurse practitioner at Cedars-Sinai's Playa Vista Urgent Care. Stress can decrease your immune system, making you susceptible to illness.

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Just the idea of going to a new place may bring on feelings of fear, uncertainty, and extreme nervousness. This anxiety can prevent you from enjoying new places, seeing new things, or even visiting loved ones who live far away. While travel anxiety isn't an official diagnosis, it is a common cause of anxiety.

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Daytime fatigue, insomnia and mood changes are common symptoms. 2. Hearing loss • Whether you're in first class or economy, airplane ear will likely get to you; it does not discriminate. Remember the pressure inside your ears when a plane lands and takes off or when there is a sudden change in altitude?

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Jet lag symptoms usually occur within a day or two after traveling across at least two time zones. Symptoms are likely to be worse or last longer the farther you travel. This is especially true if you fly east. It usually takes about a day to recover for each time zone crossed.

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It's a new landscape, a foreign language, a different culture and new people. You'll never be more exposed to new things. As a result, you'll have to adapt to your new surroundings. This will broaden your perceptions and force you to become more open-minded.

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But when you pack your bags, keep digestive health in mind. Tummy problems like diarrhea, constipation, and indigestion are all-too-common travel companions. Travel disrupts many of the body's natural rhythms, including digestion says Dr.

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Regular travels to new places helps us to feel happier and keeps the brain active, as we connect with new people and ideas. Exploring feeds your creativity and awareness of the world around you; it's good for the mind and the soul.

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Travel can be a relaxing escape, but it can also be stressful and affect your mental health. Travel-related stress can spark mood changes, depression, and anxiety. Travel can worsen symptoms in people with existing mental illness.

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Hodophobia is the medical term for an extreme fear of traveling. Some people call it “trip-a-phobia.” It's often a heightened fear of a particular mode of transportation, such as airplanes.

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Summary: People who frequently travel 15 or more miles from home report better overall health. People who travel more outside of their local area feel that they are healthier than those who stay closer to home, finds a new study led by UCL researchers.

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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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Generally, it takes one to two days to recover from jet lag for each time zone crossed. There are ways to minimize the effects of jet lag and speed up the recovery process.

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How to Recover After Travel
  1. Hydrate. The re-circulated air in airplanes is notorious for being drying to the body. ...
  2. Fire Up Your Core. ...
  3. Stretch It Out. ...
  4. Move It, Lymph! ...
  5. Epsom Salt Soak or Regular Bath. ...
  6. Rescue Boost by doTERRA Essential Oils. ...
  7. Get a Massage or an Acupuncture Treatment.


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How to Shake Off Post-Travel Fatigue
  1. Prep for a calm return. ...
  2. Practice self-care to avoid post-travel fatigue. ...
  3. Don't cram too much into the trip. ...
  4. Maximize your exposure to natural light. ...
  5. Take your time getting home. ...
  6. Schedule in recovery time. ...
  7. Give yourself something to look forward to.


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Although being on vacation may help to relieve stress and improve mood, the positive effects may not always last on returning home. People may experience emotional discomfort, nostalgia, or an increase in stress when returning to their regular routine, work, or studies.

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