Here is a concise summary of the 10 things that happen to your body while traveling by plane:
1. **Blood Pooling**: Sitting for long periods can cause blood to pool in legs and feet, leading to discomfort. (**Solution:** Move regularly, exercise, and stay hydrated)
2. **Altered Taste**: Low air pressure and humidity affect sense of taste and smell, making food less flavorful. (**Exception:** Umami flavor is less affected)
3. **Reduced Saliva Production**: Slower metabolism and digestion lead to less saliva, potentially causing bad breath and dental issues. (**Solution:** Stay hydrated, carry mints)
4. **Dehydration**: Dry air in planes can dehydrate skin, eyes, and mouth. (**Solution:** Drink plenty of water before, during, and after the flight)
5. **Constipation**: Limited mobility and low-fiber airline food can cause constipation. (**Solution:** Stay active, choose fiber-rich foods)
6. **Hearing Damage**: Loud cabin noise and high-volume music can harm hearing. (**Solution:** Keep music volume low, especially during takeoff and landing)
7. **Ear and Digestive Discomfort**: Air expansion during ascent can cause ear and abdominal pain. (**Solution:** Suck on candy, yawn, or use disposable cups to ease ear pressure)
8. **Metabolic Slowdown**: Flying can slow down metabolism and digestion. (**Solution:** Stay hydrated, choose light meals)
9. **Cosmic Radiation Exposure**: Longer flights, especially near the poles, increase exposure to cosmic radiation. (**Mainly a concern for frequent flyers or crew members**)
10. **Jet Lag**: Crossing multiple time zones can cause fatigue, nausea, and gastrointestinal issues. (**Solution:** Avoid caffeine and alcohol on long flights, adjust your schedule to the destination time zone)
Here are the key facts extracted from the text, each with a number and in a short sentence format, excluding opinions:
**Physiological Effects**
1. **Blood Pooling**: Prolonged sitting during air travel can cause blood to pool in feet, ankles, and legs.
2. **Circulation Improvement**: Moving legs, exercising, and staying hydrated can improve circulation during flights.
3. **Taste Alteration**: Sense of taste is altered at high altitudes due to low air pressure, background noise, and low humidity.
4. **Umami Flavor Exception**: Umami flavor is not affected by flying and can even be intensified.
5. **Saliva Production Decrease**: Saliva production slows down during flights, potentially leading to dental issues.
6. **Digestive Expansion**: Air inside the body (e.g., intestines, stomach) expands as the plane ascends, potentially causing discomfort.
7. **Ear Pressure**: Ears can swell due to air pressure changes during ascent, leading to potential pain.
**Health and Comfort**
8. **Dehydration Risk**: Air inside a plane is very dry, leading to dehydration if not enough fluids are consumed.
9. **Cosmic Radiation Exposure**: Flights, especially longer ones and those closer to the poles, expose passengers to higher levels of cosmic radiation.
10. **Hearing Protection**: Listening to music at high volumes during flights, especially takeoff and landing, can damage hearing.
11. **Constipation Risk**: Prolonged sitting and low-fiber airline meals can lead to constipation.
12. **Toothache in Sensitive Teeth**: Changes in air pressure can cause toothaches in teeth with pre-existing conditions.
**Travel Tips**
13. **Hydration Importance**: Drinking plenty of water before, during, and after flights is crucial.
14. **Avoid High-Volume Music**: Especially during takeoff and landing to protect hearing.
15. **Adjust Schedule for Jet Lag**: If possible, adjust your schedule according to your destination's time zone to minimize jet lag effects.