For many people, the thought of hopping on a 13-hour flight is pretty bad. But some airlines are now gearing up for nonstop flights of 20 hours or more, known as ultra-long-haul flights.
Qantas has ordered aircraft that will allow the Australian airline to offer non-stop flights from Sydney and Melbourne to New York and London.
Some might think that nonstop flights are convenient. Others may feel their stress levels skyrocketing.
Getting on a plane can be stressful from the start: getting to the airport on time, navigating through huge unfamiliar terminals, language barriers, security, and then getting on that plane with hundreds of strangers for all those hours with what seems like no way out.
You might think that the longer the flight, the worse it gets. Well, the effects of flying are different for both the body and the mind, and they start with your level of physical and mental health.
Mental health: ultra-long-haul flights and anxiety
If you have a fear of flying, known as aviophobia or aerophobia, being on a plane is a particularly harrowing experience.
There are two general groups of people who are afraid of flying: First, there are those who have panic disorder, or agoraphobia, a fear of crowded spaces, says Richard McNally, a psychology professor at Harvard University. Then there are people who fear that the plane will crash.
“Those in the first group usually have a history of panicking in places where ‘escape’ is inconvenient or difficult, such as subways, airplanes, or crowded stores. And those in the second group harbor many misconceptions about how common it is. crashes,” says McNally. .
But once you’re in the air, the difference between a 13-hour flight and a 20-hour flight may not be that significant.
“Any anxiety fearful people may have about boarding the plane will likely subside as those feared events don’t materialize,” says McNally. “Even panic attacks themselves are not dangerous and go away on their own.”
There are therapies and medications to help; ask your doctor for advice.
Physical health: jet lag
One of the main physical side effects of flying, whether on a long-haul or ultra-long-haul trip, is jet lag.
Jet lag occurs when a person crosses two or more time zones. It can throw your circadian rhythm, your body’s internal clock, out of sync and cause difficulty sleeping, as well as problems with memory and concentration.
For every hour of time difference, a person may need a day to adjust, says Jochen Hinkelbein, professor of Emergency Medicine at University Hospital Cologne and vice president of the German Society for Aerospace Medicine.
It gets worse when a person makes a return trip, crossing multiple time zones, in a short period of time.
That’s when your wake-sleep rhythm becomes “completely messed up,” says Hinkelbein.
The UK’s NHS recommends that you switch your sleep schedule to the new time zone as quickly as possible and go outside during the day because natural light will help you adjust.
Oxygen supply in an airplane
The amount of oxygen in an airplane is the same as on the ground. But when you fly at high altitudes, the air pressure in the cabin affects how oxygen is absorbed into your blood.
Your blood oxygen level should be between 95-100%, but that can drop when you’re in the air. That’s not a problem for most healthy people.
But if you have an existing condition, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), you may already start your flight with a lower blood oxygen level, and then see that level drop further during the flight.
“Someone with COPD might start with 92% [blood oxygen] on the ground and end up with 70% on the plane,” says Hinkelbein.
Low blood oxygen can lead to hypoxemia, which can cause headaches, shortness of breath, fast heartbeat, cough, wheezing, confusion, and a bluish color to the skin, nails, and lips.
In-flight exercise
Qantas says its new ultra-long-haul planes will have more spacious seats in “economy” and “premium economy” cabins. There will also be a “wellness zone” in the center of the plane to ensure people can stretch their legs, the airline says.
Movement is important to help prevent health problems, such as blood clots or deep vein thrombosis.
Blood clots dissolve on their own, but if part of a clot breaks loose and travels to the lungs, it can cause a blockage or pulmonary embolism, and that can be fatal.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that the longer a person remains immobile, the greater the risk of blood clots and deep vein thrombosis.
And the risk increases with age, for example, from the age of 40. Other risks include obesity, recent surgery or injury, use of estrogen-containing birth control pills, hormone replacement therapy, recent pregnancy or childbirth, cancer or recent cancer treatment, and varicose veins, the CDC says.
How to stay healthy during the flight
Aerospace medicine expert Jochen Hinkelbein recommends some basic steps to stay healthy in flight.
First, if you have an underlying health condition, you should talk to your doctor before you fly and make a plan about when to take any routine medications. Changing time zones can confuse normal routines, so it’s important to be aware of the time in the city you left.
Second, Hinkelbein says you should go for a walk every two hours during your flight.
Also, drink about 100 milliliters of water every hour; that will keep you hydrated but also encourage you to get up and walk to the bathroom.
