Most of us already know that flying can cause a certain number of harmful effects to our health. BuzzFeed recently posted a short and quick-to-the-point video on their Facebook page highlighting 7 harmful effects of flying.
We’ve listed down the 7 harmful effects for your reading pleasure.
1. Studies suggest that frequent fliers such as pilots and flight attendants face double the risk of developing melanoma compared to the general population. Plane windows do not sufficiently block the harmful UV rays which are more powerful at higher altitude.
2. About a third of your taste buds go numb during a flight. The cool, dry cabin air evaporates nasal mucus and your membrane becomes swollen from cabin pressurisation which makes your taste buds go numb, making it more difficult to taste your food.
3. At cruising altitudes, your blood absorbs less oxygen which can cause sleepiness, dizziness, fatigue and a lack of mental alertness. The decrease air pressure in a plane can also cause gas to expand in your body, causing discomfort.
4. Sitting for a long time decreases blood flow and causes blood to pool in your lower extremities which causes your muscles to stiffen and increases risk of blood clots.
5. There’s a risk of altitude induced decompression sickness in flight. One symptom is joint pain. Risk is increased if you’ve gone scuba diving. You should wait at least 24 hours after diving to fly.
6. Crossing two or more time zones can give you jet lag as it takes your brain longer to catch up to a new pattern of day and night. The effects are less prominent when flying east to west because you are gaining daylight.
7. You are exposed to cosmic radiation at higher altitudes. Some studies suggest that frequent fliers like pilots and flight attendants have a higher risk of getting cancer due to radiation.
Watch the video from BuzzFeed here:
Homepage Highlight Photo Credit: Swaminathan, Flickr
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