I used to think that I was a good flyer, but recently, shorter flights (1 hour, 2 hours) have begun to feel very uncomfortable. I can't quite explain what I experience --- just a general feeling all-over discomfort that I assume is related to the rapid changes in air pressure. I also become very sensitive to smell and am always about ready to kill the person wearing cologne in front of me. Besides hydrating, are there any nutritional means to prime the body for weathering these unnatural changes in air pressure?
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I'm curious to see others response to this inquiry. I fly rotor wing medical transport for a living and find that I actually have an increased tolerance to the stressors of flight. It is said there are nine stresses to flight; hypobarometric pressure, hypoxia, fatigue, gravitational forces, noise, vibration, third spacing, dehydration, and thermal stress. Make sure you are well rested before your flight, bring hearing protection, wear comfortable loose clothing & dress in layers, hydration is very important. Begin increasing your water intake the day before your flight. Get up and move during your flight if you can. Not much can be done for gravitational forces other than wearing your belt and engaging your core muscles during takeoff and landing. Unfortunately unless you have access to supplemental oxygen you can't do much about the hypoxia. Same goes for the hypobarometric pressure and vibration. We work 24 hour shifts so I'm sure to get a good nights sleep before a shift and I find that a breakfast loaded with protein and good fats helps me. |
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