While flying is the fastest mode of transportation, the experience of being on a plane isn’t always enjoyable.
Strange Sensations Your Body Feels While Flying
1. Suddenly Feeling Your Shoes… Tight
This happens because your feet may swell.
On a plane, you obviously can’t move around and stretch your legs comfortably. The lack of movement can cause blood to pool in your legs, leading to swelling and even blood clots.
Generally, swelling isn’t a major issue if it only lasts a short time. However, if you’re feeling uncomfortable (especially on long flights), consider standing up and moving around a bit (like going to the restroom) after a few hours.
2. Ears Feeling Clogged
In addition to dizziness, your ears may feel clogged when you board a plane, especially if you have a cold or sinus infection that increases mucus production during pressure changes. So, try to avoid long flights when you’re sick.
Additionally, prolonged flying can cause ear pain and reduced hearing. To alleviate these symptoms, try chewing gum.
3. Dry, Itchy Skin
The environment on a plane can disrupt your skin’s balance. The primary cause is low humidity, which leads to dryness. The stress of flying can also trigger breakouts. Moreover, sitting for extended periods can cause puffiness and cracking.
The solution is to drink plenty of water and bring moisturizer.
4. Bad Breath
It turns out that flying can also lead to bad breath, and this is a more common issue than you might think.
The reason is that bodily systems—including saliva production—slow down when we’re on a plane. This allows bacteria in the mouth to thrive and cause odor, not to mention leftover food stuck in your teeth exacerbating the situation.
Bad breath is quite common on long flights, so remember to bring a toothbrush.
5. Dizziness
While flying, you might feel a bit dizzy due to the constant changes in cabin pressure. Additionally, if you’re in bad weather, you may also experience nausea—similar to motion sickness.
6. Strange Tastes in Food
Depending on individual experiences, many people find airplane food doesn’t taste very good and lacks flavor.
This isn’t necessarily because airplane food is bad, but rather due to pressure changes that diminish our taste perception. Studies show that taste perception decreases by at least 30% while flying. However, staying hydrated can help improve this issue.
7. Sudden Toothache
Many people worldwide have reported experiencing toothaches while flying. The reason is again due to pressure: it pushes air into cavities, forcing teeth inward. This is particularly likely to happen if you’ve recently had dental work and your dentist hasn’t sealed your cavities properly.
8. Vague Feelings of Fear
Fear of flying is not uncommon. However, even those who aren’t afraid may feel more anxious or uncomfortable while flying.
The reason, as pointed out by psychologists, is that when we leave our safe zone (in this case, the ground), anxiety is natural. Therefore, it’s recommended to focus on deep breathing or to watch a good movie or read something engaging during the flight to help distract from this fear.
