What do long haul flights do to your body?

Ugh, long haul flights… just thinking about them makes my back ache! What do they do to your body? Let me tell you, it’s not pretty. I once flew from London to Sydney – 22 hours! Twenty-two! By the time I landed, I felt like I’d been run over by a truck. Seriously.

First off, the dehydration is brutal. You’re up in the air, the air’s dry as a bone, and you’re probably not drinking enough water because, well, who wants to queue for the loo every five minutes? And even if you try to stay hydrated, it’s a battle. I remember on that Sydney flight, my lips were so cracked I felt like a desert lizard.

Then there’s the muscle soreness. Prolonged sitting, right? Duh. But it’s not just a little stiffness. It’s a deep, aching kind of soreness that settles in your lower back and your neck – at least that’s what I always get. My chiropractor — bless her soul — says it’s from the cramped posture. She also reckons the cabin pressure doesn’t help, but honestly, I struggle to even understand what she’s explaining sometimes, so many technical terms!

And don’t even get me started on the digestive issues. That altered schedule throws your stomach completely off. I mean, I swear I get indigestion just thinking about airplane food – never mind actually eating it. The cabin pressure doesn’t help either, adding to the bloating and general feeling of being unwell. I’ve heard some studies, something about how the air pressure affects your gut bacteria… I think? I’d have to look it up again to be sure. It’s enough to make you want to stick to bland crackers and water for the entire flight, which isn’t exactly a culinary delight.

And the seats? Don’t even. The lack of legroom and that pitiful recline – it’s torture! Makes the whole experience so much worse. You’re basically crammed into a metal tube for hours on end. It’s a recipe for misery! I’d really, really love to find some way around this. Maybe investing in a good quality neck pillow or one of those inflatable seat cushions next time.

So yeah, long-haul flights are a recipe for disaster. You emerge feeling dehydrated, achy, and probably slightly nauseous. Next time I’m going to attempt to make it a bit more bearable somehow. Any tips, anyone?