Do you know that a good hydration during the flight will help you to feel well and less heavy?
Did you know that in 2013 there were 32 million flights registered and 3 billion passengers? This number will double in the past 20 coming years, that means 7 billions passengers by 2034! Therefore, it is important to be aware of the problems that can arise for certain passengers on long distance flights.
In fact, apart from the fatigue and jet lag that most people experience, prolonged immobility and changes in environmental conditions on high altitude flights can increase the risk of blood clots forming in certain people, particularly in the deep calf veins. This can cause a variety of different symptoms in both clinical expression and in severity: pain in the calf, redness/warmth in the affected leg, swelling, pain caused by extended the foot upwards, but also (more severe symptoms that are indicative of a pulmonary embolism) chest pain, shortness of breath, increased pulse rate, etc.
Don't be like me and assume just because you have an early morning flight that no one is going to be at the airport. This is the single most important advice I could ever give someone. Don't underestimate the airport! Aim for arriving two hours before your flight at least. Even if you happen to get through security fairly quickly, it's better to have time on your side to unwind, grab something to eat and have your head screwed on straight than running around like crazy afraid you'll miss your flight!
The airport staff and crew work really hard day in and day out to ensure your safety and theirs, so cut them some slack if it's taking a little bit longer to get from point A to point B. I know it may be super annoying to deal with in the moment, but don't project your bad mood onto someone else! This goes for anything, but especially flying! Flight attendants have a pretty thankless job, so when you treat them with kindness and respect, they'll return the favor!
