Why do you feel awful after a long flight?
You sat down for hours and barely moved, and you step off feeling like you've been through a washing machine. Headache, puffy feet, dry skin, foggy head.
A long flight puts your body in an odd environment, and several things pile on at once.
The air is extremely dry
Cabin humidity is typically below 20 percent and sometimes as low as 10. That's drier than most deserts. It dries out your nose, eyes, lips and skin quickly. Whether it dehydrates you overall is debated, but combined with fewer drinks than usual, it's not a good mix.
You're effectively at altitude
Aircraft cabins are pressurised to roughly 1,800 to 2,400 metres above sea level. At that height there's a little less oxygen in the air you breathe, which can add to tiredness and headaches.
Sitting still swells your legs
Fluid pools in your feet and ankles when you're seated for hours, which is why shoes feel tight when you land.
The extras don't help
Free wine, coffee, salty snacks and a disrupted body clock all pile on.
A FEW THINGS WORTH TRYING
Ask for a full bottle, not the tiny cup. You'll drink more without having to think about it.
Bring an empty bottle and fill it after security. It saves you waiting for the trolley.
Look after the dryness. Lip balm, moisturiser and a saline nasal spray make a real difference.
Move every hour or two. Walk the aisle, and do ankle circles in your seat.
Eat and drink to the destination clock. It helps your body clock adjust.
Pair a salty snack or electrolyte drink with water. The sodium helps you hold onto what you drink.
Go easy on the alcohol. It adds to dehydration and breaks up sleep.
If you get pain or swelling in one leg, chest pain or breathlessness after a long flight, seek urgent medical help, as these can be signs of a clot.
You can't fix a long flight, but you can make it much kinder.