What’s worse than being stuck on an 8-hour long-haul flight?...
Having an upset stomach during said flight. Long flights can be a real drag – from the constant popping ears to crackly headphones, and bloating. The latter is such a common problem that several passengers experience stomach pain and nausea during a flight, while some are left feeling extra gassy.
We’ve all had our fair share of uncomfortable flights, but why does it happen? Read more: Airline etiquette: The complete guide to eating on a plane Both Dr. Melissa Hershman, gastroenterologist at Oregon Health and Science University, and Dr. Baha Moshiree, gastroenterologist at Atrium Health Wake Forest in Charlotte, N.
C, say it’s simply because of air pressure. We swallow air every time we eat and drink, causing our digestive tracts to fill with gas. When we board a plane and it departs, cabin pressure drops, and the normal amount of gas expands – similar to what happens to your favourite bag of chips.
Dr. Moshiree says that being at high altitude doesn’t help, since it seems to slow down the muscle contractions that keep the contents of your digestive system moving. What’s worse, Dr.
Hershman emphasises is that passengers on a long-haul flight experience this worse, since physical activity is the key to keep the gastrointestinal tract “moving along.” No one wants to be stuck with a gassy stomach on an 8-hour long flight to your most-awaited city holiday, so what can we do to prevent or cope? Expert.
