Flying is physically a lot more stressful than many people realise. And there is more to the problem than time zones. Modern jet aircraft are artificially pressurised at an altitude pressure of around 1,500 to 2,000 metres. That means that when you are flying at an altitude of, say, 12,000 metres in a Boeing 747, the cabin pressure inside is what it would be if you were outside at a height of 1,500 to 2,000 metres above sea level. Most people live a lot closer to sea level than this, & to be rocketed almost instantly to a height of 2,000 metres, so far as their body is concerned, takes a considerable amount of adjustment. Fortunately, the human body is a remarkably adaptable organism, & for most individuals the experience is stressful, but not fatal. Although it might seem more practical to pressurise the cabin to sea level pressure, this is currently impossible.
Another problem is that if there were a rupture at, say 14,000 metres, with an interior pressure equal to that at sea level, there would be no chance for the oxygen masks to drop in the huge sucking process that would result from the air inside the cabin emptying through the hole in the aircraft. A 2,000 metres equivalent pressure at least gives passengers & oxygen masks a chance if this occurs. Inside the cabin, humidifiers & fragrance disguise all the odours of large numbers of people in a confined space. On a long flight you are breathing polluted air. What can you do to help your body survive the onslaught? First, you can loosen your clothing. The body swells in the thinner air of the cabin, so take off your shoes,wear loose shoes anyway, it can be agony putting tight ones back on at the end of the flight,, undo your belt, tilt your seat right back, put a couple of pillows in the lumbar region of your back & one behind your neck, & whether you are trying to sleep or simply rest, cover your eyes with a pair of air travel blinkers,ask the stewardess for a pair if you have not brought any with you,. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6962422
