Flying is an activity that people generally engage in only once or twice a year, but for some of us, it is practically a part of life itself.
From business trips, international meetings, long-haul holidays, and frequent airport transfers, it is almost difficult to differentiate flying from everyday life.
Now, air travel is not a health risk, at least for healthy individuals who travel occasionally. But for frequent flyers, have you ever wondered what all that time in the air is doing to your heart? Sure, jet lag, tiredness, and swollen ankles are kind of expected after a flight, but the truth is that flying frequently tends to place some major demands on our cardiovascular system, and there are several things that can happen if you spend a significant amount of time air travelling. Keeping this in mind, let’s take a closer look at how frequent flying affects our heart health and what you can do to minimise its risks.
Why does flying put extra stress on the heart?
The thing about aircraft cabins is that, although they are pressurised to accommodate the heights at which they fly, they cannot quite replicate the conditions that exist at sea level. This means oxygen levels are slightly lower than your body is accustomed to on the ground, so your heart has to work harder to deliver oxygen to the rest of your body. For most people, this is not a problem, but for those already with a cardiovascular condition, the change in pressure can trigger symptoms or worsen existing conditions. Another thing worth mentioning is that air travel itself can be quite stressful. Think about it: you rush through airports, deal with delays, carry tons of luggage at a time, and adjust your schedule, your entire life, around flying and travelling. All of these things can very easily heighten your stress levels, which, over time, affect your blood pressure and overall health.
How do jet lag and sleep disruption affect your heart health?
Jet lag is nothing more than a few days of feeling tired and out of sync with your body. However, for people who cross multiple time zones each month, its effects can range from mild to severe rather quickly. Our bodies actually rely somewhat heavily on our circadian rhythm to regulate our blood pressure, heart rate, hormone production, and metabolism. So, if you keep repeatedly disrupting this internal clock, it will result in cardiometabolic problems such as hypertension and obesity, and even an increased risk of cardiovascular disease in general.
In a similar vein, poor sleep quality, irregular meal times, and chronic fatigue can compound over time, creating conditions far from appropriate for maintaining your long-term heart health. If you want to prevent this problem, the best thing you can do for yourself is to prioritise your sleep before and after travel, avoid excessive alcohol during flights, stay hydrated, and adjust to your destination’s local schedule as clearly as possible to minimise circadian disruption.
What is DVT and why does it matter for cardiovascular patients?
Talk to any cardiovascular specialist, and the biggest concern they will share about air travel and heart health is Deep Vein Thrombosis, otherwise known as DVT. This happens because prolonged sitting reduces blood flow to the lower limbs, thereby increasing the likelihood of clot formation. In some rare cases, such a clot can even break away and travel all the way up to your lungs, causing a life-threatening pulmonary problem.
As for how this relates to your heart organ, the risk of DVT increases if you’re already struggling with some cardiovascular diseases, obesity, have a previous history of blood clots, have gone through any recent surgery, or have certain medical conditions. For frequent flyers, it is especially important to watch for DVT. Fortunately, preventing this problem is quite easy: simply standing up regularly, stretching your legs, performing seated ankle exercises, staying hydrated, and wearing compression stockings on longer journeys can all help maintain healthy blood circulation.
How can you be a frequent flyer with a heart condition?
Having a heart condition does not automatically disqualify you from air travel. In fact, many people with stable cardiovascular disease can fly safely without major issues. The keyword here is “stable”, as problems tend to arise when a condition is either poorly controlled or when someone is attempting to travel too soon after a cardiac event. Say you are someone with a condition like unstable angina or decompensated heart failure, or who may have experienced some serious cardiac complications recently. In that case, you will need to get medical clearance before flying, as failing to do so and flying anyway can pose a massive risk to your health.
You will also need to manage your medications based on how long you’ll be travelling, as changing time zones, chaotic schedules, or airport disruptions might pose unnecessary risks to your health. Before travelling, just make sure that your medications are packed in your carry-on luggage and that you understand how time zone changes can affect your dosing schedules. Better yet, if you are a frequent flyer and are struggling with heart disease, always stay in touch with a good, reputable cardiologist in London to get the green light.
Fly safely, but with confidence
At the end of the day, the main issue with flying frequently is how you somewhat accumulate a lot of bad habits that affect your body negatively – things like prolonged sitting, dehydration, poor sleep, time zone changes, disrupted routines, and lowered physical activity. For most healthy people, even frequent flying may not cause issues so long as there is a balance between the good and the bad, but for those with heart conditions, it is important to err on the side of caution. That said, with just a little bit of planning and seeking medical advice when needed, you can technically go a long way towards protecting your cardiovascular health without sacrificing something that is already a major part of your everyday life. So, the next time you’re flying, think a little about your heart too and make some positive changes to take good care of it.
