Extended air travel or long-distance flights can bring far off destinations near, but along comes boredom, uncomfortable seating and blood circulation problems.
Good blood circulation ensures a comfortable journey. The lymph system must receive constant blood circulation, while traveling by air. The lymph system is a network of blood vessels and nodes that transmit the fluid to different parts of the body. These nodes produce white blood corpuscles, which are essential to combat any sickness. Your lymph nodes swell up when you are sick, as your body is working overtime to produce its requirements. The lymph does not have a pump to transmit fluid like the heart and therefore, it only relies on the movement of the muscles to maintain the pressure within the system. Lymph fluids help in the improvement of the overall health. They help in blood circulation and when the blood vessels are contracted, the vital contents are squeezed through the contracted vessels. The lymph vessels then collect the leftovers and take them back into the system. They are then transmitted to all the important organs of the body. The lymph system also transmits the white blood corpuscles to the necessary parts of the body. Any part of the body that is injured, damaged or inflated needs white blood corpuscles and the only way to transmit these cells is through lymph fluids. Lymph fluids are only transmitted through muscle movement. In short, it means that you have to move around frequently to maintain the blood circulation throughout the body.
During air travel, movement is restricted for a longer duration, which is very harmful. Sometimes the cabin-crew guides you through this matter, via a preflight talk. To reduce stiffness, fatigue and discomfort during long distance flights, you can try some simple stretch exercises in-flight, as this can help lower the risk of venous thrombosis or clotting of blood. The blood clots are very dangerous as they can sometimes lead to heart attack, seizure or even coma. You can start off by doing some simple exercises like holding your carry bag as close to your body as possible, at a ninety-degree angle and then doing few biceps curls. That should give you a good workout. If you are good at balancing then you can place your carry bag on your ankles and do some leg lifts, so as to reduce pressure on your ankles. A small walk in the cabin can also be relaxing and it helps you stretch your legs. You can also try some hand stretches by placing the palms of your hands together and pushing them as hard as you can. Hold the position as long as possible or hold your arms out flat for sometime, balancing a book on top. Rest for a while and then repeat. But while doing these comfort tricks see that you don’t disturb your co-passengers.
Besides movement, you must drink fluids as much as you can to safeguard yourself from dehydration. Avoid smoking and drinking, as this can affect blood circulation. Avoid crossing your legs while you are seated, as it can stop the blood circulation to your legs. You must wear loose-fitting and comfortable clothes while flying on long distance flights. Compression stockings can help prevent swelling and increase circulation. You should only purchase these after seeking a doctor’s advice.