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Arrive Healthy! Reduce Airplane Stress | John Douillard's LifeSpa

3,281 views · Published 14 November 2012 · 2:56 · Indexed 4 October 2026

Channel: John Douillard · 2012 · Education

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When I worked for the New Jersey Nets, I traveled 17 days out of each month for the 2000 NBA season. The job was great, but I felt the travel took years off my life.

I remember waking up in hotel rooms swollen. My eyes were puffy, the ring on my finger was tight, and my feet were still swollen from the plane ride.

I remember looking in the mirror and saying, I think I have aged 10 years in just a few months. 

I was highly motivated to figure out why this was happening to me, and how to mitigate the insidious stress of air travel. 

You may be surprised to learn the many health risks associated with air travel. The good news is, I've compiled some effective strategies to buffer these risks. Adding just a few simple tips to your air travel routine will help lessen the impact of flying, and help you feel more vibrant during and after your trips.
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Altitude Shock

If you enter a plane at sea level, the cabin quickly pressurizes to 8,000 feet above sea level. If you are flying over the Rocky Mountains, the cabin will pressurize to 10,000 feet. 

I live in Colorado at 5000 feet, and when people drive to the nearby mountain towns, which average about 8000 feet above sea level, it is extremely common for them to get altitude sickness, which can be life-threatening. Even the most fit athletes who train at altitude can tell the difference when they climb to 10,000 feet.

In a plane, this altitude change happens in just a couple of minutes. Ever wonder why it is so easy to fall asleep in a plane? It is likely because the oxygen has been literally sucked out of your brain as the cabin is being pressurized.

The most instant effect of altitude shock is dehydration. Normally, the average person loses 2.5 quarts of water per day, and this rises significantly with air travel. 

I remember treating an airline pilot who complained of dry skin. I thought, How bad could it be? He showed me his skin, and when he would rub it, a white cloud of dry skin would literally fall to the floor.

When the body is repeatedly subjected to such drastic altitude changes, the effects become chronic. Chronic sub-clinical dehydration will first dry out the outer skin and then dry out the skin associated lymph beneath the skin. When this dries out, it affects the flow of the lymphatic system, compromising its function of draining toxins and circulating white blood cells around the body for immunity.


Air Travel Survival Tools

1. Pre-Hydrate
For 1-2 days before you fly, make every effort to drink 1/2 your ideal body weight in ounces of water per day (for example, if you weigh 140 pounds, make an effort to drink 70 ounces of water per day). The day of the flight, sip hot water every ten minutes throughout the day. If you are really affected by air travel, you can also do this for a few days before the flight.

2. Shilajit
The Sherpas of the Himalayas ate this herb regularly to support the blood's ability to carry oxygen more efficiently. Now, its active ingredient, called Fulvic acid, has been found by scientists to support oxygen and energy transport. Consider taking this herb around travel days. You can read more about its effects and benefits in my newsletter article, "Researchers Rediscover Longevity Herb." LINK.

Read more at http://lifespa.com/ArriveHealthy

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