World's Most Futuristic Medical Check-Ups For Travellers

Among all the stresses of modern life, frequent flying is something we need to worry about. Olivia Falcon explains why, and tests the world’s most futuristic medical check-ups for travellers.

For most of us, the thrill of travel trumps the trials; those red, itchy eyes are quickly forgotten when we feel that blast of cool alpine air as we step off the plane. But have you ever stopped to consider the long-term effects that taking a flight might have on your health? If you were aware there was a certain amount of radiation involved in flying, you might be slightly uncomfortable. Especially, if you were to discover that the higher and closer you fly to the North Pole, the greater is your exposure to cosmic rays. To put this into context: a return trip from London to Beijing easily exceeds the 100-microsievert dose from a chest X-ray. While not a problem for most travellers, it’s definitely something frequent flyers should be aware of. And you might also think twice about the window seat if you knew there was a greater risk from UVA rays, which age skin and cause premature wrinkling. Throw in a cabin humidity level of about 10 percent compared to the 50 our bodies need, airplane food loaded with sugar and salt to compensate for the fact that altitude dulls our sense of taste, and a few glasses of wine to steady your nerves, and you’re heading towards Gobi Desert levels of dehydration. This raises blood pressure, increases the risk of DVT (deep-vein thrombosis) and clots, and causes problems for those with respiratory conditions such as asthma.