Drink (Water) to Your Health!

We all know how important it is to drink enough water. Dehydration can cause all kinds of problems including not only thirst but also nausea (like you need that on a flight), exhaustion, muscle and joint aches, angina, migraine headaches, restlessness, confusion, and anxiety. And when we’re flying, it’s very easy to become dehydrated.

According to Dr. Parvez Dara, who, in addition to being a medical doctor is also a Master Certified Flight Instructor and a member of the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators with an Airline Transport Pilot rating, “At altitude, air pressure is low, the water vapor content is low and compensatory hyperventilation (increased rate of breathing) is the norm. So there is excess water loss through breathing—the exchange of dry air for moist breath.” As a result, our cells lose water and slow down their function.

The most damaging effects of all this are in the brain, so it’s imperative for pilots to stay hydrated. But it’s important for passengers’ health and comfort as well. My own general rule is to drink 8 ounces of water for every hour in flight. And do remember that drinking alcohol—whether in a plane or on the ground—is additionally dehydrating. So if you’re going to drink alcohol, you need to drink more water as well.