Flying 30,000ft in the sky is hardly natural for humans, so it’s unsurprising there are so many side effects from flying.From dehydration to altered taste buds, jetting off in a plane can affect the human body in different ways. Professor Adam Taylor, an expert in clinical anatomy at Lancaster University, revealed to The Conversation how air travel has such a big impact on the body, ‘due to the cabin pressure’.Body systems containing air, such as the digestive and respiratory systems, are affected the most. As cabin pressure falls compared with ground level, oxygen levels also decrease, which can have a greater impact on passengers with underlying health conditions.Other factors, like humidity, also play a part in how the human body reacts to such a big environmental change. Read on to discover just how a plane journey can affect your body. Plane travel comes with lots of bizarre side effects on the human body, from ‘mile-high bloating’ to iffy taste budsFaintingFainting accounts for around one in three in-flight medical emergencies, according to Professor Taylor – meaning it’s a common occurrence on flights. Dr Roger Henderson, an NHS GP and spokesman for Olbas, tells the Daily Mail: ‘Altered oxygen levels, combined with dehydration and sitting still for long periods, can also leave some people feeling unusually tired.’In some cases, particularly if someone is dehydrated, anxious or stands up too quickly after sitting for a while, blood pressure can briefly drop, causing dizziness or in extreme cases, even fainting.’He recommends staying well hydrated before and during the flight to avoid this risk as well as not drinking alcohol, among other tactics.’Most of these symptoms are temporary and settle soon after landing but taking a few simple precautions can make flying far more comfortable,’ the GP says.Taste budsTravelling 30,000ft in the air can be extremely dry, and this has a surprising effect on taste buds. ‘Many people notice that food seems to taste bland on a plane, and that’s not their imagination,’ says Dr Henderson.He explains how dry cabin air can reduce moisture in the nose and mouth, which makes it ‘harder for your taste buds and sense of smell to work properly’.Smell is ‘vital’ to our ability to taste things and the reduction in senses can make food seem less enjoyable when flying, with sweet and salty foods being particularly affected. ‘Interestingly, savoury or umami flavours often seem to be less affected, which is one reason why foods like tomato juice often seem to taste better in the air!’ Dr Henderson says. The dryness of cabin air can effect your senses, and in turn, your taste buds’Mile-high bloating’Many travellers will be able to relate to the horrible sensation of bloating that often happens when flying, but Dr Megan Rossi tells Boots there’s a ‘logical explanation’ for the sensation.’Essentially, as the plane ascends, the atmospheric pressure in the cabin changes and this means any air trapped in the gut expands, causing that all-too-familiar bloating and discomfort,’ she explains. ‘I call this ‘mile-high bloating’. This is the same phenomenon behind the ears popping, and water bottles and crisp packets inflating after take-off.’There are ways to avoid this feeling though, and Dr Rossi recommends not eating big meals on the day of travel and during the flight to reduce pressure on the gut. ‘Instead, try dividing your usual amount of food across five or six meals,’ she says.Drinking plenty of water, chewing with your mouth closed and avoiding ‘rich, heavy meals’ also helps. Airplane earPopping, aches and the feeling of pressure building up are all symptoms of a phenomenon that’s commonly called ‘airplane ear’.It is most frequently experienced when the plane is taking off or landing and occurs as a result of fast changes in altitude and air pressure.’Normally, a small passage called the Eustachian tube equalises the pressure between the middle ear and the outside world but if it can’t adjust quickly enough, particularly if you have a cold, allergies or sinus congestion, a pressure difference can build up, causing discomfort, muffled hearing or pain,’ the GP reveals. To avoid this, techniques like swallowing, yawning or sucking sweets can help to relieve the pressure.Dry skinAnother surprising side effect of flying is dry skin, and it’s all down to the humidity on board.’The humidity inside an aircraft cabin is often below 20 per cent, making it much drier than most indoor environments and this causes moisture to evaporate more quickly from your skin, lips and eyes, leaving them feeling dry, tight or irritated,’ Dr Henderson explains.’Staying well hydrated, applying a moisturiser before and after your flight, and avoiding too much alcohol can all help minimise these effects.’ Airplane ear is another effect travelling 30,000ft high can have on the bodyAnkle swellingAside from painful ears and altered taste buds, flying can have very physical effects on your legs and ankles. NHS GP Dr Asimah Hanif tells RTE swollen ankles are caused by ‘sitting down for prolonged periods of time which reduces blood flow to the legs’.To combat this, Dr Hanif advises moving around regularly during the journey and rotating your ankles regularly while sitting down. If the swelling is experienced alongside other concerning symptoms, the doctor urges travellers to seek medical attention. ‘If you experience swelling that only affects one leg and is accompanied by shortness of breath or any chest pain, you must seek urgent medical attention because that could potentially indicate that a blood clot has formed,’ she adds.