What happens to your body during a flight

Air pressure changes can cause passengers to experience build-ups of gas which lead to bloating, constipation and stomach pains

BA flight (PA)

If you’ve ever flown on a plane before, chances are you’ve suffered a few unpleasant symptoms.

A new infographic shows exactly how cramped conditions and constant pressure can create an environment that leads to dehydration and other illnesses.

Compiled by Comparetravelinsurance.com.au, it claims that catching a cold is over 100 times more likely when a person is travelling by plane due to the recirculated cabin air.

(Compare Travel Insurance (Compare Travel Insurance)

(Compare Travel Insurance (Compare Travel Insurance)

Meanwhile air pressure changes can cause passengers to experience build-ups of gas which lead to bloating, constipation and stomach pains.

In February a US senator announced that he wanted to bring in the "Holy Grail" of air travel: New rules which would give passengers more legroom.

Charles Schumer, a veteran New York politician, said he intended to fight against “encroachment on passengers’ leg space” on flights, which he claimed forces them to sit "like sardines".

"It’s no secret that airlines are looking for more ways to cut costs,” he told the Associated Press, “but they shouldn’t be cutting inches of legroom and seat width in the process… It’s time for the FAA [Federal Aviation Administration] to step up and stop this deep-seated problem from continuing.”