What happens to your body during turbulence on a plane - and how to reduce discomfort

The United Kingdom has recently experienced another bout of unstable weather, leading to numerous flight delays or cancellations. Some fortunate travelers who managed to take off found themselves heading to destinations not listed on their boarding passes, such as passengers flying from Stansted to Newquay who were ultimately diverted to Malaga.

Passengers consistently reported that the remainder of the flight and the attempts to land were some of the most unsettling experiences they had ever encountered due to turbulence. Turbulence occurs due to uneven air movement, which increases in frequency. While turbulence can be bothersome and uncomfortable, it's essential to understand that it's quite common and generally not a cause for concern as long as you remain seated with your seatbelt fastened, according to theconversation.com.

How the body detects and responds to turbulence

The body has an innate ability to orient itself in any environment. Spatial orientation refers to its understanding of the position of objects in terms of distance and direction. During a flight, this typically involves forward motion, climbing, various turns, and descending. However, turbulence disrupts this orientation, leading to confusion in the sensory signals received by the brain, resulting in bodily reactions or adjustments.

Turbulence transforms sound energy into electrical signals, which the brain interprets. Other structures responsible for maintaining balance and body position include the semicircular canals, which detect movement in vertical (side-to-side), horizontal, and front-to-back planes, discerning movements like nodding, swaying, and tilting from ear to shoulder. Connected to these canals are the utricle and saccule, which detect changes in movement and acceleration.

All of these devices utilize microscopic hair cells in a specialized fluid called endolymph, which moves along with the head, creating a sensation of motion. When an airplane encounters turbulence, this fluid shifts unpredictably. It takes 10 to 20 seconds for the fluid to stabilize its position while the brain attempts to interpret the situation.

During turbulence, the balance mechanism cannot distinguish between the airplane's movement and that of the head, causing the brain to perceive the airplane's motion as its own. However, this perception contradicts the visual input received, leading to sensory confusion.

The inner ear contributes to this confusion because, during flight, the primary sensory tool for perceiving the environment—vision and the horizon—is diminished.

Approximately 80% of spatial information during flight is obtained through vision. However, during turbulence, the only visual reference points are the seat in front or the airplane cabin, making the inner ear the dominant sensory signal to the brain, disrupting the vestibulo-ocular reflex, which aligns vision with balance or expected position.

The conflicting sensory signals often result in dizziness, sweating, as well as gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea and vomiting. Turbulence also leads to an elevated heart rate, which is already heightened during flight due to reduced oxygen saturation.

What about pilots?

Commercial pilots accrue thousands of hours of flight time, yet they are susceptible to the same forces as passengers. However, they have additional resources that most passengers lack. They can observe the landscape through cockpit windows, using the horizon as a reference point, and they can directly view what lies ahead.

If visibility is poor or the weather is overcast, their instruments offer additional visual cues regarding the aircraft's position. Nevertheless, pilots are not immune to turbulence's effects, as some studies indicate that up to 71% of trainee pilots report experiencing air sickness.

How to alleviate discomfort

Opting for a window seat can be helpful, and it's beneficial to gaze out of the window. This provides the brain with sensory input via visual pathways, helping to mitigate the effects of vestibular information. Additionally, sitting toward the front or over the wings can reduce turbulence effects.

Deep or rhythmic breathing can help alleviate motion sickness induced by turbulence. Focusing on breathing can soothe the nervous system. Additionally, avoiding alcohol is advisable. While alcohol might seem to calm nerves during turbulence, it can impair visual and auditory processing and increase the likelihood of vomiting.

For individuals suffering from motion sickness aggravated by turbulence, certain medications, such as specific antihistamines, can provide relief.

It's essential to bear in mind that although turbulence may be discomforting, airplanes are engineered to withstand the forces it generates. Moreover, many passengers, including frequent flyers, seldom encounter the most severe forms of turbulence. Pilots actively strategize routes to circumvent such conditions.