Health in the Skies

How Aviation Professionals Navigate Wellness Challenges

Aviation professionals face unique health challenges that the general population rarely encounters. As Michelle Stiles, a flight attendant base lead and wellness coach explains, aviation workers are essentially "shift workers on steroids," constantly fighting against their body's natural rhythms while managing the physical demands of their role. The conversation around health in aviation is surprisingly underdeveloped. Despite rigorous safety protocols and training, there's a significant gap when it comes to supporting the physical and mental wellbeing of those who keep our skies safe. Aviation professionals experience disrupted sleep patterns, irregular meal times, dehydration at altitude, physical fatigue, and the mental stress of maintaining high performance in an industry where mistakes can have serious consequences.

Michelle's journey illustrates this perfectly. Despite being intentionally health-conscious, she experienced severe physical symptoms including extreme eczema while flying long-haul routes internationally. She even recalls experiencing true fatigue so debilitating that she slept for four days straight after an ultra-long-haul flight - something completely out of character for someone known for her vibrant energy. This demonstrates how even the most health-conscious aviation professionals can struggle with the physical demands of the job. The "Flight Attendant 15" is a common phenomenon where new cabin crew gain weight in their first months of flying. This happens primarily because of easy access to galley snacks combined with extreme fatigue, which triggers cravings for simple sugars. When you're exhausted on a red-eye flight at 2 AM, that third pack of Oreos becomes incredibly tempting. Michelle advocates for realistic preparation and planning - bringing healthy alternatives like dates that can satisfy sugar cravings while providing better nutritional value. One of the most significant health challenges for aviation professionals is managing their circadian rhythm when constantly changing time zones and shift patterns. Michelle offers practical advice: get exposure to bright light whenever you wake up (regardless of time), use consistent scents and routines to signal to your body when it's time to wake or sleep, and employ techniques like reading novels (not work materials) before bed and consciously relaxing facial muscles to help induce sleep. The industry has traditionally focused almost exclusively on safety procedures while overlooking the human element - that flight crew, cabin crew, and ground staff are all humans with biological needs. Michelle and her business partner Melanie are working to bridge this gap through their collaborative venture between Healthy Aviator and Stiles Coaching, focusing on gut health, nutrition, movement, sleep patterns and mental wellbeing for aviation professionals. Their approach emphasizes "habits and flexible discipline" - teaching aviation professionals to adapt their health practices to unpredictable schedules and environments. This might mean doing a quick five-minute workout in a hotel room before an ultra-long-haul flight, finding healthy food alternatives when meal prep spoils due to unexpected delays, or creating consistent sleep and wake routines despite irregular hours. For those considering entering the aviation industry, Michelle offers balanced advice: it's a magical industry that provides incredible opportunities and experiences, but it comes with significant physical challenges. Being prepared and proactive about health management is essential for sustainable success in aviation. Understanding your body's needs through appropriate testing (gut microbiome testing, hormone testing, annual blood panels) can help aviation professionals support their unique requirements. The conversation around health in aviation is finally beginning to emerge. Airlines are becoming more curious about supporting employee wellness but often don't know where to start or who to turn to. This represents both a gap and an opportunity - for airlines to prioritize employee wellness as an essential component of operational excellence, and for aviation professionals to advocate for their health needs in an industry that demands peak performance.