Gut Health, Bowel Movements, & Your Aviation Career

Recently I’ve been working with several pilots who have suffered for years with diverticulitis.  Diverticulitis is a condition caused by too little fiber intake.  The intestinal lining eventually becomes inflamed and can tear and become infected.  Waste gets lodged in the intestinal lining causing infection. 

Due to constant circadian rhythm shifts experienced by airline professionals daily bowel movements may not occur.  In addition, dehydration is a real factor among airline pilots, flight attendants, aircraft maintenance technicians and nearly everyone in the aviation field.  When dehydration occurs, constipation can also take place. The strain that happens when trying to move waste out of the body causes the tear in the intestinal lining.

All of the airline pilots I have worked with that experienced diverticulitis had career limiting situations where surgery was needed or Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Medical Exam Certification was lost.  Getting back to work after experiencing diverticulitis is a very challenging situation and can wreck your career.

I understand how hard it is to find fruits and vegetables on trips. And it’s even harder to carry them and keep them fresh. So what can you do to help maintain good gut health and frequent bowel movements?

1.  Focus and prioritize your hydration

2.  Do your best by focusing on 3 half cup servings of fruits and vegetables per day

3.  Learn to read labels on packaged foods.  Choose foods that contain at least 3 grams of fiber per 100 calories.

Good news for the pilots I’ve worked with…they each regained their FAA medical back and continue to enjoy long careers.  If you suffer from constipation or straining while pooping or you know you’re not getting enough fiber in your diet, it is a good time for us to talk!