Is Skydiving Safe for Your Body?

Thrill seekers may feel drawn to it but what about the effects on your brain and stomach? Find out if skydiving is safe.

By Sara Novak
May 7, 2023 1:00 PM
Tandem skydiving
(Credit:vuk8691/Shutterstock)

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According to the United States Parachuting Association (USPA), around half a million people jump from airplanes for the first time each year. The average skydiver jumps from 13,000 feet, free falling for around a minute at 110 mph. Once the parachute opens, there’s typically around five minutes to take in the views as you descend towards Earth.

It’s a wild ride — one of the biggest adrenaline rushes that you can legally find. But your body wasn’t designed to barrel out of airplanes; so it begs the question: during this incredible adventure, what’s happening to the body? 

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