Staying Healthy in the Air

Sue Roe, Sales Assistant
at Rockton Software

Traveling is stressful, but so is getting ready to travel. By the time we get things squared away at home and at work in the days leading up to a trip, most of us board the plane already feeling tired and stressed. How many times have you told yourself, “I’ll just sleep on the plane?” Added to that is the illness-friendly environment of the aircraft itself. Here are a few really simple tips to increase your odds of  leaving the plane without an unpleasant “something extra.”

wikiHow suggests  thinking of the surfaces inside a plane as being about as clean as a public restroom.I am not terribly germ-phobic as a rule, but I have started carrying a pack of antibacterial wet wipes when I fly. They can be used to wipe down the armrests and tray table on the plane, the handles on luggage after the flight, and of course your own hands throughout the trip.

Don’t use the airline-provided blankets & pillows. They get used by multiple passengers between washings.

The air inside a plane has less than 25% humidity, much lower than a typical home environment that’s more like 35%. Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration. Some say that green tea helps too. Skip the alcohol for now as it will exacerbate dehydration.

The low air pressure in the cabin can make you feel like you’re at about 8000 feet altitude which makes breathing more labored as there’s less available oxygen in the air. So focus on taking  long, deep breaths.

Of course, that dry air that you’re breathing is being breathed by everyone else on the plane, and you’re sharing germs from all over the globe. That’s why this is a good  time to avoid eating and drinking sugar. Sugar suppresses the immune system, and bacteria and viruses love it. Eat light food if you’re hungry.

A well-known risk of air travel is the development of blood clots in the leg. Sitting in those cramped seats for long periods of time is the problem, especially if you’re unwilling to disturb your row partners by getting up to use the lavatory. If you’re stuck in the middle and the guy in the aisle seat has fallen asleep, just contract your calf muscles. Tapping your feet will do the trick because it stimulates blood flow from the legs back to the heart.

If you can, schedule some time to rest once you've arrived.

Happy travels this summer!

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