Do you ever come off a flight feeling like a train wreck? You think you’ve done everything right. You went to bed early the night before and you ate a hearty breakfast. But now that you’ve arrived at your destination, all you want to do is collapse.
The airplane is not a healthy environment. There have been times when I felt perfectly healthy before flying only to feel awful afterwards. Just last month I fell ill three days after returning from a trip. I knew I caught it on the plane. Because it was a short flight (just 2 ½ hours) I didn’t go through the usual precautions of taking care of myself. I will never make that mistake again. There are many ways to stay healthy on a flight and if I had followed my own advice, I wouldn’t have wasted two weeks of my summer coughing.
Tips for a Healthy Flight
Avoid Alcohol
My number one piece of advice is to avoid alcohol and caffeine when flying. I used to always have a coffee on my way to the airport. Once I checked in, I had a glass of wine and then another during meal service on the flight. I ended up feeling lethargic and exhausted when I landed and it wasn’t until I cut the caffeine and alcohol out of my routine that I noticed a difference. Wine and caffeine dehydrate. The air on a flight already has less moisture in it so instead you should stick with water, herbal tea, or as we often like (only when flying) the occasional tomato juice.
Stay Hydrated
It’s important to remain hydrated when flying by drinking plenty of fluids but it’s also important to hydrate in other ways. I find that my nasal passages are almost always congested when I fly. The pressure builds up in my sinuses and everything feels gritty. Since I’ve started using a nasal moisturizing spray, my sinus pressure has disappeared and my headaches have gone away. I realized that the better hydrated I am the better I feel. I now use natural tears eye drops, a non-scented moisturizer for my face and hands, and lip balm. Staying hydrated keeps the risk of catching a respiratory virus to a minimum.
Suggest item: Air Tamer
Fight Germs
Let’s face it; germs are a huge problem for causing viruses. Have you ever wondered just how well airplanes are cleaned? I never use the blanket they give me on the flight instead I carry my own. The lightweight, CoolMax travel blanket takes up very little space and I can be sure that the only drool that falls on it is mine.
Plus, call me paranoid, but when I open my tray table, I always give it a wipe down with a wet nap. Now that I’ve discovered Agent+ Germ-Free Spray Kit, I’m using that. I have seen some pretty disgusting tray tables during my travels, but even if they don’t look nasty, you can bet that it is full of germs. Why take the risk? Don’t you want to eat off of a clean table anyway?
Keep Moving
Another important tip for staying healthy when flying is to move around. Regardless of how long your flight is, it’s good to keep the blood flowing. It can be something as simple as tapping your foot or rolling your ankles to getting up and going for a walk. Blood clots can form from sitting too long at altitude and it doesn’t only happen to the elderly. To help support healthy blood flow in the calves and ankles, I’ve taken to wearing compression socks. My legs just feel better after a flight when I wear them.
Rest Up
I always try to catch a few winks during my flight. Often times it’s tempting to binge watch your favorite TV show on your tablet or check out a new release on the entertainment system, but turning everything off, putting in your earplugs or noise cancelling ear buds, and blocking out all distractions with an eye mask will help you relax and fall asleep. Many people tell me that they can’t sleep on a flight, but if you have the right tools to help you relax you can at least doze off for a few minutes. The more rest and calm you have during your flight, the better you’ll feel when you land. Just make sure you don’t wake up with a stiff neck. That’s where a good inflatable travel pillow comes in handy.
You don’t have to travel with and arsenal of medication to stay healthy when flying, all you need are few small items to protect you from the elements and a little knowledge about what to bring and how to use it and you’ll safe guard against getting sick before your next vacation.
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