Stay Healthy While you are Flying

Almost 1 billion people fly or board an airline every year. We all can agree that air travel can be tiring and often cumbersome, between TSA, boarding the flight and eventually retrieving your bags at your destination. Flying can mess with your natural (circadian) rhythm which can increase your stress and increase your chance of illness.

The airline cabin is not really a healthy environment. Here are some simple ways to help you stay invincible at 30,000 feet.

1. Drink more water
   • The air in the cabin of planes gets cycled every 90 seconds or so
   • This can leave the air VERY DRY (<6% humidity) Humans like some humidity in the air (~50%)
   • In this environment we tend to lose water
   • Stay hydrated and try to avoid caffeine and alcohol while you fly

   

2. Noise Pollution
   • Passengers don’t always plan for the noises associated with flying
   • Airplanes tend to have about 80 decibels of noise which is enough to cause your cortisol levels to rise and trigger stress
   • Prolonged stress can lead to increased blood pressure, anxiety and even psychological disorders
   • Elevator music (muzak) and similar sound frequencies can decrease cortisol levels
   • Lower your stress by wearing ear plugs or even better, noise cancelling headphones

   

3. Immunity
   • Airplanes and the seats we sit in share a lot of passengers daily
   • Airlines often spray antibacterial and antiviral chemicals to minimize the germs
   • These chemicals can cause breathing difficulties and worse asthma/COPD
   • Maximize best antioxidant we have in our body, glutathione
   • Vitamins A, D, and C, plus zinc and glutathione will help to keep your immune system strong

   

4. Maintain Blood Flow
   • A deep vein thrombosis, or DVT, is a blood clot that usually forms in the legs
   • These clots develop when there’s poor circulation to the legs, low air pressure, dehydration, and little leg movement
   • Symptoms include swelling or redness, but most people who form clots won’t feel anything
   • Avoid clot formation by:
     • Keeping hydrated
     • Standing up and walking around as much as possible
     • Flex your feet and legs often to keep your blood flowing
     • Consider wearing compression socks to avoid swelling

   

5. Hydrate Your Skin
   • Hydrating your skin can serve as a protective element
   • The best essential oils for hydrating are geranium, rose, sweet orange and lemon
   • Nasal mucous membranes can often dry out, so try taking a saline solution to spray inside the nose

   

6. Smile
   • While you can’t control others’ behaviors and actions, you can control yours
   • One little smile goes a long way