Air Travel – kathylongwellness.com

Most of us are familiar with the stresses and strains of air travel. Congested airports, crowded planes, long hours of confinement with crying babies, coughing neighbors and little to no food.

Yes, it’s challenging but it doesn’t have to be as bad as it sounds! With a few small additions to your travel bag, you can arrive fit and ready for your adventure.

The odds are against a healthy you!

Independent Traveler.com says:

“Studies vary, but most show that airline carriers are formidable carriers of the common cold. The Wall Street Journal cited a study that found an increased risk of catching the cold by as high as 20 percent, while another study in the Journal of Environmental Health Research found that colds may be more than 100 times more likely to be transmitted on a plane than during normal daily life on the ground.”

Air travel has a very dehydrating affect on our bodies. The low humidity and the altitude both contribute to dehydration. Keep in mind that even in a pressurized cabin, you’re at least 6000-8000 ft. above sea level.

Why is dehydration so bad?

Because with dehydration your nasal passages dry out and those mucus membranes are your first line of defense. Dehydration also weakens your immune system at the exact time when you are in a tube full of the recycled air and germs of hundreds of people.

Protect yourself!

How to Stay Healthy in an Airplane

Here are a few tips that can make a difference:

Pack a Wrap

I always bring along a nice long wrap that I can use as a pillow, a blanket or a headrest. I never feel quite at ease using the airline blankets and prefer my own. If I’m not using it, one of my kids is. If it is cotton, it will be light enough to fold up and put in your carry-on bag or even your purse.

Bring Your Own Food

Plane food can be high in sodium and preservatives, adding to your dehydration. Pack some protein bars, pick up a salad or a healthy sandwich once you get past security. When flying with kids, pack a few easy, non-messy, nutritious and satisfying snacks.

Don’t Forget your Vitamins

Be sure to pack your basic vitamins. A multi, your EFA’s (essential fatty acids), Garlic (it has natural anti-bacterial effects as well as keeping the bugs away) and I usually take a powerful Oregano oil because it is good for getting rid of many bacteria and other microbes. I prefer ADP from Biotics.

Support Your Gut

Taking a probiotic is a good idea. Your gastrointestinal system is a first line of defense and traveling frequently creates challenges. Probiotics help combat an upset stomach and constipation. A few recommendations include: Dr. Mercola’s Complete Probiotic, NOW Probiotic 10, Ultimate Flora by RenewLife, and Health Origins Probiotic.

Sanitize

You are sitting in a small space that has been shared by countless other travelers from around the world. I like to immediately wipe down the armrests, tray table and even the seat belt buckle with either a Tea Tree wipe, a hand sanitizing wipe, or a tissue sprayed with Tea Tree Spray by Health Bloom. I’m not paranoid but I am cautious, and if a quick wipe will lower the risk of getting somebody else’s germs, then it’s worth taking that extra minute.

Stay Hydrated

The air in planes is very low in humidity so it’s dehydrating! Your sinuses are a first line of defense and when they get dry, you can’t fight germs very well. Use a saline nose spray or better yet, try the Tea Tree Spray by Health Bloom. It will moisten your nasal passages and get some good germ killing oil molecules up there as well. And don’t forget eye drops, they are an easy way to keep your eyes from getting red and burning.
Drink water and not wine. Alcohol is dehydrating, don’t add insult to injury. Save the cocktails for celebrating that you are safely at your destination.

Drink Decaffeinated Tea

Tea is a great way to help soothe some of the discomforts of travel. If you tend to get upset stomachaches, make sure to bring some Peppermint or Ginger tea with you. If you want to get some help with sleep, try Chamomile or the Pure Relaxation Spray from Health Bloom. If you are worried about getting a cold/flu bring along an Immune Booster blend.

For more great information on tea, what to take for different ailments and good reading in general pickup, Hot Water for Tea by Nicola Salter.

The Price of Comfort

Cramped quarters contribute to achy muscles and general crankiness. Nowadays airlines offer the option of purchasing more leg room so, if your budget allows for it, that’s something you might seriously want to consider. More space means room to stretch and a limber body is good for both your mental and physical well-being.

Get Up and Move Around

Yes it can be difficult, squeezing yourself out of those ridiculously tiny seats, but squeeze you must. Sitting too long can actually result in a DVT, deep vein thrombosis, also known as a blood clot. This occurs when the blood in your lower legs flows sluggishly and a clot can form. This will cause pain and swelling at first, but can lead to much greater health risks. You may recall that both Vice Presidents, Dick Cheney and Dan Quayle, experienced blood clots caused by long flights – so remember, as the hit song from Madagascar so aptly put it: You’ve got to move it, move it.

Also, avoid sitting with your legs crossed because that too can inhibit blood flow.

Get Some Sleep

Sleep is one of the most restorative things we can do for ourselves but sleeping while we’re in transit can be extremely difficult for some people. For that reason, if you can, fly during the day. If you do fly at night, here are some tips for you:

Avoid heavy meals
Drink Chamomile tea
Use the Pure Relaxation Spray by Health Bloom to soothe your nerves
Try Melatonin. It helps to regulate the day and night cycles which can get mixed up during ravel. It’s also good for jet lag. To get your body regulated, take it at bedtime and continue with the same regiment for 2-5 days.