How to Prevent an Illness when Flying

While many people enjoy traveling by plane, others suffer from illness when flying. Taking a few precautionary steps before the flight can help eliminate or reduce illness when flying.

Motion sickness: Motion sickness can cause nausea and vomiting. To prevent motion sickness when flying, stay as still as possible. Choose a seat near the wings of the plane, which have the least amount of motion. There are many medications such as dramamine or benadryl for treatment of motion sickness, as well as the application of a scopolamine patch.

For ear popping, particularly bothersome when planes are ascending, chew gum or use throat lozenges to prevent ear popping.

To avoid dehydration during plane flights longer than 8 hours, drink water every two hours, and avoid alcohol and caffeine.

Prevent blood clots in the legs (due to prolonged sitting), get up and walk every hour and/or wear compression stockings.

Jet lag is a common travel illness experienced during flying. It can cause anxiety, nausea, vomiting, dehydration, sweating and confusion. It occurs when the body's sleeping and eating patterns are drastically changed by traveling across time zones. As the suns and darkness occurs, the hypothalamus, located in the brain, releases the hormone, melatonin, which signals the body to slow and enter the sleep mode. Crossing different time zones confuses the body's regulating system, and results in the traveling illness commonly referred to as jet lag. Those traveling east have the most difficulty adjusting to the time change, as they "lose" time. Preparing days or weeks ahead can help reduce the symptoms of jet lag. Gradually adjust to the new time zone by going to bed later each night (if traveling east) or earlier if traveling west. Once you have arrived in the new time zone, adapt your activities to the local time: If it is breakfast time in the new time zone, but lunch time in your home time zone, eat breakfast to help your body adjust quicker to the new time change. The prescription drug, Rozerem (containing melatonin) can be used to assist with sleep disruption. An experimental drug, tasimelteon, is also being tested to assist with sleep.

When traveling by plane, increase your chances of a pleasurable flight by adding an action plan to help avoid illness associated with flying.

Sources:
www.rxlist.com
www.webmd.com