Health Issues Regarding Traveling

By Albert William

Air travel is a big challenge for a lot of people due to the health issues that can be associated with it. Issues of handicaps, ailments and the attitudes of your fellow travelers can impact your experience.

* People who suffer from respiratory ailments, such as asthma or bronchitis may experience an exacerbation of symptoms from a pressured airline cabin. Contact your physician prior to your trip to ascertain if additional medication or oxygen use may alleviate your distress. If you will be bringing an oxygen tank onboard, you will need to notify the airline in advance.

* Often migraine sufferers and people prone to inner ear problems will find that long flights can bring on a painful episode. Having your medication available in your carryon baggage is advisable. If you currently have a cold or the flu, consider an OTC antihistamine or decongestant, as long as approved by your physician, to help relieve "stuffy" symptoms.

* Long flights, crossing many time zones, often causes cases of jet lag. Ensure you are well rested prior to your flight and try to relax or sleep while on the plane.

* It is important to walk and stretch prior to boarding and after disembarking the aircraft. This helps circulation and can help avoid blood clots from developing in your extremities. For very long flights, get up and walk through the cabin when permitted. While seated in the cabin, flex your toes and stretch your calves, roll your shoulders and rotate your neck.

* Pressurization of the airplane can cause dehydration. Dehydration can add to symptoms of jet lag, so hydrate with juices and water, avoiding alcohol and caffeine.

* Pump up your immune system with anti-oxidants and eat healthy foods prior, during and after your travel. Do not overeat as this will make you feel sluggish and tired.

* Bring a face mask if you have an immune deficiency or if you have an illness that might be contagious. You don't want to catch someone's virus, nor do you want to share your cold with the other passengers.

* If you suffer from anxiety or have a phobia about flying, refer to your medical provider for medication to calm you or assist you in sleeping during long flights. You may consider an OTC sleep aid even if you are not an anxiety sufferer, just so you rest during lengthy flights.

These are only a few of the possible health issues that can be aggravated by extensive travel. Some people don't worry about these issues because they are often not affected or get relaxed in self catered apartments. But for those who experience some of these issues, flying can be a traumatic experience. Even healthy travelers often suffer some discomfort when traveling by air. Therefore, to feel your best and avoid serious jet lag, it is imperative to follow these precautions.

While there are many health issues involved with airline travel, you needn't make yourself sick with worry. With the right information and simple precautionary measures, you can attempt to alleviate serious problems. By following these measures you can assure yourself a comfortable and relaxing flight.

Having a pre-arranged serviced apartment awaiting your arrival can help reduce the stresses brought on by a lengthy flight. MoveandStay.com is a great online resource that provides international travelers with self catered apartments choices around the globe the ability to have accommodations ready for their arrival.
http://www.moveandstay.com/index_serviced_apartments.asp
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Albert_William

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Health Tips For Air Travel - A Complete Guide

By James Fletcher

Everyone loves to go flying away on tropical holidays. But do you know how to keep you and your family healthy and safe whilst up in the air? Below is a health guide to flying, some health tips and some important information.

Air Quality

When you fly, the air is recirculated for use for the whole flight. This results in poorly oxygenated air that can be high in carbon dioxide and germs. The symptoms that you can experience from breathing in the aircrafts stale air include headaches, colds, flu's, dry skin and sore eyes. Those with respiratory problems and cardiovascular disease are at an increased risk of developing some of the above problems. Drinking water helps your body minimize some of the above threats. Make sure to never drink alcohol on a flight. Skin moisturizes and saline sprays can also help your body from becoming dry and dehydrated.

Pressurized Cabin

Planes are also pressurized but as a plane increases in altitude, the pressure in the cabin does decrease slightly. This change in pressure can cause health problems such as earaches and hemorrhaging, chest pains, severe intestinal gas and even toothache. To try to limit these problems, wear loose fitting clothes, do not fly immediately after having surgery and try to avoid flying if you have a cold or the flu. Also try to have food and drink that is bland and does not contain any carbonation (no fizzy drinks).

Pregnancy & Flying

Pregnant women should also be wary of when they fly. Flying exposes individuals to levels of radiation higher than that experienced on land. Flying can also place other stresses on a developing babies. Mothers planning to fly should always seek advice on whether flying will be safe for the week of pregnancy they are in.

Fear Of Flying

Some people also hold great fears of flying. Although the statistics show flying is extremely safe, people still often have a morbid fear of getting up in the air. People who experience these symptoms should always see their doctor before flying. Your doctor will be able to prescribe you with sedatives that will relax you during the flight.

Blood Clots - Deep Vein Thrombosis

Deep vein thrombosis and blood clots are another danger of flying. Deep vein thrombosis is also known as 'economy-class syndrome' because of the close and cramped seating experienced by these passengers. Deep vein thrombosis however can effect all people within a plane including those in first class. There has been many suggestions on how to combat dvt, but many of these have proven unreliable. Asprin can help minimizing the chances of having a stroke or heart attack but does little use to prevent blood clots. Likewise, compression stockings are of little use unless they are custom designed and fitted. The best way to minimize the chances of dvt is to walk around the plane at least once every 2 hours. You should never sleep on a plane as this increases your chances of developing a blood clot.

Jet Lag

Jet lag is the change of your 'body clock' that occurs when you fly across different time zones. Jet lag occurs when your body gets out of sync with the date and time. The symptoms of jet lag include fatigue, exhaustion, irritability, disorientation, head aches and general tiredness. Preventing or minimizing jet lag involves some of the points above. Don't drink alcohol and be sure to drink plenty of water during the flight. You can also try to adjust your body clock before you leave. If you work out what the time difference will be when you arrive, you can start adjusting your body clock before you leave for your trip. Maybe start waking up earlier by an hour each day, and going to bed an hour earlier before you leave. Obviously this will depend on which way the time will alter depending on if you travel east or west. You can also plan your travel times so you arrive in the daytime, as this will give you time to adjust. Arriving at night time often makes it hard for you to go straight to sleep on arrival.

In summary, below are some healthy flying tips:

- Drink plenty of water during your flight
- Never drink alcohol when on a plane
- Wear loose fitting clothes
- Walk around regularly on the flight. This can help stop life threatening clots from forming. Speak with your doctor before you fly about other ways to combat clots.
- See your doctor if you have a fear of flying. Your doctor will be able to prescribe some sedatives.
- Pregnant women should seek advice of their doctor before flying
- Try adjusting your body clock before traveling to minimize the experience of jetlag

More great healthy living tips and advice is available at our site. Please visit us for more information on topics such as how to lose 20 pounds in 2 weeks, health tips and much more.
http://www.healthpoints.info/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Fletcher

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Boosting Your Immune System - Air Travel Tips to Make a Healthy Vacation

By Chance Buckman

It's no secret that traveling is very hard on your immune system. In fact a recent survey by World Access, a travel insurance company, estimated that 35% of business travelers become ill while on the road. Whether you're going on a business trip, spring break, or a family vacation getting sick during from the process of travel is hard to avoid. No one wants to arrive at their final destination feeling like they need a depleted of the strength to stay healthy. There are several precautions you can make to avoid becoming ill while traveling.

First and foremost, get lots of rest the day before traveling. This is often easier said than done. Most of us are engaged in last minute packing, prepping for a presentation, wrapping up loose ends, or figuring out who is going to take the dog. We stay up later and get up earlier just in time to board the plane with half the sleep we normally get. Sleep is crucial for a strong immune defense. Instead of trying to cram 8 hours of pre-travel necessities into 4 hours do your very best to pack, prepare for your business trip, tie up your loose ends two days before traveling. Make of list of everything that needs to get done before you leave and get started on it a day sooner they you think necessary. This will help ensure a good nights rest, which will help boost your immune system for traveling.

Taking immune system supplements is another good way to stay healthy on the road. Vitamin C, Echinacea, and Zinc are great for boosting your immune system. There are several products on the market so one should always consult their doctor if they're unsure of any supplements.

Lastly, there are some key airline "do's and don'ts" that can help prevent sickness and boost your immune system. Drink lots or water before, during, and after flying. Bring some nasal spray if your nose gets dry while flying. Your nose is a key element in your immune defense system. A small bottle of hand sanitizing is a great way to keep your hands clean while eating those peanuts. Avoid airline pillows and blankets. Unfortunately, they're not cleaned after every flight. Who knows who just sneezed on your pillow and wiped their dirty hands on your blanket because the bathroom was out of soap? A nice pillow can be purchased at the airport before you take off and a small clean blanket can be brought from home.

Following these simple pieces of advice will help your immune defense stay strong and keep you healthy while traveling. Have a happy, healthy, and safe trip.

This Information is provided by Travelers Defense.

To learn more on how to Travel Healthy click onthe link.

*BONUS*- Special Report on the "5 Things The Airlines Dont Want You To Know". This report contains Air Travel Tips to help you enjoy your flight.
http://www.healthyairtravel.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chance_Buckman

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Healthy Travel Tips - How Ginko Biloba Helps You Stay Healthy While Traveling

By Chance Buckman

One of the most overlooked causes of air travel discomfort is in fact exposure to high altitude and the onset of high altitude sickness! Why have you never heard of this before? Well, if you are like most people you probably assumed that the pressure in the cabin compensates for the altitude you are actually flying at, and you are right....partially.

Truth be told, the current government regulation on cabin pressure states that it may not be less than the pressure experienced at 8,000 feet. So basically it means to you the traveler that your body will experience a pressure decrease from the altitude you took off at up to 8000 feet.

Some of the known risk factors for high altitude sickness include but are not limited to: a rapid ascent to high altitude; people who normally reside at or below 3,000 ft; age less than 50 years. Some of the symptoms associated with high altitude sickness at 8000 feet include: headaches (most common), nausea, and fatigue.

As you can see altitude sickness can affect a lot of people and has almost never been talked about before concerning air travel. So how can you protect yourself? The following is a list of suggestions that have been known to reduce the risk of and mitigate the symptoms of high altitude sickness: a slow ascent to high altitude; maintaining adequate hydration levels; use of a dietary supplement containing an ingredient known to reduce the symptoms.

There are some things that you can control and some that you as a traveler have no control over when boarding a flight? The rate of ascent is not really up for debate; however you can take precautions such as staying hydrated and investing in a quality travel supplement proven to reduce altitude sickness.

The symptoms of High Altitude Sickness are felt due to the depletion of oxygen percentage and moisture content in the ambient air. Through the increase of blood flow in the body the lack of oxygen in the environment can be counter acted by an increase in the bodies' blood flow. A common over-the-counter supplement used to increase blood flow is Ginko Biloba.

Ginko Biloba is used frequently by high altitude mountaineers to offset the most severe effects of altitude sickness and maintain healthy oxygen levels. Taking a supplement prior to traveling in aircraft travel can protect the body against the onset of these symptoms and provide a healthier, more enjoyable travel experience.

This Information is provided by Travelers Defense.
To learn more on how to Travel Healthy click on the link.
*BONUS*- Special Report on the "5 Things The Airlines Dont Want You To Know". This report contains Air Travel Tips to help you enjoy your flight.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chance_Buckman

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Unclean Air Travel Climates - Learn How to Boost the Immune System

By Chance Buckman

"Cleanliness is next to godliness right?" We agree. However, with our current economic crisis and an airline industry operating nearly in the red, some corners may be cut and the emphasis on cleanliness may be affected.

A recent article in the New York Times states "The filth factor aboard US jetliners has increased noticeably since the industries financial downturn after 2001" They go on to say "several factors are at play. First, planes are flying at near record capacity levels. And since most airlines have discontinued full menu service which means those passengers flying on the packed planes are now bringing their own meals on board. This means many planes are now landing littered with a smorgasbord of wrappers and leftovers." The paper added "this increased waste must now be cleaned by fewer and fewer employees thanks to widespread layoffs and a lack of proper cleaning supplies. So now these planes, which make money only when they fly, sit at the gate for shorter periods, often making cleanup a rush job."

The Times sites Delta as an example of an airline where aircraft cleanliness declined with profitability. The go on that "the industry standard for "deep-cleaning" jetliner is about every 30 days." "Delta had let its schedule lapse to 15-18 months. That is a kin to cutting your daily shower back to once every couple of weeks!"

So what this means for you the traveler is that your ginger ale may now be served to you along with a germ buffet courtesy of the reduced cleanings. We believe this is something that the general public should be aware of so they can take precautions against any germs that may be present due to these factors.

So again, how can you protect yourself? First and foremost we recommend antibacterial hand sanitizer to be used before, during and after your travels. These sanitizers can be purchased at any local drug store, but be sure it adheres to the 4 oz. TSA carryon standard. This will take care of any germs that you may come in contact with, but you still have to deal with potential ingested germs from the air.

Second, you can safeguard yourself by bolstering your immune system through proven dietary supplements. The most common over-the-counter immunity defense supplement is a complete daily value of vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, for its performance as an antioxidant. Additionally zinc taken in the form of a vitamin supplement has been known to aid in the responsiveness of the immune system, Homeopathic remedies such as Echinacea have also been shown to stimulate the immune system and fight against infections. Taking a proper dosage of some natural immunity boosters can better prepare your body for the airborne germs that it will encounter in these close quarter environments.

As always, good luck out there and Happy Travels

This Information is provided by Travelers Defense.

To learn more on how to Travel Healthy click on the link.

*BONUS*- Special Report on the "5 Things The Airlines Dont Want You To Know". This report contains Air Travel Tips to help you properly prepare for and enjoy you future travels.
http://www.healthyairtravel.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chance_Buckman

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