Tips for Healthy Flying
02-18-2007, 12:26 PM
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Tips for Healthy Flying
Thought this might be of interest to most of you:
Tips for Healthy Flying
By ALLISON VAN DUSEN
You're settling into your seat for your fourth flight of the week, and suddenly you start to feel lousy. It could be the residual effect of the minimal amount of sleep you got while working on that last big project or something you ate.
But could all those flight hours you're logging also play a role?
There's currently no scientific evidence that suggests there are health consequences to frequent flying. However, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers is launching a two-year study examining links between aircraft cabin air and symptoms or discomfort that passengers and crew experience.
Conducted by Battelle, an Ohio-based global services and technology company, the study will ask people questions about their physical health during flights that vary by type of aircraft, length, altitudes achieved and flight paths. Then researchers will look for correlations and investigate their findings by taking onboard measurements of such variables as ozone levels, humidity, turbulence and volatile organic compounds, says Jeff Myers, principal research scientist for Battelle.
"There have been complaints and prior studies done where passengers and crew complain about some aspects of aircraft environment, like dry eyes or headaches," Myers says. "The complaints spurred on the study."
What You Can Do Now
While we await the results, doctors say there's no magical way for frequent travelers to stay healthy. Flying does put the body under stresses, such as lower barometric pressure, lower oxygen pressure, turbulence and airplane vibration. But 99.9 percent of passengers deplane no worse for the wear. "We tolerate those stresses very well," says Dr. Russell Rayman, executive director of the Aerospace Medical Association, an organization representing members in the fields of aviation, space and environmental medicine.
But people with pre-existing illnesses, such as lung disease, can be affected by reduced oxygen levels and need to be careful. They should be cleared for flight by a physician, Rayman says.
His advice is to keep your schedule as normal as possible. Give yourself plenty of time to get to the airport, get up and walk around during long flights, and drink liquids as you normally would. Humidity in aircraft cabins is usually lower than what you're used to, and that can cause the skin and eyes to feel dry. But low humidity doesn't cause dehydration, and there's no need to drink extra water. "I think it's one of those myths," Rayman says.
If you want to do something, placing a wet handkerchief over your mouth may help, says Diana Fairechild, who spent 21 years as an international flight attendant and is the author of 'Jet Smarter: The Air Traveler's RX'. She also recommends lightly swabbing the inside of the nose with vegetable oil to keep the area moist and more comfortable.
"The main thing is to tune into how you feel," she says. "At 25 you might travel frequently and be able to run the marathon the next day. But business travelers in their 60s, they may need to take care of themselves a little more."
Tips for Healthy Flying
By ALLISON VAN DUSEN
You're settling into your seat for your fourth flight of the week, and suddenly you start to feel lousy. It could be the residual effect of the minimal amount of sleep you got while working on that last big project or something you ate.
But could all those flight hours you're logging also play a role?
There's currently no scientific evidence that suggests there are health consequences to frequent flying. However, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers is launching a two-year study examining links between aircraft cabin air and symptoms or discomfort that passengers and crew experience.
Conducted by Battelle, an Ohio-based global services and technology company, the study will ask people questions about their physical health during flights that vary by type of aircraft, length, altitudes achieved and flight paths. Then researchers will look for correlations and investigate their findings by taking onboard measurements of such variables as ozone levels, humidity, turbulence and volatile organic compounds, says Jeff Myers, principal research scientist for Battelle.
"There have been complaints and prior studies done where passengers and crew complain about some aspects of aircraft environment, like dry eyes or headaches," Myers says. "The complaints spurred on the study."
What You Can Do Now
While we await the results, doctors say there's no magical way for frequent travelers to stay healthy. Flying does put the body under stresses, such as lower barometric pressure, lower oxygen pressure, turbulence and airplane vibration. But 99.9 percent of passengers deplane no worse for the wear. "We tolerate those stresses very well," says Dr. Russell Rayman, executive director of the Aerospace Medical Association, an organization representing members in the fields of aviation, space and environmental medicine.
But people with pre-existing illnesses, such as lung disease, can be affected by reduced oxygen levels and need to be careful. They should be cleared for flight by a physician, Rayman says.
His advice is to keep your schedule as normal as possible. Give yourself plenty of time to get to the airport, get up and walk around during long flights, and drink liquids as you normally would. Humidity in aircraft cabins is usually lower than what you're used to, and that can cause the skin and eyes to feel dry. But low humidity doesn't cause dehydration, and there's no need to drink extra water. "I think it's one of those myths," Rayman says.
If you want to do something, placing a wet handkerchief over your mouth may help, says Diana Fairechild, who spent 21 years as an international flight attendant and is the author of 'Jet Smarter: The Air Traveler's RX'. She also recommends lightly swabbing the inside of the nose with vegetable oil to keep the area moist and more comfortable.
"The main thing is to tune into how you feel," she says. "At 25 you might travel frequently and be able to run the marathon the next day. But business travelers in their 60s, they may need to take care of themselves a little more."
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