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Flights - Can They Create Health Problems When On Holidays?
When flying on commercial airlines, airline passengers can develop some medical problems which are usually minor. However, sometimes these symptoms may develop into a more serious medical condition, like deep vein thrombosis, which can quickly become life threatening.
The following paragraph lists some of the common in-flight medical symptoms.
Common in-flight symptoms you may experience are headaches, ear-popping, nasal congestion, dehydration, constipation or diarrhea, loss of appetite (could be related to the in-flight food), light-headedness, problems with coordination, inability to concentrate, confusion, anxiety, irritability, sweating, fatigue, swollen lower legs and feet, as well as motion sickness. These symptoms may also be associated with jet lag. In addition, jet lag can affect your sense of orientation in terms of time and place. In addition, your sense of well-being can also be disrupted.
Some medical symptoms can be reduced or eliminated by doing a few simple things.
By drinking a glass or two of water, juice, or soda, every half hour or so, you can help prevent dehydration and dryness in the throat, nose and eyes. Caffeine and alcohol should be avoided or consumed in moderation as they can cause dehydration as well as disrupt sleep patterns. Chewing gum can help prevent your ears from popping and getting plugged. Using an inflatable neck pillow can prevent a sore and stiff neck. Eye shades can make it easier to sleep on a long air flight and ear plugs can reduce the constant cabin noise. Ask a flight attendant for a blanket to keep you warm when you fly. It is also a good idea to turn off the overhead air nozzle above your seat as the cool air blowing down on top of you could be a bit chilly.
Most peoples bodies tend to swell when they fly, so wearing loose clothing may help to relieve the swelling. It will also add to your in flight comfort. If you can, avoid salty foods. Excess salt in your body contributes to water retention which can also cause your body to swell when you fly.
Jet lag can also be a major problem when flying. You may be able to lessen the effect of jet lag by adjusting your eating and sleeping patterns a few days before flying to better reflect the new time zone at your destination. This will take some discipline but its well worth trying, as it can make a real difference.
There are also some other things you can do to reduce the effects of jet lag. Try and take a flight that arrives at your vacation destination in the daylight hours. If possible, immediately fit into this new time zone by not going to bed. If you are feeling tired and need to take a short snooze, then do it in a well-lit place. In the evening, sleep in a darkened room. The darkness will prepare your brain for sleep. Try to avoid watching television or looking a computer screen as their brightness can easily over-stimulate your brain. It is not a good idea to consume alcohol or any drinks and foods that contain caffeine such as coffee, soda and chocolate, until your symptoms of jet lag have worn off, as alcohol and caffeine can disrupt your sleep patterns.
General speaking, most travelers are not aware that they will only begin to experience the symptoms of jet lag when they depart their plane. Thats the time when the passengers biological clocks start to make internal adjustments inside their bodies to closely coincide with the local time at their holiday destination. If commercial airliners cross one or even two time zones, their passengers can usually adjust quite quickly. But, if they are in poor health, or not feeling very well before they fly, then jet lag can compound their problems.
What is deep vein thrombosis, or DVT?
Deep vein thrombosis is caused by a blood clot that starts forming in the lower leg. If this blood clot breaks off, it can then travel to the lungs which can be fatal. This is a very real, life threatening, medical emergency.
The usual symptoms of deep vein thrombosis are pain, redness, and swelling in the leg. Deep vein thrombosis has always been a major health risk for travelers, especially when they fly. Recent research has shown that airline passengers are at three times the risk of developing this serious life threatening condition when compared to the general population.
Here are some things that you can do to reduce the odds of developing this deadly condition. You should avoid crossing your legs as this cuts off the circulation in them and dramatically raises the risk of DVT. You can increase your circulation when you wear loose fitting clothing and avoid tight fitting socks or stockings Be sure to change your sitting position frequently, move your legs every so often when in the sitting position, and get up and walk back and forth down the aisle. Try and sit in an aisle seat so you can get up frequently and walk around without disturbing your fellow passengers. This will help with the circulation in your legs and reduce the odds that you will develop deep-vein thrombosis.
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