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Air travel poses health challenges
But simple steps can help you cope with everything from blood clots to motion sickness. Do your vacation plans involve flying this summer? Here are some of the medical issues confronting air travelers, and what you can do to protect yourself.
A modern airliner should not be any riskier for infections than a crowded bus or theater. A modern aircraft, such as the Boeing 767, pumps 50 percent fresh and 50 percent re-circulated air into the cabin.
The engines supply the fresh air, and it passes through temperatures high enough to kill any bugs that might be bold enough to venture aloft. The recirculated air then passes through a high-efficiency particulate air filter.
But even if cabin air doesn't present a hazard, your seatmate may. Airplanes circulate air row by row, pumping it in above your seat and removing it through exhaust vents near the floor. To maximize the air exchange in your row, keep your overhead vent open.
Protect your seatmates by coughing or sneezing into a tissue and by turning away. You may want to consider wearing a mask, particularly if you have a realistic worry about a serious infection like influenza.
If you're prone to motion sickness, travel on an empty stomach. Try to get an aisle seat toward the center of the cabin. Keep your seat upright, minimizing head movement. Don't read or watch videos during bumpy spells.
Medications can also help. Over-the-counter drugs include dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) and meclizine (Bonine); prescription medications include promethazine (Phenergan) and scopolamine (Transderm Scop, a patch worn behind the ear).