BOS2DCA

With cold and flu season upon us, how do you stay healthy when on long-haul flights? For business travel, I take the usual precautions-Purell, occasionally Zicam, wash the hands frequently, etc. I am doing a couple of long hauls in Nov/Dec-how do you all stay so healthy (and knowledgeable)?

seacruiser

I use sanitizing wet naps. Wipe the arm rests and the tray and the window if I plan to lay my head there and sleep.

BOS2DCA

I use those wipes also. I have seen people wearing masks lately (I'm not that much of a germophobe) but with all the hoopla about swine flu, I can see where some people would be paranoid.

The Juiceman

When I travel I always pack a bunch of those Emergen-C or SuperC packs. They're loaded with vitamins and minerals but most importantly electrolytes to keep dehydration down.

Romelle

I worried about health issues when I started a job that required about 3 hour US flights every other week. Did it for 7 years and was rarely sick. I think maybe when one is exposed to nearly every germ population in a country, one develops all sorts of immunities. So - my prescription is to just keep flying!

On the other hand, I tend to do European trips a couple times a year. Usually manage to bring back some cold thing from those.

Though sometimes on the European ones, it seems like the start of a cold but then just clears up when I get home. I almost think it might be just an allergic reaction to air pollution?

For Asian trips, I'm 3 for 3 though, in terms of some sort of stomach/GI upset. Maybe I ought to take my own prescription and get there more often?

Romelle

Pat89339

I also stay away from tank water, which means no airplane brewed coffee or tea (people usually forget that part). I stay well hydrated with water, either bottled served by an FA or I'll bring empty liter bottles and fill them airside.

travfar

I went to China and caught every imaginable flu already. In the words of the emergency room doctor who helped me when it got really bad, "We have a lot of flus you've never heard of here in China."

Denolloyd

Nothing really. Simply stay hydrated.

schley

I have several issues I find I have to deal with.

1. Nose bleeds during long flights. During MR's these can be pervasive. I have simply taken some vaseline and coated the inside of my nostrils which keeps them from bleeding.

2. Swollen ankles and feet. In coach this comes up for me. I have to elevate my feet in some fashion during the flight and try and exercise every couple hours at least. I wear compression socks this certainly helps.

3. Stay on one time zone and don't be afraid to pass up on a meal service if you are tired. When your body clock is screwed up you will not eat/drink regularly, at least I don't. Ambien works for me and I try and stick to my home time zone when flying during MR.

I have to resist the temptation to keep booking flight after flight and give myself time to recover in a lounge for a couple hours at least before boarding another long haul. Thus proper scheduling (not overnight) is key for me as well.

Abidjan

Drink water, eat, a multivitamin each day, and walk as much as possible before/in between flights, as much as time allows. This formula works every time.

wcrhkd

I tend to use Airborne for a couple days before and after a flight. And always an aspirin daily. DVT? Thanks, no.

planeluvr

I stay drunk the entire mileage run.

CMK10

I never really thought about it. I guess I'm very unhealthy as I tend to eat fast food, drink absurd amounts of Diet Coke, snack often etc.

travfar

Dude, that used to happen to me a lot. I used to just carry a saline nasal spray with me. Just keep your membranes moist and it's not a problem. Somewhere along the line. My nose stopped being prone to bleeding.

If you are prone to frequent nose bleeds, you can have a doctor cauterize it as a more permanent solution.

jfkeze

^ +1... that and lounge snacks... oh well, need to run a few more miles on the treadmill...