How To Avoid The Flu When Traveling

How to Avoid the Flu when Traveling.

By Murray Grossan, M.D. Cedars-Sinai, Author of "The Sinus Cure"

The thought of getting sick when traveling with a new type of virus on
the loose is quite scary. A measure of good news is that by taking
some common sense steps you can dramatically increase your chances of
staying healthy.

My patient, EJ, hadnt flown in 5 years because she would be sick for
a week after every flight. As though fate was against her, she always
managed to sit next to the person on the flight who was coughing and
had never heard of Kleenex.

Most airplanes today recirculate the air. There was a comparison of
flights with filtered and unfiltered fresh air, which actually showed
that there was little observable difference both found about a 20%
incidence of common cold and flu among passengers who fly. This 20% is
much too high to be an acceptable number. In fact, many of these cold
and flu cases are preventable.

The primary reason that you catch a cold or flu is failure of the
natural defense of the body Mucociliary Clearance system. This is the
protective system that grabs the virus and bacteria, and moves it by
nasal cilia action to the stomach where the acids kill the bacteria or
virus. Normally these cilia move at 15 pulses per second. They act as
oars to move a blanket of thin mucus inside the nose, where the virus
is trapped, out of the nose to the stomach. This prevents the virus
from infecting the body through the nose. But the key here is thin
mucus.

On commercial flights the air is quite dry. This dries the nose. So,
even if the cilia do their best, the mucus is still too thick to move.
Because it is stagnant, bacteria and viruses can multiply and enter
the body. Therefore it is vital to intake adequate fluids during
flight. These fluids do not include alcohol and coffee. What is needed
is warm water, preferably a green tea with mint  and lots of it!
Lemon and honey are also good. Warm tea with or without caffeine helps
move the cilia. Ice drinks slow the cilia. Since the key here is
moisturizing the nose, a nasal moisturizing gel is beneficial.

Many ordinary medications may dry the nose. For my patients I find
that certain types of nasal moisturizing gels are best. The reason the
gels are best is that in order for the virus to enter the body it must
attach to a nasal protein called ICAM-1. A gel with the appropriate
formulation can help to prevent this attachment. The best gels have
ingredients which allow the body's natural defense elements
lysozyme, good white blood cells, etc., to be able to travel to where
they are needed to fight invading organisms in this way. Read the
ingredients to see if your gel aids lysozyme action. For example,
Breathe-ease XL Nasal Moisturizing Gel is a water soluble gel that can
cover the nasal membranes and provide moisture to the area.

Avoid getting chilled as that will lower your resistance. Avoid undue
fatigue. For saline type sprays, use before boarding, and about every
two hours during the flight. With gels, use before boarding and about
every 3-4 hours during flight. In particular, use twice a day after
arrival as this will help fight any infection trying to get a
foothold. Don't forget the liquid intake!

Some doctors may prescribe an antibiotic ointment that similarly
covers the nasal membranes, and as an antibiotic kills certain
bacteria. The problem here is that they are expensive, and most
require the use of fingers or a Q tip to get it positioned, and there
is the risk of developing a sensitivity or resistance to the
antibiotic. For example Breathe-ease XL nasal gel has an in the nose
applicator and only contains natural ingredients. Whatever gel or
ointment is used it MUST be water soluble, only water soluble products
should be used in the nose. Petroleum-based or other non-water soluble
materials could end up in the lungs, where they could remain
permanently.

Good hand washing is also crucial, and simply using soap and water is
best. Wash often to remove flu virus before you put your hands near
your eyes, mouth or nose.

One reason we typically get flu in winter is the depression that comes
with the dark days and cold. In fact, bright lights can actually lift
your mood and help the immune system. So staying up beat and getting
light is key!

Final tips. Avoid a meal three hours before sleep. Sleep is paramount
to keeping the immune system up. Try to keep an exact sleep schedule.
To set your sleep clock, go to sleep at the same hour and practice the
same habits every night wash face, brush hair, brush teeth, etc.
Safe travels and hopefully it is off to someplace sunny and warm..

Source: Aircraft Cabin Air Recirculation and Symptoms of the Common

Cold Jessica Nutik Zitter; Peter D. Mazonson; Dave P. Miller; Stephen

B. Hulley; John R. Balmes - Journal of the American Medical Association.