There’s nothing worse than being sick on vacation – especially if you were fine before you got on the plane! From sneezy seatmates to germy surfaces, here are some important tips to help you protect yourself in-flight:
Pack Hand Sanitizer
Seat pockets, tray tables, pillow and blankets, the airplane bathroom, even the air are all dirtier than you want to know. So pack hand sanitizer – 3 oz. or less – in your carry-on bag to avoid spreading the ick.
Take Vitamins
Flying makes you 20% more likely to catch the common cold. Beat the odds by loading up on Vitamin C and B-complex vitamins before, during, and after your flight with oranges, grapefruit, and leafy greens – and add vitamin-boosting drink packets like EmergenC to your water.
Drink Water
Speaking of water, avoid what comes out of the plane’s water dispenser. Ask for bottled water, or bring your own filtration bottle.
Stay Hydrated
But don’t just avoid water… Dehydration is one of the biggest health concerns when flying. On the ground, normal humidity is between 20 and 50%, but in flight, it can be as low as 1%, leading to rapid dehydration which often goes unnoticed before it’s too late. To combat it, avoid alcohol, soda, and caffeine in the hours before your flight, drink 8 ounces of water every hour you’re in the air, and choose fruits and veggies over salty snacks.
Stretching and Walking
Do lots of stretching and walking in the aisle (when the seatbelt sign is off) to keep your circulation flowing. You may feel silly, but it’s better than a blood clot!
A little planning and prevention will go a long way toward ensuring you’re in tip-top shape to take advantage of every precious day of your trip! You might also like to read our article on How to Avoid Catching Colds During Flights.
Got any healthy travel tips we missed? Share them in the comments!
