November 29th, 2009 
Dorothy Yamich People who take air flights when they travel on vacations and holidays can be at risk of developing severe medical problems, such as deep vein thrombosis, which can be life threatening.
The following article covers a number of the most common in-flight medical symptoms and travel tips that can help you have a safer, more enjoyable flight.
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.
Most medical symptoms can be reduced or eliminated by doing a few simple things.
Drinking a glass of water, juice, or soda, every half hour or so can help you prevent dehydration and dryness in your throat, nose and eyes. Alcohol and caffeine should be avoided or consumed in moderation as they can cause dehydration as well as disrupt sleep patterns. By chewing gum you can help prevent your ears getting plugged and popping. A comfortable inflatable neck pillow can help prevent a stiff and sore neck. Wearing eye shades can make it easier to sleep on a long flight and ear plugs can reduce the constant cabin noise. Ask a flight attendant for a blanket to help keep you warm in the air conditioned cabin. It’s also a good idea to turn off the overhead air nozzle above your seat as cool air blowing down on you could make you feel cold.
Most people’s bodies swell a bit when they fly. Wearing loose clothing helps to relieve this swelling. It will add to your in flight comfort. It’s best If you can avoid salty foods. Too much salt in your body contributes to water retention which can also cause your body to swell when you fly.
Jet lag may also be a major problem on flights. You may be able to reduce the effects of jet lag by adjusting your sleeping and eating patterns a couple of days before your flight to try and reflect the time zone when you will arrive at your destination. This will take a little discipline but it is well worth trying, as it really can make a difference.
There are some other things that you can do to lessen the effects of jet lag. If possible, try and catch a flight that arrives at your holiday destination in the daylight hours. As soon as you can, fit into this new time zone and try not to go to bed. If you are feeling a bit tired and wish to take a short snooze, then do it in a well-lit place. At night, sleep in a totally dark room. The darkness will help prepare your brain for sleep. Try to avoid watching T.V., or using a computer as their screens are bright and can easily over-stimulate your brain. It is not a good idea to consume alcohol or any drinks or foods that contain caffeine such as soda, coffee, and chocolate, until your symptoms of jet lag wear off, as alcohol and caffeine can disrupt your sleep.
Generally, most travelers aren’t aware that they will only start to experience symptoms of jet lag as they exit their plane. That’s the time when air passengers’ biological clocks start making internal adjustments inside their bodies to more closely coincide with the local time at their vacation destination. If commercial airline travelers cross one, or even two time zones, they can usually adjust quite quickly. However, if they’re in poor health, or not feeling up to par just before they fly, then jet lag may cause them to feel worse.
What exactly is deep vein thrombosis, or DVT?
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is caused by a blood clot which forms in the lower leg. If this clot breaks off, it can move to the lungs which then can be fatal. This can be a very serious, life threatening medical emergency.
The most common symptoms of deep vein thrombosis are pain, redness, and swelling in the leg. Deep vein thrombosis is a serious health problem for travelers, especially when they fly. Recent research shows that an airline passenger can be at three times the risk of developing this 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.
well-deserved holiday, visit Travel Tips Guide for more info.
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Dr. Charles F. Ehret’s famous book about stopping jet lag has just been republished — back by popular demand you might say. The US Government paid for his research . . . and his all-natural, scientifically proven methods really do work.
The book is called The Cure for Jet Lag. It replaced his international outdated bestseller Overcoming Jet Lag in 2009. Great reviews.
Thanks for the article, I will bestow this website to my bookmarks, my acquaintance just made mention to me about this the other day. gracias