Statistics show that roughly 1.73 million people board domestic flights within the United States each day. There are certainly advantages to traveling via plane as opposed to car, some of which include a lower risk of injury, faster travel times and, in some cases, cheaper costs. However, the closed nature of airplane fuselages increases the risk of transmissible illness. If a passenger is sick with a cold or flu, he or she may expose other passengers to the same illness. Thankfully, there are ways to stay healthy and prevent illness when commuting via plane.
Drink Water
Try to get into the habit of drinking plenty of water before and during your flight. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the average airplane cabin has a relative humidity of just 20%, making it very dry. And when exposed to dry air, the mucus membranes in your nostrils dry out and become susceptible to illness-causing germs. You can counter these effects by drinking plenty of water, as this hydrates your body and lubricates your upper respiratory system.
Choose a Window Seat
When buying your ticket, choose a window seat instead of aisle seat. A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that passengers who sit in a window seat have the lowest chance of getting sick. This makes sense considering that aisle seats increase exposure to other passengers, which in turn increases the risk of transmissible illness.
Sleep Before Your Flight
Whether it’s for business, leisure or both, traveling can be exhausting. You may stay up late at night, packing your beds and planning your itinerary. While this may seem harmless enough, lack of sleep can increase your risk of illness. It suppresses your immune system, making it less effective at combating and neutralizing illness-causing microbes. If you’re planning to travel via plane, be sure to get a minimum of seven to eight hours of shut eye the night prior.
Drink Bottled Beverages
You should think twice before drinking brewed beverages like coffee or tea aboard a plane. Brewed beverages such as these are often exposed to germs, either in the air or from the machine in which they are brewed. Opting for bottled beverages eliminates this risk, however, allowing you to stay hydrated while minimizing your risk of illness in the process.
These are just a few tips to stay healthy and protect against illness when flying.
