Posts Tagged ‘frequent flyer’

By Haylee Hulme

Those who fly regularly can often find themselves more vulnerable to certain health complaints as a result of their time in the skies. Air cabin pressure, air conditioning and sitting for long periods of time (1) are the main culprits. If you are a frequent flier, or simply have a trip coming up that you’d like to be prepared for, here is a list of five handy products that may help make your journey more comfortable.

Ear soothers

Many people will have experienced the uncomfortable feeling of built up pressure in the ears when the plane takes off or lands. To alleviate the pressure on your ear drums, try Earplanes ear plugs. These silicone ear plugs are soft to the touch and come approved by flight attendants and recommended by doctors (2).

Vitamin E moisturising lip balm

The dry air in the cabin can wreak havoc on your lips and skin, as it causes a dehydrating effect. To help prevent your lips from becoming dry, chapped and sore, try using a moisturising lip balm whilst on board. A Vitamin E enriched lip balm would be ideal, as the vitamin has antioxidant and rejuvenating properties (3).

DVT Socks

DVT stands for Deep Vein Thrombosis – a serious condition where blood clots form abnormally in your legs. Sitting still for long periods of time and the changing pressure of the cabin can lead to the condition, which is why moving around regularly on longer flights is advisable. DVT Socks have been proven to aid circulation and reduce the amount of excess fluid in your legs, helping to reduce your chances of DVT (4).

Nasal Spray

As mentioned, the dry, circulating air has a dehydrating effect on your body. This is true not only of your skin and lips, but also of the mucus in your nose and throat. This protective barrier helps to prevent bacteria getting into your system. To give your body’s natural defences a helping hand, try Frequent Flyer nasal spray – it flushes out pollutants and keeps your nasal passages hydrated (5).

The Jet Rest Pillow

One of the main problems with a traditional neck support pillow is that they can often cause strain on your neck, leaving you feeling a little sore after your nap. Jet Rest’s pillow is an innovation as it allows you to sleep with your head upright, thanks to its L rather than U shaped design (6).

All the products featured in this handy guide can be purchased from online retailers. To make the ultimate flying kit, combine all these products (and any others that may benefit you) into one portable bag – you’ll enjoy the height of comfort whilst all the other passengers look on in envy!

References

(1) Flight Health (2010). A complete resource for healthy flying. http://www.flighthealth.org/

(2) Cirrus Healthcare (2010). Earplanes. http://www.cirrushealthcare.com/EarPlanes-C8.aspx

(3) Vitamins-Nutrition (2010).Vitamin E: A Powerful Antioxidant. http://www.vitamins-nutrition.org/vitamins/vitamin-e-antioxidant.html

(4) Flight sock (2010). Anti DVT Flight Socks. http://www.flightsock.com/

(5) Fess (2010). Fess Frequent Flyer Nasal Spray. http://www.fess.com.au/products.6

(6) Jet Rest (2010). Welcome to the Jet Rest. http://thejetrest.com/

About the Guest Author

Haylee Hulme writes on a wide range of health related topics, particularly products that can help make life more comfortable. This includes vitamins and supplements like Vitamin E.