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Sinus and Ear Problems

Sleep

Stress

Travellers Diarrhoea

Travellers with Diabetes

Water

SINUS AND EAR PROBLEMS

At 30,000 feet high, aircraft cabins are pressurized to simulate altitudes of 5,000 to 8,000 feet, and these pressure changes can cause or aggravate sinus conditions and ear infections. Swallowing frequently or yawning during takeoff and descent helps equalize pressure. These actions are normally sufficient to relieve minor ear and sinus discomfort.

However, when allergy or head colds, or existing sinusitis are present, inflammation and mucus obstruction prevent air pressure from equalizing normally. People with these conditions may experience significant discomfort and benefit from taking decongestants before flying. Also try blowing hard against a closed mouth while pinching your nostrils, which will often resolve the problem.

Chewing gum, sucking on boiled sweets, or sipping constantly from a drink during takeoff and descent encourages swallowing, which will help. Babies can be breastfed or given a bottle, which encourages swallowing.

TIP:

A useful herbal decongestant, especially for ears, is Bioforce

Plantago

Plantago

SLEEP (ALSO SEE INSOMNIA)

Plan on sleeping/cat napping on part of the journey. If you're not able to bring a neck support pillow with you, use the airline pillow by wedging it behind your neck. However, it's important to move from time to time to help avoid deep vein thrombosis (DVT) so try not to sleep for too many hours at a time.

Sleep disturbance (jet lag) is common with air travel across more than three time zones. Sleep disturbance does not happen with sea, rail, or car travel because passengers have time to adjust to time zone changes.  While flying, a person should drink plenty of fluids and avoid smoking, caffeine, and excessive alcohol.

It's best to avoid sedatives or sleeping pills, as they can cause daytime drowsiness, forgetfulness and night-time insomnia. Some sedatives can cause confusion and falls and should be avoided while travelling.

Try to get maximum exposure to sunlight during the day and bright artificial light in the early evening, and then dramatically reduce the amount of light for the few hours before 'local' bedtime, and pull the curtains tight to exclude all light whilst sleeping.

Less than I percent of business travellers get out in sunlight to help adjust their biological clocks to time-zone changes.

TIP:

A herbal formulation, such as valerian-hops, or perhaps Serotone 5-HTP may be helpful.

Serotone 5-HTP

STRESS

TIP:

Get physical. As soon as you've off-loaded your main luggage, instead of sitting the whole time waiting to board, take the opportunity to get up and walk around. You'll feel more relaxed and less confined. If you're in a long slow queue at any time, tighten various muscle groups and periodically stretch to keep the blood flowing and relieve fatigue.

TRAVELLER'S DIARRHOEA  

Precautionary measures can be taken to protect against disease-causing organisms not found at home. Here are some suggestions:

• Drink only bottled water (even for brushing teeth)

• Avoid swallowing shower water

• Do not use ice cubes made from the local water supply

• Wash hands frequently

• Get restaurant recommendations from hotel managers, and from colleagues and friends who have previously been in the area

• Stick to familiar foods

• Choose well-cooked foods

• Avoid milk and milk products (because they require pasteurization and refrigeration)

• Eat fruit that can be peeled (bananas, oranges, grapefruits, mangoes, kiwi)

• Avoid food from street vendors and foods likely to have been exposed to flies

• Avoid salads and other uncooked foods that come in direct contact with the hands of the kitchen staff

• Salads can contain the organisms that cause amoebic dysentery

Bioforce Tormentil

TRAVELLERS WITH DIABETES  

Blood sugar levels are best managed in transit by frequent testing, with adjustments of food intake and insulin doses as needed. Passengers with diabetes should pack sugar (glucose) supplements in their hand luggage, handbags or pockets, or carry juice, crackers, and fruit for when blood sugar levels are low.

Most major airlines provide special meals for people with diabetes if given 24-hours' notice. Measures to prevent dehydration while in flight are important.

Blood sugar levels should be monitored frequently on arrival, because activities and diet often differ from those at home. Diabetic travellers should stick as much as possible to established diet regimes (type of food, times of eating, and quantities) despite temptations to try new foods.  They should wear comfortable socks and shoes, check their feet daily, and avoid walking barefoot so as to prevent minor injuries that might become infected or be slow to heal.

If you are insulin-dependent diabetic, you should carry more insulin than you are used to needing for that time period, and pack half of it in your hand-luggage, and the other half in the main suitcase (in case of loss or delay of baggage). Much more than usual blood-testing supplies should be packed as well, as the changes in food and routine may mean you will need to test your blood glucose more often than usual. You will need to be more aware than usual of hypoglycaemia. If possible, take two meters with supplies in two different bags.

The best way to ensure your drinking water is safe overseas is to buy bottled water, now readily available in most parts of the world. Avoid tap water unless you're sure it's absolutely safe, as it may contain bacteria and parasites that could cause a tummy bug or worse.

Drinking bottled water will do the job, protecting against serious diseases such as dysentery, hepatitis A, typhoid fever, and cholera, as well as the much more common traveller's tummy. Keep in mind that you can develop the latter even if the local water is perfectly safe for the residents of the area you're visiting. That's because the water is likely to contain bacteria that's different from what you're used to at home.

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