Common problems among air travelers
More than 17.5 million Americans traveled by air during the Labor Day weekend. Worldwide, the average number of people flying is about 13.2 million a day, or around 4.8 billion a year. In the Philippines, during Holy Week, about 160,000 travel by air, around 138,000 on a regular day. An average of 2.85 million Americans fly in the USA each day.
Some usual problems for air travelers include: changes in barometric pressure, decreased oxygen tension, dehydration, circadian dysrhythmia, psychological stress, and effects of air turbulence.
Preserving flight comfort
Modern aircraft, including supersonics, maintain a cabin pressure that is equivalent to 5000 to 8000 feet above sea level to provide a comfortable environment for the people on board. At such an altitude, free air in the body cavities tends to expand by about 25% and may aggravate certain medical conditions. Most people with adequately treated chronic illnesses, like high blood pressure, diabetes, or heart conditions that are not severe, can safely tolerate flying, even international flights. However, those with anemia (low blood count), asthma, emphysema, or those already short of breath from other lung problems or heart failure may not be able to tolerate the high altitudes. It is always prudent to check with your physician if you have any concerns about flying
Airsickness
Some people are born with a vestibular-labyrinthine apparatus (inner ear structure that helps us balance ourselves) that is very sensitive to motion, more so than average. Stimulation of this apparatus in these people by acceleration and deceleration, or by upward, downward, or swinging movements, causes dizziness or nausea and/or vomiting, which is commonly known as motion sickness, sea-sickness, air-sickness, etc. Oral medications are available for travelers to minimize or prevent motion-, sea-, or air sickness.
To minimize air sickness
The night before the trip, have a quiet evening, and avoid alcohol and spicy foods, including the morning of the air travel. Wear loose and comfortable clothing for air travel. During flight, eat light and minimize drinking alcoholic beverages, avoid excessive coffee and tea, but ingest about a glass (8 oz) of water for every two hours of the trip to prevent dehydration and its side effects. If nausea occurs, recline your seat, close your eyes, try to relax, and keep your head motionless. If it persists, antiemetic (anti-nausea/vomiting) medication may be needed. Some flights have this drug available on board.
Biofeedback helps
Yes, biofeedback helps relieve stress and many flight-related discomforts. While sitting back, relaxing your whole body, with your eyes closed, think and concentrate hard that you are on a tropical beach, enjoying the white sand and clear, sky blue waters. Breathe normally, nice and easy, punctuated by a deep sigh every now and then. Let your arms and legs, and the rest of your body, go limp. Meditate, daydream, think good and happy thoughts. This strategy has been found to be very effective, especially on long flights.
Young children cry on takeoff and landing
The changes in the altitude and barometric air pressure during take-off and landing cause temporary blockage of the eustachian tube (a small channel that connects the nasal passages and the middle ear), and this results in a build-up of pressure that leads to severe pains in the ear, in the head, and/or in the face (sinuses). To relieve the pressure (discomfort of blocked ears), one must swallow with the nose closed, or do frequent yawning during take-off and landing. Filling the mouth with air and blowing hard, with the mouth closed and the nose pinched (Valsalva Maneuver), may help “pop open” the blocked ears. Babies and young children should be made to suck, drink, or swallow liquid when the plane starts its ascent or descent. For adults and older children, chewing gum or merely swallowing their saliva during take-off and landing will help.
Bloating sensation
The changes in cabin pressure increase the gas production in our guts. As the pressure falls, the air in the intestines expands, causing bloating and discomfort. Abstinence from alcohol, or drinking in moderation, and eating light, especially on long flights, can minimize or prevent problems during flights and make air travel more enjoyable.
Faucet water contamination
In the United States, most cities have safe potable water, but not in many countries around the world. But even in the USA, bottled water is preferred, and when in other countries, it is recommended to use bottled water for drinking and even for brushing teeth. E.coli is a common contaminant in faucet water in some countries.
History of collapsed lungs
People with a history of collapsed lungs (pneumothorax) more than once, and not operated on, are not allowed to fly because pneumothorax may recur. If this should happen, especially at high altitudes, the shortness of breath that follows the collapse of the lungs will be worse and aggravated to the point that the person might die of suffocation. Those with this condition should undergo a major but fairly simple operation to cut out the portion of the lung that is weak (with a very thin wall that balloons out like bubbles) and is leaking. Those whose pneumothorax has been corrected by surgery are allowed to fly, but not to pilot a plane.
Pregnant women flying
It is safe for pregnant women to fly on commercial airlines. However, most airlines do not accept passengers who are more than 35 weeks pregnant for obvious safety reasons. Those concerned should check with their airline or immigration office in the country of destination about entry regulations.
Alcohol during flights
Prudent, moderate consumption of alcohol is generally tolerated by most people on board. Alcohol, just like smoking, increases body fatigue, hypoxia (lowering the oxygen level in our blood), and dehydration. Fatigue and hypoxia, which naturally occur during long flights, explain why some people “do not feel well” following air travel. Alcohol and/or smoking aggravate these two conditions and the severity of circadian dysrhythmia (jet lag).
* * *
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, Health Advocate, medical missionary, newspaper columnist, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. He is a decorated recipient of the Indiana Sagamore of the Wabash Award in 1995, presented by then Indiana Governor, US senator, and later a presidential candidate, Evan Bayh. Other Sagamore past awardees include President Harry S. Truman, President George HW Bush, Astronaut Gus Grissom, pugilist Muhammad Ali, David Letterman, distinguished educators, scientists, etc. (Wikipedia). Websites: FUN8888.com, Today.SPSAtoday.com, and philipSchua.com Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com