Germs At 38,000 Feet: How To Stay Healthy When Flying This Holiday (Or Any Other Time)
In my mind, there are few germ factories worse than a metal cylinder stuffed full of sick people flying miles above ground Earth. It seems like the minute you board a plane it's a symphony of coughs, sniffles and sneezes, as well as the "please don`t sit next to me" plea racing through your head.
I am not the best air traveler because of my own germ phobia, yet several studies have shown you're more likely to get sick in an office setting than on a plane. Nonetheless, I am always paranoid there are invisible microbes that have my name on them coming from the person sitting an aisle or two away.
So ... what are your best defenses against getting infected on a plane?
First off, rename your air carrier "Hand Sanitizer Airlines." Use the product repeatedly, then use some again.
Carry some antibacterial\ germicidal wipes - and the places to use them include the known germiest places on a plane: the tray table, the air vents, the lavatory, the seat belt buckle and armrests.
Don't touch those eyes - that's how germs are most likely to get into your system. Use artificial tears to moisturize and wash germs out. The same goes for saline nasal spray to keep your nasal passageways germ-free.
Push those fluids - as in lots of water. The dryness of an airplane can make you more prone to infection (average humidity level of an airline cabin is a desert-like 6 percent). And lay off the booze.
As for worry about recirculated air, etc. on a plane, well, it's actually fresher than you think. The air is well-filtered (not for you, but for fuel efficiency). Once again, it's better than the typical office building.
Finally, when it comes to those coughing, sneezing, wheezing souls who insist on flying despite the fact they really should be curled up in bed at home, don't be shy about telling them to use a tissue to sneeze in ... and a crook of the elbow to cough in if you are scrunched in the seat next to one.
Then again, don't be too paranoid about those rows away. The so-called "hot zone" for airborne air-travel germs is only about 3 feet -- in the worst case scenario up to 6 feet, so hopefully the person in 22C is not going to be a bother to you in 10A.
Oh, forgot ... and I hope you didn't. Your flu shot. If you haven't had one before flying, get immunized before your return trip home!
Happy and healthy holidays, as well as smooth and healthy travels!
Dr. Dave Hnida is CBS4's Medical Editor. He blogs about the latest studies and trends in the health world. Read his latest blog entries, check out his bio or follow him on Twitter @drdavehnida.
