Hey all
Copy paste post alert!
This post is a continuation of my previous post on fitness to travel.
Most of the people are aware about this. This may help first timers though.
Here are common issues .
This post is a continuation of my previous post on fitness to travel.
Most of the people are aware about this. This may help first timers though.
Here are common issues .
Dry eyes , Dry skin :
The symptoms often described after flying, e.g. dry eyes, taut skin, dry mouth etc. are due to the dry atmosphere on board the aircraft. The relative humidity in most air conditioned buildings is between 40 and 70 per cent which is ideal for comfort. On an aircraft, the relative humidity may be of the order of 20 per cent. This however does not cause true dehydration but these symptoms may be exacerbated by drinking excessive amounts of tea, coffee and alcohol which cause the body to pass more urine. Simple measures such as applying moisturiser and drinking water should alleviate the symptoms. There is no hazard to health as a result of this environment. Contact lens wearers may have to dampen their lenses and should remove them prior to sleeping during the flight.
Contact lens :
One of the symptoms often described after flying is dry eyes, this is due to the dry atmosphere on board the aircraft.High water content lenses may dry and distort more than those with lesser water content. This problem may be overcome with gas permeable lenses. Drinking excessive amounts of tea, coffee and alcohol can exacerbate dryness.
Contact lens wearers may have to dampen their lenses and should remove them prior to sleeping during the flight.
Passengers may carry small quantities of liquids, each of which must have a capacity not greater than 100 ml, this includes contact lens solution. You can carry a contact lens case containing fresh lens solution in order that you may remove your lenses should you experience discomfort on the flight, so it is essential that you carry your spectacles in your hand luggage. Although it is perfectly safe to store spare lenses in hold luggage it is not advisable lest the luggage does not appear at your destination.
A blood clot or Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT), as it is known, can occur in individuals with specific risk factors at any time.
The risk factors for DVT include age greater than 40, previous DVT or blood clot in the lung (pulmonary embolism) or a history of such conditions within the family.
Other factors that are found to be important are hormonal changes associated with pregnancy, the use of the oral contraceptive pill and hormone replacement therapy. Recent surgery or trauma and many forms of cancer can also be associated with increased clotting of the blood.
In addition to these factors, there are some inherited abnormalities of the blood clotting system which may pre-dispose individuals to DVT and pulmonary embolism.
Recent research by WHO has been published on DVT, which confirms that immobility is an extremely important factor and that being seated for more than four hours in a car, bus, train or an aircraft may increase the risk of blood clotting.
Simple measures may reduce the risk of blood clotting; these include increasing mobility by walking around the aircraft cabin and carrying out simple lower leg exercises that are illustrated in many in-flight magazines.
Drinking adequate amounts of non-alcoholic beverages is important on a long flight, but the routine use of aspirin has not been shown to reduce the risk of clotting which takes place in the veins of the leg. In addition, there is a potential hazard with aspirin and the balance between benefit and harm is not in favour of aspirin and thus its routine use cannot be recommended. However, individuals who may have any of the risk factors outlined should seek medical advice, and it may be that in certain circumstances compression stockings or therapy directed at preventing the clotting process may be appropriate.
If you are unfortunate enough to suffer a DVT associated with travel, the journey home should not be a problem. It is important that any "blood thinning" treatment is stable before travel in order that maximum protection is afforded.
Ear pain :
Modern aircraft cabins are pressurised to between 5,000 and 8,000 feet, which causes gas within our body cavities to expand. The body contains air in the middle ear and in the sinuses. As the aircraft climbs, the air expands in the middle ear and flows to the outside via a connection called the Eustachian tube. The air in the sinuses escapes via the nose. On descending, the reverse occurs via the same connections. To assist in this flow of air and avoid pain in the ear or sinuses, it is helpful to periodically swallow, chew or yawn during the descent. Babies often cry, and this has the same effect.
In order that these mechanisms work efficiently, it is not advisable to fly with an infection of the ear, nose or sinuses, as the swelling, which occurs with this infection, can prevent free flow of air and result in pain, bleeding or in the most severe cases, a ruptured ear drum.
Infection :
Most contagious illnesses, such as chicken pox, measles, 'flu or the common cold, are spread as a result of close contact between people. This most commonly happens through 'droplet spread' - breathing in viral particles or bacteria carried into the air when someone with the illness coughs or sneezes close by.
You might pick up an infection on the aircraft if someone in a seat close to you has a cold or other contagious disease. However, it is just as likely that you could catch an infection from someone close to you when travelling by public transport, at the airport, in your hotel or at a conference - indeed anywhere where you might be in close contact with other people.
You may have heard that you are more likely to catch an infection on board an aircraft because some of the cabin air is re-circulated. However, the air that is re-circulated passes through filters which are highly effective at removing particles, including bacteria, viruses and fungi that can cause infection. Research has shown that you are no more likely to catch an infection on an aircraft that has re-circulated air than on one where the air is not re-circulated.
Contagious diseases:
You should delay your flight until the illness is no longer contagious. Talk to the doctor who is treating you to find out when you will be able to travel.
If possible, arrange to get a letter from the doctor once you are no longer contagious, confirming this and that you are fit to fly. This can be particularly important for some illnesses, such as chicken pox, where you may still have some signs of the illness such as a spots or a rash. The airline may refuse to let you travel if the staff at the airport or on the aircraft think that you may still be contagious.
It is advisable to inform the airline that you are due to fly with, as they will be able to tell you if they have any specific requirements such as a letter from your doctor before they will let you travel. They will also tell you if there will be any additional charges if you have to change your booking. You should also contact your insurer if you have travel insurance, as you may be able to make a claim if you have to pay to re-book your flight or have to cancel the flight or a holiday because of your illness.
So far so much
Thanks!
Source : https://www.caa.co.uk/Passengers/Before-you-fly/Am-I-fit-to-fly/Health-information-for-passengers/Passenger-health-FAQs--The-aircraft-cabin---your-health-and-comfort/
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