Dr. Sharon Orrange
Primary Care Physician
Dr. Orrange received her BA in Biology at the University of California, San Diego, and a Masters Degree in Health Sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health. She received her MD from the USC Keck School of…
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LOCATION: Santa Monica, CA, USA
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  • Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine, Division of Geriatric, Hospital and General Internal Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California
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Sneezing on a Jet Plane. Proven ways to prevent getting sick on airplanes
12
Posted in Acne by Dr. Sharon Orrange on Aug 27, 2008

Two simple things make airplanes the perfect germ companion: the air is being recirculated and you are in close proximity to others. The other creepy thing to remember about airplanes is that viruses can survive for short periods in the air and on the surfaces like tray tables, seat backs and arm rests of airliners


1) If you have nasal congestion or ear pain before getting on your flight consider a Sudafed 30 minutes before takeoff to avoid that painful ear pressure upon takeoff and landing


2) Use a saline nasal spray (2 sprays in each nostril) 30-60 minutes before your flight. Most cold viruses enter through your nose and dry, cracked mucosa in your nose are a PERFECT entry site for those viruses. Your goal is to keep the mucosa MOIST.


3) Take the Water! For prevention of a dry throat and nose stay hydrated . Airlines are pretty good about passing out water and think of it as your marathon and TAKE THE WATER. Avoid caffeine and alcohol because they are diuretics and will add to the dehydration. Again, dry cracks in the nasal passages are a haven for cold viruses and that is their favorite place of entry.


4) The dreaded clot in the leg: If you are on a flight 5 hours or longer you are at increased risk for a  DVT (deep venous thrombosis) which can travel to your lung .Ideally book a seat in an exit row, a bulkhead seat, or an aisle seat. Walk up and down the aisle about once an hour or flex your ankle up and down like you are pushing on the accelerator. Why do this craziness? Blood pools in the veins in your leg when you are sitting in cramped quarters ("economy class syndrome") so your job is to get things moving.  Consider a baby aspirin the morning of your flight for prevention as well.


5)  Can't touch this: There are many contaminated surfaces on planes. We as physicians call those "Fomites". As gross as the blankets and pillows on airplanes may seem the FAA actually found they aren't all that bad because they are washed but the trays, overheads, etc. are not. The area to worry about on airplanes are the galley water taps and lavatory faucets where they have found germs associated with feces (butt bugs) in 17% of airplanes tested.


6) An ounce of prevention: Your best weapon against those germs is washing your hands. Here is the all-star guide to hand washing: use soap and warm water and rub hands together (the friction may be the reason hand washing really works) for 15-20 seconds....the length of Happy Birthday twice or your ABCs once.


7) Extra credit! This goes to those who use an alcohol based antibacterial hand gel AFTER washing their hands.


8) Should I give it a wipe down? There is no evidence for this but some would suggest using an alcohol-based disposable hand wipe to wipe the trays, overheads, and armrests before you touch them.


9) I've got to get some sleep: The popular atypical benzodiazepines (Ambien, Sonata, Lunesta) are commonly used for sleep on plane flights. A word of caution about these: Ambien CR and Lunesta are longer acting (think 6-8 hours) so you may need to be carried off the plane if you take them for a 3 hour flight.


Dr O.


 


 


 


 

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12
Defense Secretary Robert Gates unveiled an idea to replace defense contractors entirely, with the budget providing for hiring 13,000 civil servants to start with. Granted, part of the cash advance loans of the stimulus was to create jobs, but this creates and takes away simultaneously. Part of the budget is an additional $5 billion for jets, and more funding for the withdrawal from Iraq and increasing activity in Afghanistan. After we heard so many promises to cut government spending, we now are on the hook for more cash advance loans in the http://personalmoneystore.com/money...">defense budget.
By SamuelX  Apr 15, 2009
11
thanks....i guess. some of us are paranoid enough without hearing this.
By NUMBER4940  Oct 20, 2008
10
Saline nasal spray changed my life. I had an OCD boyfriend who got it for me and I thought it was one of his weird little things. I haven't had a chest infection (and I had bad ones) for three years now. UNBELIEVABLE...and now...I'm the freakazoid telling people 'You ought to use saline spray...no really!!!!'
By ExDiva  Sep 03, 2008
9
Ummmmm, I took Sudafed, Clartin, Zyrtec....my 7 year old son , same trials...short of the nose therapies.......we're stuck right here. So I'm without and he is getting childrens' generic claritin (loratridine) over the counter. Saves me about $100/month. He struggles too....if anyone on a flight complained that we cough, sneeze...likely I would take issue with that, to put it very mildly....God bless all who have no allergens, health problems.....
By Nee123  Sep 01, 2008
8
Some people, like me, just need to sneeze......not an intentional act to annoy others. Allergans bother me...and I realize these things don't bother most. I'm grateful that I don't have Asthma as many of my family members do...so sometimes I sneeze, totally uncontrollable....but I'm not blowing germs in anyone's direction. Nothing foul about me. My pets don't get to me....it's pollen & dust that aggravates my condition. I go nowhere without tissues. I collect my sneezes within them, and dispose them. Yes, I would cough & sneeze on a flight!!! Others bring my allergans onboard.
By Nee123  Sep 01, 2008
7
Man.... I'm not sure how helpful this stuff is for anxiety sufferers! You are almost encouraging the obsessive cleaning thing here!!
By zusjes  Aug 31, 2008
6
I agree, it's good advice. I like the Sudafed idea or to get your ears checked beforehand if they have any problems. If you have fluid behind the eardrum, it can even rupture... not a good vacation.
By J4A  Aug 29, 2008
5
J4A: Sure, I like the idea of letting your immune system do its job...but an airplane is an unnatural exposure to many things...its an adult equivalent of a daycare center...if you are someone who has underlying illness its a bummer to be exposed to this stuff.
Dr O.
By DrOrrange  Aug 28, 2008
4
i take it youre not big on the whole let your immune system do its job thing.
By J4A  Aug 28, 2008
3
Where was this a month ago when I really needed it? :) I walked off my last flight with a raging sinus infection that I just got rid of (although I may have been sick before I got on the plane but the cross country flight did not help). I did almost everything you listed, but not all of it, which may be the problem. I'm going to hang onto this for next time......
By sarahg  Aug 28, 2008
2
..and the ear pain was UNBEARABLE upon plane descent! worse than an earache, heavy sharp and constant... then i had my ears clouding up for weeks after! is this 'normal'?
By missxmusic  Aug 28, 2008
1
oh i got SUCH a painful sinus infection(clear dripping right onto the floor when i lay in bed not to be graphic, but it was!) and terroible clear saliva for days.. then the terrible green.. this lasted for TWO WEEKS! Do u think i got it on the plane ride?? I recall a few peoople sneezing.. it didnt come on like a regular cold.
By missxmusic  Aug 28, 2008
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