Family Doctor 2007 - (Page 36) feeling great HEALTHY TRAVELING Healthy traveling: Tips to make your air travel safer and more comfortable Illness or a troublesome flight can put a damper on your longed-for vacation. But some careful planning will ensure you have a relaxing, enjoyable getaway. By Angelike M. Gaunt first-aid training. Some airlines also make provisions for medical experts on the ground to be able to communicate with the flight crew and provide medical assistance in case of an emergency. What you can do about airplane ear One of the most common complaints of people traveling by plane is airplane ear — that uncomfortable feeling of pressure or pain in your ears when the plane takes off or lands. Airplane ear, also called barotrauma or barotitis media, is an injury to your middle ears caused by the changes in altitude and air pressure. You have a higher risk of being affected by airplane ear when you fly while you have a cold, allergies, congested nose or sinus infection (sinusitis). A small tube, called the eustachian tube, connects your throat and middle ear. The eustachian tube equalizes air pressure in your middle ear when the outside air pressure increases. But when you have a cold or any other upper respiratory infection, the eustachian tube is often blocked, which leads to pain and discomfort in your ears. It’s best not to fly if you have a cold or upper respiratory infection. If you absolutely have to fly, it may help to take a decongestant medicine before getting on the plane, or to use a decongestant nasal spray about 30 minutes before the plane starts its descent. Drinking lots of fluids and chewing gum during take off and landing may also help relieve the symptoms of airplane ear. If you develop a fever or severe ear pain after flying, or if airplane ear symptoms don’t disappear within a few hours, see your family doctor. E ach year, millions of Americans travel by air for social, recreational and business reasons. When you’re about to catch a flight, your most common worries might be your luggage, the weather or getting to the airport on time. Your health or a medical emergency may be the last thing on your mind. But if you have certain conditions, it’s worth taking some precautions before getting on a plane. The need for a pre-trip visit to your doctor will depend on your general health. If you suffer from certain chronic conditions such as heart disease or diabetes, you may want to talk with your doctor before flying to make sure your condition is stable, especially if you’re taking a long flight or if you’re traveling overseas. If you’re traveling to another country, it’s also a good idea to check with your health insurance carrier to see what coverage for medical emergencies is provided under your plan outside the United States. You may need to buy a traveler’s medical insurance policy either through your travel agent or online. If you take prescription medications, pack them in their original containers in your carryon luggage, and bring enough medicine to last the whole trip. You might want to take some extra medicine with you in case your return trip is delayed. It is also a good idea to carry a card listing your conditions, medications and dosages and the name and phone number of your doctor in case of an emergency. If you do have an in-flight medical emergency, know that flight attendants are required to have cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and basic DID YOU KNOW? If you have diabetes and take insulin, you will probably need to carry a valid prescription and a letter from your doctor stating which medications and dosages you need so that you may carry needles with you on the plane. Your doctor may also have to adjust your insulin schedule, depending on the time zone of your destination. Jet lag — how to adjust to a different time zone Jet lag, or time zone change disorder, is another problem that frequently affects millions of air travelers. Jet lag is a sleep disorder. It occurs when your body’s biological clock is not synchronized with local time. If you travel to a location with a different time zone, remember that your body adjusts slowly. You may feel sleepy during the day and very alert at night. You may also feel irritable or have difficulties concentrating. You can relieve the symptoms of jet lag by getting plenty of sleep before traveling. Eating balanced meals and avoiding 36 familydoctor 2007
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