Safe, Healthy Flying ??:

So you want to Fly the healthy "friendly" skies ?:

There are a number of tricks in the trade that are worth discussing as most of us find ourselves on a plane at one time or another.

The primary rule of thumb is to ALWAYS drink like a fish. No caffeinated, alcoholic or sweet liquids. A 12 oz can or so per hour, will generally suffice to maintain adequate hydration. Its typical to fly at a cabin pressure of approximately 9000 feet. At this altitude one looses fluids rapidly through evaporative losses. Unless your the seasoned traveler who takes every inconvenience in stride, you've undoubtedly been on edge and found your pulse elevated. This equates to an increased metabolic rate, hence even more fluid losses. Remember that even the typical workable flight is stressful. Learning to relax is important to saving your health and your sanity.

Motion is your friend. While traveling on a plane your chances of developing a blood clot are increased significantly. By getting up and moving regularly you can decrease the potential and will find yourself much more at ease following the flight.You will also do yourself a favor by elevating your legs from the floor with a book, etc. This will relieve the pressure on the back of your thighs. Some travelers might also benefit from the use of aspirin or fish oils to modify the viscosity of your blood. These measures will make the blood less prone to the deep vein thrombosis (DVT). If you experience a focused pain in your leg or have changes in sensation, seek medical assistance promptly. The wearing of compression socks or hose can be helpful. Some international carriers have the support stockings available.

I have found that almost all airports are toxic waste zones, with an abundance of jet fuel fumes and petrochemical everywhere. By ingesting milk thistle extract, prior and after your trip, you might be able to counteract some of the deleterious liver experiences that many chemicals used in an airport induce. Remember the jet fuel is only one of many insults. Consider the cleaning agents used in the glass enclosed and generally recycled air in the waiting areas ?

Cleanliness is next to godliness. I don't know who stated this fact however when was the last time that your seat was cleaned ? Consider the waiting area frequented by thousands or passengers per day, as well as your airline seat. Some hygenic defense might be to use the bacterial wipes on the arm rests and the table/tray. You should also ALWAYS wash you hands and face regularly when flying. This will decrease your exposure and potentially reduce you potential of catching the cold virus, from the passenger in 14A.
As a physician I frequently wonder how many people handle the in flight magazine that the airlines tout. If only a small percentage sneezed on that page over the next how many flights.... You get the picture. Bring your own reading materials.

Noise is a drag and you don't have to suffer. For $39.00 Sharper Image sells a noise buster headset that makes a HUGE difference. Two new larger headset devices are now on the market and I will give you the low down when I finish evaluation. In the mean time consider the noise buster as a necessary part of travel. The device takes the ambient noise and induces a 180 degree out of sync sound. The two cancel out and leave a quiet and reasonable tolerable result. You can plug any of these devices into the sound system and listen to music, as well as converse with others around you.

Timing your trip. If your able to schedule appropriately, you can make the east to west journey with minimal upset to your internal clock. Consider the use of the Argonne Anti-Jet-Lag Diet to minimize your time change discomfort. This diet was paid for by your tax dollars, developed many years ago for diplomats traveling and not being sharp or able to function quickly in 1982. With the availability of melatonin you can arrange to also sleep during an unusual time and wake up refreshed. You should experiment with the melatonin BEFORE you travel and find the correct dosage. If you awake and find your self groggy, you've taken too high a dose. The typical health food store dosage range from .5 mg to 3 mg. Only by experimenting will you find the ideal dose. Lower doses tend to work better and generally I recommend using a 1 mg. dose initially. Additional research has been developed into using a combination of melatonin, to induce sleep, and hydrocortisone to reawaken. JET LAG: Natural hormone can boost travelers’ energy is the title of an interesting and worth reading article regarding this method of chronological control. I would highly suggest that although scientific studies of this combination are valid, you might equally benefit from using a glandular adrenal supplement. At the Center of Health™ we do employ hydrocortisone for a number of therapeutic applications. Remember to always consider your current medications and supplements when adding any additional medications.
The Argonne Anti-Jet-Lag Diet: How to avoid jet lag
1. DETERMINE BREAKFAST TIME at destination of day of arrival.
2. FEAST-FAST-FEAST-FAST on home time. Start three days before departure day.
On day one, FEAST; eat heartily with high-protein breakfast and lunch and a high-carbohydrate dinner. No coffee except between 2 and 5 p.m. On day two, FAST on light meals of salads, light soups, fruits and juices. Again, no coffee except between 3 and 5 p.m. On day three, FEAST again.
On day four, departure day, FAST; if you drink caffeinated beverages, take them in the morning when traveling west, or between 6 and 11 p.m. when traveling east. Going west, you may fast only half day.
3. BREAK FINAL FAST at destination breakfast time. No alcohol on plane. If flight is long enough, sleep until normal breakfast time at destination, *but no later*. Wake up and FEAST on high-protein breakfast. Stay awake, active. Continue day's meals according to meal times at destination. FEAST on high-protein breakfasts and lunches to stimulate the body's active cycle. Suitable meals include steak, eggs, hamburgers, high-protein cereals, green beans. FEAST on high-carbohydrate suppers to stimulate sleep. They include spaghetti and other pasta (but no meatballs), crepes (but no meat filling), potatoes, other starchy vegetables, and sweet desserts. FAST days help deplete the liver's store of carbohydrates and prepare the body's clock for resetting. Suitable foods include fruit, light soups, broths, skimpy salads, unbuttered toast, half pieces of bread. Keep calories and carbohydrates to a minimum.

COUNTDOWN
ON HOME TIME: day 1 FEAST day 2 FAST day 3 FEAST day 4 FAST
Breakfast FEAST protein grapefruit FEAST protein grapefruit
Lunch FEAST protein apple FEAST protein apple
Supper FEAST carbo broth FEAST carbo broth

Coffee, tea, cola, other caffeinated beverages allowed only between 3 and 5 p.m.
BREAK FINAL FAST Westbound: If you drink caffeinated beverages, take them morning before departure. Eastbound: take them between 6 and 11 p.m. If flight is long enough, sleep until destination breakfast time. Wake up and FEAST, beginning with a high-protein breakfast. Lights on. Stay awake and active.

ARGONNE NATIONAL LABORATORY ANTI-JET-LAG-DIET

The Argonne Anti-Jet-Lag Diet is helping travelers quickly adjust their bodies' internal clocks to new time zones. It is also being used to speed the adjustment of shift workers, such as power plant operators, to periodically rotating work hours. The diet was developed by Dr. Charles F. Ehret of Argonne's Division of Biological and Medical Research as an application of his fundamental studies of the daily biological rhythms of animals. Argonne National Laboratory is one of the U.S. Department of Energy's major centers of research in energy and the fundamental sciences. Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, Illinois 60439
*U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1984-754-904

Helpful Items:
An overview of a good set of helpful agents to carry with you on any trip should include:

A calmnative...What do you mean your luggage is in Lithuania ??
Classic combinations include: Valarian Root, Hops, Kava Kava, and 5HTP. At the Center of Health™ we use a product called 303's or any of the above.
A muscle relaxant/anti-inflamatant...That 14 hour flight will cramp your muscles, despite your best efforts at gymnastics in the plane.
A head ache potion...you can name the ways
Feverfew or petadolex should be considered, along with aspirin.
An inflatable pillow support...the masochist who designed the seats is nicknamed the cervical contortionist
A set of undercloths, toothbrush and toiletries along with one nights emergency change of clothes...see #1 above

I trust that this will make your flight somewhat more bearable and even enjoyable.