| How to "survive" long-haul flights |
Do you feel well and look good during a long night flight? Does your skin feel dry on a plane? Are you having the "right" beverage? Here you will find many tips that make flying just that little bit -or a lot - more comfortable and relaxing.
In-flight Health Issues
The environment in the air is much different than on the ground.
- Do not fly soon after surgery. The change in atmospheric pressure may impede the healing process.
- When traveling with a broken arm, or toe, etc., make sure that your doctor has provided you with adequate pain medication. The compression in flight can make a broken bone feel excruciatingly painful.
- Try not to travel if you have a head cold, or sinus infection. The cabin pressure will make the symptoms worse. If you must travel, bring decongestants and coat the nasal area with petroleum jelly to avoid extra tenderness.
- Purchase travel insurance before you fly. The insurance offered at the airports is usually much more expensive.
- Keep all medications with you on board. Ask for your doctor to issue extra prescriptions if the medications are essential to your health. More than once, passengers have left their heart medications behind.
- Because the air is so dry when you fly, alcohol can be much more potent. Either compensate with more water, or reduce alcoholic intake. Try and drink as many non-alcoholic beverages as possible. Perhaps bring an extra bottle of water with you. Otherwise, headaches and bloating will arrive soon.
- Contact lens wearers should opt for glasses during the flight to avoid "red rabbit eyes". "Liquid tears" eye drops relieve dryness.
- When the seatbelt light is off, stretch your legs by walking down the aisle of the aircraft with a bit more bend in your knees. Not only will it help to keep the blood flowing, but it will alleviate the cramping and pains that come from sitting for an extended period of time. Just wait until the flight-attendants have finished the meal-service. It's impossible to jump over those carts.
- Limber up swollen feet by slowly turning your feet at the ankle in circular patterns. Should help maintain good blood flow.
- A number of foods served in flight are laden with sugar, or have a “heavy” feeling to them. Because such foods can cause fluctuations in blood sugar and leave you feeling bloated and achy, be wary of them.
- Bring lots of chewing gum for changes in air pressure. Ears don't always pop just during take-off and landing times, but during the flight as well. Helps with the nerves as well!
- Always bring a summary of your medical history with you. If something should happen in flight, having a list of allergies, medications, contact lens prescriptions, etc., could prove to be invaluable.
- Wear loose fitting, slip on shoes. Feet swell, and if you take shoes off at any point in a flight, a shoe that just fits can be painful to put back on. You might want to take an extra pair of socks if you want to take your shoes off!
- Wear loose fitting clothes. In flight dining and drinking may leave you feeling bloated.
- If you are wearing pantyhose or tights make sure that you moisturize your legs well. The dryness in flight can make legs feel very itchy in tights or pantyhose if you don't.
- Try not to keep your hair in a ponytail, or use hair clips in the back of your head. These will dig into your head after a few hours of the rigid seat backs.
- Load up on the vitamins before you board. Fresh air is a foreign concept on long flights, and you may be susceptible to air-borne infections or diseases.
- Take some toiletries such as toothbrush, toothpaste etc. to freshen up before landing. Sugarless gum will do too, in case the toothbrush gets lost.
Comfortably in an Economy Class Seat
A long flight in an economy seat is one of the prospects that air travelers tend to dread.
- Place one of the provided pillows between your lower back and the seat. Helps ease back soreness.
- Pack your own neck pillow, or scrunch one provided by the airline to support your neck.
- Do periodic stretches. Place your hands on the armrests and slowly twist your torso to loosen your upper body.
- Moisturize hands and face with heavy/lasting creams or petroleum jelly. The air is very dry in flight and thin moisturizers wear or rub off.
- Keep the air vent above you open. Dampen a facecloth, place it over your face, and aim the air vent at the cloth. Helps with dryness.
Beverages
Each day, a person loses around 2.5 liters (around 10 glasses) of water through our breath, sweat and evaporation. The World Health Organization recommends we drink at least 2 liters of water a day, depending on our size and activity. If you are flying, you need more!
Don't rely on your thirst to tell you when you need water. By the time you're thirsty, you're already dehydrated. You may recognize the symptoms:
- lack of energy
- constipation
- poor skin
- headaches
On long-haul flights, passengers are advised to drink two or three times their normal intake, preferably water or soft drinks. Drink as much plain mineral water as possible. Take your own bottle for easy access or even take two! To minimize bloating
- don't drink carbonated beverages
- avoid caffeine, it's dehydrating
- avoid alcohol, it's dehydrating, too
- acidic fruit juices will contribute to discomfort.
Food
Less is more if you don't want to feel bloated by the end of your flight. Eat light. Most airlines offer a variety of light meals; you can even order special meals if you are a vegetarian. Avoid salty snacks, they'll make you thirsty!
Specially for the traveling women
Taking good care of ones skin and looks during a long haul flight will make you feel and look good at arrival.
Skin Care
The dry air in the cabin (which has a moisture content of only six to fifteen percent) sharply accelerates the loss of body fluid. So moisturize!
Take moisturizer with you in your carry-on bag and apply frequently. Either take your make up off before moisturizing or do it like many flight-attendants (who have to keep their make up on) and apply moisturizer over make up! Just pat a little on dry patches, the skin will soak the cream up so fast that you won't look greasy long.
Facial Sprays
Do not use mineral water sprays, since water dries the skin. We recommend facial sprays with essential oils. They are a refreshing pick-me-up on those red-eye flights. Always use a moisturizer after washing or spraying your face with water to seal in moisture.
Face packs
Take some time for a face-pack after a flight to boost your skin's moisture content.
Hands
Take a good hand-cream and apply frequently. Many flight-attendants use
Vaseline, as doctors refer to it as “the best moisturizer available that the cosmetic companies don't want you to know about!”
Make up
The artificial light in the cabin is not very flattering; it makes any complexion look yellowish and washed out. A good trick to counteract this effect is to use a lilac under make up base. Use cool make up colors and stay away from warm tones containing yellow and red. Use a good moisturizer as a base for your make up, as the low humidity on the plane will take lots of moisture from your skin. Use a light, liquid foundation.
Powder
Loose, translucent powder is best to avoid the shiny look, as cabin air makes your face shiny in double time. Put powder and basic make up in your carry-on bag for touch ups.
Lipstick
Use moisturizing lipstick. The more staying power a lipstick has, the less it moisturizes. Don’t forget the lip balm! Alternate the use of lipstick with lip balm to keep lips from cracking.
Hair
Many women get "static hair" as soon as they board an airplane.
To combat static hair, use a leave-in conditioner, styling aids, or use hair spray (It's the most drying option for your hair, so only use in severe cases!).
To combat dryness, gather long hair at the nape of the neck, tie in a ponytail, massage conditioner in the length of hair, twist up in a bun and secure it.
|
| |
|
