Every Time I fly on a airplane I always get sick with a cold or sinus infection and I fly quite often?

Question

Usually I get sick a few days after the flight but while in Europe I got sick during the flight and had to call a Doctor to the Hotel.I am getting worn down and concerned about this.Since my trip to India last May I have had about 9 infections.Can flying be the cause ?Thanks for all your help.I am tired of going to the Doctor it doesnt seem to help either I was on a antibiotic for a month and still got sick.

Answer 1

Hi.I've gotten sick too. My last trip I took some Dramamine and Sinus pills..maybe three days before the flight. I can not tell you how much it helped me! Take them by direction for 2 to 3 days and you will be in heaven!Chewing gum on the landing and take off helps alot too.

Answer 2

You've dehydrated and your sinuses have completely dried up. Your mucus membranes and your throat dried up. When this happens you feel like cr*p and it has the same effects as getting a cold and a sinus infection. Its not nice at all.

Aircraft cabins are very dry, and the pressure also dries your body out. (The pressure is set at the equivalent of 8,000 feet).

You can counter the effects by drinking lots of water or fruit juice while on the flight, avoiding fizzy drinks that contain lots of sugar (which will help to dehydrate you), and especially avoid drinking any alcohol, as this stuff really dehydrates you more than anything else.

Just take a mouthful of water every 15 minutes or so all the way through the flight, and you'll arrive at your destination fine. It might also help to sit in an aisle seat, since you'll be visiting the little boy's room quite a bit with all that water going in.

Answer 3

Bring a small bottle of Purel or another waterless hand sanitizer with you. Airplanes are really dirty--- dozens of different people in them every day, everyone touching the tray tables and arm rests, and leaving their germs behind, and while the planes are cleaned up every night, they're not sanitized. If you are prone to catching colds, you'll pick them up on planes. Check sharperimage.com, they have personal air purifiers which look pretty stupid but do clean a lot of the junk out of the air just before you breathe it in. I fly a lot for work and this time of year when all my fellow travellers are carrying colds, I get sick a lot after flying. The best you can do is wash or sanitize your hands frequently, avoid eating on the plane if you can, and take some extra vitamin C to keep your immune system up.

Also antibiotics don't help much this time of the year. Most of the "bugs" that are going around are viruses, especially the flu, and antibiotics don't help at all with viruses.

Answer 4

Drink a lot of fluids before and during the flight... Airplane cabins have very dry air and that can contribute to sinus issues. Also use Afrin or some other sort of sinus spray.

Answer 5

I use Airborne when I feel I am starting to come down with something. It was designed by a teacher that was sick of getting sick. I've tried the generic versions of this and they taste horrible, stick with the original!

Answer 6

I always turn off the personal fan if there is one. In your case, I wonder if you are getting sick because of stress. If you are flying a lot, for work, or are working, it can be stressful, which compromises your immune system.

Answer 7

Stop flying so much-the planet has a lot more than a runny nose to worry about.

Answer 8

get earplugs and dont touch your mouth and nose a lot while your flying