With winter biting hard, the temptation to book a flight and go on holiday for Christmas is exceptionally tempting, and some will be flying around the festive season to meet friends and family around the world.
Whilst the seasons have changed, your preparations should remain the same in order to avoid getting ill, and the first place you should visit once you get your tickets is a local travel clinic to get tailored, expert advice on vaccinations, precautions and medicines you may need to take with you.
This is important, as travel advance can vary by country, by season and by itinerary. The precautions you need when celebrating Detty December in Ghana, Nigeria or elsewhere in West Africa will differ from those you need if you are spending a week in the Caribbean, Amsterdam or South Korea.
A big concern for many holidaygoers, however, is jet lag, which is often caused by a combination of time zone shifts, long flights and a greater exposure to contagious diseases whilst in airports, on flights and on shuttle transfers.
How likely are you to get ill on your flight? What precautions can you take? And what is and is not true about how your health is affected by long flights?
Why Do People Get Ill When Flying?
There are a remarkable number of myths surrounding flying, which remains one of the safest forms of transport in the world and has taken significant strides to improve both the comfort and health of all passengers.
A constant myth that is repeated is that people get ill on flights due to cabin air quality, which has to necessarily be pressurised and recirculated.
This is not the case, according to the Civil Aviation Authority. After nearly two decades of study by the Committee on Toxicity, no link was found between cabin air quality and ill health.
Cabin air is passed through high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, similar to those used in operating theatres, anti-allergen vacuum cleaners and some respirator masks, which remove particulate matter such as bacteria and viruses before recirculating the air around the cabin.
This means that it is not true that contagious diseases are widely circulated around an aircraft due to a technical or design failure, but as an inherent consequence of being in close contact with a person who is contagious.
This is also true on busy trains, buses, in transport hubs such as airports and bus stations, and in conferences, restaurants, bars, nightclubs and hospitality venues. The main difference is a lack of space.
What Should You Take With You To Avoid Getting Ill?
There are a few ways to avoid getting ill, and most of them involve taking steps to boost your immune system, reduce the avenues to infection and avoid infection.
Whilst you are no longer required to wear a mask when you get on a flight, it can sometimes be a very good idea to avoid infection, as long as you wear one that meets N95 respirator standards.
It may be worth asking your local pharmacist ahead of time if there is anything you can take to boost your immune system, but make sure to ask and start taking them at least a week in advance to get their full benefits.
Rehydrating solutions such as electrolyte tablets can be hugely beneficial for maintaining hydration, which helps the body avoid headaches and fatigue.
Finally, make sure to take some hand sanitiser and disinfectant wipes, and wipe any surface you are likely to touch around your seat, including the armrests, seatbelt and especially the tray table.
Where Should You Sit To Minimise Getting Ill?
According to a study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the best way to minimise the risk of this infection is to sit in a window seat.
One of the main reasons for this is that you are far less likely to be in close contact with other passengers because you are less likely to leave your seat during your flight.
The more you move around, the greater the chance you will be in close contact with someone with an illness that can spread through droplets, so as long as you are not close to someone who is already ill, there is a far smaller chance of contracting an illness.
What Else Should You Do To Avoid Getting Ill?
The best way to boost your immune system and avoid illnesses is to sleep. Consistently losing sleep makes you more likely to contract common illnesses.
It is worth trying to sleep, but try to bring your own pillow and eyemask if possible.