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I see you have a doctor who knows about medicine and flying and how they interact and there's a question I just have to ask. Seems like every time I go on a cross-country plane ride I get sick. A cold or a sinus deal. Then I see this stuff called 'airborne', sold in stores.... It's some kind of herbal remedy invented by a teacher (?) who was tired of getting sick on airplane flights. Anyway, why do people tend to get sick when they fly and does this 'airborne' stuff have anything to recommend it?
Gender: Male
How old are you?: 40
How long has this been going on?: More than a year
Check all symptoms you are currently experiencing:
Ear/ Nose / Throat
Describe associated symptoms not listed above: You may also use this area to further explain symptoms checked above.
Just seems to take a few days to recover from an Jet flight.
Please list any chronic medical problems and also list any prior surgery (lacerations don't count!):
no major issues
Are you currently using or do you have a history of tobacco use?: No
Are you currently using or do you have a history of illegal drug use?: No
Please describe your alcohol consumption :: Weekly
1. Is there something to the statement that it's easy to catch a bug or virus on a plane?
2. Why do I always feel bad after a flight?
3. Is there anything to do to remedy this, specifically, does that 'Airborne' stuff really work?
________________________________________________________
I see you have a doctor who knows about medicine and flying and how they interact and there's a question I just have to ask. Seems like every time I go on a cross-country plane ride I get sick. A cold or a sinus deal. Then I see this stuff called 'airborne', sold in stores.... It's some kind of herbal remedy invented by a teacher (?) who was tired of getting sick on airplane flights. Anyway, why do people tend to get sick when they fly and does this 'airborne' stuff have anything to recommend it?
Gender: Male
How old are you?: 40
How long has this been going on?: More than a year
Check all symptoms you are currently experiencing:
Ear/ Nose / Throat
Describe associated symptoms not listed above: You may also use this area to further explain symptoms checked above.
Just seems to take a few days to recover from an Jet flight.
Please list any chronic medical problems and also list any prior surgery (lacerations don't count!):
no major issues
Are you currently using or do you have a history of tobacco use?: No
Are you currently using or do you have a history of illegal drug use?: No
Please describe your alcohol consumption :: Weekly
1. Is there something to the statement that it's easy to catch a bug or virus on a plane?
2. Why do I always feel bad after a flight?
3. Is there anything to do to remedy this, specifically, does that 'Airborne' stuff really work?
________________________________________________________
Our intrepid Space Doc will weigh-in shortly.
As to airline travel, realize this.... even though modern airliners are pressurized, they are pressurized to about 8000 ft AGL (above ground level), so, going up in a commercial jet is putting you, assuming you are a flatlander, in a relatively hypoxic environment for a few hours and much of what you are feeling may be due to Acute Mountain Sickness, which you can read about by clicking the link.
As to the "Airborne" herbal remedy, well, it won't do you any harm... PROBABLY. And if I lined up 100 people and gave them sugar water and told them all they were getting a powerful sleep medicine about 33 of them would go to sleep. This goes for all the 'supplement' market.... We simply have no scientific evidence to validate any of the claims made by these manufacturers, and the FDA is NOT regulating them, so the operative phrases here are 'caveat emptor' and 'placebo effect'.
Thanks for your question and stay tuned....
MDSTAT ER DOC 1
________________________________________________________________
Dear air traveller:
There have been some studies that have shown a slight increase in sinus and cold symptoms during airplane trips, but this would probably be the same if you were confined in a crowded room anywhere.
As Doc 1 mentioned most planes are pressured to an altitude around 8000 ft which most people can tolerate, although some individuals can have altitude sickness symptoms of fatigue, nausea, headache, and shortness of breath as low as 5000 ft. altitude
I totally agree with Doc 1 that there have been no studies to inddicate the Airborne medication prevents any colds, sinusitis, or bacterial infections, and they have had to settle 2 or 3 lawsuits for false advertising.
However, I have been taking both vit. C (2000mg.) and Vit. E (400-800 i.u.) daily and haven't had a cold or sinusitis in over 10 years. The usual Airborne dose has 1000 mg of vit. C so it would probably be safest to take around 3 doses a day (rather than every 3 hrs) to avoid any possible kidney irritations.
Some people swear by the Airborne so it would probably be worth a try, but there are certainly no guarantees' I also have had a number of patients who have had good luck taking Sinutabs before a flight to keep the sinuses clear
Good Luck! Keep us posted.
Space Doc.
Dear air traveller:
There have been some studies that have shown a slight increase in sinus and cold symptoms during airplane trips, but this would probably be the same if you were confined in a crowded room anywhere.
As Doc 1 mentioned most planes are pressured to an altitude around 8000 ft which most people can tolerate, although some individuals can have altitude sickness symptoms of fatigue, nausea, headache, and shortness of breath as low as 5000 ft. altitude
I totally agree with Doc 1 that there have been no studies to inddicate the Airborne medication prevents any colds, sinusitis, or bacterial infections, and they have had to settle 2 or 3 lawsuits for false advertising.
However, I have been taking both vit. C (2000mg.) and Vit. E (400-800 i.u.) daily and haven't had a cold or sinusitis in over 10 years. The usual Airborne dose has 1000 mg of vit. C so it would probably be safest to take around 3 doses a day (rather than every 3 hrs) to avoid any possible kidney irritations.
Some people swear by the Airborne so it would probably be worth a try, but there are certainly no guarantees' I also have had a number of patients who have had good luck taking Sinutabs before a flight to keep the sinuses clear
Good Luck! Keep us posted.
Space Doc.
1 comment:
Dear air traveller:
There have been some studies that have shown a slight increase in sinus and cold symptoms during airplane trips, but this would probably be the same if you were confined in a crowded room anywhere.
As Doc 1 mentioned most planes are pressured to an altitude around 8000 ft which most people can tolerate, although some individuals can have altitude sickness symptoms of fatigue, nausea, headache, and shortness of breath as low as 5000 ft. altitude
I totally agree with Doc 1 that there have been no studies to inddicate the Airborne medication prevents any colds, sinusitis, or bacterial infections, and they have had to settle 2 or 3 lawsuits for false advertising.
However, I have been taking both vit. C (2000mg.) and Vit. E (400-800 i.u.) daily and haven't had a cold or sinusitis in over 10 years. The usual Airborne dose has 1000 mg of vit. C so it would probably be safest to take around 3 doses a day (rather than every 3 hrs) to avoid any possible kidney irritations.
Some people swear by the Airborne so it would probably be worth a try, but there are certainly no guarantees' I also have had a number of patients who have had good luck taking Sinutabs before a flight to keep the sinuses clear
Good Luck! Keep us posted.
Space Doc.
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