Travel Wise

The September 11, 2001 full-stop of the American air space simultaneously pushed the stress button for future American and International travelers. This requires the savvy traveler to be proactive and design their own stress – busters. You can enjoy holiday travel, business travel or just a quiet get-away and arrive at your destination without being a bundle of nerves.

As air travel resumes again it is interesting to note a recent report by Airports Council International (published in Airwise News). North America, home to some of the world's busiest airports, recorded a single month volume of 104.3 million passengers, and European airports say passenger totals climbed to 63.3 million -- these staggering numbers are for a single month's volume and we expect the numbers will move back to these heights as we approach the holiday season.

It is important to note air travelers will be more protected and safer than they have ever been. However, it's easy to understand having the pre-travel jitters or becoming sick while in an airport or aboard an aircraft. To keep the skies friendly to your health and well being, consider following these travel-savvy tips:

1. Talk with your children before traveling. If they are traveling with you, tell them they will be on a plane and that it is safe. Let them pick a small soft toy to take along and bring it in your carry-on shoulder bag. If you are traveling and they are remaining at home, let them know that you think it is safe. Plan to call them several times before and after the flight to reassure them that you are safe and well.

2. Plan extra time. Arrive at the airport at the time requested by the airlines and allow for delays on both ends of your trip.

3. Carry a cell phone. Even if you usually don’t carry a cell phone, get one for the trip with a prepaid call package. Reduce stress by staying in communication about travel connections or delays with your family, friends, or work associates.

4. Pack Light. Carry-on luggage regulations have changed and are continuing to change. Get the latest information from your airline just prior to traveling. You will want to carry your own luggage especially if you have a change or rework of your travel arrangements. Extra large packages should be shipped before your trip by ground transportation.

5. Wear layered loose clothing and comfortable shoes. Think dress for sport. Wait time for security checks has increased at most international airports, some airports will not allow entrance into the concourse until the flight is called for security check. If you are traveling for business allow time to change clothing when you arrive. Long hours on the ground and in the air cause clothing to bind. If you feel bloated after disembarking from the plane, it's because the low air pressure (8000' inside the jet cabin) makes our bodies swell up. If you have a tendency to swell, ask your doctor for a light diuretic to take.

6. Keep your fluids up. Cabin air is notoriously dry (0-2% humidity). Combat this by drinking 8 ounces of water for every hour you are in the air. Bring your own supply of bottled water on a shoulder strap or waist band so you aren’t dependent on airport facilities or flight attendants to provide for you. Avoid tap water on airplanes. It is treated with mild detergents, and no regulatory standards are in effect for commercial aircraft water tanks. The quality of what comes through the faucet is anyone's guess, and it may irritate sensitive GI tracts.

7. Sip Smart. Avoid caffeinated beverages -- which act to buzz up your nervous system. Alcohol's intoxicating effect is more pronounced when consumed in the rarefied atmosphere of air travel. A drink could help relax the flight jitters but limit yourself to just one.

8. Skip the airline food. Snacks are loaded with salt, which further upsets your body's water balance, already out of kilter from the low air pressure, into more havoc. Airline meals are typically high in fat and preservatives. Your best bet to keep your tummy comfortable in the air is to feed it what it's accustomed to on the ground; plan to bring your own meal or snacks to tide you over until you reach your destination.

9. Fight off anxious moments! Self-soothe techniques are easy to carry along: lavender essential oil on pulse points, choose a book to read that is light and full of fantasy, carry a walkman or Discman with quiet music or natural sounds for listening.

10. Grab some zzz's. To maximize your sleep time on the flight, you might want to bring a few supplies: earplugs, eye mask, and cotton socks. Fasten your seatbelt outside the blankets in order to avoid attendants waking you to check.

11. Speak up. Clammy skin, impaired vision, and difficulty concentrating may be due to a lack of fresh air supply. A lack of air results in a lack of oxygen to the brain, a medical condition called 'hypoxia'. Newer jets have been designed with less fresh air capacity for passengers; most of us can attest to having difficulty with the quality or quantity of air on flights. Passengers can ask for "air packs" to be turned on and "recirculation fans" to be turned off. It is standard operating procedure for pilots to wait until a passenger complains before turning on an air pack. (It costs $80/hour for a 747 to run a single air pack.)

12. Humidify yourself. You can pack your own portable humidifier - cover your nose with a water-saturated cotton handkerchief, for as long on the flight as you are able (or can stand the curious looks from fellow passengers). An extra bonus -- this will help block the spread of germs. Or, you can bring saline spray to mist your nasal passages during the flight.

13. Submerge yourself upon arrival. After landing, dive into a pool, ocean, lake, shower, or hot tub. Bathing a dehydrated body will replenish moisture through your pores. It will also relax and recharge you so you can enjoy the first meeting or outing of your trip.

Abiding by these tips on your outbound and return flights, will help insure your travel, brief or long, is a stress-free experience.

Goddess Note: Ronald M. Klatz, M.D., D.O., founding physician of the anti-aging movement, is President of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (www.worldhealth.net), and author of Grow Young with HGH and New Anti-Aging Secrets for Maximum Lifespan.

Government Travel Information Links:

Air Travel Safety
www.governmentguide.com/travel_and_recreation/travelupdate.adp
Information on the FAA's security measures and what you need to know -- NOW!

FAA FAQ ( Frequently Asked Questions)
www.faa.gov/apa/faq/pr_faq.htm
Airport security, e-tickets and new FAA regulations

FAA safety tips
www.faa.gov/apa/traveler.htm
Packing: Think light, think smart, think safe.

Civil Aviation Security FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
cas.faa.gov/faq.html
Info on air travel security procedures.