'Airborne' Medication

**Robert5988** · 05-02-2005, 01:14

I often suffer from minor ‘sneezing and snuffles’ after flights; this undoubtedly caused by the recycling of air in the plane’s air-conditioning system.

Normally the symptoms are slight, but this time all 4 of us on a Manchester - Miami flight went down with the ‘Norwalk’ virus(according to the doctor) – not a pleasant experience!!

A friend has heard that ‘Airborne’ – an over-the-counter medication in the USA – enhances your immune system for short period and is ideal for aircraft travel.

Fact or Fiction? Has anyone tried it?

Come in Nostromo!!

**Nostromo** · 05-02-2005, 12:37

There are plenty of herbal and other drugs (mostly non-proprietory) that are supposed to "enhance the immune system" but most of it is BS. There is very little scientific evidence to support their lofty claims. The immune system is far more complicated than the media lead you to believe and there certainly are no shot-term medications that you can take to 'enhance' your system so that you don't catch something or the other on a flight - or anywhere else for that matter. We are exposed to trillions of bugs daily and for the most part, the body's built-in immune mechanisms take care of it.

If you are bothered by 'flight sniffles', a simple decongestant like sudafed might help a bit, but bear in mind that despite their 'non-drowsy' label, such medications can cause a 'dry' feeling that can get enhanced by the dehydration during the flight, which might affect one's driving. So, if you are planning to drive a car soon after arrival, I would be careful using decongestants - but otherwise they are fine. An alternative is to do 10 minutes of steam inhalation with Vicks or something similar before you start out of your house to the airport and soon after arrival in the villa. But of course, this presents a lot of practical difficulties and a simple alternative that works to some extent is to keep one of those whilte inhaler sticks handy in your pocket. (Vicks & Olabas do them). A bit crude, but OK for short term relief if that's what you are after.

PS: I'd be interested to know on what basis the US doctor made such a specific viral diagnosis.

05-02-2005, 12:53

When I was cabin crew I had a constant runny nose and the sneezes I even had allergy tests and was told I was allergic to Aircraft dust mite and had allergic rhynitis (wrong spelling?), the long and the short of it was that whenever I was on a trip I had this problem and still do when I fly on my holidays!!![msnscared]

**Steve and Dawn** · 05-02-2005, 13:12

Don't know why they don't just open the window and let some fresh air in......[msnwink][msnwink]

**LiesaAnna** · 05-02-2005, 13:17

NOoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
now i'm scared please dont ever get on my plane i would be so afraid!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!![msnwink]

05-02-2005, 13:24

Don't laugh but many years ago on my yearly safety check we were told that if you had a bad smoke filled cabin on board you could, if you got to the right height actually 'crack' open the front left and rear right doors and clear the cabin of smoke!

**Nostromo** · 05-02-2005, 13:33

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by lal
Don't laugh but many years ago on my yearly safety check we were told that if you had a bad smoke filled cabin on board you could, if you got to the right height actually 'crack' open the front left and rear right doors and clear the cabin of smoke!
[/quote]

Sure, I heard about this too. All the smokers sat at the back and if you were careful and opened the rear doors just to the right extent, only the smokers would be sucked out and lo and behold! The cabin would indeed be cleared of smoke. Sounds perfectly logical to me.

PS: The front left door was for the smokers in first class!

**LiesaAnna** · 05-02-2005, 13:35

oh shut up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! its one of my panics that some nutter will try to open a door!!!

05-02-2005, 13:36

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by LiesaAnna
oh shut up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! its one of my panics that some nutter will try to open a door!!!
[/quote]

Its virtually impossible to do at cruising altitude liesa so don't worry[msnsmile2]