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Sinus Health: 10 Tips for Travelers

Posted on by Dan Gay

travel-healthTravel season has started for many people. For some, this means the beginning of relaxation, but for others travel can bring agonizing sinus pain. Traveling is taxing on your body. It can be downright exhausting. Many people come back from a trip with a sinus infection or a virus. Why is that? • Cabins in airplanes recirculate the air. With a few hundred people in close proximity, it's easy to be exposed to viruses and bacteria. • Many of us don’t get enough sleep. We might not sleep well because we’re not in our own bed, the pillows are different, and there are noises we aren’t used to. • We might not be eating well. It can be hard to find good food on the road. • We’re stressed. Many people don’t think about how taxing stress is to your immune system. Also, stress causes inflammation in the body, including your sinuses. • Dry air blown on your face in airplanes dries the sinus cavities, which can cause dry sinus headaches, congestion, and if you don’t get moisturizing relief, might turn into a sinus infection. These common travelers' challenges are the perfect recipe for a cold or other viral issue, which can turn into sinusitis. So, what can you do to avoid getting sick? Strengthening your immune system and reducing stress are key to healthy travel. Here are my 10 tips for sinus health while traveling: 1. Get a good night’s sleep before and after your flight. 2. Arrive at the airport at least an hour early to minimize stress. 3. Eat before leaving for the airport. Bring a healthy snack with you. 4. Take Grapeseed Extract (100mg) at least 20 minutes before the pre-flight meal. 5. Take antioxidants following your meal and during your travel: Vitamin C (2,000 mg), vitamin E (400 IU), Allimax or AlliUltra (180 to 360 mg), and a good multivitamin. 6. Drink lots of water before, during, and after the flight. 7. Avoid caffeine and alcohol, since they are both diuretics. 8. Use a saline nasal spray during and after the flight. Overhead air dries sinuses out. Sinus Survival Herbal Nasal Spray can be used daily and as often as needed for dry irritated sinuses. It is an excellent irrigant and moisturizer for nasal membranes exposed to polluted, pollen-laden, smoked-filled, or dry air, as well as chronically irritated and inflamed membranes from sinusitis or allergies. It may be used frequently, one or two sprays (as a mist) per nostril, as often as every 2-3 hours, depending on environmental conditions or the presence of a sinus infection or allergies. 9. Travel with a negative-ion generator to place next to your hotel bed to clean the air. 10. Meditate at least 10 minutes daily with deep-breathing exercises to minimize stress. Photo from here, with thanks.
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