| Many people have a tendency to come down with | | | | One-half of a teaspoon of salt added to 8 oz. of |
| sinus infections during or after air travel. The four | | | | water is a proper mixture. I personally use a product |
| steps discussed in this article can help provide sinus | | | | called Breathe-ease XL® for both nasal irrigation |
| pressure relief for those who travel by air on a | | | | and for making a spray bottle without preservative, |
| regular basis. | | | | and this will be good to use for about a week. These |
| There are a number of reasons why people who are | | | | saline sprays offer sinus pressure relief by keeping |
| susceptible to sinus infections tend to contact them | | | | the nasal membranes irrigated and maintaining proper |
| during air travel. Sharing stale air in close proximity to | | | | drainage. |
| others is certainly one reason, and oftentimes this air | | | | Use the Modified Valsalva Maneuver |
| contains more bacteria and viruses than the air in our | | | | Dr. M. Lee Williams describes the maneuver in his |
| normal living environments. The low humidity in plane | | | | book "The Sinusitis Help Book". To do this one clamps |
| cabins is another contributing factor. The dry air we | | | | the nose between the thumb and forefinger, |
| breathe in airplanes tends to impair the normal | | | | swallows, and then immediately blows into the nose |
| mucous-cilia system and make people more prone to | | | | without letting go. One should not blow forcefully into |
| bacteria and viruses. Since airplane cabins are | | | | the nose, a gentle pressure will suffice. Dr. Williams |
| pressurized and the pressure is changing during climb | | | | says that this should be done several times per |
| and descent, this can also have harmful effects. | | | | minute during ascent and especially descent as cabin |
| Four suggestions to obtain sinus pressure relief in | | | | pressure is changing during those times. It should also |
| conjunction with air travel include: drinking lots of | | | | be done several times per hour while the plane is at |
| water before and during long flights; using a saline | | | | altitude. It is important not to forget to swallow just |
| solution during the flight; doing the Modified Valsalva | | | | before blowing gently into the nose. |
| maneuver; and taking a decongestant before air | | | | Consider Taking a Decongestant Before the Flight |
| travel. | | | | I generally use flonase spray each night as part of |
| Drink Lots of Water | | | | my regular regime to combat sinus problems. I'll also |
| The air intake that occurs at very high altitudes to | | | | use it about an hour or two before any flight. On |
| ventilate plane cabins contains very dry air. Drinking | | | | long flights to Europe, I'll also take 5 mg of |
| water prior to and during flights can help retain | | | | prednisone. I find this keeps my nasal passages clear |
| moisture in the body and keep the nasal system as | | | | and functioning well, even though flights to Europe |
| moist as possible. In addition, alcohol and caffeine are | | | | from the U.S. are long. Prednisone should be used |
| often consumed by people on long flights, and these | | | | very sparingly, however, as it can cause damage to |
| also tend to dehydrate people. Making an effort to | | | | the immune system, so this should be taken only in |
| drink water regularly on long flights can help avoid | | | | consultation with your doctor. |
| dryness of the nasal passages. | | | | By realizing that the air in airplane cabins is stale, dry |
| Use Saline Solution Often During the Flight | | | | and often polluted, one can obtain sinus pressure |
| It is wise to bring a small bottle of saline solution | | | | relief by drinking lots of water before and during |
| along and use it every hour or so to help keep the | | | | flights, using a saline spray, doing the Modified |
| nose moist. Over the counter saline solutions all | | | | Valsalva maneuver as described above, and taking a |
| contain preservatives, and some people are bothered | | | | decongestant prior to takeoff, especially on long trips. |
| by these. It is possible to mix a solution yourself | | | | You should also try to simply avoid air travel if you |
| without preservatives and avoid this problem. | | | | have a cold and stuffiness prior to a trip. |