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Stop getting sick when you fly - Airplane tip
Forget buying expensive products that promise to keep you healthy when you fly. This simple, but unglamorous trick, prevents me from getting sick every time. Before I head to the airport, I put a generous amount of antibiotic ointment on a cotton swab and then coat the inside of my nose. It creates a barrier for the germs and keeps my nose from becoming dry and irritated while breathing the recycled air in the plane.
(Of course, I have no medical proof, but I never get sick after flying when I remember to do this.)
Filed under: Airlines
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Raul Mar 23rd 2011 3:58PM
In your article entitled: "Stop getting sick when you fly", you mention that you use "antibiotic ointment" to put around the inside of your nose. What is the name of that ointment - or how do you get it?
Sincerely, Raul
Scott Carmichael Mar 23rd 2011 5:21PM
Raul,
This may be the product they are referring to:
http://nozin.com/
We did a review here: http://www.gadling.com/2009/05/29/gadling-gear-review-nozin-nasal-sanitizer/
Hope this helps!
--Scott, Gadling.com
Andrea Fox Apr 13th 2011 4:02PM
Putting neosporine in my child's nose before a flight was suggested to me by her karate instructor. I do it as well and (knock wood) neither of us has gotten sick!
Jesse Apr 17th 2011 1:19PM
FYI: most diseases that are spread while flying are the result of viruses. Viruses are NOT effected by antibiotic ointment. You might however have positive results from simply lubricating the environment but really you would gain the same benefits from spraying water up your nose throughout the flight.
Jo May 2nd 2011 9:16PM
Or you can use saline spray/mist and saturate the q-tips; this prevents drying.
Xorie May 10th 2011 2:35PM
Do the q-tips have to be Japanese?
Drew May 29th 2011 2:54PM
While some of the air is recycled (and sent through a hepa filter) the majority of the air is bleed air from the compressor section of the engines. Rather than making you sick, the little vent is actually the cleanest air in the plane. Most people that get sick on a plane actually pick up the "bug" from what they touch, not what they breathe. To maintain cabin pressure, fresh air is constantly being compressed and forced into the cabin through the vents and excess pressure is constantly being bled off.
Rebecca Sep 5th 2011 10:46PM
I'd be careful about doing this. The nasal hair acts as a filter to collect particles, bacteria and germs, etc so that these are not breathed into your body. You may end up making it easier to breathe in more than you expect. Triple antibiotic ointment, neosporin, and the like do kill bacteria, but the certainly don't kill viruses like the common cold and flu. Air within the airplane is filtered to protect you even further. You are more likely to pick up an illness within the airport where you are exposed to more individuals and touch many more items. Remember to practice good hygiene every day - wash hands frequently and avoid touching your face.
Lindsey Sep 11th 2011 12:16PM
Antiobiotics only kill bacteria. They DO NOT kill viruses.
WhatAJerk Sep 12th 2011 7:35PM
Or, rather than swabbing your nose with ointment and having to smell it dripping out of your nose the whole flight, you could just stop being a mysophobic hypochondriac and read the above comments from Drew and Rebecca. Sheesh.
Rich K. Sep 25th 2011 8:42PM
Seriously people, listen to me, I am a pilot and im about to lay down some knowledge. Now Drew had some valid points about the air coming into the plane. what he didn't mention was the fact that the air being pumped into the plane is air coming from 30 thousand feet and up. The air at this altitude is very dry with almost no moisture. So naturally your nose is going to dry out. One of our bodies defenses against catching any sort of airborne virus is mucus in our nose. It acts as a sticky net for bacteria and viruses. So think about it, you have a dry nose and you're breathing the same air as 200 other people, coughing and sneezing and wheezing. Of course people get sick. A simple efficient way to counter this is to drink water, before and during the flight. Buy a big bottle in the airport, or ask for it on the plane. Heck even put a dab in your nose to make sure it stays moist. But seriously people that is the trick. Well that and make sure you take some multivitamins starting a couple of days before your trip, more specifically the immune boosting kind, because precautions or not your still in a small metal tube with 200 other people. Hope you found this enlightening. Peace.