Traveling to various destinations around the world has become a great part of human experiences. Who doesn’t love visiting new sites, interacting with new cultures, and meeting new friends? But on any flight, you can get sick. Therefore, before heading to Tokyo aboard Cathay Pacific, you need to ensure you’ll be healthy. Flight safety precautions can be simple such as carrying sunscreens, or complex, such as getting vaccine jabs. Whatever you need to get done before taking a flight, during a flight, or after a flight to stay safe, do it quickly. But here are some simple health practices that can keep you from contracting any disease while flying to Tokyo.
Drink Plenty of Water
Drinking a lot of water is one of the most effective ways of staying healthy while flying. You may be tempted to drink little water because you want to avoid visiting the pantry-sized bathroom on the plane. But this is a shortcut you don’t want to take. It’s essential to stay hydrated on a flight because the cabin’s humidity levels are lower than average. Drinking less water will only make you dehydrated, resulting in headaches and fatigue.
You also want to drink plenty of water to be active and hydrated. It would help if you carried your water bottles before getting on a flight or by others when you reach your destination. Bottled water is safer than tap water on a plane. Research conducted on tap water on planes has revealed that it contains some harmful bacteria. So, to be safe, drink the water that you’ve carried. Besides drinking bottled water, you can eat fruits that have high water content to be hydrated. Such fruits include watermelon slices, chopped cucumbers, and oranges. But before you eat them, ensure you have thoroughly cleaned them using clean water or a bactericide. Apart from hydrating your body, these fruits may also boost your immunity.
Carry Your Healthy Snacks
You need to carry a few healthy snacks with you as you travel. You don’t need everything in your pantry; some pieces of fruit will do you well. You can grab a piece of apple, orange, or banana. Some low sugar bars or almond butter can also be a good choice. Carrying healthy snacks can keep you from craving the pastry at the airport or fries at the gas station. If you find carrying snacks a challenging task, you can eat a healthy protein-rich meal in your house before leaving for the airport. Leaving your home hungry may tempt you to indulge your appetite at the candy bar aisle or airplane’s cart. On the other hand, eating before traveling will help you avoid plain snacks full of sodium, white flour, and preservatives.
Carry Warm and Comfortable Clothing
Airplanes can sometimes get cold, though air circulation helps to keep airborne diseases away. So, if you know that you may get chilled while flying, ensure you pack some cozy clothing to keep you warm. A sweater, socks, blankets, and pillows may be enough to keep you warm. Though some airline companies give blankets to passengers, using them is not advisable. Some research found out that those blankets and pillows are cleaned five times within thirty days. So, if you opt to use such blankets, you need to ensure you’re getting a clean and fresh blanket. Fresh blankets are mostly individually wrapped.
Apart from carrying warm clothes, you also want to ensure that whatever is on your body is comfortable. Suits and high heels may be tight. So, you need to travel in loose-fitting clothing such as pajamas. If you’re the type who doesn’t want people to see you in pajamas at the airport, you can pack loose clothes to change into once you get on the plane. The shoes that you wear on your feet should also be loose to prevent your ankles from swelling as you travel.
Wipe The Aisle and Tray Table
As you travel, it’s vital to carry an antibacterial wipe to wipe surfaces. Before settling on your seat, you need to sanitize the handles and any other parts you may touch. Also, before you eat anything from the tray, you need to exercise caution. Research by Arizona University shows that the bacteria E. coli can live on unwashed tray tables for 72 hours. Another one from Auburn University discovered that microbes could live for up to seven days on porous materials like plane seats and seat pockets. After wiping surfaces, you need to keep your hand from your face. Minimum skin-to-surface contact can help to reduce the risk of acquiring a bacterial infection. It would also help if you were careful with germ-prone spots such as door handles.
Relax
Are you a nervous flyer? It would help if you relaxed before boarding your flight to avoid the stress that can significantly cause discomfort. Some relaxation techniques that you can use include;
Meditation
Meditating for some minutes may help you to stay calm and chill during a flight. Keep positive thoughts about the moments you’re living in, and be grateful for what you currently have. Living in the moment is one great way of meditating.
Sleep
A healthy flight is one that’s accompanied by some rest. And one of the ways to rest is to sleep. However, many make the mistake of staying up late at night before their flight to sleep on the plane. This tactic may work for some people though it doesn’t guarantee quality sleep. Many distractions are on planes, including crying babies, captain’s announcements, and food being served. It’s, therefore, essential to stick to a sleeping schedule whether or not you’re flying. If you discover that you become very anxious before a flight, it would be best to consult your doctor for some medication. He or she can also recommend pills for you if you’re having difficulty sleeping.
The Bottom-line
Your flight to Tokyo doesn’t have to end in an illness that can ruin your vacation or trip. If you know how to keep safe on a plane, you may arrive at your destination safely. Following these simple health tips can make or break your trip or holiday.
