BrainStream: How to Hydrate for an Airplane Flight

[bkdelong]

In getting ready for the trip back to the Commonwealth, I've been doing a bit of research on how hydrated I should be. I have a tendancy to get dehydrated and more often than not get sick after a flight. I found this helpful tidbit:

Provide plane water. While traveling in airplanes, you may notice that your nose and mouth become dry and your breathing harder. Next you notice you are feeling tired and thinking less clearly. What is happening is that you are getting dehydrated. The dry cabin air has only around seven percent humidity, which dries out your breathing passages and sucks water out of your body as it tries to moisturize them. As a frequent flier, I fill up with at least two glasses of plain water or juice around 1/2 hour before boarding the plane. I tote along some bottled water in my carry-on bag and bring a squirt bottle of saltwater (available over-the-counter at pharmacies as saline nasal spray, but you can make your own) so that I can spritz a few drops in my nose every hour. I order double fluid drinks, such as water and juice, and periodically order a cup of hot water to treat my dried-out nose with a little steam bath. Avoid alcoholic or caffeinated drinks while flying since as diuretics they contribute to dehydration. Sure, water-logging your body during plane travel stimulates frequent treks to the bathroom, but even these trips down the aisle are good for your body.

Just wanted to "bookmark" it for posterity.

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Comments

[floppsy.livejournal.com]

Hiiiiiiiiii BK!!!

I feel really bad - wanted to send out ecards & totally spazzed, so please accept my belated best wishes for an amazing holiday & I hope you, Kirky & Will had an awesome Yule & Christmas (if you celebrate it) & a relaxing good time with family & friends filled with peace, love, laughter & some yummy holiday treats!!! (I live for homemade gingerbread cookies ... um & cake, pie, cupcakes too :G:)

Anyhoo ... I heard 8oz's of water for every hour of flight, & if you have caffeine you should match the amount in water as well. Seems to work really really well to keep me from dehydrating, especially on really long flights. Also, (don't laugh) moisturize before going to airport -- seems to keep skin from just becoming a crackly nasty mess on long flights.

Hope this helps a bit -- &, again, mea culpa on my holiday wishes & hope yours were awesome!!!!!

Hugs
;~))))))))))