Health best buys for long-haul flights

The confined cabin of an aircraft provides the ideal environment for transmitting airborne diseases such as the common cold. With your fellow passengers making up to 400 potential sources of infection at such close quarters, the chances of the infection being spread via the re-circulated air are relatively high. According to the Common Cold Centre at Cardiff University, experiments on exposing uninfected volunteers to the common cold infection have shown that the chances of catching a cold are directly related to the length of exposure. Therefore, you are much more likely to catch a cold on a long-haul flight to the Caribbean than on a short hop to the Med. To avoid getting your Christmas holiday off to an unhealthy start, we've asked some of the UK's biggest brands for advice on staying healthy in the air. VIRUSES AND SORE THROATS While it’s likely we’ve been exposed to every common cold virus in our home towns, we’re often subjected to a host of new viruses to which we have no immunity at our holiday destination. The best way to avoid cold and flu is simple hygiene practises. Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly as the cold virus can survive for a couple of hours on door handles and other communal surfaces. Don't share food, glasses or eating utensils. This will also protect you from stomach bugs, as products such as Milton Antibacterial Hand Gel kill bacteria including salmonella and listeria, as well as viruses and fungi. When a sore throat strikes, Dr Mike Smith, who has a special interest in colds and sore throats, believes the best treatment is one that lets the body still do its defensive work. “Get your hands on something that will get straight to the site of the pain, such as an anaesthetic throat spray, but don’t worry about fighting off the overall infection – that’s what your sore throat is doing already,” Dr Smith said. RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS: Ultra Chloraseptic Anaesthetic Throat Spray, £5.21; Boots Advanced Anti-viral Hand Foam, £3.19, Milton Antibacterial Hand Gel, £2.19 TRAVEL SICKNESS Ginger has been shown in a number of studies to reduce the symptoms of motion sickness associated with travel by boat and to a lesser extent by car. Holland & Barrett’s Head Nutritionist, Kate Butler, said: "Ginger is considered a tonic for the digestive tract, supporting digestion and toning the intestinal muscles. This action eases the transport of substances throughout the digestive tract, helping to lessen irritation to the intestinal walls. "Ginger’s beneficial effect on motion sickness appears to be related to its direct action on the gastrointestinal tract, rather than on the central nervous system." RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS: H&B Ginger Root Capsules, £7.39; Boots Pharmaceuticals Ginger, £6.99 EYECARE They don't call it the red-eye flight for nothing. Long-haul and particularly overnight flights can leave you eyes dry and painful and an eyedrop matching the pH of healthy tears is an essenial on-flight carry-on. If you are a contact lens wearer, opt for a specialist product to avoid drying out the lens and irritating the eye further. RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS: Biotrue Flight Pack, £6.75; Optrex Bloodshot Eye Drops, £4.29 STRESS AND ANXIETY If you are an anxious flyer, a long-haul flight can cause bloating, dehydration and stress breakouts, leading to premature ageing. Many hospitals, including the Royal Free in London, now have a full time psychologist in its dermatology department due to the links between stress and skin complaints. "Stress can affect the health, condition and ageing process of our skin," said Dr Linda Papadopoulos, who has created a skincare line specifically for stressed skins. A cooling face spray is calming and refreshing, stopping skin drying out as you get flushed at 30,000 feet. Essential oils such as lavendar, bergamot, peppermint and grapefruit can also help calm and revive you. Opt for a pre-blended travel rollerball for convenience.