Continual sore throat after long hauls

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  • Anonymous
    Guest

    MartynSinclair
    Participant

    After the last 3 longhaul’s – BKK, MIA and now JFK, I have suffered from a sore throat. I am drinking sufficient water, not drinking too much alcohol and managing a few hours sleep on each. The last flight was on AA, 777-300 and was a newer aircraft and now 48 hours after, I am again suffering.

    Any ideas where I am going wrong / cause.. I am 53, in good health, correct weight and eat a good diet…

    Any help would be appreciated.. and the pharmacy I spoke to, suggested no medication..


    BigDog.
    Participant

    Gargle with salted warm water. Avoid Milk Products.


    Tramor01
    Participant

    Martyn it’s basically the effect of having spent time in an environment where there is is low humidity…. I’ve done a lot of work on humidity over the last year for a client.
    Essentially humidity levels under 35% can have several effects on a person’s health, which may range from discomfort to serious complications.
    A common sign that air is too dry is when your nose, throat and skin feel dry and scratchy.
    Insufficient moisture in the air makes the mucous membranes inside your nose and throat become dry and more susceptible to getting sore throats as well as diseases like cold and flu.
    These membranes are the body’s first barrier against airborne infections, and when they dry out they allow viruses and bacteria to enter into the body where as normally they act as a barrier trapping these organisms.
    Dry air is also dangerous for allergy and asthma sufferers, since it can aggravate their symptoms.

    One of the reasons youl find you become more susceptible to colds in winter is that cold air is normally dry air – That’s why in cold climates people often use humidifiers to improve humidity levels at home whcih stops them from getting dry skin or catching colds. You’ll find these humidifiers being used in many homes in Noth America, Japan, and even China.

    In the US paediatricians will often advise new mothers to get a humidifier to help with their baby’s health

    Email me and I can give you more information if you like.


    MartynSinclair
    Participant

    Hi Tramor01

    Many thanks, I am temporaily uncertain where your email address is ๐Ÿ™‚ (i.e. mislaid!).

    I would be very interested to read more… please could you send to

    m a r t y n s i n c l a i r @ h o t m a i l . c o m

    Many thanks


    Poshgirl58
    Participant

    Martyn, gargle with soluble aspirin then swallow slowly. Recommended by pharmacist in a well-known high street chemist, 3 days before I was making a wedding speech. Apparently if you take non-soluble products they go around your body curing other problems before getting to your throat, so will be weaker. Hope this helps.


    MartynSinclair
    Participant

    Hi All

    Many thanks for your replies. What I am trying to establish / understand why this is happening after long haul flights…

    Tramor01 has mentioned the humidity issues, wondering though if its just me or whether others suffer too..


    LuganoPirate
    Participant

    I manage to solve the dry air problem taking with me a small pump action liquid dispenser. I then top it up on board with mineral water and every so often spray it at my face. This does wonders.

    In addition suck a strepsil, honey and lemon work best I find, every couple of hours. Coincidentally Swiss are now adding them to their amenity bags which further boosts the argument for them.

    For an immediate cure, honey works wonders perhaps washed down with a good whiskey.


    PeterCoultas
    Participant

    another problem maybe the exposure to recirculated air and airborne nasties – the extent to which you can control air inputs varies but had heard that increasing flow near your seat increases the proportion of fresh relative to recirculated air


    Charles-P
    Participant

    I too suffer from this when spending extended periods in air-conditioned environments (the Middle East in summer for example) and with a lot of long haul flying.

    I was advised that gently sipping water over the length of the flight helps as this keeps the throat lubricated. I also agree with ‘LuganoPirate’ that honey and whiskey is effective, a cure my late grandmother claimed for the common cold !


    MartynSinclair
    Participant

    @ Dr’s LP & Charles-P

    I like your suggestions… currently in the T5, F lounge and have asked for some honey to mix with the Glenlivet 18.. Will report later whether it worked…. although the destination is only FRA!!

    I have also bought some strepsels… that also makes a lot of sense..

    Thanks


    Charles-P
    Participant

    If it works I may well be changing my ID to “Hawkeye Pearce” in recognition of my healing powers.


    Tramor01
    Participant

    Martyn … I’ve emailed the infomation to you
    Happy reading

    Charles-P …….maybe I can become known as Radar O’Reilly ๐Ÿ˜‰


    LuganoPirate
    Participant

    Dr. Pirate here Mr. Sinclair. I look forward to your report. If the whiskeyโ€™s very good you may find it takes a bit longer for the throat to cure! ๐Ÿ˜‰

    I’m at the Hilton Canary Wharf by the way and joy of joy, I got upgraded to an executive room with full executive floor privileges. Apparently I’d been selected to be their VIP of the day!!!


    MartynSinclair
    Participant

    Dr Pirate, the answer is that my throat is slightly numb from the whisky (I actually used JW Blue, purely as medicine) that I’m not sure whether it’s sore or not… however the honey has left a very sweet taste!

    Now in FRA… and after a couple more….special German waters, sleep is about to happen……., I think….

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