Summer holidays are soon starting. Some of us have made plans to travel to Europe and farther to the West or to Asia and the Far East. Those are happy times of sharing and exploring for families, but air travel demands health care for frequent flyers and for those who travel more than 5 hours at a stretch.

Minimum care can reduce long flying complications that can be incapacitating as well as ruin a holiday and mood. A business trip can be interrupted with a bad case of flu; a vacation can sadly start with a virus or circulation problem. Long immobility hours in a tight-fitting seat and minimum leg space can cause blood-clotting complications like deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and stroke. Crossing time zones disturbs the internal biological clock causing jet lag symptoms.

Such complications can result in suppressed immunity, leading to aggravated health conditions. Even a minor disorder can disrupt a trip or holiday. How to minimize such aggravations is of paramount importance.

DVT is a condition that contributes to serious disorders. It usually starts with a blood clot, blocking a deep vein in the lower leg or thigh. The danger in blood clots is their getting dislodged from the leg vein and moving to settle in the pulmonary artery, triggering embolism. Excess weight and pregnancy augment the risk of DVT.

Medications with estrogen like birth control and hormone therapy pills, a history of heart disease, some types of cancer, recent surgery, trauma to the legs, or inflammatory bowel disease can add to the risk of blood clotting.

Anyone having two or more of the above-mentioned conditions should consult a doctor before taking a long flight. The treating physician may see it fit to prescribe anti-coagulant drugs like warfarin or aspirin to thin blood before flying.

It is advisable to watch the legs for swelling or unsustainable pain. Medical attention should be sought for immediate help. When health conditions are generally good and mild pain or swelling of the legs was experienced during previous flights, a high dose of vitamin E or salmon oil capsules can act as blood thinners to reduce the risk of DVT occurrence.

The following travel tips can help protect from blood circulation problems, attenuate jet lag symptoms, and boost immunity to fight in-flight viruses and bacteria.

• Cabin stale air nurtures germs and pathogens. Boost your immunity by taking the herb Echinacea angustifolia in the form of pills or tincture three days before traveling and three days after reaching your destination, but the treatment should not exceed ten days.

When developing a sore-throat, I find elderberry (Sambucus nigra) capsules or tablets helpful in quelling the virus. The treatment should be continued for several days after the symptom disappears. Vitamin C supplements of 500-1000 mg stimulate immunity furthermore. Fresh fruit juices and vegetables also help.

• Drinking plenty of water during the flight to reduce jet lag effects; thin the blood to avoid blood clots; and hydrate the skin. Apply a moisturizing cream often to keep your skin soft.

• Alcohol, coffee, and tea are diuretics that tend to dehydrate the body, thicken blood, and increase blood clotting risk. Dehydration also intensifies jet lag effects.

• Walking up and down the aisle; stretching the body muscles; exercising calves; elevating the legs; wriggling the toes and feet, and changing sitting positions frequently increase muscle flexibility; encourage good blood circulation; and decrease blood stagnating in the legs. Crossing the legs restricts blood flow. Such exercises are usually featured graphically in the airline magazine.

• If the airline you are flying offers fresh fruits eat an orange or bring one along with you for a healthy snack.

• To relieve some jet lag symptoms after arrival, expose yourself to natural daylight and try adapting to your new time zone. I found two milligrams of melatonin helpful to readjust night sleep. Taking it two nights in a row half an hour before bedtime (or as prescribed) makes jet lag effects less pronounced.

(Mariam Alireza is a holistic science specialist. Send comments to [email protected]. Log on to arabnews.com for previous articles.)