airplane-related stories
Victoria Beckham Won't Eat Airplane Food - Or Much of Anything
Diet & Weight Loss, Celebs & Entertainment
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| Victoria Beckham arriving for a guest judging appearance on American Idol on August 7 in Denver, Colo. Photo: Charles Pulliam, AP |
OK, I can understand not wanting to touch that dodgy airplane food, but 11 hours is a long time to go without food, don't you think?
"Victoria's always been a teeny little thing. She seems into her diet in a big way," Grenfell adds. "When she goes on business lunches she'll choose white fish and she'll often pick at things rather than have big sit down meals." Victoria recently admitted to running eight miles a day, and for that kind of workout, she needs more nourishment than a few bites of fish. Sadly, it seems she's more interested maintaining her oh-so-tiny physique than eating healthy.
Want to steal some of Posh's style? Dress yourself thin with these fall fashions.
Obese People Get Two Airplane Seats in Canada
Diet & Weight Loss, Celebs & Entertainment
Remember a while back when I asked you if a implementing a 'Tubby Tax' was appropriate to compensate for the amount of extra cost it takes to transport obese travellers? Sixty-six percent of you were against the idea, and it looks like the Supreme Court of Canada agrees with you -- and has gone a step further. In a recent ruling, officials declared that people 'functionally disabled by obesity' have the right to be given two seats on an airplane for the price of one. Pretty significant, huh?What do you think of this decision? Is this fair? On one hand, it seems unfair to make people pay double for a flight just because they weigh more. On the other, it's unfair to other passengers to give two seats for the price of one to people who can't control their eating. Does it depend on the situation?
Fly healthfully with these 6 exercises
If you frequently travel by plane, you're putting your body at greater risk of a silent killer. Those long periods of inactivity -- legs scrunched up behind the seat in front of you and your arms held tightly to your body because the person next to you is stubbornly refusing to give up even a quarter inch of the arm rest -- aren't exactly healthful for your body. Frequent fliers run the risk of a condition called Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). In fact, the condition has two travel-related nicknames: Traveler's Thrombosis and Economy-Class Syndrome. DVT is a condition where a blood pools and forms a clot in the calf, thigh, or less commonly in the arm. If you travel a lot or are planning a long flight, keep these DVT prevention tips in mind:
- Get up and move. Don't need a bathroom break? Visit the loo anyway and march in place for a few minutes. Even a quick stroll up and down the aisle will do.
- Ankle circles. Rotate your feet at the ankle both clockwise and counter-clockwise.
Flying is a headache
Have you flown the friendly skies recently? For many people, flying is a headache... quite literally. An Israeli study of 906 people found that 6% report getting headaches when they travel by airplane. Based on that statistic and a few flight numbers/occupancy assumptions, researchers estimate that this translates into more than 100 million flight-induced headaches per year.
There are several things that could trigger a headache during air travel -- stress, pressure changes, poor air quality, and engine noise. (Not to mention noisy passengers!) To help manage air travel-related headaches, be sure to drink plenty of water (as dehydration can contribute to headaches), get up and walk around during long flights, bring books or music or anything else that will help you reduce stress, pack ear plugs if noise bothers you, and bring some over-the-counter pain relievers.
Help prevent DVT by being a seat guru
HealthWatch, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Reviews & Products
Things have been crazy busy lately. After just getting back from a cross-country trip, I just found out I have to make the same trip again next week. Great. Nothing says comfy like being stuck in an airplane seat for six hours. On top of that, with all this time spent sitting in a cramped chair, there's always concern for DVT -- deep vein thrombosis.
Sometimes referred to as coach class syndrome, this is a formation of a blood clot that commonly occurs in the veins of the legs after people spend an extended period of time seated. Bigger problems can also arise if the clot embolizes; that is, if it separates and travels into the lungs, where it can cause a pulmonary embolism.
Many airlines, aware of the threat of DVT, are now suggesting that you get up and take a little stroll once and a while if you're aboard a long flight. This is easier to do on some flights than others, just as finding comfort in a seat can vary greatly depending on .... well, about eight thousand different factors. That's why you may want to check out SeatGuru.com (www.seatguru.com) before you book your next flight. It gives a great breakdown of each seat on the plane on which you are about to travel -- comfort, leg room, ability to recline the seat or not, if it has power port, etc. Knowing this information in advance may help protect against DVT (as well as major frustration), as it will provide you with the chance to fly as comfortably as possible.
Safe travels: How to alleviate ear pressure on plane rides
Diet & Weight Loss, Alternative & Green Health, Nutrition & Supplements
- Chew gum. Yes, it's the most common suggestion, because it works. If you don't like gum, suck on a candy, sip some water or eat something.
- Swallow and yawn, often.
- Close your mouth, plug your nose and gently blow through your nose. Gently is the key here -- blow too hard and you can bust an ear drum. Also, don't do this one if you have a head cold.
- If you do have a head cold, take a decongestant.
- Place a warm, damp towel over your ears. You know, the kind the flight attendants give out to first class. Don't be afraid to ask for one.
- Got a baby travelling with you? Try to have them suck on a pacifier during take off and landing.
Fit Beauty: Preparation is the key to holiday beauty
Traveling is easily one of my favorite activities. Whether it's a short road trip with friends or an across the globe adventure, as long as I can get the time off work and scrape together enough money to go, I'm in. The only thing I don't like, is the dazed and crazed look I often sport after several hours of travel time.
I wrote not so long ago about an article that gave tips on how you can maintain your good looks while on a flight -- drinking lots of water and no alcohol, sleep and movement are all key. This time I've come across an article that will help you prepare beforehand, including advice on what to pack and which beauty treatments to try before you hit the road. Whether you're traveling for business or for pleasure, the advice listed here will make sure that you're looking great as soon as you land.
Exercise in your airplane seat
Healthy Habits, Diet & Weight Loss
The longer you're airborne and the more you fly in short time frames, the greater your risk for DVT. Fortunately, there's something you can do to prevent this serious condition from striking: Exercise.
Exercising right in your airplane seat will keep your blood circulating properly. Northwest Airlines recommends a whole list of exercises -- ankle turns, knee lifts, shoulder circles, knee bends and more -- and you can access them right here. Take a peek, jot them down, and pack them in your carry-on bag. They'll surely come in handy next time you fly the friendly skies.
Talk a walk, pal
Having just returned from a cross-continental flight, the thought of sitting in one place for hours at a time is still very fresh in my mind. You shift, you squirm, and you stretch -- all in efforts to reduce the stress on your legs, though in most cases these measures are done in vain. With this discomfort being the more obvious problem, a more quiet and serious issue could also arise from staying seated for very long periods of time. Deep Vein Thrombosis, or DVT, is a form of potentially fatal blood clots that people sometimes suffer from after spending a great deal of time seated on a plane or, as New Zealand researchers also found, in their office.
Doctors found that among patients with dangerous clots, 34 percent developed this condition from sitting too long at work, while 21 percent were air travelers (the remaining percentage was comprised of a variety of potential causes, including heredity). In some cases, desk workers sometimes spent as much as 4 hours sitting before they stood up even once. By doing so, the circulation in these workers' legs can be restricted, leading to clots and the potential threat of said clots traveling to the lungs.
The simple solution, be you on a plane or simply at your desk at work, is to stand up once and a while and take a short walk. Even this small break will greatly reduce the chances that you will suffer from DVT.
Stand up and stretch -- it's good for the veins
Healthy Habits, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness
This study of 62 patients hospitalized for dangerous blood clots revealed that 21 percent had been on long flights while 34 percent had spent long hours at their desks the previous month. "Long hours" means the workers had been at their desks for more than eight hours per day, with a three-hour period void of any standing. It also includes 12-hour days with one hour void of movement.
Good news. Blood clots can be prevented, by the very thing that keeps our bodies healthy in so many other ways: Stretching. All it takes is getting up and giving your legs a solid stretch every 30 to 60 minutes.
Are you sitting down right now? Well, get up. And give those legs a good stretch.
10 ways to stay happy and healthy on a flight
Healthy Habits, Diet & Weight Loss, Motivation
For many people, flying can be really nerve-wracking. Getting to the airport on time, putting all liquids in clear, resealable bags, remembering important travel documents, the threat of lost luggage, making connections and much more, make airplane journey's stressful.
With all of these things to think about, you definitely don't want to also have to worry about getting sick or feeling ill on-board. In order to stay as healthy and happy as possible on your next flight, get prepared ahead of time with these 10 tips from AOL Body .
Suggestions include everything from making sure to get up and move around in order to prevent deep vein thrombosis (DVT) , washing hands or using antibacterial wipes to avoid picking up germs from your seatmates and swallowing, chewing gum and yawning to pop blocked ears. For more information on these as well as additional tips, such as staying hydrated and avoiding alcohol, check out the entire piece here on AOL Body.
Tips on making a long-haul flight bearable
Healthy Habits, Diet & Weight Loss, Motivation
The last really long flight I endured took a lot out of me. I get nervous on airplanes so I'm happy just to land safely and in one piece, but I have to admit that it would be nice to arrive not feeling totally bagged. There are a few lucky people who get to spend their time lounging in luxury in first or business class, and for them, these voyages probably aren't so bad.
But for the rest of us squished back in coach, 10-plus hours in the air can be tough to take. And with new 15-, 16, and 17-hour flights becoming more common, it's more important than ever to find ways to get through it. If you've got a long plane ride ahead, here are a few tips that might make things more bearable:
- Try to get some sleep. It helps pass the time and even a few hours will help you arrive feeling rested.
- Walk around the cabin and find a spot to do some simple stretches. Light exercise will keep you from getting stir-crazy, and will also help prevent the deep-vein thrombosis that can be caused by sitting for hours.
- Pick a good seat. It is worth paying extra or checking in early to make sure you get the additional legroom provided in an emergency exit row, or the added freedom of an aisle seat. Sitting in the middle is not an option.
- Read a good book. You've got a lot of time to kill, so use it wisely and enjoy a novel you haven't had the chance to get into.
- Wear comfortable clothing. If your feel swell and you get a bit bloated, tight clothes and shoes will only make you feel worse.
- Drink lots of water. It's easy to get dehydrated when eating airplane food and breathing recirculated air. If you stay hydrated by drinking lots of water, you'll feel better overall throughout the flight.
Want a few more ideas? Take a look here for more suggestions that will help you stay happy and feeling good on your next long-haul flight.
Save your sanity: 7 ways to make flying with kids easier
Diet & Weight Loss, Nutrition & Supplements
Traveling with kids can be challenging and stressful at the best of times but add in an airplane flight, and even more possible complications arise. Over the next few months lots of families will be heading to the skies on summer holidays so, just in time for your trip, here are some things to consider in order to keep your kids happy and healthy during a flight.Don't fly with infants under a week old as their lungs aren't fully developed and oxygen levels on a plane could vary during a flight. Give older kids gum to chew to help with air pressure changes during takeoff and landing, while younger kids can suck on thumbs, soothers or a bottle.
Make sure to give antinausea medication 30 minutes to an hour before the flight in order for it to take effect at the right time -- you don't want it to wear off before takeoff but you also don't want it to start working too late. Also, bring a few activities in your carry-on -- coloring books, stories or travel games all work -- to keep bored children entertained. If you'd like a few more tips to make traveling with kids easier, take a look at the piece mentioned above.
Are you more likely to get sick after a flight?
Healthy Habits, Diet & Weight Loss
About a month ago I took a long haul flight from Sydney to San Francisco, and then continued on to my home in Canada. I have been sick ever since. It started with a cough that I thought was brought about by the shock of returning to a very dry climate after spending two months on Australia's humid Eastern shores. But the cough was followed by random aches as well as a runny nose, plugged ears and extreme pressure in my head.
I know I can't prove that being on that flight is what made me sick. I could have gotten this cold anywhere, right? However, the fact remains that almost every time I've been on a long flight I've ended up sick afterwards. When I tell people about my experience, they all seem to have similar stories. While nowhere is germ-proof, there seems to be an increased risk of getting a nasty cold after spending several hours in a cabin with hundreds of other people breathing re-circulated air.
I know I can't personally prove my little theory, but I'm obviously not the only one who thinks this way. Check out this humorous post on the extreme fear of getting sick because of a flight. There are a bunch of tips on staying healthy, contributed by readers, at the end of the article and I think that one of the most important is to remember to wash you hands as often as possible -- without getting obsessive about it, naturally. Does anyone else out there have tips they'd like to share?
Jet lag is real, and it's bad for you
Being an airline pilot, or even a stewardess, carries with it a certain air of being in some exclusive club. They always walk by in groups wearing their official-looking uniforms and pulling their cute little suitcases -- you can't help but feel like they have a charmed and exotic lifestyle full of travel and adventure. But that package deal may come with more risks than expected as more and more airline crews are facing serious health troubles, including everything from psychotic disorders to menstrual cycle disruptions. What's the cause? Jet lag. Specifically jet lag experienced a few times too many -- the body just can't adjust fast enough or frequently enough and as a result different systems suffer, particularly in areas of mental health and hormones.Whether you're a frequent flier for work or pleasure, something to think about!
























