Why It’s So Common to Get Sick When You Fly & How to Prevent It

Why do we get sick when we fly?

It’s not that jets inherently carry diseases, it’s that they’re a breeding ground for showing and not telling germs. The most obvious reason, Dr. Holly Kim, an infectious disease specialist at Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles Medical Center shares, is the close quarters all passengers — regardless of their ticket class — are forced to share with strangers. This makes it easy to share the flu or a cold even if someone is just beginning to demonstrate symptoms.

How to prevent getting sick

Stay hydrated

Wash (& wash) your hands

Pack your own essentials

Avoid the aisle — & ask if you can change seats if you need to

And while it might be a tad uncomfortable to ask, surgical director at NYC Surgical Associates Dr. David Greuner says there’s no harm in asking to change seats in a flight if you’re seated next to someone who is obviously ill. It might not always be possible when a flight is full, but if there are other options available, take your chances with a hop over.

So frequently, what happens when we fly is out of our control, but by taking a few extra precautions, you can at least reduce your risk of disembarking with a nasty cough.

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