Some experts note that while the air in planes is circulated many times, it is also filtered thoroughly, which makes it relatively safe.

Other experts say that you are no more likely to contract a cold or flu from airline travel than if you are at work in a busy office or in an elevator. But all these experts have to admit that the air on an airplane is extremely dry, and dry air is associated with more upper respiratory problems and infections as well as allergies. Common sense tells us that where we work is frequently the site of transmission, and I don’t know about you, but I’m always a little concerned about entering crowded elevators with people who are sniffling, handkerchiefs in hand. That makes traveling on an airplane, or any kind of travel, one place where you probably do want to take some sensible precautions. Many doctors agree that when face-to-face or sitting next to someone that has a cold, the best defense is a healthy nose and washing your hands.

ADVICE FOR SAFE TRAVEL

I tell my patients that every time they wash their hands they should also wash their nose. That is because about 90 percent of all infections actually enter the body through the nose and respiratory passages.

A nasal wash with xylitol can be used to help wash, hydrate and moisturize the nasal passages. The saline and xylitol solution aids the body’s natural cleansing process by washing out the bacteria that may cause illnesses, and the pollutants and allergens that may trigger allergic reactions.

Xylitol, a natural sugar derived from birch trees, common fruits, mushrooms, lettuce, corn stalks and other vegetables, has been used as a natural sweetener in gum and mints since the 1960s. I developed a patented nasal-wash formula that contains xylitol, called Xlear, when I was clinical assistant professor of family medicine at Texas Tech University Medical School.

I had been following research done in Finland on xylitol chewing gum and its benefits in preventing tooth decay when I learned there had been a 40 percent decrease of ear infections in children who chewed the gum.

So when our five-month-old granddaughter, Heather, began having recurring ear infections and was being administered antibiotics every four weeks, I knew we had to take action. Knowing Heather was too young to chew gum, I directly administered xylitol mixed with saline solution into her nasal passages every four or five hours. Within a few hours things had improved, and within a few days her ear aches were gone. We also noticed that in daycare when she did not receive her xylitol nasal spray solution her symptoms returned.

HOW XYLITOL PROTECTS

If you look at the science behind xylitol, it all makes sense. There’s no real magic. Xylitol doesn’t kill anything. What xylitol does is prohibit harmful bacteria from attaching to the nasal membranes. Usually colds and flu are accompanied by bacterial infections as well, and most mortality is associated with secondary bacterial infections. It seems that in nature bacteria and viruses cooperate to invade your nasal passages, as the viruses actually hitch a ride in on bacteria until they can take over the cells of your respiratory passages.

Nasal spray with xylitol helps the body’s natural cleansing process by keeping the nasal passages moist and the mucus flowing, thereby reducing the chances of infection. Also, the bacteria that inhabit your nose, as with those in your mouth, cannot digest xylitol and they tend to die off. Xylitol helps to effectively starve harmful bacteria.

So when my patients travel, I tell them to remember to, “Keep your nose clean. When you go to wash your hands, wash your nose too.” It’s simple commonsense advice that works. Travel safe!

Resources

Xlear Nasal Wash comes in a small, convenient spray bottle that can be carried in a purse or carry-on bag and is perfectly allowable on all airplane flights. Xlear Nasal Wash and other quality Xlear formulas including Spry toothpaste and gum are available at health food stores nationwide. To find a store in your area, visit the locator service at www.xlear.com. For more information call 877-599-5327.

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