It’s that time of year when bugs, infections and viruses are rife, anything from conjunctivitis and stomach bugs to colds and flu. Many people have returned by air from relaxing holidays and airplanes are notorious places for picking up some kind of illness or other. It’s not from breathing in recycled air as many people think: this is an urban myth as the air on the aircraft is fresh and filtered. It’s the fact that you have so many people in such a confined space so germs can be easily passed on from the toilets, the tray tables, the head and arm rests and any surface with which you may come into contact.
Just think of how many people share a toilet on a long flight without any attendant cleaning it between users. Then the turnaround leaves little time for a thorough clean of the aircraft before another few hundred people board.
The children go back to school and pass the illness around the classroom, bring it back home and pass it on to parents who take it to work or share it amongst friends.
There are steps we can take to avoid contamination, but we can also boost our immune systems to avoid catching anything nasty!
1. Stress suppresses the immune system, but laughter boosts it. Maintain a positive attitude: even if you do get sick, it won’t seem so bad or last so long. Although research is ongoing, scientists have noted a clear connection between mind and body.
