Health Promotion in Aviation Population

In the century that humans have been truly airborne, the human body has, for the first time, been subjected to the unique physiological stresses which result from a powered flight (Seabridge & Morgan, 2010). Human bodies are not designed to fly. They are hurtling through the atmosphere in a pressurized metal tube at incredible speed and across many time zones, subjecting the human body to conditions for which millions of years of ground-based evolution could have in no way prepared it (Seabridge & Morgan, 2010). Yes, flying is fun, and the aviation industry provides the community 24 hours and seven days a week services; it is fast and increasingly affordable way to travel, and flight crews ensure that every passenger’s trip will be safe and comfortable as possible. Unfortunately, for some people, flying is a source of great anxiety, discomfort, and feelings of ill health after long flights (Seabridge & Morgan,2010). For a few, it appears to be long-lasting effects. Some people reported chronic illness and pain to the extent that their lives and professional careers were ruined (Seabridge & Morgan,2010). Both employees and the medical profession have contested these claims, and research is cautious and often inclusive (Van Den Berg et al., 2020). The flight crew faces a challenge to their health. Aviation pilots and flight crew regularly undertake shift work and may experience circadian disruption, restricted sleep, sleepiness, and poor health. According to McNeeley et al. (2018), consistent studies show that the higher prevalence of fatigue, depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, and reproductive and all cancers are increasing. A piece of striking information was elicited that observed rates of overweight, smoking, mental health, and chronic respiratory and cardiovascular conditions among flight crew.

Moreover, familiarity fatigue and sleepiness in flight crew are paramount. Flight crews engage in complex work rosters such as long, irregular work hours, frequently disrupted schedules, and are often required to sleep away from home, all of which increase the likelihood of being tired (Van Den Berg et al., 2020;Wen et al., 2021). Prior research has found flight crew underestimate their fatigue and sleepiness and often start their workday not well rested. With regards to fatigue, one study found 37% of flight crew sought medical assistance due to experiencing frequent fatigue over the past year. Fatigue in flight crew has been found to negatively impact work performance; one study found that 84% of the crew reported being fatigued while on duty, and 71% felt their safety-related performances were impaired (Van Den Berg et al., 2020;Wen et al., 2021). Studies on sleepiness have shown that more than half of the flight crew surveyed fell asleep during flights in the previous month. Reports of fatigue and sleepiness while driving home after a flight were common, including several reports of falling asleep while driving. The high rates of sleepiness may be related to difficulty in achieving consolidated sleep, likely due to circadian disruption (Van Den Berg et al., 2020;Wen et al., 2021). Sleepiness may also result from failed preflight sleep due to an unfavorable circadian phase. In addition, almost one-third of the flight crew were affected by sleep disorders. In order to improve and promote sleep, the flight crew reported employing several different coping strategies, including the use of drugs (anxiolytics and sleeping pills) and alcohol, or sometimes both (Van Den Berg et al., 2020;Wen et al., 2021). How effective these strategies are at improving fatigue and sleepiness in flight crew remains unclear, partly because prevalence rates of fatigue and sleepiness have not been firmly established. Fatigue and sleepiness pose significant risks to airlines operationally and to flight crew personally, as sleep and fatigue are major factors contributing to flight crew’s quality of life ((Van Den Berg et al., 2020;Wen et al., 2021).

Mental health and well-being are also major concerns in the flight crew community. It has been estimated that by 2030, healthcare costs for mental disorders worldwide will be US $16.3 million, with depression currently accounting for 4.3% of diseases. The prevalence of depression amongst flight crew is at least twice that of the general population in the United States, with up to 40% of active flight crew having had a history of serious depression (Van Den Berg et al., 2020).Past literature has associated depression with shift work disorder. Thus, given the concerning incidence of depression amongst airline flight crew, it is importance to assess shift work disorder in this population (Van Den Berg et al., 2020;Wen et al., 2021).

At The Vice Practice, we’re committed to providing flight crew with exceptional care in a compassionate and friendly atmosphere. With many years of experience, The Vice Practice achieved a well-deserved reputation as the best Medical Clinic in the area and beyond. The Vice Practice provides an exceptional service that flight crews need regarding primary care, annual wellness, diagnostic imaging, mental health management, preventive medicine, chronic care management, FMLA, women’s health/ HRT, men’s health/TRT, weight loss management, and IV infusions.

Moreover, another way to help serve the flight crews is The Vice Practice offers an infusion therapy specialized for this patient population. The Vice Practice Flight Benefits consist of Wealth and Wellness such as infusion therapy. V The Vice Practice will continually evolve to help improve patient’s healthcare outcomes.

Infusion therapy helps with jet lag. Infusion therapy helps with jet lag. For those who frequently travel, IV infusion is beneficial because it hydrates your body. When you hydrate with IV infusion you can prevent jet lag symptoms since it ensures you obtain the proper nutrients, vitamins, and fluids your body needs. Also, infusion therapy typically contains things your body needs to reenergize like anti-inflammatories, vitamin B12 and more (Weintein et al. 2014).

Infusion therapy helps with your sleep routine. Infusion therapy helps with your sleep routine. An essential process that affects our body’s ability to fight diseases, and our physical and mental functioning is sleep. If jet lag changes your sleeping habits like sleeping more or having sleep deprivation infusion therapy can counter those abnormal patterns from traveling. IV vitamin drips that have B complex, or vitamin B, can improve your sleep. These vitamins assist your body to produce melatonin, getting you back to your regular sleep-wake cycle (Weintein et al. 2014).

Infusion therapy helps with rehydrating. Infusion therapy helps with rehydrating. While flying, the plane reaches high altitudes where there is less oxygen and low humidity causing the average person to lose about a pound of water in over five-hour duration in the air. Since our bodies are not climates to these conditions it disrupts our wellness that may trigger headaches or fatigue. On top of that our dehydration causes a defense mechanism to act and make our skin oilier leading to breakouts - and who wants to have vacation photos with all those pimples?! IV therapy is very hydrating and if you utilize it, you will improve your travel experience. It is the modest effect and efficient way to rejuvenate your system quickly and if combined with immune boosting vitamins it will make you feel even better! Intravenous fluids are great option for before or after traveling (Weintein et al. 2014).

Infusion therapy helps boost your immune system. Infusion therapy helps boost your immune system. On flights there are hundreds of passengers boarded on to a plane that is sealed where there is a high chance that one or more of those passengers could be sick with the flu, Covid-19, or Covid like symptoms. The first line of defense from bacteria in your body is your nose sinuses and esophagus. On the flight you will experience dry air making it more difficult for the membranes to effectively fight off bacteria and viruses leaving you vulnerable. No one wants to spend a vacation feeling groggy, tired, or sick! A way to avoid this is by limiting the amount of alcohol and caffeine you drink and sleeping for a healthy amount of time before your trip. Although if you do not prepare there is no need to worry because IVs is a great way to deliver the basic nutrients and vitamins your body needs before traveling. Zinc, vitamins C, and vitamin D can be added to help you feel great while on a trip (Weintein et al. 2014).

Receiving IV vitamin therapy before (or after) traveling has many vital benefits. After the nutrients are administered, you will notice a significant difference in how you feel. It replenishes the fluids in your body to decrease fatigue, delivers nutrients directly to your bloodstream for quick absorption, and enables your body to experience the benefits of vitamin C (Weintein et al. 2014).

In conclusion, flight crew must ensure they are on top of their health. As I mentioned in my previous article The Vice Practice’s perspective of wellness is health, and wealth is that wealth cannot exist without health. Both health and wealth are vital parts of living. Good health can help us expand our wealth because we must be mentally healthy and prepared to gain wealth. Start taking care of yourself, schedule your appointment with The Vice Practice’s, and be a better version of you!

References

McNeely, E., Mordukhovich, I., Tideman, S., Gale, S., & Coull, B. (2018). Estimating the health consequences of flight attendant work: comparing flight attendant health to the general population in a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health, 18(346), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-5221-3

Seabridge, A. G. & Morgan, S. (2010). Air Travels.(Eds). Air travel and health a systems perspective. https://chamberlain.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01CUCON_INST/1jsf8v8/alma991000133267306766

Van Den Berg, M. J., Signal, T. L., & Gander, P. H. (2020). Fatigue risk management for cabin crew: the importance of company support and sufficient rest for work-life balance—a qualitative study. National Library of Medicine, 58(1), 2-14. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6997722/

Weintein, S., Hagle, M., Magee, S., Fischer, A., Saltzberg, D. & Druding, S. (2014). Infusion Therapy (9th ed.). Plumer's principles & practice of infusion therapy https://chamberlain.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01CUCON_INST/1jsf8v8/alma991000101472706766

Wen, C., Nicholas, C. L., Clarke-Errey, S., Howard, M. E., & Trinder, J. (2021). Health risks and potential predictors of fatigue and sleepiness in airline cabin crew. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(1), 1-15. https://DOI:10.3390/ijerph18010013