Jetlag

Jetlag

Jetlag affects most people to a small or large degree after crossing more than one time-zone. As a rule the longer your flight the more extensive and troublesome jetlag appears to be. The symptoms of jetlag appear to be more pronounced for some people after travelling from east to west, or when several flights are undertaken in succession, but disorientation occurs whenever you travel by air for extended periods of time. Those people with fixed routines appear to be affected to a greater extent than children or people whose lives are less structured. However, flight crews who travel extensively may still suffer from extended fatigue and other symptoms associated with jetlag, and require significantly longer periods of time to recover from long flights when they do not have enough time on the ground between flights.

Other contributing factors include dehydration due to the dry air that is circulated during a flight, increased air pressure once cruising altitude is reached, inactivity due to restricted seat space and the fear of disturbing others if moving around the cabin frequently.

If you are tired or stressed before starting your air travel then this may also worsen jet lag symptoms and increase the recovery period that generally follows a long flight.

The most common symptoms of jet lag are disorientation, dehydration and gastrointestinal disturbances, such as constipation or nausea, headaches and general malaise or feeling unwell. Swollen limbs, particularly the feet, due to inactivity add to the discomfort, and the possibility of blood clots forming is another risk of air travel.

Once at your destination sleep patterns are often disturbed and it may take several days to enjoy an unbroken night’s sleep. This may adversely affect holiday plans so recovering from the effects of travel should be taken into account when planning any holiday.

Treating jet lag is not always easy. Homeopathic tablets are thought to help travellers recover from the effects of extended travel, but their effectiveness is unproven. It is advised that to lessen the consequences of jetlag keep well hydrated during the flight, avoid caffeine and alcohol containing drinks, and try to sleep well before you travel. Stretch and exercise your legs and feet during the flight to increase the blood circulating during the flight. If possible walk around during any stopovers to lessen the possibility of blood clots forming.

Talk to your pharmacist about how you can lessen the effects of air travel. They can give you advice as to suitable treatments to try to lessen jetlag and to allow you to recover from flights so that you can enjoy more of your holiday.

Swallowing difficulties (dysphagia)

Causes of swallowing difficulties

Swallowing difficulties can happen at any age. There are a wide range of causes for them, including:

some medicines, such as antipsychotics
heartburn and acid reflux
cancer, such as mouth or throat cancers
nervous system or brain disorders
muscle disorders
blockages or structural issues with your mouth, throat or oesophagus.

Symptoms of swallowing difficulties

Symptoms of swallowing difficulties may include:

coughing or choking when eating or drinking
bringing food back up, may be through your nose
the feeling that food is stuck in your throat
having issues chewing your food
problems with dribbling.

Swallowing difficulties can cause weight loss, dehydration and chest infections.

Diagnosing swallowing difficulties

Let your healthcare provider know if you have swallowing difficulties. They will ask you about your symptoms and check if any other health conditions you have may be the cause.

Your healthcare provider may refer you to a specialist for tests. These may include a:

gastroscopy—a camera is passed down through your mouth to look at your throat and stomach
swallowing study—your throat and stomach are x-rayed as you swallow small amounts of food.

Treating swallowing difficulties

How your swallowing difficulties are treated depends on the cause and how severe it is. Treatments may include:

medicines to treat acid reflux
swallowing therapy with a speech and language therapist
making changes to what you eat and drink, such as softer foods and using thickener in drinks
using special spoons, plates and cups
surgery to widen your oesophagus.
using special medication lubricants eg Gloup to help make it easier to swallow tablets etc. For more information click here.

Self care for swallowing difficulties

As well as seeing your healthcare provider, the following tips may help you to get food or liquids into your stomach.

Sit upright in a chair—at a table is best.
Have regular small meals instead of the main large meals.
Eat or drink small mouthfuls at a time.
If your voice is gurgly when you eat or drink, give a small cough to make sure your airway is clear.
Wet food will be easier to swallow as dry food can catch in your throat.
If your food has 2 consistencies, such as fruit in juice and cereal in milk, try to mix it into 1 consistency, or eat the solid and liquid portions separately.
Concentrate on eating and avoid talking.
Hot, ice-cold or fizzy liquids are easier to swallow than room temperature liquids.
If you are told to have thickened liquids, avoid ice-cream and jelly as they thin before swallowing.
Drink from the top half of you cup to avoid tipping your head back.

Have a look at our range of Gloup medication lubricants here which can help with difficulties swallowing tablets...

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