Traveling is fun, however, air travel can pose many health issues to seniors. It seems that as we age, our bodies undergo some changes as well, particularly it being not too conducive for air travels anymore. But, that should not mean we would be house-bound and not enjoy the many possibilities of air travel anymore! Here are some tips and tricks for seniors who would like to travel by air and stay healthy at the same time:
•    Consult your doctor first before you go on a trip. Are you safe to go? Should there be differences when it comes to your medications during your trip? Is it safe for you to travel by air? Ask these questions so you’ll know what to do in case of an emergency.
•    Hand-carry your medications and keep them within reach at all times. Make sure you bring enough supply to last you the whole trip and a little extra for emergency purposes. Never rely on local drugstores upon arrival as they may or may not carry your brand.
•    Put together a list of your existing health conditions and tuck it safely inside your wallet, alongside your IDs. This way, you are sure that the people who would attend to you will see at once what they are supposedly dealing with.
•    Once on-board, DO NOT take alcoholic drinks as well as caffeinated ones, instead go for water—lots of it—to avoid dehydration.
•    Chew a gum during take offs and landings. This will ease sinus and ear pressure discomfort during those times.
•    Wear supportive stockings or compression stockings during flights and whenever possible, move around. This will counteract immobility which can lead to blood clots.
•    Ask your doctor if you’ll need oxygen so you can notify the airline in advance. Remember that you are not allowed to bring your own so you really need to ask the airline to have it ready for you.
•    Go buy yourself a good walking aid. A collapsible one would be your best bet so you won’t have a hard time bringing it with you on a trip.
•    To combat motion sickness, avoid boarding the plane with a full stomach and try to relax during the flight. Sleep, if it helps you.
•    Jet lag is one of the most common complaints of air traveler. You can ask your doctor for safe sleeping aids like melatonin or perhaps herbal preparations to help you reestablish your sleeping pattern.