<ul class="summary-list"><li>Videos of TikTok users with <keyword id="13525530" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="nasal-tanning" source="Orion">nasal tanning</keyword> sprays have amassed hundreds of thousands of views.</li><li><keyword id="12361127" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="dermatologists" source="Orion">Dermatologists</keyword> said nasal <keyword id="13525529" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="tanning" source="Orion">tanning</keyword> sprays can contain melanotan II, a peptide the boosts melanin production.</li></ul><p>Influencers and brands are promoting <a href="https://www.today.com/health/skin-beauty/nasal-tanning-sprays-doctors-warn-tiktok-trend-rcna20841">nasal tanning spray</a> <a href="https://www.2btanned.com">products</a> on TikTok that promise instant tans without spending time in the sun — but dermatologists say to stay far away.</p><p>The "<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/discover/nasal-tanning-spray">nasal tanning spray</a>" search tag on TikTok features videos amassing nearly 100 million views.  Popular TikToker Hannah Hill said she would <a href="https://nypost.com/2022/02/22/tiktok-trend-sees-influencers-inhale-tanning-nasal-sprays/">not stop using nasal tanning sprays</a> despite the risks because she would rather "live hot than die ugly" in a now-deleted video that was liked over 130,000 times, according to the New York Post. </p><p>Dermatologists are now <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@drwhitneybowe/video/7052773260483792175?is_copy_url=1&amp;is_from_webapp=v1&amp;q=nasal%20spray%20tanning&amp;t=1648829444126">warning people</a> to <a href="https://www.today.com/health/skin-beauty/nasal-tanning-sprays-doctors-warn-tiktok-trend-rcna20841">avoid</a> the sprays because most contain melanotan II, a synthetic peptide that has an array of side effects including dizziness and nausea.  </p><blockquote class="tiktok-embed" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@amberjadecarter/video/6960691290514246918" data-video-id="6960691290514246918" style="max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px;"> <section> <a target="_blank" title="@amberjadecarter" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@amberjadecarter">@amberjadecarter</a> Trying @2btanned Nasal sprays can’t wait to see results thank you  <a title="tan" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/tan">#tan</a> <a title="tanning" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/tanning">#tanning</a> <a title="fyp" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/fyp">#fyp</a> <a title="nivea" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/nivea">#nivea</a> <a target="_blank" title="♬ Cut Me Loose - Edit - Jethro Heston &amp; Max Marshall" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/Cut-Me-Loose-Edit-6761360070765725697">♬ Cut Me Loose - Edit - Jethro Heston &amp; Max Marshall</a> </section> </blockquote> <h2><strong>Nasal tanning sprays can boost melanin production, but at a cost to overall <keyword id="11894571" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="health" source="Orion">health</keyword></strong></h2><p>Melanotan II is a synthetic peptide, or a group of amino acids, that can stimulate melanin production, dermatologist <a href="https://www.doctorrogers.com/">Dr. Heather Rogers</a> told Insider.</p><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/what-is-melanin">Melanin</a> is a natural pigment in the human body that gives <keyword id="11899253" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="skin" source="Orion">skin</keyword>, hair, and eyes their color, and protects against ultraviolet rays that cause skin aging and cancer. Rogers said melanotan II mimics a naturally occurring peptide called melanocyte-stimulating hormone that induces skin cells to produce melanin.</p><p>Since there are no approved medicines, pills, or procedures that increase melanin production, many people tan in the sun or in indoor tanning beds to stimulate cells to produce more pigment. These methods do not safely boost melanin and <a href="https://www.insider.com/what-is-melanin">increase skin cancer risk</a>, Yale Medicine dermatologist <a href="https://medicine.yale.edu/profile/christine_ko/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Christine Ko</a> previously told Insider.</p><p>Though melanotan II has a myriad of side effects, a similar peptide called melanotan I can be safely inserted by dermatologists under the skin to treat people with intense sun sensitivity, according to Rogers. </p><p>The US Food and Drug Administration <a href="https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetic-products/sunless-tanners-bronzers">has not approved melanotan II for use</a>, an FDA spokesperson said in an email to Insider.</p><h2>Nasal tanning sprays don't lead to permanent results</h2><p>Many companies sell melanotan II in nasal sprays due to the ease of absorption, said <a href="https://www.mdcsnyc.com/provider/marisa-k-garshick-md">Dr. Marisa Garshick</a>, a dermatologist based in New York City.</p><p>The mucous membrane in the nose is thin and has a lot of blood vessels, allowing sprays to penetrate the body quickly, she said. </p><p>Taking melanotan II through a spray everyday for five days will darken the skin, Rogers said, but the effects will wear off without constant use. "Just like if you go to Hawaii, get tan and then you leave and the tan fades, because you've taken away the stimulus," she said.</p><h2>The list of side effects far outweigh the benefits, dermatologists say</h2><p>Side effects of taking melanotan II include nausea, dizziness, flushing, changes in appetite, and sexual side effects like increased erections, Garshick said.</p><p>Because the peptide isn't regulated, there is little research available on the long-term impacts of nasal tanning sprays. Garshick said some users have reported not seeing any effects with taking melanotan II, which might prompt them to increase their dose.</p><p>"By taking this, it just makes things harder on you and your dermatologist to figure out what's a problem, and actually increases your risk of making pigmented skin cancers," Rogers said.</p>

Dermatologists are sounding the alarm on TikTok-famous nasal tanning sprays

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The symptoms of <keyword id="73190" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="COPD">COPD</keyword> (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) are shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, general fatigue, and extra production of mucus and phlegm. </li><li>You should get help from a doctor immediately if you have symptoms like severe sudden shortness of breath, chest pain, blue fingers and lips, or coughing up more than a teaspoon of blood. </li><li>Some of the ways you can treat COPD include using an inhaler, avoiding secondhand smoke, and taking medications like steroids or anti-inflammatory drugs.</li><li>This article was <a href="https://www.insider.com/insider-medical-review-board" target="_blank" rel="noopener">medically reviewed</a> by <a href="https://www.providence.org/doctors/profile/299517-osita-innocent-onugha" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Osita Onugha</a><strong>, MD, thoracic surgeon and assistant professor of thoracic surgical oncology at John Wayne Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John's <keyword id="6354750" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="health">Health</keyword> Center in Santa Monica, California.</strong></li></ul><p>Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic, incurable condition, which is the <a href="https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/copd/learn-about-copd" target="_blank" rel="noopener">third leading cause of death in the U.S. </a> People with COPD experience shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing, and unfortunately, the condition worsens over time. </p><p>As of 2019, in the United States, an estimated <a href="https://www.ajmc.com/newsroom/cdc-rates-of-copd-are-similar-by-geographical-location-regardless-of-smoking-status#:~:text=The%20age%2Dadjusted%20prevalence%20of,to%2025.9%25%20in%20West%20Virginia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">6.2% of adults over the age of 18 have COPD</a>, and you're more likely to develop COPD if you smoke. In many cases, COPD is preventable. </p><p>Here we discuss the causes, symptoms, and treatment of COPD. </p><h2>What causes COPD?</h2><p>The most common cause of COPD is tobacco smoke, according to <a href="https://lluh.org/provider/tan-laren" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Laren Tan, MD</a>, director of the Loma Linda University Health <a href="https://lluh.org/services/pulmonary-critical-care/obstructive-airway-diseases-services" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Comprehensive Program for Obstructive Airway Diseases</a>.  Among current smokers, the average <a href="https://www.ajmc.com/newsroom/cdc-rates-of-copd-are-similar-by-geographical-location-regardless-of-smoking-status" target="_blank" rel="noopener">prevalence is 15.2%</a>. Tan says other causes of COPD are:</p><ul><li>Second-hand smoke</li><li>Irritants like dust or chemicals (usually due to occupational exposure)</li><li>Pollution</li><li>Genetic abnormalities</li></ul><p>Age does not cause COPD, but it is a risk factor. The condition is most common among people over 40. This is because lung function decreases with age. Especially if someone smokes at an older age, their lung function will decrease much more rapidly, Tan says. </p><h2>What are the symptoms of COPD?</h2><p>Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is basically "airway constipation," says Tan. This is because your airways may become clogged with mucus, or the airway walls may be inflamed. <br /><br />Additionally, in healthy lungs, air sacs called alveoli have elasticity to them. These air sacs are crucial for bringing oxygen into the body. Inhaling inflates the air sacs, and exhaling deflates them. However, <a href="https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/copd" target="_blank" rel="noopener">if you have COPD, these air sacs and your airways might be less elastic</a>, which can negatively affect your airflow. <br /><br /></p><p>All of these factors make it difficult for COPD patients to fully exhale air out their lungs.</p><p>"Not being able to fully exhale all the air in the lungs results in the trapping of air in their lungs, and overtime this trapping of air can result in patients having to work extra hard to fill their already filled lungs with fresh air," says Tan.</p><p>This obstructed airflow can lead to various symptoms such as:</p><ul><li>Shortness of breath </li><li>Wheezing during exhalation</li><li>Coughing (may be dry or with phlegm) </li><li>General fatigue</li><li>Extra production of <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/copd/basics-about.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mucus and phlegm</a> in the lungs and airways, which can contribute to chronic coughing </li></ul><p><a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/copd/symptoms-causes/syc-20353679" target="_blank" rel="noopener">COPD is progressive</a>, which means the disease and its symptoms get worse over time. </p><p>Tan says patients should get help immediately if they have the following symptoms:</p><ul><li>Severe sudden shortness of breath</li><li>Chest pain</li><li>Blue fingers or lips</li><li>Coughing up more than a teaspoon of blood</li></ul><h2>How to treat COPD</h2><p>COPD is not curable. However, there are various treatments for COPD to keep symptoms under control and to allow COPD patients to live their lives fully. </p><p>The most common treatments for COPD include:</p><p><strong>Quit smoking:</strong> If you smoke, the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/copd/basics-about.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CDC</a> says that quitting smoking is one of the most important parts of COPD treatment. Speak to your doctor about coming up with a plan to safely quit. </p><p><strong>Avoid secondhand smoke:</strong> As much as possible, you should also avoid secondhand smoke and other irritants like air pollution and dust. These are not as harmful as smoking, but they can still irritate the lungs and exacerbate breathing issues.</p><p><strong>Use inhalers: </strong>There is not a one size fits all inhaler approach for COPD. Two types of inhalers COPD patients might use:</p><ul><li>Bronchodilators: This is a type of medication that helps open the airways making it easier to breathe. </li><li>I<a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/corticosteroid-inhalation-route/description/drg-20070533" target="_blank" rel="noopener">nhaled corticosteroid</a>: This medication is a steroid that helps prevent episodes of flare-ups of worsening COPD symptoms, called <a href="https://www.thoracic.org/patients/patient-resources/resources/copd-exacerbation-ecopd.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">exacerbation</a>.</li></ul><p>Tan says some people may just use a bronchodilator, but people with more severe cases can benefit from also using an inhaled corticosteroid as well. People who struggle to use an inhaler may also get these medications through a nebulizer. </p><p><strong>Take medication: </strong>COPD patients who continue to have worsening symptoms despite inhaler use may need to take other medications to find relief. Some examples are:</p><ul><ul><li><strong>Steroids:</strong> <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000026.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Oral steroids</a> can be prescribed for a short-term period of time, usually one to two weeks, during an episode of COPD exacerbation. Some examples are Methylprednisolone, Prednisone, and Prednisolone.</li><li><strong>Anti-inflammatory drugs</strong>: Tan says anti-inflammatory drugs like <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a611034.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Roflumilast</a>, an oral anti-inflammatory drug, can decrease repeated COPD exacerbation.</li></ul><li><strong>Antibiotics: </strong>If someone has a respiratory infection such as the flu, bronchitis, or pneumonia, antibiotics should be prescribed to prevent COPD symptoms from getting worse, according to <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/copd/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353685" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mayo Clinic</a>. </li></ul><p><strong>Try pulmonary rehabilitation: </strong>Think of this as personalized physical therapy for your lungs. It is a multidisciplinary program that includes both education and exercise – which usually includes stretching, strengthening exercises, and cardiovascular/aerobic exercises. Tan says these exercises strengthen the lungs and heart, helping the body use oxygen in a better way.<br /><br />According to the <a href="https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-procedures-and-tests/pulmonary-rehab" target="_blank" rel="noopener">American Lung Association</a>, pulmonary rehabilitation may be so helpful that it can reduce your need for future COPD-related hospital visits.</p><p><strong>Try oxygen therapy: </strong>For severe cases of COPD, oxygen therapy, or supplemental oxygen, may be needed, especially if your blood oxygen levels are low. The oxygen can be administered through a mask or nasal prongs, according to the <a href="https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/copd" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute</a>. You need a prescription to get supplemental oxygen, but once you have the prescription you can get treatment in a hospital, doctor's office, or even at home, Tan says.</p><p>In severe cases, oxygen levels can become dangerously low threatening the health of your organs and ultimately your life. Oxygen therapy can help reduce symptoms and protect your overall wellbeing.</p><h2>COPD is mostly preventable</h2><p>Many cases of COPD are preventable since smoking tobacco is a huge risk factor. However, even if you don't smoke, there is a chance you could get COPD. Some things that are more out of your control can contribute to COPD, such as secondhand smoke, air pollution, and genetic disorders. </p><p>If you are having respiratory symptoms, there are <a href="https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/copd/symptoms-diagnosis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">various tests to diagnose COPD</a>:</p><ul><li><strong>Lung function testing with a spirometer: </strong>A spirometer is a small device that you blow air into. It measures how well you can exhale air, both how fast you blow it out and the amount of air that you blow out. </li><li><strong>Chest X-Ray</strong>: This is done to see if there are any other problems in the lungs, such as emphysema</li><li><strong>Blood tests: </strong>An arterial blood gas test can determine your blood oxygen level. You may also have blood tests to see if you have the genetic disorder <a href="https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/alpha-1-antitrypsin-deficiency" target="_blank" rel="noopener">alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency</a>, which can cause COPD.</li></ul><p>Stay on top of your treatment and you will be on the path to better breathing and better quality of life. It is possible to manage your condition and live the life you want to live with COPD with the right treatment, or combination of treatments. </p><h2 id="related-articles-from-health-reference:">Related articles from <a href="https://www.insider.com/health-reference" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Health Reference</a>:</h2><ul><li><strong><a href="https://www.insider.com/am-i-having-an-asthma-attack" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Am I having an asthma attack? How to tell and what to do about it</a></strong></li><li><strong><a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-use-an-inhaler" target="_blank" rel="noopener">How to use an inhaler: A step-by-step guide to use and care</a></strong></li><li><strong><a href="https://www.insider.com/is-asthma-genetic" target="_blank" rel="noopener">There is a strong genetic component to asthma, but it's not the only risk factor</a></strong></li></ul>

The symptoms of Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease include coughing, shortness of breath, and fatigue

<img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5e8c7c7b73d0c836454f48b7-899/ciscoequipment from offices1 1.jpeg" alt="Cisco_Equipment from Offices_1 (1)" /><p class="source"><span>Cisco</span></p><p class="caption">Cisco is giving IT equipment to hospitals and governments to help them respond to the coronavirus pandemic.</p><ul class="summary-list"><li>Corporations are taking various approaches to helping out during the coronavirus pandemic, from offering up private planes to transport in-demand goods to increasing production of scarce medical equipment. </li><li>Cisco is no different. The tech firm has donated $225 million to global relief efforts, <strong style="background-color: #ffffff;">and it has given</strong> IT equipment from its offices around the globe to hospitals and federal governments. </li><li>The company is also using its trove of 3D printers to supply healthcare workers with face shields. Cisco hopes to begin 3D-printing 500 masks a day in the US by the end of this week. </li><li>Follow all of Business Insider's latest updates on the coronavirus <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-virus-everything-we-know-deadly-2019-ncov-wuhan-spread-2020-1">here</a>. </li><li><strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/prime?module=article&amp;area=summary" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Click here for more BI Prime stories</a>.</strong></li></ul><p>Companies across the corporate landscape are setting up to help during the coronavirus pandemic. </p><p>Organizations are <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-digital-is-changing-way-companies-respond-to-the-coronavirus-2020-3">using their own platforms</a> to help source sought-after products, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ford-making-ventilators-to-fight-coronavirus-how-many-when-ge-2020-3">pivoting to entirely new</a> production lines, using <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-million-n95-masks-are-coming-from-chinaon-board-the-new-england-patriots-plane-11585821600">private planes</a> to transport in-demand medical equipment, and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-honeywells-ceo-digitally-overhauled-the-114-year-old-company-2020-3">dramatically increasing</a> manufacturing capabilities. </p><p>Cisco is no different. </p><p>Its video-conferencing platform Webex is now one of several digital tools that are <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ciscos-webex-draws-record-324-million-users-in-march-2020-4">becoming synonymous with the outbreak</a> - as businesses, schools, families, and others use the platforms to communicate amid strict social distancing guidelines. </p><p>The company <a href="https://blogs.cisco.com/news/committing-225-million-to-global-covid-19-response">also donated $225 million</a> to global relief efforts including direct funding as well as free access to Webex and other products for healthcare facilities and governments. </p><p>But the 35-year-old technology firm is also helping out in more unconventional ways. </p><p>After Cisco <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cisco-coronavirus-mandatory-work-from-home-2020-3">mandated</a> its roughly 75,000 employees shift to remote work, it suddenly found itself with tons of vacant equipment in offices across the globe. Then requests started to come in from employees that the unused video-conferencing units be given to hospitals and other organizations. </p><p>The "teams really quickly started gathering all these units that were sitting around the office … sanitized them, packed them, and then worked with our colleagues in the sales organization to figure out which customers really had a desperate need for them and very quickly started shipping them out," Chief Operating Officer Irving Tan told Business Insider. </p><p>To ensure the equipment was going to the hospitals in the most dire need of it, Tan coordinated with Cisco's government affairs and sales departments. </p><p>They quickly compiled a list of the healthcare providers facing the largest shortages of protective equipment and the company has been slowly working through it. </p><p>Within four days, Cisco shipped its first batch of 100 units. To date in the US, it has sent 235 units to New York City, New Orleans, Washington, Florida, and the USNS Comfort - the Navy ship docked outside of NYC. The company also provided the Japanese and Australian governments with equipment. </p><p>Among other uses, the video-conferencing units allows more medical professionals to diagnose virtually - an important benefit as face masks and other protective equipment gets more scarce. </p><p>It also lets hospitals treat patients in more rural settings where healthcare isn't as readily available, Tan said, and it helps government officials coordinate mitigation efforts across regions.   </p><h2><strong>The rise of 3D printing </strong></h2><p>The coronavirus is casting a new focus on burgeoning tech that, while in use before the pandemic, was not as widely relied upon previously. </p><p>One of those is 3D printing. Health providers <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/with-medical-equipment-in-short-supply-3-d-printing-steps-up-in-coronavirus-crisis-11585686310">are increasingly relying on the machines</a> to produce medical tools that are getting more scarce - like the nasal swabs used to test for the virus. </p><p>When Cisco employees found out the UK's National Health Service was facing a drastic shortage of face shields, for example, the company repurposed its 3D printers to begin producing the protective equipment. It was quickly producing 400 masks per day and decided to make the effort a global one. Cisco "very quickly replicated this within the US," said Tan. </p><p>Now, the company is making 80 shields a day with a goal to increase that to 500 this week. It has procured more 3D printers to help meet that goal and employees are working around the clock on the effort. </p><p>Cisco's efforts, along with those from other leading corporations, highlight how big business is increasingly looked at to help as <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/2020-edelman-trust-barometer-reveals-growing-sense-of-inequality-is-undermining-trust-in-institutions-1028827931">trust in other foundational institutions</a> - like the federal government and the press - falls. </p><p class="tagline"><i>Do you have a personal experience with the coronavirus you'd like to share? Or a tip on how your town or community is handling the pandemic? Please email <a href="mailto:covidtips@businessinsider.com">covidtips@businessinsider.com</a> and tell us your story.</i></p><p><i>And get the latest <a href="/coronavirus-business-impact">coronavirus analysis and research</a> from Business Insider Intelligence on how COVID-19 is impacting businesses.</i></p>            <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-its-like-travel-during-coronavirus-outbreak-planes-airports-virus-2020-3">Here's what it's like to travel during the coronavirus outbreak</a></h3>                    <iframe class="bijwplayerclass" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/aut6ZE3s-CEZHWCBG.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" style="margin:0px;"></iframe>            

Cisco's response to the coronavirus reveals how the pandemic is turbo-charging innovation - from donating video-conferencing units to healthcare systems to manufacturing hundreds of face shields daily via 3D printing

<p>There is nothing worse than getting off of a flight to feel a cold settling in.</p><p>And while you can't predict when you'll be on the same flight as someone who is sick, there are steps you can take to walk out as germ free as possible. Here are 13 tips to help you stay healthy on a plane.</p><h2>Don't drink the tap water </h2><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/55e4b6a89dd7cc1d008b7275-3841-2641/shutterstock_180876224.jpg" alt="drinking tap water on flight" data-mce-source="Shutterstock/Halfpoint" data-link="http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-180876224/stock-photo-happy-man-seating-in-the-aircraft-and-drinking-water-before-his-trip-abroad.html?src=c2BkeEzOgu2Pley9A7Y28g-1-98" /><p class="source"><span><a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-180876224/stock-photo-happy-man-seating-in-the-aircraft-and-drinking-water-before-his-trip-abroad.html?src=c2BkeEzOgu2Pley9A7Y28g-1-98">Shutterstock/Halfpoint</a></span></p></div><p></p></div></div><span class="s1">In 2007, <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB1036110025940498271">The Wall Street Journal</a> conducted a study from 14 different international and domestic flights. Their results revealed traces of everything from Salmonella to tiny insect eggs lurking in the water. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Of the 14 they studied, almost all samples contained bacteria levels that reached "tens, sometimes hundreds of times above the US government limits."</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Efforts were made by the Environmental Protection Agency to clear the issue, but <a href="http://www.nbcdfw.com/investigations/EPA-Tests-Show-High-Percentage-of-Airplanes-Still-Have-Bacteria-in-Water-Served-On-Board-226813491.html">studies conducted in 2013</a> revealed that not much had changed regarding the bacteria levels of the water.</span></p><h2 class="p1">Skip getting any ice in your drinks</h2><p>While ice usually comes from outside vendors, some large-size planes have their own ice-making technology and will use the water from the airplane tanks to make the cubes, according to CNN.</p><p class="p1">Since tanks are kept small to maintain a light weight, <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/12/22/bt.germs.breed.on.plane/">they can be refilled</a> at foreign airports where water standards can vary greatly. </p><h2 class="p1">Avoid using the blankets and pillows</h2><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/55e4c039bd86ef20008b718f-3776-2832/shutterstock_95697721.jpg" alt="pillows and blankets on airplane" data-mce-source="Shutterstock/Jordan Tan" /><p class="source"><span>Shutterstock/Jordan Tan</span></p></div><p></p></div></div><span class="s1">In another <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB1036110025940498271">investigation by The Wall Street Journal</a>, airlines were found to wash their blankets and pillows every five to 30 days. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Often, freshly washed blankets will <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-3081328/Faecal-matter-plane-tray-tables-unwashed-blankets-80-million-bacteria-suitcases-dirty-secrets-air-travel-revealed.html">only be set out for the first flights</a> of the day, leaving customers who board towards the end of the day at risk.  </span></p><h2 class="p1"><span class="s1">Don't touch the tray table</span></h2><p><span class="s1"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/55e5a65d9dd7cc19008b73ae-3111-2333/rtr3l52f.jpg" alt="airlplane seat tray table" data-mce-source="REUTERS/Lucas Jackson" data-mce-caption="A woman uses her computer to test a new high speed inflight Internet service named Fli-Fi while on a special JetBlue media flight out of John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York December 11, 2013." /><p class="source"><span>REUTERS/Lucas Jackson</span></p></div><p></p></div></div>T</span><span class="s1">he tray table is one of the dirtiest parts of a plane. </span><span class="s1">Flight attendants have <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/31/airline-secrets_n_5043463.html">admitted to</a> only washing tray tables once a day and some have <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/12/22/bt.germs.breed.on.plane/">even seen</a> parents changing their children's dirty diapers on them. </span></p><p><span class="s1">The best thing to do is to wipe it down with a disinfectant and to absolutely avoid eating directly off of it.</span></p><h2 class="p1">Order a hot meal</h2><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/55e5a6839dd7cc16008b732f-1200-900/6008835668_d0d49b8a1c_o.jpg" alt="airline food" data-mce-source="Flickr/chotda" /><p class="source"><span>Flickr/chotda</span></p></div><p></p></div></div>In 2009, LSG Sky Chefs - one of the largest airplane caterers - was <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/airline-food-horror-roaches-flies-bacteria-found-catering-kitchens-plane-meals-article-1.178739">caught in a major scandal</a> when the FDA found traces of insects in their facilities and the use of unwashed gloves and bare hands to prepare airline food. Another catering company, Gate Gourmet, also <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/airline-food-horror-roaches-flies-bacteria-found-catering-kitchens-plane-meals-article-1.178739">dealt with similar issues</a> regarding bacteria and mold being found in their food. <br /><span class="s1"></span></p><p class="p1">Though companies have been improving their standards, the safest bet is to consume hot foods as the <a href=" http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/12/22/bt.germs.breed.on.plane/">heat is more likely</a> to kill off unwanted germs.</p><h2 class="p1">Avoid aisle seats</h2><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/55e5ab109dd7cc1b008b7454-4992-3744/shutterstock_24610978.jpg" alt="sitting in airplane aisle seat" data-mce-source="Shutterstock/Yellowj" /><p class="source"><span>Shutterstock/Yellowj</span></p></div><p></p></div></div><span class="s1"><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2854637/You-sitting-closer-GERMS-New-research-shows-aisle-seat-contaminated-place-plane.html">Some scientists say</a> that sitting on the aisle seat leaves you more at risk of being exposed to germs as it puts you closer to passengers who are regularly coming and going from the restroom. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">As some people tend to touch or hold aisle seats when walking down a moving plane, the risk of contamination on the seat ends is greater.</span></p><h2 class="p1"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Use the air vent above your seat</span></h2><p class="p1"><span class="s1">While it's common to think turning on the air vents will actually recycle germs, <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/2020/Health/story?id=1213901">experts say</a> that the cabin air filters capture up to 99.9 percent of bacteria and viruses. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">In fact, <a href="http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2014/07/14/319194689/pathogens-on-a-plane-how-to-stay-healthy-in-flight">doctors recommend</a> turning on the vent above your head to a low or medium pressure as it helps to create enough current to keep germs away. </span></p><h2 class="p1">Take precautions when using the restroom</h2><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/55e5ae0bbd86ef18008b73d8-3807-2855/shutterstock_273633593.jpg" alt="airplane bathroom" data-mce-source="Shutterstock/tratong" /><p class="source"><span>Shutterstock/tratong</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">A <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/2014/10/13/airplane-germs/17044509/">study conducted</a> by James Barbaree, professor associate and director of the Auburn University Detection &amp; Food Safety Center, revealed that while bacteria lives for shorter periods of time on plastic surfaces, these types of surfaces transmit germs to hands much more quickly. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">So, when heading to the bathroom, make sure to use a tissue to open the handle and close the lid of the toilet when flushing to avoid the increased spreading of germs. </span></p><p class="p2">Finally, <a href="http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2014/07/14/319194689/pathogens-on-a-plane-how-to-stay-healthy-in-flight">don't use the water to brush your teeth</a> and try to use sanitizer to clean your hands instead, since the same water in the airplane tanks is used in the restroom.<br /><span class="s1"></span></p><h2 class="p2">Use a nasal spray</h2><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Nasal sprays are made of <a href="http://traveltips.usatoday.com/keep-nose-drying-plane-103367.html">saline concentration</a> that helps add moisture to your noise. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">As airplane cabins can dry the nose out, nasal sprays help to increase the flow of the tiny hairs in noses that block out germs.</span></p><h2 class="p1"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Don't drink coffee or tea</span></h2><p class="p2"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/55e088009dd7cc1d008b6ab8-2000-1500/gettyimages-108290377.jpg" alt="Coffee" data-mce-source="Getty Images/Sean Gallup" /><p class="source"><span>Getty Images/Sean Gallup</span></p></div><p></p></div></div><span class="s1">The coffee and tea that is brewed on board typically <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/12/22/bt.germs.breed.on.plane/">doesn't reach temperatures</a> that are hot enough to be able to kill off bacteria present in the airplane water. </span></p><p class="p2">When the Environmental Protection Agency<a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/airplane-drinking-water-frequently-contaminated-report-article-1.1479512"> tested airplane water</a> nine years after major efforts were set in place to reduce bacteria levels, the results indicated that the water used to make coffee and tea in 12 percent of commercial US planes still tested positive for bacteria like coliform.<br /><span class="s1"></span></p><h2 class="p2">Don't place your items in the seat-back pocket</h2><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/55e5b7289dd7cc1a008b7461-1067-800/airplane-seat-1.jpg" alt="airplane seat" data-mce-source="Flickr / Angelo DeSantis" /><p class="source"><span>Flickr / Angelo DeSantis</span></p></div><p></p></div></div>Besides the possibility that the seat-back pocket can be filled with anything from used tissues to trash, <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2634458/MRSA-seatback-pocket-E-Coli-armrest-Researchers-reveal-bacteria-live-WEEK-parts-airline-cabins.html">studies</a> by Auburn University's Department of Biological Sciences revealed that armrests and seat pockets are the worst areas to touch since bacteria like E. coli can survive there for days.<br /><span class="s1"></span></p><h2 class="p1">Ask to change your seat if the person next to you is sick</h2><p>While this might not be possible on fuller flights, if there are open seats on the plane, asking to be moved due to someone close by who is sick <a href="http://www.smartertravel.com/blogs/today-in-travel/what-to-do-when-seated-next-to-sick-person-on-plane.html?id=20313448">isn't uncommon</a>.</p><h2>Stay hydrated</h2><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/55e5bac39dd7cc22008b7482-889-667/4626047848_173ca5fd8f_o.jpg" alt="water bottles" data-mce-source="Flickr/Steven Depolo" /><p class="source"><span>Flickr/Steven Depolo</span></p></div><p></p></div></div><span class="s1">Drink ample amounts of water to counteract the dry air found in airplane cabins. </span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Plus, staying hydrated will help prevent dehydration, which can cause headaches, cramps, and fatigue.</span></p><p class="p2">Just make sure to bring your own bottled water or ask for bottled water in-flight to avoid having to drink tap. </p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/sneeze-particles-movement-airplane-cabin-2014-11">Here's How A Sneeze Spreads Through An Airplane Cabin</a></h3>        <div>            <div>    <script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e"></script>    <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="U3OWJrcTqzVGBf3KpjZOrGsM4GS6DPdV" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>    <script>    if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; 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