Swine flu vaccine ‘by September’

The first swine flu vaccines are likely to be licensed for use in the general population in September, the World Health Organisation has announced.

Several manufacturers have produced initial batches of a H1N1 vaccine and some clinical trials are already underway.

WHO director of vaccine research Dr Dr Marie-Paule Kieny also sought to calm fears about safety of new vaccines.

She said the vaccines were based on “old and proven technology.”

Figures show continuing rises in cases in the southern hemisphere in the past seven days.

Argentina has particularly seen a large increase and deaths now stand at 337.

And there has been a rise in cases of 25% in Australia.

Although it has not yet been clarified who would be first in line for a vaccine, it is likely to be those who are most vulnerable, such as pregnant women and young children.

Some experts have raised concerns about the lack of safety data on flu vaccines in these groups.

In particular a very rare neurological condition called Guillame Barre syndrome, which affected 500 people during a US vaccine programme against swine flu in 1976.

Dr Kieny said much was known about flu vaccines in these groups from seasonal vaccines given every winter and added that regulatory agencies would be monitoring for any signs of adverse reaction.

“The quality controls on today’s vaccine are much better than they were 30 years ago,” she added.

Fast track

Regulators in the US and Europe have special plans in place to fast-track swine flu vaccines, some of which are based on conventional seasonal flu vaccines and some which use newer technology.

Clinical trials are already underway in China, Australia, USA, UK, and Germany.

It comes as drug company, Baxter, has announced the production of the first commercial batches of its swine flu vaccine Celvapan.

The vaccine has been grown using cell culture, a much faster method than the traditional way of growing it in eggs.

Baxter is one of two companies contracted to provide pandemic flu vaccine to the UK, the other being GlaxoSmithKline, and both plan to start clinical trials this month.

One key part of the trials is to work out whether people need one or two doses of the vaccine.

Morison’s Lacto Calamine Lotion and Powder get a face lift 

A ceremony was held recently at J.L Morison Son and Jones (Ceylon) Plc. to introduce the new look of Morison’s Lacto Calamine Lotion and Powder to the market, which had won the trust of many generations since 1952.

At the auspicious time the Chairman of the company, R. Abeyawira handed over the whole range of Morison’s Lacto Calamine Lotion and Powder to Mahinda Dissanayake, the most senior distribution agent of J.L Morison Son and Jones (Ceylon) Plc.

Chief Executive Officer, N. Samaranayake and Director Sales and Marketing, Chanaka Keppetiwalana of J.L Morison Son and Jones (Ceylon) Plc also attended this occasion.

How soup can help you lose weight

In the battle to lose weight, hunger is the dieter’s worst enemy. But research has revealed a simple aid to taming the appetite: soup. It’s dieting’s best kept secret says one science writer.

Imagine a typical lunchtime meal - say, chicken and vegetables with a glass of water. If you eat the food and drink the water, you will feel full for a couple of hours before hunger kicks in. But if you blend the food with the water - to make soup - you will stay hunger-free for much longer, and less likely to snack through the afternoon.

How can blending the food into soup make such a difference?

The key to this low-tech weapon against hunger is a hormone called ghrelin. It is one of the major players in the body’s appetite system.

The many benefits of Safe Guard adult diapers 

While the topic of adult diapers is a delicate issue, one that many of us would rather not consider, the fact is that adult diapers — or briefs — is an incredible product that offers convenience for both patients and care givers and is becoming increasingly common not only amongst the elderly but anyone who suffers from medical conditions that restrict their freedom with regard to using the washroom independently.

Incontinence is a subject that is not often talked about, however it is very common. Millions of people suffer from this problem. Those who experience incontinence and other conditions which prevents control of their bladder movements, use adult diapers. In addition to being used for incontinence, adult diapers are also used by people who are physically and mentally challenged.  Adult diapers are also know as adult briefs or fitted briefs. They are made up of many layers of either cloth or towel fabric, or a similar material that absorbs liquid.

While adult diapers are made in various forms, including those resembling traditional child diapers, underpants, and pads resembling sanitary napkins (known as incontinence pads), adult diapers are a cross between the traditional diapers and underpants for ultimate convenience and comfort

The benefits of an adult diaper is seldom discussed. Once understood, patients, especially the elderly will recognise the product for the benefits of independence, specially hygiene and comfort the product offers. It is widely used by patients suffering from medical conditions that cause them to suffer from urinary or fecal incontinence and by those with cognitive impairment, such as dementia, because they may not recognise their need to reach a toilet.  It is also used temporarily by people who are bedridden or in a wheelchair (after major surgery). Even those with good bowel and bladder control may wear diapers because they are unable to access the toilet independently.

What’s more, medical practitioners highly recommend adult diapers to patients of the above categories for hygiene reasons as these patients are prone to bacterial infections. While the adult diaper doesn’t prevent bacterial infections it does cut risks down a considerable amount as it prevents leakage on to bedsheets and garments, keeping the patient cleaner at all times. Many incontinent people who wear adult diapers are concerned about the possibility of diaper rash. Disposable diapers are designed so that full dryness is provided to your skin, therefore preventing any rashes. 

Imported by ICL Marketing (Pvt) Limited, Safe Guard Adult Diapers is unisex and widely available in pharmacies, leading supermarkets and groceries, in medium and large sized. As purchasing incontinence supplies may be a embarrassing matter, ICL Marketing offers the service of delivering direct and discretely to your doorstep.

Safe Guard Adult Diapers are thin, hard to detect, and provide a great solution for those who suffer from incontinence. They are more comfortable than underwear and are a welcome solution.

The product’s key feature is Super Absorbent Polymer (SAP), which is largely found in other personal disposable hygiene products, such as baby diapers and sanitary napkins. A wetness indicator shows when changing is required and a waterproof back sheet and water proof leg cuffs prevents leakage.

Eye drops ‘may reverse glaucoma’

A new type of medicated eye drop may be able to reverse symptoms of glaucoma, an Italian study has suggested.

Glaucoma, the world’s leading cause of blindness, is caused by pressure inside the eye — intraocular pressure — which damages cells in the optic nerve.

The study of rats and human patients found drops containing a nerve growth factor may stop these cells dying, and actually improve vision. It is reported in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

It is estimated that 77mn people have glaucoma around the world. The build up of intraocular pressure can sometimes be controlled through other techniques.

But once pressure has started to damage optic nerve cells, called retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), it has proved impossible to recover that lost function.

And often people with glaucoma do not seek expert help until the condition is already relatively advanced.

The researchers, from the University of Rome, treated rats with symptoms of glaucoma with eye drops containing nerve growth factor.

The animals who were given the eye drops showed decreased levels of RGC death compared with those who did not receive the treatment.

The researchers went on to test the drops in three human patients whose intraocular pressure had started to be controlled, but who still showed signs of progressive deterioration in their vision.

In two of the patients vision improved, while in the other it was stabilised.

The improvements lasted up to 18 months after the eye drops were applied.

Nerve growth factor appears to trigger chemical changes within cells that prevent them from dying in response to damage.

It might also enable cells whose function had begun to be damaged to bounce back.

And it might boost the capacity of healthy RGCs to form new connections within the optic nerve, to compensate for any damage that had already taken place.

However, nerve growth factor cannot rescue RGCs that have already died — in common with brain tissue, the optic nerve cannot regenerate.

Encouraging results

Lead researcher Dr Stefano Bonini said: “Although neuroprotection in glaucoma has already been attempted with several compounds, this is the first time that an improvement in visual function is observed in patients with advanced optic nerve damage.”

David Wright, chief executive of the International Glaucoma Association, warned against drawing firm conclusions from such a small study — but said the results were encouraging.

He said: “There have been many false dawns in the search for neuro-protective agents for the treatment of glaucoma and it is a feature of research on other compounds that early promise does not always translate into clinical effectiveness when larger studies are undertaken.

“However, this research would seem to indicate both effectiveness and acceptability as to the means of drug delivery.

“If these early indications are carried through to wider trials and there are no other problems, then this has the potential to open a completely new method of treating glaucoma and of preventing unnecessary visual loss in the future.”

Professor Peng Khaw is director of the National Institute of Health Research Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology.

He said many other substances had achieved good results in animals, only to fail in humans.

However, he said, if the researchers could perfect an easy-to-use eye drop formulation that would represent a huge step forward.

A hand book to guide young mothers on how to look after a new born baby, covering some important factors that should be considered during the first year of the infant, has been produced by the Corporate Social Responsibility Trust of the Commercial Bank of Ceylon.

Titled Obe Bilindage Mul Wasara (Your baby’s first year), the book has been written by Dr. Upali Marasinghe, a reputed gynaecologist attached to the Colombo South (Kalubowila) Teaching Hospital. The book which will be available in Sinhala and Tamil elaborates on the most crucial factors in an interesting and understandable way under 90 headings.

The Commercial Bank will distribute this book among local hospitals and clinics with the help of the Bank’s 171 strong islandwide branch network.  Those interested in receiving copies could contact the manager of the nearest Commercial Bank branch or the Marketing Division at the Bank’s Head Office.

In a message in the book, Commercial Bank’s Managing Director Amitha Gooneratne says that: “The future wellbeing of a country depends on producing a healthy new generation. Mothers have a great role and responsibility to produce healthy children. Assisting in this is the duty of all citizens. We consider fulfilling this obligation a social responsibility.”  Gooneratne added that the bank hopes to carry out more such community programmes in the future through its CSR Trust.

Last year, the bank’s CSR Trust produced a DVD and a CD on veteran actor Henry Jayasena’s experience in coping with cancer, to support and encourage cancer patients and their caregivers.

Some of the recent CSR initiatives by the Trust include granting scholarships to undergraduates, assisting Children’s Homes, donating equipment and essentials to the Colombo National Hospital, refurbishing the Dental Clinic of Deniyaya Base Hospital, setting up a High Dependency Unit for Ward No. 17 of the Matara General Hospital, repairing the path-way to Sri Pada, building two IT laboratories in Udawela, supplying essential items for internally displaced people in the north and donating computers to the Vocational Training Centre at the Galle Prison.

OPD at Lady Ridgeway Hospital gets a face-lift

Children seeking treatment at the OPD of the Lady Ridgeway Hospital will now be greeted by a brighter atmosphere thanks to a CSR project by Lanka Bell, one of the country’s leading telecommunications solutions providers.

The new project included tiling and painting the corridors of the OPD, the reception area and three rooms of the hospital with funds contributed by employees to the Lanka Bell Sports Club.

The company also contributed to install a pay phone in the waiting area on the first floor and also provided ‘sign posting’ to the consultation rooms and clinics of the OPD.

Alongside this initiative, Lanka Bell organised a blood donation campaign at which employees donated blood to the hospital’s blood bank.

Commenting on this project, Lanka Bell Managing Director Prasad Samarasinghe said: “As a 100 per cent local company we are always happy to contribute to the wellbeing of the Sri Lankan community. This is one of many community projects that we have launched with the support of our employees.”

“This effort has resulted in a pleasant environment for the children and the parents or guardians who accompany them,” he added.

As a part of a CSR project launched by the company last year, Lanka Bell funded the air conditioning of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Lady Ridgeway Hospital. Employees also participated in a ‘Shramadana’ to clean and paint parts of the hospital.

The only wholly Sri Lankan owned company in the telecommunications sector, Lanka Bell is the largest CDMA ‘fixed line’ provider in the country with 1.2 million subscribers.

The company was established in 1997 with an initial investment of US$ 150 million and was the pioneer of CDMA technology in the country. The company continues to make substantial investments to take its technology and services to all geographic regions and all segments of the market in Sri Lanka and has 60 of its very own fully fledged business offices island-wide.

Apollo launches its first standalone quaternary care paediatric hospital  

Oscar Award Winner, Dr. A.R. Rahman formally inaugurated the Apollo Children’s Hospital, the first standalone quaternary care paediatric hospital in the Apollo Hospitals Group recently. Apollo Hospitals Group is Asia’s most trusted healthcare provider and has continuously excelled and maintained leadership in medical innovation, world-class clinical services and cutting edge research. 

The Apollo Children’s Hospital is designed to provide comprehensive paediatric care to children and adolescents up to the age of 16 years all under one roof. Established on a built up area of 39,000 sq.ft, it is complete with a neonatology care unit, paediatric intensive care facilities, state of the art operating rooms including facility for complex cardiac surgeries, procedure rooms, laboratory services, dedicated clinics for chronic ailments, preventive healthcare, developmental disorders and counseling services, an NICU, isolation ward, three operation theaters, sunshine ward, cheerful private rooms and tasteful suites. The hospital is staffed with 45 of India’s finest pediatric specialists and over 180 nurses.

Inaugurating Apollo Children’s Hospital at Chennai, Oscar Award Winner, Dr. A.R. Rahman said, “Apollo’s new paediatric hospital is like a symphony with numerous centres of excellence, highly skilled doctors, caring nurses, state of the art technology and an incredibly child friendly ambience. I am sure that this harmony will enable boundless possibilities and make medical marvels happen everyday!”

Addressing the gathering Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group, Dr. Prathap C Reddy said, “Children shape the future of a nation. In this era, advances in paediatric care means that even children in the womb can be diagnosed and a plan for their healing can be put into place. There is so much more we can offer today to heal a sick child. Apollo Children’s Hospital is unique due to the wealth of disciplines all under one roof. Our first standalone paediatric quaternary care multi-specialty hospital, it is a perfect combination of global best practices along with the optimum mix of clinical care, cutting edge research and detailed learning.”

The super-speciality services offered at Apollo Children’s Hospital includes paediatric cardiology, paediatric cardiac surgery, paediatric surgery (including laparoscopic surgery), paediatric urology, paediatric neurology and neuro surgery, paediatric nephrology, paediatric orthopaedics and paediatric gastroenterology, while the paediatric oncology unit focuses on the management of childhood cancers.

Asiri Amazing Care promises unique 24/7 emergency services 

Asiri Surgical Hospital has taken a major step forward in healthcare by launching a unique emergency care service called Asiri Amazing Care.

This service is on call 24 hours a day and offers complete, consistent and committed healthcare services to registered members.

The unique service for individuals, families and the corporate sector has a host of benefits. Members will be entitled to free health check ups, benefits on admission and discounts on bills.  Additionally maintenance of medical records, online appointments and payments and the 24/7 ambulance on-call service are other benefits of membership. A health helpdesk at the hospital will also be accessible round the clock to respond to any queries or appointments with specialists.  

“This is a pivotal project in the field of emergency medicine” said Managing Director, Asiri Hospitals, Ashok Pathirage. “The Asiri Amazing Care emergency service does not merely respond to a patient’s call. The paramedic team that responds will be equipped with the patient’s medical records and hence know and administer preliminary treatment on the lines of international healthcare standards.” 

Asiri Amazing Care will be a fully scalable, all risks ready emergency care facility that serves like a hospital emergency department during its daily operation and is optimised to handle all kinds of medical consequences.

“Our service is available whether the patient is at home, at work or on the road, and offers corporate organisations a high level of confidence,” explained the Manager of Asiri Amazing Care, Shamalie Fonseka adding that the emergency service has specialists readily available including pediatricians. “This is because 40% of emergencies relate to children” she added.

The service will be of value to Sri Lankan expatriates concerned and wanting assurance that family and relatives can avail themselves of the best in healthcare.  Patients will have easy access to state-of-the-art MRI and CT scanners, mammogram and digital X-ray, dialysis among the wide range of modern diagnostic facilities and treatment.

Asiri Group of Hospitals vision is to be compassionate, efficient and dynamic in providing exclusive loyalty services to it clients through this new programme.

The Asiri Group of Hospitals has a vision of creating modern healthcare facilities.  In addition to the four hospitals in the group – Asiri Hospital, Asiri Surgical Hospital, Asiri Central and Asiri Hospital, Matara, the group is in the process of constructing a state-of-the-art 264 bed project at Norris Canal Road, Colombo 10. 

The Asiri Surgical Hospital recently opened a 10-bed Coronary Care Unit and a 10-bed Surgical Intensive Care Unit.  The cardiology floor has a capacity of 40 beds, Cardiac Operating Suites and a dedicated team of specialised physicians.

Astron donates pharmaceuticals for IDPs 

Astron Limited donated a large stock of pharmaceuticals for the use of medical staff at medical centres in the camps of internally displaced persons in the north. The presentation was made to Health and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva at the Ministry  by Managing Director, Astron Limited, Marise Deckker.

Astron Limited is a fully Sri Lankan owned company which develops, manufactures, imports and markets quality healthcare products. The company, a pioneer in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals and animal healthcare products in Sri Lanka was incorporated in 1956. In 1993 the company created history by successfully carrying out the first leveraged management buyout in Sri Lanka.

Over the years the company has progressed to be one of the most reliable pharmaceutical companies in the country, having won the respect and admiration of consumers, doctors and pharmacists for the quality and efficacy of its products.

End those sleepless nights  

Nawaloka Hospital has added another unique facility with the establishment of its state-of -the-art sleep laboratory which is now fully operational.

“Sleep studies are tests that allow doctors to observe what happens to your body during sleep which enables them to identify sleep related disorders and assess its severity. Sleep studies are important because untreated sleep disorders can increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart attacks, strokes, hormonal disorders like impotency and motor vehicle or work related accidents. Getting quality sleep is essential as sleep is just as important as having good nutrition and exercise,” said Director / General Manager, Nawaloka Hospitals, Professor Lal Chandrasena.

The sleep laboratory is manned by an experienced team including a senior medical officer and nurses who provide the highest quality of care for the evaluation and treatment of people with sleep disorders.

Sleep disorders do not only affect adults. As many as one out of three school children may suffer from sleep problems at some time in their lives, with many going undiagnosed.

According to Professor Chandrasena, amongst the common sleeping disorders are snoring (breathing through the mouth and nose during sleep) and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) which is a cessation of breathing many times during sleep for longer than 10 seconds at a time, when the muscles of the tongue, throat and larynx loose their elasticity and collapse during sleep thus resulting in a blockage of air flow into the lungs.

“Untreated sleep apnea could  result in day time fatigue and sleepiness, morning headaches and dry mouth, loss of memory and concentration, irritability and depression, high blood pressure, as well as cardiovascular risk, such as strokes and heart attacks.”

Professor Chandrasena said that diagnosis can only be provided by a specialized test known as polysomnography which is conducted at Nawaloka Hospital’s  sleep laboratory.

Professor Chandrasena said that the benefits of treatment are tremendous, resulting in a dramatic increase in daytime alertness and energy levels.

Travel, Aviation & Shipping

MSC Cruises now in Sri Lanka 

MSC Cruises have appointed Nkar Travels & Tours (Pvt) Limited as their PSA in Sri Lanka to look after the sales, marketing and promotion of MSC Cruises in Sri Lanka.

The Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) operates over 400 cargo ships and operates 10 cruise ships by the names:

MSC Splendida, MSC Musica, MSC Opera, MSC Fantasia, MSC Sinfonia, MSC Lirica, MSC Poesia, MSC Armonia, MSC Melody, MSC Orchestra, and MSC Magnifica will be delivered in 2010. Recently MSC Cruises had the christening ceremony and spectacular gala show of her stunning new flagship, MSC Splendida, in Barcelona (Spain).

This company is a leader in the Mediterranean cruise market, sailing in the region throughout the year, as well as offering a wide range of seasonal itineraries in Northern Europe, the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean, North America and Canada, South America, the Indian Ocean, South and West Africa.

MSC Cruises together with Nkar Travels & Tours (Pvt) Limited will offer excellent opportunities with extremely attractive special offers in the Sri Lankan market for those who wish to take a luxurious cruise where one can relax and unwind whilst experiencing excursions in cities and islands off the beaten track.

Nkar Travels & Tours (Pvt) Limited together with MSC Cruises are currently planning their official launch in Sri Lanka and Managing Director, Nkar Travels & Tours (Pvt) Limited, Nilmin Nanayakkara said that they expect the Commercial Manager - Emerging Markets, Alfredo Spadon to be in Sri Lanka for the launch.

“We find that in Sri Lanka interest for cruise holidays is fast growing,” noted Nanayakkara who is of the view that as many as 800-1200 Sri Lankan passengers per year do choose a cruise for their holidays. He said “cruising is a different experience and once you have been on a cruise you will always look forward to experiencing another one in a different part of the world.”

Talking with Nilmin about their recent invitation from MSC Cruises to join them in Barcelona for the christening ceremony and the maiden voyage of MSC Splendida, being in the travel business himself and an exposed traveller, he said that he and his wife Shalini were very excited about this invitation as they had never been to a christening ceremony of a ship and a maiden voyage.

“Wow, the christening ceremony was an experience where the Godmother of the MSC Fleet, the world renowned actress Sophia Loren, took part in. MSC Cruises is certainly proud to have had Sophia Loren christen the entire fleet of cruise ships and to continue as their Godmother of the fleet. It was a lot of fun, frolic, partying and excitement – and the event had the participation of many recognised world leaders and celebrities,” said Shalini and Nilmin.

They said they were lucky to be on board the maiden cruise and to have been able to experience countries such as Tunisia, Malta, and Italy (calling Sicily and Rome).

MSC Splendida, that has a 138 tonnage, carries over 3900 passengers and another 1200 plus crew, totaling to over 5000 persons on board. This 333 meters long and 38 meters wide ship provides over four restaurants, two buffets, 18 bars and lounges, five swimming pools, a 1603-seat theatre, a casino, an aqua park with 150 water jets and whirlpools, a Formula 1 stimulator, a jogging track, a well equipped gymnasium and many more.

Even if you spend a week on board it is unlikely that one can cover all the facilities in all areas. MSC Splendida has a stunning staircase covering the  5th, 6th and 7th deck with steps embedded with 20,000 Swarovski stones. A typical Italian Coffee Shop, L’Espresso, is the hot spot. It also offers a variety of entertainment on board with a different theatre show every evening.

A superb night club, the Purple Jazz Bar, with a live band directly overlooking the sea is meant for strict tempo lovers while the Club 33 Disco will keep the young ones occupied all night long. On selected days, partying under the stars by the Aqua Park is an exciting opportunity for all the family.

MSC Cruises is offering the young ones below 17 years to be their free guests, being accommodated in parents’ cabins. So it is a cruise for party times, families, honeymooners and also those who want to relax, unwind at the MSC Aurea Spa Wellness Centre and then also to experience destinations off the beaten track.

Nkar Travels & Tours (Pvt) Limited together with MSC Cruises will soon appoint at least 10 agents in Sri Lanka who would be trained on all MSC products and services.

Traveling should be fun 

A vacation is supposed to be relaxing, but traveling today can be anything but. Here are some stress management ideas that can help you keep your cool as you deal with travel hassles that arise.

Traveling, whether for vacation or business, can be a minefield of stress. Any number of unexpected events can affect your trip, from flight delays or cancellations to lost luggage and overwhelming security check-in lines at airports. And when things don’t go quite according to plan, travel stress can build up quickly and potentially keep you from enjoying your vacation as much as you’d hope to. Stress management calls for some preparation and planning to keep you from feeling overwhelmed. Here are some common travel issues and possible  strategies for you to consider:

Delayed or cancelled flights

Problem: Especially if you have to make connecting flights, a delayed or cancelled flight can ruin a day or more of your trip if you aren’t prepared.

Stress Management Strategy: Before you leave home, programme your airline’s reservations phone number into your cell phone. “If your flight is delayed, every passenger is going to be lining up at that departure gate to talk to that one representative to get on a different flight,” says David Lytle, editorial director of Frommers.com. “An easier way to resolve this is to call reservations directly at their toll-free number.”

Another approach is to walk out of the departure area and go back into the ticketing department. Or if you have internet access and a computer, Lytle notes that some airlines will allow you to rebook a flight on their web site.

To minimise your risk of delays altogether, consider arranging your travel schedule in a different way. “Fly first thing in the morning,” Lytle suggests.

Long wait times

Problem: Nothing can be more tedious than hanging around for a flight to leave. This is especially difficult when you have kids in tow who quickly run out of patience and get bored. Stress Management Strategy: Come prepared to wait. Lytle suggests bringing along reading materials, a DVD for your computer, or something else that will keep you and others with you entertained while you’re in the airport. Flying early in the day and avoiding peak times can reduce your wait times in some cases. 

Lost luggage

Problem: This is not a happy situation, especially when you’re going to a different climate that requires special clothing or when you have a meeting to attend.

Stress Management Strategy: You can be prepared for this possibility by always packing your essentials in a carry-on bag, including medications, a change of clothes, and a few basic toiletries (remember the three-ounce limit on liquids in carry-on).

Rude people

Problem: Traveling creates stress for everyone: you, other travelers, and airport and airline employees. All it takes is one rude person to set the stage for everyone to be irritable.

Stress Management Strategy: In response, try to be pleasant and polite yourself, and never take out your frustrations on the airline staff. It is not their fault that your flight has been delayed or cancelled, and there’s nothing they can do about it. But you’re going to get more help and sympathy if you’re nice about it. Recognize that the person trying to help you works in a stressful environment to begin with..