Staying Healthy While Traveling

What can you do to avoid getting sick while traveling?

Most of us will agree that traveling can be exciting and also exhausting. 

There is so much to do when getting ready to travel—like packing and getting your kids and pets prepared—whether they are staying home or traveling with you. Having a list of what needs accomplishing is the best way to lessen those worries. 

Yet while we shop, organize and pack for our trip, few of us think about possible encounters with germs, the 60,000 types of germs we all come in contact with every day.

No one likes being sick. Even less, being sick when away from home. It brings on added stress. For starters, your medicine cabinet is not handy, your family physician is miles away, and if you come down with a nasty cold, for instance, nothing could be more hindering to your travel plans; leaving you fatigued and drained of motivation.

Instead of taking the risk of getting sick while traveling, why not take preventive measures to stop those germs—before they cause you damage. Cooties are real folks! 

If you travel by air, stop and think about the number of people traveling through one airport in a single day and the surfaces they come in contact with. That is a lot of noses, mouths and hands. Yikes! That is a lot of germs.

So, what should you do to stay healthy?

There are some things to remember and do before you head out. The days leading up to your trip can be the most important to help you avoid those germs waiting at your departure and arrival sites. 

We want to share with you the top 5 things you need when boarding a plane, train, bus, cruise ship or any other means of transportation.

1. Disinfecting wipes - wipe tray tables, arm rests and any other surface you may directly come in contact with. Most of the time, these things don’t get wiped down between trips, but even if they do, it never hurts to wipe them twice!

2. Get enough sleep - those who are sleep deprived are more susceptible to viral or bacterial infection.

3. Stay hydrated - Drinking fluids, or eating water-rich foods helps protect your respiratory system against germs. Also, the American Heart Association says that dehydration and low cabin pressure may cause leg clots.

4. Boost your immune system - right before your trip, invest in your health by eating nutrient-rich foods that have zinc and Vitamin C, which help to bolster up your immune system to fight off any attack.

5. Protect your skin - Lather up, moisturize your skin, and use lip balm. These are important steps in helping to eliminate germs and prevent dry and cracked skin. Any skin that is damaged is susceptible to infection. 

Other food for thought.

When on a long trip, it’s smart to bring an apple instead of munching on salty snacks. Salty foods can cause water retention, which reduces circulation. It’s also recommended to avoid sugary foods that will leave you feeling sluggish when the sugar-rush bottoms out. 

We highly suggest you resist the urge to sit down while waiting to board. Stretch those legs as much as you can to help with circulation. Unless your trip is on a cruise ship, you are likely to sit in a cramped space for a few hours, so get those steps in while you have the chance.

Okay, let’s talk worst-case scenario. What should you do if you catch a cold or sinus infection while away from home?

If you are a member of Impact Health Sharing, then you have the option to speak with a board-certified doctor from the comfort of your hotel room, office, or car. This option is available 24/7 and it’s free with your membership!

These doctors can prescribe medication for you to be picked up at any local pharmacy within U.S. jurisdictions. Don’t suffer while you’re traveling, get the help you need to stay on track and accomplish everything you had planned for on your trip.

Remember to wash your hands every chance you get and avoid touching your face. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that while hand sanitizers are considered as effective as washing your hands with soap and water, they do not kill germs, such as salmonella, e. Coli, MRSA, norovirus and others. Also, if a product contains less than 60% alcohol, it probably will not protect you.

We hope we have made you feel like your mother just called, because the truth is, we want you to be happy and healthy. Bon voyage!

“The doctor of the future will give no medicine but will instruct his patients in care of the human frame, in diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease.”

- Thomas Edison

To expedite your telehealth experience, have your profile filled out before you travel.

If you need help doing that, just give us a call or click here: ImpactHealthSharing.com