Staying Well On The Road

Staying Well On The Road

The holidays bring more than just gifts, eggnog & cookies, family gatherings and twinkling lights.  Airplanes, long car rides, crowded malls and public places with high traffic can also bring germs, colds and the flu.  Is there anything you can do to stay healthy during the holiday rush?  Here are some great tips for the 12 days of christmas, Chanakuh and Kwanza adapted from Eric Steinmehl's article in Health Magazine:

1.  On airplanes, drink plenty of bottled water to prevent dry noses and mouths which are more susceptible to germs.  This one is gross.....but I had to relay the news.  Avoid coffee and tea as a recent inspection found 17% of planes' water had fecal bacteria.  Unfortunately, that water can get into your coffee or tea....yuck!  Also, move to an open seat if there is someone coughing or sneezing within two rows of you. 

2.  If your niece, cousin or Aunt Martha's cute grandchild has completed snot covered toys, steer clear of their hands, toys or anything else they touch.  Make sure to wash your hands, especially bfore eating and after playing with the kids.  It is harder than you think, but try to keep the hands away from your face, too.  Remember, your immune system is stronger than little Lauren's immune system. 

3.  Sleep more soundly by sticking to your usual bedtime routine and avoid sleeping in (I know, sorry to rain on your parade).  Try to skip caffeine after lunch and avoid alcohol within three hours of bedtime.  Lots of sunlight during the day and staying busy also keeps your body's clock regular.  Try lowering your thermostat in the hotel room to around 65 degrees (sorry ladies) as most sleep best at this temperature. 

4.  Hotels can be germ castles, so regardless of how much you are paying per night, make sure to follow these steps.  Check for bed bugs by looking for small red or brown stains or spots on the mattress, especially along the edges and near the headboard.  Keep your luggage off the floor and on a suitcase stand for the duration of your stay.  Bring some sanitary wipes to wipe off commonly used items like the phone, doorknobs (germs can live here for up to three days) remote control and drinking glasses.  Stay off the bedspread, always pull it off the bed and lounge on the sheets while catching a movie.  Who knows how well or if those spreads are cleaned, right?!

5.  Finally, stay warm as our bodies are more likely to get an infection when the body is stressed.  We use a lot of energy to try staying warm.  Mom may have been on to something by telling us not to go out with wet hair....that tends to make our whole body cold, more stressed and more likely to get a cold.