Travel can be an exciting experience, but it can also introduce numerous health risks. For this reason, you should make an effort to remain as healthy as possible during your trip. Whether you research various travel sleep tips or seek out other types of mobile health advice, finding ways to stay well while traveling can make your adventure more enjoyable in several ways. Before your next trip, consider these eight tips.
1. Avoid Aisle Seats
Where do you usually sit when you are on a plane? If you take an airplane for your next trip, one easy way to reduce your exposure to germs is by avoiding aisle seats. Because so many people pass through the aisle, sitting in this spot makes you a prime target for collecting others’ germs. Instead, opt for a better view and sit next to the window whenever possible.
2. Get Enough Sleep
Being away from your home can interrupt your normal sleep pattern. This can be bad in several ways. Whenever you are traveling, not getting enough sleep can be detrimental to your entire trip because it can prevent you from having the energy to drive, walk around and simply enjoy all of the activities you might otherwise enjoy when well-rested. As such, you should make an effort to practice some normal sleep preparation and aim for at least seven to eight hours of sleep every night of your trip.
3. Brings First Aid Kit
Another smart traveling health tip to keep in mind is bringing along a first aid kit. No matter how careful you are, you never know when you or someone in your family or group will encounter a minor cut, scrape or burn. Although you should go to a doctor for more serious injuries, having a first aid kit in your luggage can be enormously helpful for responding to minor incidents.
4. Drink Water
How much water do you drink when you are traveling? Just like it is essential to get enough sleep to maintain necessary travel energy levels, it is also important to stay hydrated. Depending on where you go, the risk of dehydration may be a bigger priority than in other places, but regardless, consuming water is a great way to stay healthy and fight bacterial infections whether you are in the mountains of Alaska or the deserts of Arizona.
5. Stay Active
If you are traveling for vacation and you have purchased comfortable accommodations such as a hotel, it can sometimes be tempting to stay in your room and relax all day. After all, you are on vacation, right? While it is a good idea to take the time to rest, it is equally important to stay active. Again, it goes back to maintaining energy levels and feeling good for the duration of your trrip.
6. Update Your Vaccinations
Whenever you travel, your risk of germ exposure significantly increases. If you choose to take public transportation, the risk goes up even more. This is especially true if you travel overseas. With this in mind, you should also make sure to update your vaccinations before you go anywhere. If you are leaving the United States, some countries have specific vaccination requirements to follow. Be sure to double-check the vaccination guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention before you leave.
7. Protect Your Skin
Whether you are going somewhere sunny, cold or windy, there are multiple situations when skin protection is necessary. For staying safe in the sunshine, make sure to pack sunscreen that is at least 30 to 50 SPF. On the other hand, if you travel somewhere cold or windy, be sure to bring along appropriate clothing, lotion and lip balm to minimize windburn or frostbite.
Traveling can be a lot of fun, but getting sick when you are away from home can be a quick way to ruin a trip. Follow these tips to make sure you and your loved ones stay healthy on your next adventure.
