Staying healthy on holiday trips

With the heavy travel season underway, Michael Marks, owner and director of Somerset Chiropractic Center in Boca Raton, Fla., offers advice on staying healthy during the holidays.

"People are so busy that they often neglect their own health," cautions Marks. "They're also doing things they wouldn't normally be doing, like traveling long distances, skiing, and other strenuous activities--and even carrying heavy packages through the mall or lugging suitcases around the airport.

"If your body isn't used to doing things like this, you're just setting yourself up to get hurt or sick, especially when you factor in all the stress and unhealthy eating so common [this time of year]."

Traveling presents even more challenges, since it exposes people to so many illnesses and creates more opportunities for injury. Marks indicates that it is important to:

* Protect your back. Do not overload yourself with too much luggage, and use suitcases with built-in wheels, if possible.

* Avoid sitting in one position, because even healthy people are susceptible to blood clots when traveling. If driving long distances, take regular breaks to rest and stretch your legs. During long flights, make an effort to move your legs and feet and flex your calf muscles.

* Make sure you have an adequate supply of all your regular medications because it can be difficult to get prescription refills at an unfamiliar pharmacy. If you are flying, keep medications in a carry-on bag in case your luggage gets lost.

* If you are prone to nausea when traveling, avoid greasy food and carbonated drinks before and during the trip. In the car, resist the temptation to read, instead focusing on distant objects. Take any antinausea medication well in advance of departure, or as directed on the label.

* Consider bringing along your own food such as cut-up vegetables, fruit, and protein snacks. This will keep you comfortable if you experience unexpected delays such as traffic jams and late flights.

* Prevent dehydration from dry cabin air during flights. Bring a large bottle of water, and avoid alcohol, soda, and other caffeinated beverages.

* Get plenty of sleep before leaving and during vacation. When overtired, the body becomes more susceptible to illness. Get used to a new time zone by going along with local meal and bedtime schedules.

* Wash your hands several times a day, especially after handling money and before eating. With so many people traveling through airports and stopping at the same locations along the road, every surface is teeming with even more germs than usual.

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