Whether you are headed to the airport or hitting the highway. We gathered our best tips for staying healthy while you travel this year. Are you prepared?
- With crowded lines, traffic, lost luggage, limited healthy food options and cramped quarters on the plane or in the car, travel can be enough to stress out even the calmest person. While you might want to lose your cool with TSA officials or even that seatmate hogging the armrest, this type of behavior can be detrimental to your health. Do your best to keep your cool – anger can significantly increase stress hormones and blood pressure, as well as make blood more likely to clot.
- Take a hike – through the airport, that is. If you have a few minutes to spare before your flight takes off, make an effort to move around, even if you just walk through the terminal and do some light stretches.
- Choose nutritious foods that won’t leave you sluggish. Dr. Randy Martin recommends downloading an app to your smartphone, such as GateGuru, to stay on track with healthy eating habits.
- Prevent dangerous blood clots. Sitting for extended periods of time – such as when flying or driving – can wreak havoc on your health and potentially cause blood clots. To prevent this condition, Piedmont Hospital interventional cardiologist Dr. Charles (Charlie) Brown III recommends wiggling your toes and flexing your calf muscles during long trips.
- Be a forward thinker. Pack some snacks for the drive or flight – especially if you have children traveling with you – and keep water handy to prevent dehydration. If you are going through airport security, simply bring your own empty reusable water bottle to fill up at your gate. Staying hydrated and keeping your blood sugar stable will help keep you level-headed during hectic travel days.
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