How do you stave off the travel ills?

07 Mar

Posted by: Christopher S. Penn in: Blogging

I was thinking to myself as I lay in bed this morning, coughing up phlegm, that I’ve been more sick in the past year than I’ve been in the last ten. The corollary is that I’ve traveled more in the past year than in the last ten, and travel and I seem to disagree, at least on a health front.

I already take a multivitamin supplement and drink plenty of juice and water (and coffee). Regular exercise is in the mix, too. I can’t take Airborne because I’m allergic to sucralose (nasty swelling rash) - what other tips and tricks do you suggest to fend off travel crud?

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Jen Zingsheim 7 months ago 1 point
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Sorry you've been ill so much! I'm the office germaphobe (as in, the only one with an enormous bottle of Purel on my desk). Handwashing--probably more than anyone thinks is necessary--is key. Trying not to touch your face (eyes, nose, mouth) helps as these are entry points for viruses.

Unfortunately, being trapped on a plane/train/etc. is difficult as there are airborne bugs that are impossible to avoid in those circumstances.

I also always get a flu shot, but from what I've read this year's shot wasn't a good match for the bugs going around. Healthy eating is key in addition to staying hydrated.

I hope you feel better, and stay better!

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Donna Papacosta 7 months ago 1 point
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Wash your hands like crazy or use an alcohol-based gel like Purell. Try to avoid coughing and sneezing people, although they seem to love airplanes.

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Matthew Ebel 7 months ago 1 point
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Like she said, wash your hands. More importantly, SLEEP. Nothing gives your immune system a super-boost like 8 hours of sleep. Force yourself to do it. Schedule it in. Do what you must, just get 8 hours of sleep when you're traveling.

Chances are good you're not sleeping all that well since you're in a strange, hotel bed anyway, so your regular hours of horizontal time are being shortened anyway.

Sleep, sleep, sleep. No pill can replace it.

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John Wall 7 months ago 1 point
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I used to get knocked down 2-3 times every winter until I found some things that work:

1. Sleep, Matthew is right, don't get behind. Mitch Joel has a good mantra - sleep when you feel you need it and don't wake up with an alarm clock. Of course, not being a new media rockstar, this is completely impossible for me and from what I've seen of your schedule you sleep less than me.

2. Stay inside when the weather is below freezing. Cold air can be brutal on your sinuses. When I switched from running indoors on a treadmill from running outside I stopped getting the heinous green and bloody.

3. Thaw out. After 4 days here in Northern California with as much time outdoors as possible, I can breathe easy and my skin has already healed up from the dry and itchy rewards of living and breathing heated, germ filled circulated air for 3 months.

I've never found any meds that work. Afrin can clear your sinuses if you need a break from being swollen shut but that can give me panic attacks and it can rebound so I only use it for a day or two.

-p.s. I am not a doctor, lawyer, or pharma sales guy, but do play all of them in New Media.

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Greg Hollingsworth 7 months ago 1 point
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This is mostly an echo.

Sleep, hydration, handwashing are probably the top three.

I've found that a good sinus rinse (yes it is kind of gross) can help knock out the phlegm/drainage issues, but you have to be careful when you do it. Don't do it right before bed or it will just make it worse.

Multivitamins are great for normal everyday defense, but if you're traveling a ton I would suggest taken extra vitamin C in addition to your vitamin. Pick up some C pills that will give you an extra boost for traveling days. You can't OD on it, so go for the C with rose hips, gives you like 1666% of your DRV.

Good luck and stay hydrated.

-I am also not a doctor, but I do have two young children who bring home god knows what from daycare.

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