Have you ever waited months to go on a vacation only to get sick just days into your trip?
Unfortunately, this happens to many travelers. Studies show that compared to 20 years ago, airplanes are bringing in less fresh air from the outside, meaning more recycled and contaminated air for passengers to breathe. Couple this with cramped conditions, close contact with strangers and a weakened immune system from travel stress and you have a recipe for illness.
Dr. Roy Welker, director of travel medicine services at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, says there is really only one thing you can do on an airplane to decrease your chances of getting sick: wash your hands.
While alcohol wipes work, there is nothing as effective as soap and water. Some have suggested wearing surgical-style masks, but these, in addition to being cumbersome, don't stop viruses from spreading through the air.
If you do catch a cold virus, however, all may not be lost. As long as you can breathe easily and are not running a fever of over 101.5 F, it is not necessary to cancel a trip. To get better faster so you can make the most of your short time away, Welker offers the following tips.
* Sleep. Getting plenty of rest is important. Your body needs all of its strength to fight off the cold virus.
* Blow your nose. If you let the mucus build up in your nasal passages, it can fill your respiratory tract and possibly lead to a respiratory infection.
* Eat. Do not starve a cold. Instead, keep yourself well-nourished so that you have enough energy to fight off that nasty virus. Also, many cold remedies can cause an upset stomach if your stomach is empty.
* Drink. Keep yourself hydrated with water and clear juices to ensure that the lining of your nose and throat do not dry out. This will help mucus stay moist and easy to clear from the nose. Stay away from drinks that contain caffeine or alcohol, both of which can lead to dehydration.
* Stop smoking. Inhaling smoke will further irritate your throat and make you cough even more.
* Take Cold-Eeze. Unlike decongestants, expectorants and antihistamines that only mask symptoms, Cold-Eeze's Zinc Gluconate Glycine formula is the only one clinically proven to reduce the duration of the common cold.
Welker also says it makes no difference what time of year you are traveling or to which climate. While there is usually a cold epidemic in North America during the winter, the tropics have the rhinovirus year-round. Also, despite your mother's warnings, cold weather has no effect on your immune system and will not increase your chances of catching a cold.
For more information on avoiding and treating the common cold, go to www.coldeeze.com. -NU |
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