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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Home for the Holidays! Those four words conjure up images of happy, joyful times surrounded by family and friends. We love being in the “close” company of those dear to us. That is until someone starts to sniffle and begins to show signs of a cold or worse yet, the flu. Being stricken with the flu during the holidays is no present and this year with the threat of swine flu looming, extra precautionary measures are in order! It’s no wonder people, and especially those traveling for the holidays, are more susceptible to flu during the hectic, stressful holiday season.
Fred Pescatore, M.D., integrative practitioner in New York, offers six reasons why travelers are more susceptible to flu—and how to offset them and stay healthy this flu season while traveling over the holidays.
Travel can facilitate the spread of the flu virus through shared surfaces and air.
It’s often assumed that flu levels increase due to cold weather because the flu season coincides with cold weather. In reality, flu levels increase during the winter because people spend more time indoors. While inside, people share more space with others, touch more surfaces, and breathe more “shared” air. Traveling amplifies this situation.
Solution: Reduce your chances of swapping germs by avoiding contact with shared items. Don’t put your face directly on airline-supplied pillows or blankets that haven’t been sanitized.
Travel can hamper efforts to wash hands.
The majority of flu is transmitted hand-to-hand or skin-to-skin, so it’s important to wash your hands frequently. Ironically, just when hand-washing is most vital—while traveling—it becomes less convenient due to lack of facilities. During winter travel, large family gatherings, hugs, and handshakes all provide ample opportunity for the flu virus to spread.
Solution: Carry handiwipes and hand sanitizers and use them. And if you can’t wash your hands thoroughly several times a day, rely on winter gloves when reasonable. More importantly, avoiding touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.
Travel can enhance the spread of the flu virus geographically.
Your out-of-town guests may bring you an unwanted present to be shared later by your family and co-workers. Furthermore, holiday travel often connects children—who tend to dislike hand-washing—with especially susceptible young cousins and older grandparents.
Solution: Next time you visit family and friends, swap presents and natural immune boosting treatments, not germs! Things like vitamin C, vitamin D and ImmPower AHCC can help!!!
Travel tends to cause dehydration.
Airline travel increases susceptibility to illnesses because the cabin’s dry air accommodates the growth of viruses that thrive on low humidity. Additionally, travelers often refrain from drinking liquids to avoid frequent trips to the bathroom. Yet it’s important to keep your mucus membranes moist. When they’re dry, they can’t keep germs at bay.
Solution: A general rule is to drink at least 8 ounces of water for every hour in the air. Spritzing your face with water helps keep your skin moist. If you’re feeling under the weather, drinking fluids (as much or more than the daily recommended 8–10 cups) prevents dehydration caused by fever, loosens mucus, keeps your throat moist, and lessens the chance of the virus’ ultimate success.
Travel takes you away from your doctor and your medicine chest.
It’s hard to get good medical care when you’re on the road. It’s no small thing to find a doctor, get an appointment, or fill a prescription.
Solution: Fortunately, over-the-counter products available at health food stores and other retailers now include natural products that are side-effects-free and clinically proven to be effective. Some are good to pack in your carry-on so you can keep your immune system operating at peak levels at all times.
Travel often disrupts sleep patterns.
Unusual travel schedules, early morning or late night activities, travel anxiety, and even sleeping in a different bed can lead to lack of sleep. Rapidly crossing time zones can also disrupt a person’s body clock and cause sleeplessness and fatigue.
Solution: Get a full night’s sleep—8-9 hours if possible—to keep your body’s natural defenses at optimum levels.
Dr. Pescatore points out, “Boosting the immune system before cold and flu symptoms appear is essential and an ideal defense against getting sick in the first place.”
About Fred Pesactore, MD:
Fred Pescatore, MD, is a traditionally trained physician who practices nutritional medicine. He is internationally recognized as a health, nutrition and weight loss expert; and often travels around the world lecturing in such exotic locales as India and Japan – usually returning with some new medical technique to share with his patients. He also lectures across America and is actively involved in clinical research.
Because of the respect Dr. Fred has earned in the nutritional supplement industry, he is a consultant for many firms and has been instrumental in developing and clinically testing many of the leading nutritional products. He is the President of the AHCC Research Association, President-elect of the International and American Association of Clinical Nutritionists, member of the National Association of Physician Broadcasters, and belongs to many more professional organizations
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