5 tips to stay healthy during holiday travel, from Dr. Marc Siegel

Travel is a big part of the holiday season, with statistics showing that more than 119 million Americans plan to embark on some type of journey between Christmas and New Year’s. Unfortunately, traveling also increases the risk of getting sick — but there are steps you can take to increase your chances of staying healthy while away from home.

“When you’re traveling, when you’re on the road, there’s a lot of risk of stress and disorientation,” Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health and Fox News senior medical analyst, told Fox News Digital. “You’re not in your usual habitat, and that can make people disoriented, upset, anxious or even sleep-deprived, especially when changing time zones.”

Siegel shared some of his top tips for preventing illness during holiday travel.

1. Stay well-hydrated
Staying hydrated has been shown to boost the immune system and protect against illness. Water is always best, but other hydrating fluids include plain coffee or tea, sparkling or flavored waters, 100% vegetable juice, and milk or milk alternatives.

2. Keep up with your exercise routine
It’s best to travel while “well-exercised,” Siegel said. “If you have a regular exercise routine, I wouldn’t suspend it a week before travel. If you’re regularly exercising, sleeping right and eating right before you go, I think that that puts you in much better shape when you’re traveling.”

3. Wipe down surfaces
Siegel said he’s a “big believer” in wiping down surfaces, especially when traveling by plane. “You wouldn’t believe what these surfaces carry — we’ve studied that,” he said. “There are a lot of germs in that tray table, and it’s the person next to you who could be sick.”

4. Stay up-to-date on vaccines
“When you’re about to take a trip, it is a good time for you to think about whether you’re up-to-date on your vaccines,” Siegel said. One immunization that isn’t given enough attention is Tdap, which protects against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis. The doctor also recommends the shingles shot for those over 50 and the pneumonia vaccine for people 60 and older.

“When you’re under stress from travel, that might be when you could get sick,” Siegel said, as the immune system isn’t functioning optimally. “That’s when shingles might reappear.”

5. Pack a travel health kit
Siegel recommends bringing three or four extra days of pills for all medications, especially for those with chronic illnesses. “Make sure you have more than enough,” he advised. “You never know when you’re going to get delayed, especially around holiday travel.”

6. Get sufficient, quality sleep
Maintaining a regular sleep cycle while traveling can be challenging, especially when time zones are changing. “The more you can catch some winks while traveling, the better off you’re going to be,” Siegel said.

7. Use masks as needed
While masks may have received a bad reputation during the pandemic, they can be useful for those who are ill or at higher risk. Siegel recommends considering a mask for tight spaces with a lot of people around, especially for those at high risk.

Overall, Siegel emphasized the importance of staying hydrated, eating right, and sleeping properly to decrease stress while traveling. By following these tips, you can increase your chances of staying healthy during holiday travel.