TRAVEL experts have revealed why you always feel sick after a hot holiday abroad – and two ways you can avoid it.
Dr Laura Purdy, a director at Swell Medical, says picking up a bug or a cold while away is fairly common as you are left exposed due to the activities you do while travelling.
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Airports, planes, buses and taxis all put travellers in close contact with infected individuals, so you’re likely to pick up something.
She told Yahoo Life: “Close passenger contact is almost unavoidable, and you are sitting in the same seats without them being cleaned between passengers, which makes the likelihood [of getting sick] higher.”
Dr Purdy added that how we spend our time while out and about, such as at concerts and sporting events, are where large numbers of people congregate, also increasing your chances of getting sick.
Travelling can also disrupt your sleep hygiene, according to Dr Jim Evans, a travel doctor with Allianz Partners USA and founder of SentinelMED.
He also said a change in your diet along with the amount of physical activity you do can also make you more susceptible to picking up colds and bugs.
Dr Evans said: “Moving from one climate where your body and immune system are used to operating into another, different environment also can challenge your immune system and make it more susceptible to infection.”
The fact that it feels like you are returning home to a cold might also be due to the incubation period of the common cold and other respiratory viruses.
Dr Evans added the symptoms can have a “slow, insidious” onset and can often take a week or more before you notice you are coming down with something.
It may not even be a cold that is making you sick but actually allergy symptoms.
Dr S Wesley Long, medical director of Diagnostic Microbiology at Houston Methodist Hospital, said: “Sometimes the change in pollen and local environment may trigger allergy symptoms that feel like a cold.”
Another aspect to consider, according to Dr Purdy, is that you might not actually be ill, just fatigued.
While on holiday you can be on the go every day while out exploring and sight-seeing, then when you get home you adjust back to your usual daily routine.
This can cause fatigue and the feeling of being worn out.
There are steps you can take to counteract picking up colds and bugs while away, according to the experts.
HOW TO STAY HEALTHY
You need to keep your hands clean when on holiday.
Germs can be spread via items that are commonly touched, like door handles and common-use items which might not be cleaned regularly.
Washing with soap and water regularly can help prevent bugs from being transmitted.
Dr Evans also recommends carrying hand sanitiser and microbial wipes for the times when you can’t get to a sink.
Another top tip the experts recommend is to avoid crowds.
If you can, travel during off-peak times and try to stay away from larger groups.
Similarly if you want to visit busy attractions such as a museum, aim to go on a weekday when it might not be quite so busy.
Of course, avoiding crowds might not always be possible and if you do find yourself in the middle of a crowd, the advice is to always look around you.
Dr Purdy recommends that you remain mindful of the people near to you and be aware of anyone who seems to be showing signs of illness, such as coughing and sneezing.
As germs like proximity, it is best to keep your distance from anyone who looks noticeably sick.
There are other steps you can take to reduce the chances of getting ill on holiday.
Meanwhile, another expert has explained why you should never walk around a plane if you are feeling ill.
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