WHY IT'S COMMON TO GET SICK AFTER VACATION & HOW TO PREVENT IT

By Tess DiNapoli

It’s so common it even has a name among frequent travelers and trade-show attendees: Convention Crud. It’s the sickness that hits you right after you get home if you’re lucky, or on the plane heading home if you aren’t. Even if you only travel once a year for a vacation, you can still find your first days back ruined by nausea, coughing, sniffling, sneezing, and/or any other symptoms you can think of. It’s more than just fatigue, so why does this always happen to you?

STRANGER DANGER

When you’re traveling, whether you fly, take the train or drive, you are almost guaranteed at some point to pass through a transportation hub, someplace where travelers inevitably end up stopping, interacting and possibly assembling. It is the perfect place to share germs from your region with those who are traveling from other areas–kind of like really icky trading cards. While they may no longer show signs of illness or may have built up an immunity to the germs they’re carrying, they’re brand new to your body’s immune system. Don’t worry, they get to have a dose of your germs too.

BUT, I AM REALLY CLEAN!

Sure you are, but people are creatures of routine. When they’re traveling, routines are disrupted and things like regular use of the hand sanitizer on your desk or eating in your living room instead of a dining room seating 200 just don’t happen. Even if you take every precaution, you’re going to meet, greet, and share air with dozens of strangers who are just as out of routine as you are.

WHAT CAN I DO?

While you can’t always avoid wild pathogens on vacation, you can make sure your body is ready for it. Before you leave, pack your bags, or even plan on a vacation in some instances, you can go to work ensuring that you are less likely to get infected and that, if you do catch the crud, you can minimize its impact.

“NatGeo takes you on a photographic tour of the world’s most spectacular destinations, inspiring tangible ideas for your next trip…”

→ Eat right and exercise regularly. Healthy doesn’t just happen. It takes work, and if you’re healthy to start with, you’re more likely to stay healthy throughout. A balanced diet can help your body to run more efficiently and support a stronger immune system. Regular exercise has been shown to help you feel better when you’re sick, getting you back to normal faster.

→ Increase your vitamin C intake. Vitamin C is well-known for its ability to support better immune system function. There are plenty of ways to up your intake, but apricots are a favorite that offers a lot of other helpful benefits too.

Enroll in the Herbal Self-Care for Stress Management Course

→ Consider the benefits of CBD. Cannabidiol (CBD) is an active compound from the industrial hemp plant that won’t get you high but is generating a lot of buzz around its potential advantages for health and wellness. Users cite a stronger immune system as well as support when managing many of the more common convention crud symptoms.

→ Wash your hands regularly. Every chance you get, scrub your hands and use a travel-sized bottle of sanitizer, especially before you eat. Carry antiseptic wipes for use with door handles, public facilities, and common areas.

→ Get enough sleep. Traveling can take a lot out of you, so you need to make sure you’re allowing your body to recover. Whether you have to take a nap on the plane or in a train, bus or car, or pay a little extra for better rest at night, it may be worth it in the long run.

With a little mindfulness and forethought, you can have a happy, healthy vacation and an even healthier return home.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tess DiNapoli is an artist, freelance writer, and content strategist. She has a passion for yoga and often writes about health and wellness, but also enjoys covering the fashion industry, collaborating with industry insiders and designers, and getting insight on the latest trends.