Healthy holidays are the best holidays. There have been some holiday seasons when I was sick as a dog, and it really takes ALL the joy out of the most wonderful time of the year. It’s especially hard to ensure healthy holidays when you’re traveling. Traveling to see family can be exciting, but it can also sap your immune system. And even if you don’t travel, all the running around you do for the holidays can open you up to more germs which means an increased risk of getting sick. With that in mind, MinuteClinic has some great tips to help make this years holidays healthy holidays.
Healthy Holidays are Totally Doable
Holidays are all about family and friends, and being sick totally ruins that. To stay healthy, it’s important to be cognizant of your health in general and to do the things that ensure continued good health. I know that sounds like a no brainer, but during the holidays, we often forget to take care of ourselves. Here are some ways we can do that, however.
Preventing Motion Sickness and Staying Healthy on International Trips
Part of healthy holidays includes making sure you and your kids are up to date on all your vaccines, and if you or yours are prone to it, avoiding motion sickness. Nothing is more miserable than motion sickness!
Preventing Motion Sickness
- Stick to very light meals and avoid greasy and fatty foods before hitting the road or the plane.
- Sit in areas the least like the front of a train, wings of a plane, and center of a ship.
- While on the road, make sure the kids can see the road or between the seats.
- If you have sever motion sickness when you travel, visit MinuteClinic for motion sickness prevention. Their staff will develop customized treatment plans, recommend OTC products, and write prescriptions when necessary.
Vaccinations
- A pre-travel assessment from MinuteClinic is key to healthy holidays if you’re planning on going to places like the Caribbean, South America, Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. Their medical team can recommend vaccinations based on CDC guidelines regarding your travel destination.
Staving off Cold and Flu on the Road
You’re far more likely to get sick when you travel. The cold and flu are very real dangers while on the road because you’re generally passing through places that see a lot of traffic, which means a lot of germs. Follow these tips to ensure healthy holidays.
The Core Rules for Fighting the Cold and Flu
- Always cough or sneeze into your sleeve or a tissue to avoid possible spreading of sickness. It may just be a tickle in your nose, or it may be the start of getting sick.
- Wash hands frequently, especially when using facilities while traveling or helping with food prep.
- Get a flu shot ASAP if you haven’t already.
MinuteClinic for Healthy Holidays
One of the best ways to ensure healthy holidays is to start them right with MinuteClinic. These walk-in clinics can help with common – and super annoying – issues like sinus and upper respiratory infections, ear aches, colds, flu, possible strep throat, and the like.
Why MinuteClinic
What’s so great about MinuteClinic? Well, everything, really. They are open 7 days a week, 365 days a year, including holidays. You can check wait times at MinuteClinic.com and even hold your place in line by using their new app, so you can keep your holiday on schedule. Even better, if you’re a regular MinuteClinic user, any MinuteClinic in the states will have access to your medical records!
MinuteClinic is one of the best ways to ensure healthy holidays. If you’re planning a trip – whether a few mile or an ocean away – visit your local MinuteClinic to ensure that your holidays are healthy holidays.