Have you felt sick to your stomach while traveling? As an entrepreneur, you will have to make go out on business visits. In addition, there will also be pleasure rides. However, by changing your routine, you can fall into the trap of following bad habits that affect your stomach.
If you’ve had to deal with the occasional bout of diarrhea or constipation while out of town you know it’s never fun. Dr. Eamonn Quigley, a gastroenterologist at Houston Methodist Hospital, notes that “it is generally thought that stomach problems are limited to travel in certain areas of the world where the risk of gastroenteritis is high, but that is not always the case.”
Beyond “traveler’s diarrhea”
It’s certainly something you should be aware of and take steps to prevent, Dr. Quigley points out that diarrhea during travel can occur anywhere and isn’t necessarily related to infection.
“Most people don’t realize that constipation is actually the most common gastrointestinal phenomenon that arises while traveling,” says Dr. Quigley. “The number one reason for occasional constipation is travel.”
According to the expert, these are not the only two gastrointestinal problems that seem to arise. You may find that you’re more likely to get heartburn while you’re away from home. Flying can make you feel bloated and gassy.
The digestive system seems particularly sensitive to travel and related activities. But why? And are there steps you can take to ensure that your bowel movements stay regular and your stomach stays calm during a trip?
10 bad habits that affect your stomach while you are traveling
The Houston Methodist Hospital gastroenterologist notes that “people prone to constipation, diarrhea and other gastrointestinal problems may be more easily triggered by factors” specific to travel.
One important note is that these factors can also add up, which means they can combine on top of each other and make problems worse.
Reasons for experiencing stomach problems while traveling include:
1. Diet changes
Outside the home, we have less control over what we eat and when we eat. We could treat ourselves to snacks and desserts more often while on vacation.
“Maybe we’re eating fewer vegetables and therefore getting less fiber, which can lead to constipation,” says Dr. Quigley. “Or sometimes we’re trying out completely new cuisines and inadvertently eat something we’re intolerant of and get diarrhea or indigestion.”
Avoiding overeating and maintaining a balanced diet as much as possible can go a long way in avoiding these destinations.
2. Stress
Travel pressure can start soon after you leave the house: from the anxiety caused by the possibility of missing the flight, walking long distances through a crowded airport, needing to go to the bathroom in places full of people who are sometimes sitting inches away from you.
Going back to that cramped, shared bathroom on a plane: The resulting stress can prevent a person from having a full bowel movement, which can contribute to constipation. Also, when constipated, people tend to fixate on this situation a lot, which increases stress and makes constipation worse.
3. Dehydration
Bathroom breaks can take a long time on a long road trip or be difficult to fit in certain places, leading to purposely drinking less water. Also, a water supply is not always available while traveling, or the source of the water may not be safe.
Dr. Quigley emphasizes the importance of having a hydration plan while traveling, whether it’s bringing a water bottle that you can refill yourself or knowing where to buy safe sealed water.
4.- Alcohol consumption
Whether it’s a drink before a flight or at lunch between sightseeing, know that alcohol is not hydrating. In fact, alcohol is dehydrating, and remember, dehydration is a risk factor for constipation.
5. Barometric Pressure Changes
“Airplanes have pressurized cabins, but they are not fully pressurized,” warns the Houston Methodist Hospital specialist. “The greater the difference between the pressure of the atmosphere and that of your body, the more the air in your stomach will expand, and that is why you will start to feel bloated while flying.”
Now is a good time to point out how the factors add up to each other, especially with certain types of travel. For example, flying is often a triple whammy: stress, dehydration and pressure changes that are a recipe for constipation while traveling if care is not taken, especially if you are a prone person.
6. What you eat and drink before going on a trip affects your stomach
The more gassy your meals and drinks are before a flight, the more likely you are to become bloated and constipated.
“Avoid eating foods that are more likely to cause gas, such as onions and garlic, for about 24 to 48 hours before you fly, as they take a long time for your body to fully digest,” recommends Dr. Quigley.
Carbonated soft drinks and sparkling waters are another cause of bloating. But since liquids pass through the body quickly, they’re usually only a problem when consumed shortly before boarding a flight.
7. Traveler’s diarrhea
Traveler’s diarrhea is a type of gastrointestinal infection that occurs when a person becomes sick from consuming food or water contaminated with a virus, bacteria, or parasite. The main symptom is indicated by name, but Traveler’s diarrhea can also cause abdominal cramps, vomiting, and even fever, when the infection is severe enough.
Tips to prevent traveler’s diarrhea if you are traveling to a risk area include:
- Only eat food that has been well cooked and at the right temperature
- Avoid eating raw foods, especially salads
- Only drink filtered water from a sealed container
- Avoid adding ice to your drinks
- Travel with ciprofloxacin if you have a gastrointestinal condition that makes you prone to diarrhea (only to be taken if you experience an infection)
8. Disruption of your biological clock
When travel takes you across time zones, it can affect your circadian rhythm, as well as how your body sets and times its internal clock.
“There is diurnal variation in many of the body’s physiological processes, including colonic motility,” explains Dr. Quigley. “At night, our colon goes to sleep with us. In the morning, our colon wakes up and we see a huge increase in activity.”
But when it’s 10 pm by your internal clock and it’s actually 8 am in your new location, confusion ensues. This can contribute to gastrointestinal problems.
9. Forgetting to bring your medications if you have a known GI problem
It may seem obvious, but Dr. Quigley points out that forgetting to pack the medicines you take for an existing problem is a very common way to end up with digestive problems on a trip.
If you are traveling to another country, the brand names of the products may differ, and filling prescriptions is certainly not always possible.
10. Not being prepared for motion sickness
Motion sickness, also sometimes called travel sickness, may not be something you think about often, but it may be important to consider when making your travel plans, especially if you don’t know how you’ll react to a specific type of travel it causes. frequent dizziness, such as cruise ships.
“This is not really a digestive problem, but the symptoms may be related to the digestive system, ie nausea and vomiting. Over-the-counter remedies can help alleviate motion sickness, but there are also strategies to prevent it if you’re prone to it, like keeping your eyes on the far horizon when you’re on a boat,” concludes the Houston Methodist Hospital gastroenterologist.
How do you take care of your stomach when you go on a trip?
Editorial Team The editorial team of EMPRENDEDOR.com, which for more than 27 years has worked to promote entrepreneurship.