Vacations should be fun right? Well unfortunately, there are a whole slew of ailments like jet lag and food poisoning - that c
Vacations should be fun right? Well unfortunately, there are a whole slew of ailments like jet lag and food poisoning - that can turn your trip into a walking nightmare! So, here some tips that'll help you avoid the vacation blues. We got these from Health magazine:
- First: Jet lag. To prevent sleepless nights and groggy mornings, start preparing a couple of weeks ahead of time. Develop a routine of 3 or 4 things you do every night before bed like brushing your teeth, reading or doing some yoga. Then when you go on your trip, do the same things each night. Keeping the same routine will signal your body to shut down and go to sleep. Also, let the sunlight reset your inner clock. According to Dr. Mark Rosekind, a former NASA sleep scientist, early morning light helps you adapt to a more western time zone. And later exposure is better if you're traveling east. So if you're going from New York to California, soak up the first rays of daylight. If you're traveling the opposite direction, afternoon light will help reset your body's clock.
- Vacation ailment #2: Stings. If you get stung by a jellyfish, a wasp or any other creature, here's a tip from dermatologist Kathy Fields. Hold a cotton cloth wetted with either white vinegar or meat tenderizer on the sting for 5 minutes. These both have enzymes that break down the toxins and reduce swelling and stinging. Then, put an antibiotic ointment on it to keep it from getting infected.
- And one last vacation hazard: Motion sickness. If you're going on a cruise or a long road trip, here's an exercise that'll help you prepare. It's called the "spiral" and it was developed by an Air Force pilot. It's designed to induce MILD motion sickness, so you can gradually desensitize yourself to it. Here's what to do: Bend at the hips and rotate your whole body in a smooth, wide clockwise circle. After 4 slow rotations, stop abruptly in the upright position. Then repeat going counterclockwise. Do this every day for 2 weeks before your trip and it should help you battle motion sickness!
