Travel is often stressful. Add in flights full of sneezing, coughing passengers during COVID, cold and flu season — and it's perhaps even less desirable.
While there is always a risk of getting sick while traveling, a lingering pandemic requires us all to take extra precautions.
“Realistically, we will all be exposed to certain viruses and bacteria,” said Dr. Steven Gilchrist, a family medicine physician at Novant Health Steelecroft Primary Care. “The key is looking at ways to decrease the rate of transmission.”
And fresh questions and concerns are bubbling up as the fast-spreading omicron variant is making its way across the planet. To keep yourself safe, Gilchrist offered the following tips around travel and get-togethers.
Stay up-to-date on all your vaccinations
“The No. 1 thing that will help prevent virus and disease transmission is staying up to date on all of your vaccinations, including the flu shot,” Gilchrist said. “Vaccinations will give you the best chance to fight off any viruses and bacteria.”
This includes the COVID vaccine and booster if you are eligible. Gilchrist recommends that the immunocompromised, high risk, and essential workers receive booster shots before traveling for the holidays.
Navigating airports and planes
The federal government is still requiring travelers 2 years old and above to wear masks in airports and on planes. Your clothes can potentially carry germs around, so Gilchrist also recommends wearing comfortable clothes to the airport that you can change out of quickly when you leave.
Wipes and hand sanitizer are a must
“Anytime I go on an airplane, I make certain that I at least carry a wet wipe, Clorox or Lysol wipe to gently wipe down the seating area,” Gilchrist said. Even pre-COVID, he made sure to clean his seat. He recommended also wiping down the tray table.
Hand sanitizer and proper handwashing remain key strategies. “As a physician, we are in the room with sick patients every day. But take note how many times we wash or sanitize our hands,” Gilchrist said. “On average, most physicians wash or sanitize our hands two or three times while we are in the room, which also decreases the rate of transmission.”
Avoid touching your face – and touching things in general
“One of the reasons toddlers get more infections is that they touch everything and then touch their ears, eyes and mouth,” Gilchrist said.
As much as you wash your hands or use hand sanitizer, you can still get germs on your hand from touching a door handle or sink faucet. Because there are so many ways for bacteria or viruses to get into the body, Gilchrist recommends trying not touch your face.
Also, “I’m recommending that people try to use cards as much as possible instead of cash to prevent the exchange of germs,” Gilchrist said. Cash goes through many different hands, while a card will likely only be handled by you, decreasing the amount of outside germs you are directly exposed to.
Think you have COVID-19?
For people seeking a COVID-19 test, here are some important reminders:
- Please do not visit an Emergency Department for COVID testing.
- All current Novant Health testing locations and hours can be found here.
- Keep in mind, an appointment is required.
Get enough sleep before the flight
Sleep is one of the best things you can do to help strengthen your immune system, Gilchrist said. Lack of sleep can disrupt your circadian rhythm – the 24-hour internal clock we all have running in our bodies. Throwing that off can cause a chemical imbalance, forcing your immune system to work harder than it needs to.
“We aren’t machines. We have to think about our bodies and immune systems like electric cars,” Gilchrist said. “Just like electric cars, we have to recharge ourselves and sleep is one of the best ways to do that.”
Avoid snacking on the plane
“I recommend eating before you get on the plane. But, if you have to eat on the plane or have a medical condition that requires you to eat, I say eat fast and try to minimize the risk or the exposure by removing your mask quickly, eating your food and then remasking.”
Stay hydrated
“Our bodies are 70 to 80% water. When you have a fever, you lose about 10% of your water weight,” Gilchrist said. “Your body then starts to work harder to replace those cells damaged from the fever, and you need healthy cells to have a healthy immune system.”
Try to bypass the latte or soda and buy a bottle of water at the airport to bring with you on the plane. If you prefer a more eco-friendly option, bring an empty water bottle and fill it up at the airport. Having water on the plane with you will encourage you to drink more since it’s readily available.
Be mindful when gathering in groups
He supports gatherings – as long as those involved are vaccinated.
“We have to remember that we’re still in a pandemic. I don’t recommend gathering if you’re not fully vaccinated. I think that this is an opportunity for the virus to increase in frequency, so we’re asking people who aren’t fully vaccinated to not gather in large crowds.”
He emphasized the importance of proper hand-washing and recommended that any nonvaccinated individuals mask when in large groups, such as parties or family gatherings.
“COVID is largely a disease of the unvaccinated. If you’re fully vaccinated and you would like to get with your loved ones, I think that that setting is OK.
“I don’t recommend that the unvaccinated attend large parties. This can be very dangerous. If they have to be in a large crowd, they should wear a mask and social distance.”
Around the immunocompromised
“If your immunocompromised family members are vaccinated, they should be OK. The only thing that they need to be aware of is making sure that they have their booster. We still recommend social distancing a little bit, but the vaccine is a lifesaver.”
Besides COVID
Gilchrist said many patients come in requesting a prescription Z-Pak, an antibiotic that helps treat bacterial infections, to help fight off any future colds. “Antibody therapy is not always the best treatment, because 90% or more of colds are from viruses,” Gilchrist said.
Some air travelers resort to amino acids, vitamins and supplements to try and build up their immune systems. Gilchrist advised simply sticking to a multivitamin, if anything, because taking a combination of vitamins and supplements can actually complicate matters and hinder your immune system.
This advice on natural remedies may also come in handy.
