Why We Get Sick When We Go Home For the Holidays

The holiday season is one of the best times of year to reconnect with family and friends and simply feel grateful for what we have. Unfortunately, it’s also a popular time for catching colds and other illnesses.

First things first, if you feel yourself coming down with a cold or flu, treat your symptoms ASAP with Theraflu’s Multi-Symptom Severe Cold Hot Liquid Powder. Mixing the powder with hot water creates a soothing liquid that combines the great taste of green tea and honey lemon with medicines that go to work on your worst cold and flu symptoms. 

And when it comes to sidestepping a cold during the holiday season, read on for a few reasons we can get sick when we go home for the holidays and how to possibly avoid these scenarios!

How to Avoid Getting Sick When Home For the Holidays

Lessen Stress

Coordinating holiday functions, traveling, and spending extended time with family members can all lead to feeling stressed. And experiencing high levels of stress can have negative effects on the body. For example, according to a 2017 study, stress can cause your immune system functions to drop, therefore raising your chances of catching an illness more frequently.

Some methods to keep stress levels lower are to exercise or take part in aerobic activity or practice meditation. 

Be Careful When Cooped Up on Public Transportation

Each holiday season, millions of people travel by public transportation (buses, trains, and planes) to spend time with family and friends. This means we’re all cooped up in small spaces for hours, allowing viruses to spread more easily. According to a 2018 study, you are most at risk of catching an illness if you are seated within one or two rows of someone who is feeling under the weather.

Help ward off colds, flus, and coughs by getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet (go easy on the eggnog and cookies!), making it a point to wash your hands often, and avoiding touching your face.

Don’t Let Exhaustion Win

Traveling, whether by plane, train, or car, can take a lot out of you. Early flights, long hours stuck in the backseat, or rushing to make travel connections can all leave you feeling pretty rundown. It’s also common to want to stay up late with friends or have a hard time getting to sleep in a strange bed. Like stress, exhaustion can have a big impact on your immune system. In fact, it’s been shown that people who sleep more have a better chance of fighting off microbial infection than those who don’t get as much sleep.

To help prevent exhaustion, try to book in a day of rest when you arrive to your destination and a day of rest for when you return. Also be sure to not push yourself too hard even when enjoying holiday festivities, and try your best to get enough sleep each night — even when traveling through different time zones.