Why traveling can be hazardous to your health. Answered by a doctor

The vacation season is in full swing. Almost everyone is dreaming of a trip to the sea. But is summer travel always good for our body? Can summer vacation harm our health? Let’s find out together with an expert.

M.D., pediatrician, nutritionist, co-founder of UniProf Academy of Physicians.

Tells what dangers may await on vacation.

Jetlag and circadian rhythms

One of the main problems faced by travelers is jetlag. This condition occurs when a person moves to a country with a different time zone.

When traveling by car or ship, the body readjusts smoothly, which is almost impossible when flying. When a person flies several time zones away from home, he finds himself in a place where the change of day and night happens differently (earlier or later). The body no longer understands at what time it should start “wanting” to sleep.

The main symptom of jetlag is sleep disturbance (insomnia or excessive sleepiness). This phenomenon may be accompanied by physical fatigue, lack of appetite, decreased performance, increased urination at night, and GI disorders.

Circadian rhythms are not only responsible for the alternation of sleep and wakefulness. The kidneys and GI tract work differently during the day and night. This explains why the symptoms are so varied. The body has to spend energy to adapt to the new schedule, because of which may decrease immunity, hormonal background and even weaken muscle tone.

The condition returns to normal after about three days. However, the body needs at least another week to put internal processes in order. Most of all, the jetlag affects the hormonal system, which explains the excess weight gain during the vacation.

It is almost impossible to avoid jetlag, but it is quite realistic to minimize its impact on the body. After the flight should not immediately go to bed, it is better to try to adjust to the new time zone. You can take a walk, stretch a little. Yoga and other physical exercises will help to improve the condition. During the flight you should drink more water, the level of fluid in the body directly affects the circadian rhythms.

Read more about how jetlag can be dangerous in this article.

Thyroid problems

During flights, the thyroid gland also suffers. To reorganize from the “summer” mode to the “winter” mode, it needs at least six months. During this time it has time to narrow or develop the system of blood vessels, reduce or increase the flow of hormones to every cell in our body.

If it’s -20 in your city and you fly to the south at +30, the thyroid gland is in a panic and in just 1.5-2 hours it manages to do what it usually does in five or six months. During the vacation it restores its work. But it’s time to come home, and it needs to rebuild again. Such uncontrolled changes provoke the development of thyreopathology.

Among the “minuses” of traveling to hot countries – increased ultraviolet radiation. The thyroid gland is particularly sensitive to any radiation, including sunlight. This organ is covered with a barrier material even when taking dental x-rays. When receiving a sudden large dose of solar radiation, a person is at risk of developing endocrine pathologies.

Skin diseases

The sun and salt water will not benefit from the exacerbation of atopic dermatitis, eczema, recurrent herpes. They will be additional irritants and can aggravate the course of the disease. Do not stay in the sun for a long time if there are many moles on the skin.

Read more about how to tan properly in this article.

Bronchopulmonary diseases

Vacation by the sea is useful for diseases of the bronchopulmonary system, but only if it is not an area with a subtropical climate. In chronic diseases of the respiratory system, high humidity is contraindicated.

Gynecological diseases

Change of climate and time zones negatively affects the hormonal background. Vacation at sea can provoke a rapid development of diseases that were before at an early stage.

Varicose veins

Swimming itself stimulates blood circulation in the vessels of the lower extremities, prevents stagnation. However, with varicose veins, swimming in the sea in the heat is contraindicated. Hot weather negatively affects the state of the vessels, provokes the formation of edema. Especially dangerous in varicose veins flights.

It is better to choose resorts that can be reached by airplane in three to four hours. It is necessary to take with you medications that you take regularly as prescribed by a doctor, and compression knitwear. During the stay at the resort you should drink at least 2-2.5 liters of water a day, remove from the diet of coffee, alcohol and strong tea.

Hypertension

Heat, high air humidity and atmospheric pressure, temperature fluctuations on the street and in air-conditioned rooms are real tests for the heart and vessels. Hypertensive people should choose for vacation regions with familiar climatic conditions. It is better to fly to the sea in the velvet season, avoiding being under the sun from 11 to 16 hours.

Risk of allergies

Recently, the number of cases of so-called allergy to the sun – photodermatitis – has increased. The sun’s rays are not allergens in themselves. However, they contribute to the accumulation of allergy-causing compounds in the tissues. The cause of photodermatitis is an increase in the sensitivity of the skin when it is exposed to the rays of the sun. Under the influence of UV rays develops a photochemical reaction that changes the structure of substances in the thickness of the skin. These altered compounds increase its sensitivity.

Such an allergic reaction can manifest itself with local symptoms: swelling, rashes all over the body, severe burning, peeling of the skin, blisters that are filled with water or pus. Common symptoms include: increased body temperature, dizziness, weakness.

There is an opinion that the sea climate is beneficial to the health of allergy sufferers, and this is indeed true. The main thing is to choose a safe environment with a minimum of allergens, and be sure to take into account the climatic conditions. At the beginning of summer in many resort cities, plants begin to bloom, the pollen of which can cause allergy attacks.

A large amount of gas in the resorts, where there are many tourists in summer, will not add to your health. Allergy sufferers should prefer to vacation in countries with moderately humid climate without sharp temperature changes.