by Michael Hodgson

Tens of thousands of people are either heading off or planning to head off on heady ski, paddling or family vacations as you are reading this, and just as many of them will get sick or end up not feeling 100-percent. Why? Because in all the pursuit of fun, taking care of yourself often gets tossed into the luggage along with the dirty socks--after all, you can recover when you get home, right? It doesn't have to be that way if you will follow a few simple recommendations. Have fun, but carefully!

Insomnia because of jet lag can become a very exhausting problem primarily because disrupted sleep patterns diminish REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, which is the most important sleep you experience. There are ways to minimize or even eliminate the discomfort of jet lag and insomnia, however. Begin by drinking plenty of water (not coffee or alcohol) during the flight to and from your vacation site since long air flights lead to dehydration because of the dehumidified air being recirculated through the plane. If you are traveling to a dramatically different time zone, immediately change the clock and do not attempt to stay on the time you have just come from. Do not drink coffee or alcohol until you body is readjusted to the time. If you really have problems, your doctor may be able to prescribe short-acting sleeping pills to assist you through the most difficult period of adjustment.

Stay relaxed! Yes, you are on vacation, but too many people in an insane quest for fun forget the real reason for a vacation is to kick back and let the body and mind rest a little--you don't have to ski from dawn to dusk and then party till dawn in the name of fun. There is excellent scientific evidence to validate the notion that when people get stressed, they are more likely to get infections. One study of medical students, during which they tested the immune system before, during and after final exams, discovered that the immune system was at its lowest right before and during the final exam. When your body is under stress, it releases hormones that suppress the immune system and you are less able to fight off viruses. Everyone has their own mechanisms to "de-stress" during "normal" life -- meditation, exercise, sleep, reading. Do not throw all that to the wind while on vacation. Resist the urge to party late. Get adequate amounts of sleep.

A lot of people begin popping anti inflammatory drugs such as Advil, Motrin, Naproxin, Aleve or other types of ibuprofen. Taking these can relieve some of the pains common with the pursuit of being a weekend adventure bum, but they should never be taken on an empty stomach as they can cause potentially serious physical problems. Never take more than 1,200 mg in a day and don't take them if you have a history of gastritis or ulcers. Also, never take them with alcohol! One final reminder for clarification: Tylenol will relieve headaches and / or fever but does not have any significant anti inflammatory affect. Don't forget to drink and then drink some more--water that is.

Fatigue and mild headaches are sign that you are becoming dehydrated. Don't consume enough water and your output of energy will drop. Carry a water bottle with you and drink periodically throughout the day. Drink a quart in the morning and one in the evening and then sip down at least one more during the day. Think that coffee is quenching the thirst? Forget it! Three cups of coffee is only worth about one or two cups of water because caffeine is a diuretic. If you must imbibe the caffeinated elixir, drink a cup of water for every cup of coffee, and that is in addition to the two to three quarts of bottled water you are drinking.

© 1999 Michael Hodgson; All Right Reserved