FitSugar

Insane on the Plane? 8 Stretches

FitSugar — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 08:00:53 -0700

All you vacationers hitting the friendly skies - don't put up with stiff muscles and your backside falling asleep in your seat. When the flight attendants say it's safe to move about the cabin, take advantage! Here are some stretches you can do while sitting down, and some you can do in the aisle. Don't worry about looking silly because you'll never see any of these people again!

View Slideshow ›

Do You Rent Bikes on Vacation?

FitSugar — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 08:00:07 -0700

It's the peak of tourist season in San Francisco, and the streets are full of adventurous travelers riding around on rented bikes. I admire people who want to stay active on vacation, and bicycling is a great way to explore a new city. Do you ever rent bikes while traveling?

Flying and Nosebleeds

FitSugar — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 12:05:00 -0700

After a long day of traveling, mostly by plane, I woke up with a nosebleed. The last time a bloody nose roused me from sleep, I was learning long division. I thought it odd, but the dry air in planes can push an irritated nose over the edge and result in a nosebleed, and the altitude doesn't help the situation either. More of a nuisance than a medical problem, nosebleeds are dramatic but not really painful (at least for me). Contrary to popular belief, you shouldn't tip your head back, but rather lean slightly forward in a seated position while pinching your nose with your thumb and forefinger for five to 10 minutes. Avoid blowing your nose for several hours after the bleeding has stopped to prevent another nosebleed. If you cannot get the bleeding to stop after 20 minutes, seek medical attention. You should also be treated if your bloody nose is the result of an accident.

If you're suffering from allergies, live in dry place, and are flying in the near future, you should keep the interior of your nose moist with a saline nasal spray. No one wants to start a vacation with a nosebleed, especially a Summer one when so many people are wearing white. Tell me have you ever suffered through a nosebleed?

Source

How to Stay Healthy on Your Honeymoon

FitSugar — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 09:00:00 -0700

Even for the most fitness-minded among us, honeymooning and exercising aren't necessarily a match made in heaven. It's hard to get motivated to exercise on vacation, especially after your wedding. But just because you're ditching your gym routine doesn't mean you can't balance your relaxation and indulgence with some sensible habits. Here are some tips for staying healthy even when you're over the moon.

Schedule active activities. Probably the most obvious tip, but not to be forgotten. When planning your itinerary, consider tourism that will get you moving, whether it's a scenic hike or a bike tour. Staying beach-bound? Bring along some props, such as a Frisbee or paddleball set, which will engage you and your new mate.
Explore on foot. If you're vacationing in a city, forgo taxis and transit for walking. As long as you make sure to stick to safe areas, walking is a calorie-burning way to feel good about your vacation indulgences, and it's a great way to see a city too.

To see five more ideas, read more.

Choose indulgences carefully. Just because it's your honeymoon doesn't mean you should throw all caution to the wind. Think about what you most want to indulge in, and allow yourself one or two a day rather than pigging out every meal. Try to keep things in balance: if you have an extra piña colada at lunch, skip dessert at dinner.
Walk it off. Even if you're not seeing a city on foot, consider taking a 45-minute walk after particularly indulgent meals. Research suggests that walking right after a high-fat meal can help reverse potential damage to your arteries.
Explore the local bounty. Whether you're staying on a tropical island or in a European city, do some shopping at the neighborhood food markets. Picking up local produce, seafood, and other fresh foods will help you snack sensibly while experiencing local flavor.
Share your suppers. It's tempting to eat everything on your plate while on vacation, since you can't take the leftovers home. So split an entrée with your newlywed to save both money and calories.
Dine al fresco. If you're vacationing in a hot climate, eating outside may help you eat less. As opposed to being in AC, dining al fresco can make you crave more liquids and less food.

Source

Healthy To-Do: Make a Summer Safety Kit

FitSugar — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:30:00 -0700

I recently attended my first outdoor concert of the Summer and was dismayed, after a trip to the portapotty, to find that I had no hand sanitizer in my bag. I usually make it a point to carry antibacterial wipes or spray for all of my Summer hiking, camping, walking, and concert excursions.

Inspired by my newly updated first aid kit, I decided to assemble a Summer safety kit to toss in my backpack. In addition to a small bottle of hand sanitizer, I included a few handiwipes, a small can of bug spray, a travel tube of sunscreen, and a few Band-aids to treat any potential blisters on long walks or hikes. I'll make sure to keep it stocked throughout the season, so I'll always be prepared.

Is there anything else you think I should add?

You Asked: Pain in the Ear When Flying

FitSugar — Tue, 26 May 2009 08:00:00 -0700

Dear Fit,
Whenever I fly I get this horrible pain in my ears, right as we're descending, about 15 minutes before we land. It's excruciating and sometimes I can't hear well a few hours after the flight. What causes this and is there any way to prevent it? I am traveling soon for my Summer vacation and am not looking forward to flying.
- Pain in the Ear

Great that you're taking a vacation. They are great for stress relief. It sounds like you suffer the condition aptly named airplane ear. More scientifically it's known as barotrauma or barotitis media, but whatever the name, the pain can be really intense and can cause ringing or bleeding in your ear, dizziness, or temporary hearing loss.

To hear what causes it and how to ease your pain read more.

This condition is pretty common and is caused by rapid changes in altitude or air pressure, which causes an unequal pressure between your middle ear and the air outside your ear. This makes your eardrum bulge outward or retract inward, which hurts, and can even cause a ruptured eardrum. You've probably also experienced it when swimming in deep water or driving through the mountains.

Swallowing or yawning should help ease your discomfort because the Eustachian tube, which connects your middle ear to the back of your nose, opens and allows air to flow into or out of your middle ear, equalizing the pressure. If you're congested though because of a cold or allergies, this tube can be blocked, causing pain, muffled sound, and temporary hearing loss.

To prevent this from happening on future flights, try taking an over-the-counter decongestant such as Sudafed about 30 to 60 minutes before your flight. This will help to dry up mucus from your nose and sinuses. While you're flying, chew gum or suck on a cough drop. This will encourage frequent swallowing, which helps to activate the muscles that open your Eustachian tubes. Also, don't sleep when the plane is descending, so you can be sure you're swallowing often. I hope this helps and happy travels.

Source

6 Steps For Getting Back on Track After Vacation

FitSugar — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 13:00:00 -0700

With Winter behind us, Spring can be an excuse to take a break from our daily lives, and many of us are antsy to take much-deserved vacations. Lying on the beach, sipping margaritas, and dining out daily are entirely relaxing and make it easy to think, "I could get used to this." Break temptation to continue your leisurely vacation habits and get back on track to your normal healthy lives with these six steps.

Write down how many days you plan to exercise the first week back, but start slowly. After taking a long break from your regular workouts, begin with a less-intense workout than you'd usually do. You don't want to be so sore from day one that you have trouble moving the next day or two.
Create a meal plan for the week. Outline a healthy menu and make a list for what to buy at the grocery store. Go to the store ASAP - your refrigerator is likely empty because you've been away, so leave only a small window to reduce takeout temptation.
Revisit your health goals to motivate you. Write them down in your fitness and food journals, and take a peek whenever you need a little push.

To see three more steps, read more.

Sustain your vacation-friendly mental health habits. Escaping with a book for 30 minutes in the evening instead of turning on the TV is reminiscent of your time off and a healthier habit overall.
Continue putting on sunscreen every day. Just because you're not spending all day in the sun, it doesn't mean you're not exposed to harmful rays. Apply as part of your morning routine.
Do some Spring cleaning. You're already doing loads of laundry from your vacation, so why not up the ante and get your home in Spring condition?

Source

Healthy Habit: Keep Healthy When Traveling For Business

FitSugar — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 03:00:00 -0800

Traveling for work doesn't mean you get to slack off on your health. Alexa Fishback, author of The Daily Fix, reminds us all that a workday is a workday no matter where you are. In fact, this is the last of her healthy habits, but Alexa will be sharing so much more, like a personalized nutrition plan for a year, for the lucky winner of our Get Fit For 2009 giveaway, which includes many other amazing goodies like a $1,000 gift card for Nike gear.

Here is what Alexa has to say about business travel:
The Daily Fix focuses on the eating and physical activity habits you practice five days in a row, during the week, rather than your behaviors on the weekend, and further, what you do 50 weeks of the year, not during the two weeks you are on vacation. So when in Rome, enjoy pizza without guilt! But . . . if and when you are traveling for work, during a typical workweek, and especially if you have a job that requires a ton of traveling, you need to make a pact to practice your typical, routine, healthy habits, even when you are away from your typical work surroundings. You have my sympathies - this may not always be easy - but it is important to get into the mindset that workdays are healthy days and weekends or vacation are to be enjoyed without guilt. Strategies included in The Daily Fix.

Source

Would You Pay For an Allergy-Free Hotel Room?

FitSugar — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 12:00:24 -0800

Since I have allergies, traveling away from my trigger-free home can be frustrating and uncomfortable. Not only do I have to deal with cats on the plane, but new locations mean new plant pollens, dust, and mold. So what's an allergy-suffering girl to do?

Some hotels, including Marriott, are offering allergy-free hotel rooms, using a system called Pure Room. Visitors can opt for specially treated rooms with bedding, carpets, and AC systems free from contaminants. The rooms come with air purifiers to make breathing easier, and the mattresses and pillows are encased in covers to fend off dust mites. Also, the carpets and upholstery are treated with ozone shock treatment to kill mold and bacteria.

Since it's estimated that one third of people who stay in a hotel end up having an allergic reaction, this is a brilliant and much-needed improvement. The Pure Room isn't available at all Marriott Hotels, but you can call ahead to find out. Each room is only about $20 more a night, so tell me, would you pay more for an allergy-free room?

Source

DrSugar Answers: Flying With a Cold?

DrSugar — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 03:30:00 -0800

DrSugar is in the house and answering your questions.

Dear Dr. Sugar,
I’m traveling home to the East Coast for Thanksgiving, but I have a horrible cold and my sinuses are really stuffed up. I've heard that it can be dangerous to fly with a head cold, especially for the ears. Is that right - is it dangerous? Is there anything I can do to make the situation safer for my ears?
- Stuffed Up and Homesick

Since this holiday is the major travel week as well as the beginning of full blown cold season you might be interested to see what DrSugar has to say, so read more.

Flying with a cold can be a horrible and painful experience. Ear pain occurs when sinus congestion or Eustachian tube congestion blocks the ability of air pressure in the inner ear to equalize with cabin air pressure. Symptoms can range from mild pain to severe ear damage depending on the severity of the pressure change and the duration of the flight. For most people, the symptoms are limited to pain, discomfort, and frequent popping of the ears. However, it is possible to rupture the tympanic membrane (ear drum), which can require surgical repair. Other symptoms can include dizziness, hearing loss, and ringing of the ears. I realize this sounds scary, but these are extreme examples. Most problems can be avoided easily with the correct approach to flying with a cold.

My first piece of advice would be to avoid unnecessary flying while sick or congested, however this is often impossible during the holiday season. The key to avoiding problems is to relieve or minimize blockage of the Eustachian tubes. Pressure differences between your ear and the cabin pressure are most severe during takeoff and landing. It is important to clear your ears often during takeoff and landing to equalize this pressure. This can be accomplished by yawning or gently blowing out with your nose plugged and mouth closed. Decongestants can also help to minimize the sinus congestion that commonly leads to pain. Examples include pseudoephedrine or antihistamines and they should be taken at least 30 minutes before takeoff. There are also earplugs specifically designed to prevent ear pain while flying called EarPlanes. While these can be useful in severe cases, they are inconvenient because they need to be worn for the entire flight. If you’re still unsure about flying or are having second thoughts, it is good idea to talk to your doctor or postpone your flight.

If you have a question for DrSugar, send me a private message here and I will forward it to the good doctor.

DrSugar's posts are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. Click here for more details.