Does traveling wreak havoc on your gut? Here’s how to avoid an upset stomach | Well actually

SUmmer is in full swing, and for many, it means it’s time to hit the road. Whether you are in a quick weekend getaway or a several-week visit to Europe, there are things to consider: have you thrilled a sunscreen? A phone charger? And how are you going to take care of your stomach?

“Patients have problems with stomach problems when they travel because they are exposed to unknown food sources, local hygiene and sanitation and routine changes,” said Dr. Franjo Vladic, gastroenterologist at the Cleveland Clinic.

Many of these problems arise following travelers “not taking logical precautions”, explains Dr. Michael Camilleri, gastroenterologist and professor of medicine at Mayo Clinic.

So how do you protect yourself and your intestine when you travel? We asked the experts.

Traveler diarrhea

According to centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the most foreseeable diseases linked to travel are travelers’ diarrhea, which affects “30% to 70% of travelers during a two -week period, depending on the travel season”. It is most often the result of consumption of food or water contaminated by bacteria or viruses.

It can occur suddenly and lasts three to five days, according to the health center of the University of Indiana Bloomington. In addition, people can experience cramps, nausea, vomiting and fever.

Constipation

Another common digestive disease during the trip is constipation. It is often the result of the modification of its routine, “in particular the diet (including the consumption of fibers and liquid)”, as well as “the modified mobility due to the constraints associated with a prolonged journey”, explains Camilleri. When traveling, you can try to remove a saddle due to inaccessible toilets, but that only is the problem.

Other

Other stomach problems common to which travelers face include changes in intestinal habits, gases, bloating and indigestion, explains Dr Aditi Stanton, a certified gastroenterologist with board with gastro-gastro health in Ohio. She adds that trips can also exacerbate underlying conditions such as irritable colon syndrome (IBS).

How can you avoid gastrointestinal distress during the trip?

Consistency

Travels tend to upset regular schedules and habits, which can wreak havoc on the digestive system. Maintaining a food routine can help alleviate this.

“When you are on the move, you are probably eating more, enter fast food or eat less fruit, vegetables and fibers,” says Stanton. Hydrate and target well-balanced meals, she says, and “be aware of the amount of alcohol and caffeine you have”.

Plan in advance

If you often suffer from stomach aches when traveling, prepare a toolbox in advance. “Bring everything you might need to stick to your usual routine, plus a few articles” just in case “, explains Stanton. In addition to your regular prescriptions, consider fiber supplements, probiotics, anti-reflux drugs, anti-diarrheal drugs or oral rehydration or electrolyte solutions.

In addition, if you have a chronic gastrointestinal disease like Crohn, IBS, ulcerative colitis or gastroesophagal reflux (GERD), it is best to check with your doctor before traveling “to see if a special preparation is necessary”, explains Stanton.

Look at what you eat

Avoid food and water that can be contaminated by bacteria or viruses. It may seem obvious, but locating contaminated foods is not always simple.

According to Vladic, some of the worst culprits are raw or insufficient meats, seafood, pre-pedeal fruits and vegetables, untreated tap water and untreated water-based ice.

In order to avoid potentially contaminated food and drinks, Camilleri suggests eating well -cooked and hot foods, avoiding tap water, unless otherwise indicated in a “reliable source”, and not to buy food that has been exposed to the environment for hours instead of refrigerating and washing your hands every time you go to the bathroom and before each meal (ideally, you do this too.