If you’ve ever felt sick right after returning from a vacation, you may be wondering why you’re experiencing flu-like symptoms after traveling. Is it normal to get a cold after traveling? For a lot of individuals, travel can be an exhausting experience and can take a toll on the body. Whether you’re taking a road trip or flying on a plane to your destination, it is common for travelers to return home feeling sick after traveling for a period of time. Many patients are curious as to why this happens, and we are here to explain.
If you have returned home from a vacation with more than just a souvenir, here are common explanations for why you may feel flu-like symptoms after traveling. For tips and tricks on how to keep from getting sick while traveling, visit our blog.
Weakened immune system
We typically take vacations as a way for our bodies to relax and our immune system to rejuvenate itself. So how can a weekend getaway leave us feeling ill? As we mentioned earlier, traveling can be exhausting. You may be staying up later, drinking more alcohol, or eating increased quantities of food. You may even be doing more or less physical activity than you normally do at home! These changes, especially sleep deprivation and alcohol consumption, can lead to a weakened immune system that can cause you to have flu-like symptoms after traveling.
Temperature changes
Traveling between different climates can confuse our bodies and make us more susceptible to illnesses because our immune systems aren’t sure how to react. Your body has to readjust to the new temperature before it can fight off any symptoms coming your way, allowing you to feel sick much faster. This can be combated with regulating your body temperature and, if necessary, some over-the-counter cold/flu medication.
Leisure sickness
This post-vacation fatigue can also be known as leisure sickness, a psychological effect where those who do not take time to relax regularly often fall ill on vacations or weekends. Leisure sickness, though not recognized by all psychologists, has similar symptoms to the flu including body aches, headaches, and fatigue. The best ways to combat these symptoms are very similar to our tips for staying healthy during flu season: keep an adequate sleep schedule, limit your alcohol intake, and practice healthy habits including exercise and handwashing.
Low humidity on airplanes
Airplanes can be a germaphobe’s worst nightmare. Being cramped next to strangers who may have brought a sickness aboard along with their carry-on bag can have you feeling gross after the flight. However, that’s likely not the reason you feel sick after traveling –– it’s generally due to the lack of humidity on the plane.
Low humidity can cause the nasal passages to dry out and cause irritation in the nose and throat. On top of that, bacteria and viruses can survive longer in low-humidity environments, making it harder for your body to fight off any infections you might catch aboard a plane. If you are traveling by plane, be sure to drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated. If necessary, wear a face-covering during your flight to keep others’ germs at bay.
Lack of hygiene and handwashing
When you’re traveling, it’s likely you’ll come into contact with many different people, areas, and surfaces. As we mentioned earlier, your immune system may already be weakened from the effects of traveling, making you more susceptible to bacteria and viruses. If you do not take the proper precautions to wash your hands regularly, you can be exposing yourself to other peoples’ germs. If possible, bring a small bottle of hand sanitizer with you wherever you go and practice basic handwashing techniques as regularly as you can.
What to do if you feel sick after traveling
If you have returned home and are experiencing flu-like symptoms after traveling, follow these at-home remedies for how to care for yourself with the flu. It’s likely that your body will readjust within the next few days with a little TLC (tender, love, and care). Get plenty of rest, drink plenty of fluids, and take it easy until you feel better.
However, if you notice these symptoms are either persisting or worsening, it would be a good idea to seek medical attention. For example, if you’re experiencing flu symptoms with severe stomach pain or feel you need an emergency IV for dehydration, head to the nearest emergency room for treatment. In the event that you have caught an illness, the medical staff will be able to care for you in a prompt manner.
Experiencing flu-like symptoms after traveling? Complete Care is here to help.
Feeling sick after traveling can be a frustrating feeling, but try to remember that it’s normal to feel this way. Travel, even when done in the most cautious manner, can still be exhausting on the body. If you do find yourself in need of medical attention, the staff at Complete Care is here to help you feel better in no time. With low wait times and hospital-quality care, those flu-like symptoms after traveling will be a thing of the past.
With many ER locations all across Texas (including the Dallas/Fort Worth area) and Colorado, we are here in your time of need. We are open 24/7 for you and your family.
More Helpful Articles by Complete Care:
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- Why It’s Important to Know Your Family Health History
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FAQs
Your body has to readjust to the new temperature before it can fight off any symptoms coming your way, allowing you to feel sick much faster. This can be combated with regulating your body temperature and, if necessary, some over-the-counter cold/flu medication.
Why do I get flu-like symptoms after road trip? ›
In most cases, she says, illness after travel is due to a viral infection that usually resolves in 5 to 7 days. “For mild symptoms such as a runny nose, congestion or a sore throat, supportive care is sufficient,” she says. “That includes acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain relief, warm fluids and rest.
What are the flu like symptoms after foreign travel? ›
In certain cases, you may need a medical exam by a healthcare provider once you return home. These cases include: You have fever, diarrhea, vomiting, jaundice, urinary problems, rash, or a skin or genital infection. You should have flu-like symptoms assessed right away.
How long does post flight flu last? ›
You usually have symptoms for around 3 to 7 days – once you're through the worst of the flu, you will still have some lingering symptoms to recover from, which can include a dry cough, fatigue, and weakness.
What are the symptoms of the travel flu? ›
These include recurrent fevers as high as 106 degrees, chills and sweats, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
What is it called when you get sick after traveling? ›
Gastrointestinal tract
Traveler's diarrhea is a digestive tract disorder that commonly causes loose stools and stomach cramps. It's caused by eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water. Fortunately, traveler's diarrhea usually isn't serious in most people — it's just unpleasant.
Can a long road trip make you sick? ›
Do you find yourself coming back from long trips feeling under the weather? It's not just you — a lot of people find that they get sick after extended travel either in the air or on the road. Don't let a cold control your vacation by taking steps to protect yourself along every stage of your next road trip.
Why do I feel sick after coming back from vacation? ›
You may even be doing more or less physical activity than you normally do at home! These changes, especially sleep deprivation and alcohol consumption, can lead to a weakened immune system that can cause you to have flu-like symptoms after traveling.
How long does travelers flu last? ›
Traveler's diarrhea occurs within 10 days of travel to an area with poor public hygiene. It's the most common illness in travelers. It's caused by drinking water or eating foods that have bacteria, viruses, or parasites. It usually goes away without treatment in a few days.
What is the sickness bug after being abroad? ›
Noroviruses are a common cause of travellers' diarrhoea. Noroviruses are a group of viruses that cause winter vomiting disease, summer vomiting disease, Norwalk virus disease or epidemic viral gastroenteritis. They occurs worldwide and affects all age groups.
“Jet belly is often used to describe the uncomfortable bloating symptoms and increased intestinal gas that may be experienced during airplane travel,” Kate Scarlata, MPH, RDN, LDN, New York Times bestselling author and Boston-based GI expert dietitian who writes “For A Digestive Peace of Mind” blog, told Healio.
What can be mistaken for the flu? ›
Flu-like symptoms include fever, chills, cough, body aches and headache. Besides the flu, other infectious diseases that can cause these symptoms include RSV, COVID-19 and pneumonia.
Can you get sick just from traveling? ›
Some people wonder why they always get sick on vacation or shortly after. It's actually quite common and could be due to a combination of factors including exposure to more people and more illnesses, or a weakened immune system from less sleep or from increased alcohol consumption while traveling.
What are the symptoms of the norovirus? ›
What are the symptoms? Common symptoms of norovirus infection include vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramping. Less common symptoms can include low-grade fever or chills, headache, and muscle aches. Symptoms usually begin 1 or 2 days after ingesting the virus, but may appear as early as 12 hours after exposure.
What does flu fatigue feel like? ›
Sudden, excessive fatigue is one of the earliest symptoms of the flu. It may appear before other symptoms. Fatigue is also a symptom of the common cold, but it's usually more severe with the flu. Extreme weakness and tiredness may interfere with your typical activities.
Why do I feel so sick after a car ride? ›
Motion sickness happens when the movement you see is different from what your inner ear senses. This can cause dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. You can get motion sick in a car, or on a train, airplane, boat, or amusem*nt park ride.
Why do I get ill after travelling? ›
When you're traveling, it's likely you'll come into contact with many different people, areas, and surfaces. As we mentioned earlier, your immune system may already be weakened from the effects of traveling, making you more susceptible to bacteria and viruses.
Why do I feel like I have the flu after a car accident? ›
If a nerve is pinched, bruised or damaged, you might experience pain or numbness in your arms, legs, hands, feet, fingers or toes. But, the pain can be mild, especially at first. The injury is also likely to cause swelling and soft tissue damage. It's the soft-tissue damage that causes flu-like symptoms.
Why do I feel weird after a long road trip? ›
Dizziness during or after driving is usually the result of a disconnection between the movement you're making or the movement around you and the movement your brain senses. Movement and balance disorders often start in the inner ear.
