By Arthur A. Burley 
Americans are eager to return on the road after COVID travel restrictions have been lifted. Some estimates suggest that 75% expect to travel domestically in the summer. Recent figures suggest that more than twice as many people travelled from the United States last May 2022 than last year.
Be mindful of your digestive health when packing your bags. Travelling companions for stomach problems such as constipation, diarrhea, and indigestion is too common.
Dr. Kyle Staller is a Harvard-affiliated gastroenterologist. He says that travel disrupts many body’s natural rhythms including digestion. Time changes, altered eating habits, and poor sleep are all possible culprits, especially for those with sensitive stomachs.
Travel tummy: Diarrhea
Diarrhea, the most common travel-related disease, is the most prevalent. Diarrhea is characterized by loose, watery stool, cramping, and urgency. Diarrhea can be caused by an infection from consuming food or drinking water contaminated with bacterium, intestinal parasites or bacteria. It may also be triggered by changes in the environment or stress in people with intermittent diarrhea.
How to prevent diarrhea?
Avoiding contamination of food and water, and washing your hands frequently are the best ways to prevent travel diarrhea.
- Keep hydrated. Factory-sealed water bottles are safer in developing countries. Use bottled water to brush your teeth. Avoid using ice, as it could be made from unclean water.
- Be careful with your food and drink Only eat hot and freshly cooked food. Avoid eating from a buffet. Only eat raw fruits and veggies after they have been washed in clean water.
- Hand washing Use soap and warm water to wash your hands often, especially after you use the bathroom. As a backup, use an alcohol-based hand soap.
How to deal with diarrhea?
Most cases of diarrhea clear up within a few days. They usually disappear within five days. If you have severe diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, severe stomach pains, fever, or diarrhea that lasts more than a week, consult a doctor.
Instead, follow these steps to aid your recovery.
- Rehydrate.
- Do not use over-the-counter medications. This digestion relief medication, which contains the active ingredients loperamide, Imodium, and bismuth subsalicylate, helps to reduce loose, watery stool, cramping, and improve digestion. Follow the instructions.
Travel tummy: Constipation
Travel constipation is when you don’t follow your normal schedule. Two possible causes are sitting for long periods of time, such as on long flights, train, or bus rides, or having your normal diet disrupted. It can be a few days or more.
Prevent constipation: You can take some steps before you travel to avoid constipation, particularly if you’re prone.
- Increase fiber intake and fluid intake. Fiber makes stool more soft and easier to pass. Many fruits and vegetables are high in fiber, including apples, raspberries, pears, beans, whole-grain foods like bran cereal, and whole-grain breads. Fiber supplements such as methylcellulose (Citrucel), and psyllium(Metamucil) can be used. Don’t eat too many fibers at once as this can cause gas and bloating. Along with fiber, you should drink plenty of water.