Avoid a Holiday Health Crisis
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Getting sick over the winter holidays is common—and potentially dangerous—for a couple of reasons. First, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year's all come smack in the middle of cold and flu season. And with so many people traveling, it’s easy for the germs to get passed around.
Second, getting sick when you’re away from home poses special challenges, in part because you may not have access to your regular doctor or pharmacy.
"You’re not near your own doctor, not near your own hospital, you’re in unfamiliar territory," says Marvin M. Lipman, M.D., Consumer Reports' chief medical adviser. "So, what do you do?"
Here, the steps that will help you avoid holiday health problems, and what to do in case you do get sick.
Don't Forget Your Medications
In the hubbub of packing gifts and food for holiday travels, it’s easy to leave your prescription medications behind.
So double check to make sure that you have packed your medications and that you have enough to make it through your travels, plus a little extra.
If you’re flying, keep your medications with you instead of in your checked bags, in case the luggage is lost.
Be sure to also bring along a list of your meds and the dosage and prescribing doctor for each, along with a doctor’s note if you carry needles or syringes.
Download Your Health Records
If your doctor has a patient portal, you can access portions of your medical record, such as a list of your medications and allergies, online.
Consider printing out key portions or downloading the record to a thumb drive if you will be without computer access during the holidays. This way, you can give doctors the information instantly in case of an emergency.
For holiday health and safety, it's also smart to bring your doctors' contact information with you when you travel.
Check Your Insurance Coverage
Emergencies such as broken bones or heart attacks are usually covered outside of your network or area, but doctor visits may not be. So check your health insurance policy ahead of time, and make sure you bring your insurance card with you.
Consider making a paper copy and bringing that as well; it may be helpful if you lose your insurance card while traveling.
Outsmart Germs
Infections such as colds and flu spread easily where people congregate—shopping malls, holiday parties, theaters, family dinners. So practice scrupulous hygiene throughout the holiday season. Your best defense is to wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds frequently throughout the day, especially before you eat and after using the bathroom.
If soap and water aren’t available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol. Don’t bother with antibacterial soaps. They don’t work better than regular soap, and may contribute to antibacterial resistance, notes Lipman.
In addition, keep your hands away from your face, to avoid transmitting any germs you've picked up to your eyes, nose, or mouth.
And try to put some distance between yourself and others who are sick, Lipman adds. "People go to parties during the holiday time and there’s where the coughing and sneezing and wheezing goes on and germs get transmitted," he says.
Take Symptoms Seriously
Fatal heart attacks spike during the holidays, in part because people on vacation often delay getting care. (Some research has also shown that one huge meal can significantly increase the risk of same-day heart attacks, and that dips in the temperature may play a role.)
If you think you’re having a heart attack, stroke, or any other serious health problem, get to an emergency room right away.
Know Where to Go If You Get Sick
In a non-emergency situation, your regular doctor or private group health insurer may be able to help you find a doctor near the area you're visiting. "If you're sick and need a doctor to come to your room, most hotels have a doctor on retainer that they can call," Lipman adds.
You might also consider a retail health clinic or urgent-care center. Walk-in health clinics, which are usually housed in pharmacies, big-box stores, even supermarkets, are fine for ailments that are bothersome but not life-threatening, including bronchitis, ear infections, minor sprains, sore throat, and urinary tract infections.
Urgent-care centers, which are typically owned by a hospital or group of doctors, can handle problems that are more serious but don’t always warrant a trip to the ER, such as a fracture or cut that may need stitches.
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