Dr. Randy Martin: If you had a job that caused you to pack on the pounds, spiked your blood pressure and led to heart disease and diabetes, you would probably start the search for a new career.
What many people may not realize is that for those who travel frequently each month for their job, the health effects I just described can actually occur.
In a study by Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, researchers studied the medical records of 13,000 “road warriors,” or frequent travelers. The authors of this study found some pretty dramatic statistics:
- Frequent travelers were a whopping 92 percent more likely to be overweight or obese
- They were also at greater risk of having high diastolic blood pressure, low levels of HDL (“good”) cholesterol, sleep deprivation, high stress and diabetes
As you can see, spending a large amount of time on the road or in the air is not a recipe for good health.
While these findings may be grim, there are a few ways you can improve your health if you must travel often for work:
- Plan healthy snacks. To avoid becoming famished, which can lead to poor food decisions, make sure you have some good options with you, like fruit, nuts or a granola bar. Many smartphones offer apps that allow you to search for healthy eating destinations nearby. GateGuru even lists healthy dining options at many airports, so you always have healthy choices at your fingertips.
- Stay hydrated. It is easy to become dehydrated while on the go, especially if you are on a plane. While you cannot go through airport security with a bottle of water, you can pack your own reusable, BPA-free water bottle and fill it up after you go through security. Be sure to keep drinking water in your hotel room as well to stay hydrated at night.
- Get some exercise. Many hotels offer 24-hour gyms and even workout supplies to use while you are a guest. If you can’t make it to the gym, try to fit in some yoga, a workout DVD or workout television program in your hotel room.
- Take a walk. If you are stuck at the airport during a long layover, use that time to take a walk through the concourse. Every little bit of activity helps!
While traveling may not be as glamorous as it seems, it is often a must for our jobs. Just be sure to follow these eating and exercise tips so you can stay healthy and focused on the go.
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