Travel Smarts

Visiting places may be glamorous, but the getting there is not always so. Sitting for long periods can hamper digestion, circulation and flexibility, and dry conditions inside a vehicle may contribute to dehydration. Take these steps to help increase your comfort:

• Get a good night's sleep before you leave.
• Wear comfortable, nonrestrictive clothing.
• Drink plenty of nonalcoholic, caffeine-free fluids, such as water and fruit juice.
• If you are driving, stop every two hours or so to stretch and walk.

On the Plane:

• Limit your alcohol intake - high altitudes increase alcohol's effect.
• If possible, walk around the cabin once every hour to loosen up muscles and increase blood flow.
• In your seat, stretch your arms and legs, rotate your head, roll your shoulders and flex your hands and feet.
• Enhance your seat posture by resting your feet on a bag or briefcase on the floor and putting a pillow between your lower back and the seat.
• Avoid painful ear blockage - due to fast changes in altitude - by swallowing, which helps equalize pressure in ears. To help encourage swallowing, chew sugar-free gum or drink water. If you have a cold or suffer from allergies, you may want to try a preflight nasal decongestant or nasal spray.