Introduction
Winter can be a busy time with the holidays. Unfortunately, alongside the festive cheer, you may find yourself dealing with a variety of issues, such as travel sickness, upset stomach, diarrhoea, or constipation, heartburn, cold and flu, or dry and chapped skin. In this blog, we’ll take a look at some of the things you can try to alleviate the symptoms associated with these issues, including recommended products.
Travel sickness
Travel sickness (which may also be called motion sickness) is a common condition affecting many people in the UK, particularly when traveling by car, plane, train, or boat, as many people do during the winter holidays. It can also happen when using virtual reality or going on a ride at an amusement park.
If you suffer from travel or motion sickness, you’ll likely experience some of the following symptoms:
- Dizziness.
- Nausea.
- Vomiting.
- Pale skin.
- Sweating.
- Headache.
- Rapid breathing.
- Restlessness.
- Drowsiness.
If you find that you’re prone to travel or motion sickness, you can try the following to help prevent or alleviate your symptoms:
- Avoid eating too much before traveling.
- Avoid smoking and/or drinking alcohol before traveling.
- Focus on objects directly ahead of you while traveling.
- If traveling by car, sit in the front seat.
- If traveling by train, sit facing forward.
- If traveling by boat, sit on the upper deck.
- If traveling by plane, sit in a seat around the wings.
You can also take medication to help prevent and alleviate symptoms associated with travel sickness. For adults, we carry Kwells Travel Sickness Tablets, which contain the active ingredient hyoscine hydrobromide, as well as Avomine tablets, which contain the active ingredient promethazine teoclate.
We are also pleased to carry Kwells Kids tablets, which are formulated specially for children who suffer from travel sickness.
Upset stomach, diarrhoea, and constipation
For many people, the winter holidays mean travel and lots of food–both of which can cause stomach upset and gastrointestinal issues, such as diarrhoea or constipation.
If you find that the holiday season is causing you stomach issues, you can try some of the following to help prevent or alleviate gastrointestinal problems:
- Avoid high fat, greasy, and/or spicy foods.
- Ensure that you have an appropriate intake of fibre.
- Drink plenty of water at regular intervals, and avoid carbonated drinks.
- Chew your food thoroughly and eat slowly.
If you’re experiencing a bout of diarrhoea, you can try taking Imodium, which we carry in instant tablets (which easily dissolve on your tongue without water) as well as in dual action relief tablets. Imodium works by slowing down the movement of the intestines, helping to reduce the frequency of bowel movements and thus alleviate diarrhoea.
If instead you experience constipation, we recommend trying Dulcolax Tablets or Almus Constipation Relief Tablets. If you prefer a different form of medication, it’s possible to try an oral solution such as Laxido Orange Powder or a suppository such as Dulcolax Twelve Plus. For an easy way to get additional fibre, which may aid in digestion, you can use Fybogel Orange Sachets.
Heartburn
As with stomach upset, you may find that the winter holidays lead to more frequent bouts of heartburn due to the increased intake of special holiday foods.
If you suffer from heartburn, you may find that the following tips can help prevent or alleviate your symptoms in the short term:
- Avoid acidic, high fat, and/or spicy foods.
- Avoid chocolate, mint, and alcohol.
- Avoid carbonated drinks.
- Wait a few hours after eating before you lie down.
- Eat smaller, more frequent meals.
We carry Gaviscon Double Action tablets, in mixed berry as well as mint flavours. These tablets help provide relief from heartburn and indigestion by forming a protective barrier that helps to prevent stomach acid from rising into your oesophagus.
If you prefer a liquid, we carry a variety of brands and flavours, such as Rennie Liquid Heartburn Relief, Peptac Original Aniseed Flavour Liquid, and Gaviscon Original Liquid.
For longer term relief from heartburn, you should consider stopping smoking and attempt to maintain a healthy, moderate weight. Speak with your doctor if you’re experiencing heartburn more than twice a week, or you have accompanying symptoms.
Cold and flu
Winter time not only means holiday traveling for many people (putting you in contact with new germs), but also an increased risk of contracting a cold or the flu simply due to most people being indoors more than usual, allowing viruses to spread more easily.
You can help reduce your risk of getting ill this winter by:
- Frequently and properly washing your hands with soap and water.
- Avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Getting plenty of sleep and maintaining a healthy diet, which can help keep your immune system strong.
- Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces at home, work, or school.
- Getting your annual flu jab.
You may find it helpful to purchase a sanitiser spray such as Dettol On-the-Go Hand & Surface Sanitiser Spray, which is able to eliminate 99.9% of bacteria and viruses, wherever you are.
If you’re looking for immune system support, we recommend a variety of products including A. Vogel Echinaforce tablets, Diso Vitamin C Oral Strips, or O.R.S Immune Hydration Tablets in orange flavour.
If you are feeling poorly, take extra care to cover your coughs and sneezes, and avoid going to work or school if you are ill.
Dry and chapped skin
Many people are prone to dry, chapped skin in the winter. This is because there’s less moisture in cold air–and when the environment around you is drier, your skin also becomes drier, which can become even worse when indoor heating is factored in.
There’s nothing more bothersome than suffering from dry, flaky, chapped and itchy skin when traveling for the winter holidays, or forgetting to bring a product that actually works to provide relief.
We carry a variety of dry skin emollients, all of which provide a protective barrier on your skin to help relieve dry, chapped, or flaky skin, such as Doublebase Dry Skin Emollient, Zerocream Emollient Cream, and AproDerm Emollient.
Some of our other top lotions, creams, and gels for dry skin include Bio-Oil Dry Skin Gel, Eucerin 10% Urea Repair Plus Body Lotion, and Cerave Moisturising Lotion.
For dry, chapped, or cracked lips, we recommend Carmex Cherry Lip Balm.
General travel products
In winter, just as in any other season, it’s ideal to have a first aid kit with you, particularly if you are traveling abroad or to a remote area. We carry the Numark 39 Piece First Aid Kit, which comes in a convenient carry case, as well as a larger HSE Compliant 48 Piece Kit.
Many people like to have ibuprofen on hand, such as Nurofen capsules, a selection of plasters, such as Elastoplast 100% waterproof plasters, and an antiseptic, such as a cream or a liquid.
In summary
The winter season is a festive time, but it also carries its own unique set of potential issues! Increased travel means more cases of travel or motion sickness, and special holiday foods may mean more issues with upset stomach, constipation, diarrhoea, or heartburn. You may also find that you’re more susceptible to colds and the flu, as well as dry and chapped skin. Thankfully, there are a variety of suggestions you can enact to try to prevent or alleviate the symptoms associated with these issues and conditions, as well as different medications that may help you to feel better.