Feeling under the weather while on the road? Here are some tips

Catching a cold is never fun, but catching a cold while traveling and away from home can be all the more worse. While you may consider your RV a second home, you may still be actively traveling in it. If you happen to find yourself feeling under the weather while on the road, be sure to keep the following tips in mind.

*Please know that this article is not intended to provide any medical guidance or replace medical advice in any way - any serious medical concerns should be brought to the attention of a medical professional.

Get Lots of Rest

Sleep is imperative to our health even when we are not feeling sick. When we are sick, however, rest is one of the most important things necessary to fight off the infection and build up immunity. Inadequate sleep can prolong your recovery and leave you feeling miserable longer.

If you wake up feeling sick on a travel day, it can be tempting to ignore your symptoms and hit the road to get to your next destination. You would be better off, though, to put on your comfy lounge clothes, pick a show you don't mind missing, and allow yourself to get some rest! The good thing is that you likely have a bed in your motorhome where you can catch some Zs. Many RVs also have a living room with lounge seating and possibly even a convertible bed. Sometimes it's nice to change the scenery up a bit by moving from the bed to the couch, even if you're mostly sleeping!

Once you are recovered and feeling back to normal, be sure to disinfect areas and furniture that you used while sick. You don't want to get sick again or infect someone else. Air purifiers are a bit of an investment, but they can help to keep the air inside of your RV cleaner and lessen the viral load of your space.

Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate

Like sleep, water is an essential part of staying healthy, no matter if you're feeling under the weather or not. Our body needs to be hydrated in order to regulate body temperature and other important physiological functions properly. Common cold symptoms, such as nausea, coughing, congestion, fever, sore throat, and diarrhea, can lead to increased water loss and decreased water intake. Dehydration can occur especially quickly under these circumstances. Being dehydrated will make it more difficult for your body to recover from sickness in the same way lack of sleep does, by depleting your body's vital resources for recovery.

Fuel Your Body Accordingly

Loss of appetite can commonly accompany a cold, but that doesn't mean you should skip out on eating when you are feeling under the weather; your body still needs fuel. Chicken soup has long been a staple of sick food, and for good reason. Chicken soup is not only warm and tasty but also nutrient-dense and packed with electrolytes. If you have a freezer in your RV, you can make the chicken soup ahead of time, pre-proportion out, and vacuum seal, then always have a few bowls on hand in the freezer.

Soothe Symptoms

Pesky cold symptoms can make it difficult to get rest, but we already discussed the importance of getting enough sleep to recover properly. Even a little bit of temporary relief can be enough for certain symptoms to allow you to fall asleep.

Congestion can be annoying by itself and can also lead to other symptoms, such as headache or sore throat, due to increased sinus pressure and obstructed breathing pathways. Inhaling steam is a good way to break up some of the excess mucus and relieve congestion. You can run a humidifier if you have one or turn on a steamy shower and sit in the bathroom for a little while until you feel some relief.

If you are experiencing throat irritation associated with your cold, drinking herbal tea with honey or sucking on a fruit juice popsicle can provide some relief. Honey is known to contain antimicrobial compounds that can help clear mild infections while at the same time coating the throat to soothe irritation. A cold popsicle or ice chips can help reduce inflammation and temporarily relieve a sore throat. Don't overdo it, though; sugar and caffeine intake should be limited when you're sick, as they can impact immune functioning and hydration.

Seek Medical Advice

If you have been resting up and are getting sicker or not seeing any improvement in symptoms, it's probably time to get checked out by a doctor. If you are far away from home, you may not be able to see your regular physician or have trouble finding a provider covered by your insurance policy. Before you travel, it may be a good idea to do some research ahead of time on these things. During a health emergency is not a good time to be on hold with the insurance company trying to gather information on coverage availability. There may be an urgent care or walk-in clinic available to you that will also get you the help you need without having to wait or travel back home. Before heading out on your RV route, try to map out available health facilities beforehand. You can do the same thing for your pets if they'll be traveling with you and even for your rig regarding auto repair shops capable of tending to whatever vehicle you have.

Adjust Travel Plans Accordingly

While it's typically not preferred, changing travel plans last minute is sometimes inevitable. RVers should be incredibly familiar with this, as camping and traveling in a motorhome is full of surprises, even for those who have been at it for decades. Don't put your tentative schedule over your health; give yourself a break if necessary. Driving with a bad cold or lack of sleep can hinder your attention and reaction abilities more than you may be aware.

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