Does traveling affect your immune system?

Whether you're packing up the family for a road trip or flying around the world, vacations often come with unexpected surprises that can compromise your immune system. When we travel our bodies endure a lot of stress, says Gretchen Genato, a nurse practitioner at Cedars-Sinai's Playa Vista Urgent Care.



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You may be staying up later, consuming more alcohol and getting less exercise than usual. You're also more likely to be in crowded places for prolonged periods, interacting with a more diverse population than you're used to.” All of these factors can weaken your immune system and set the stage for getting sick.

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How to Boost Your Immune System Before, During, and After Travel
  • Get Fully Vaccinated. ...
  • Focus on Eating Healthy, Nutrient-Dense Foods. ...
  • Promote Good Sleep Hygiene. ...
  • Don't Forget to Stay Hydrated. ...
  • Consider Adding Supplements to the Mix. ...
  • Practice Self-Care and Stress Management. ...
  • Break Out the Disinfectant. ...
  • Lay off the Booze.


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The cramped conditions and long periods of being less active on a flight can cause pain, stiffness or swelling of your legs. Being less active can lead to slow blood flow in your veins which increases your risk of developing a blood clot, known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT). DVTs most commonly form in the legs.

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Extended travel can actually affect your personality.
These traits include neuroticism, openness, extraversion, conscientiousness and agreeableness. The more travelers interact with new people and immerse themselves in a new culture, the more their goals are aligned with the openness personality trait.

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Stress and Anxiety: One reason that many people fall sick before travelling is simply that they are stressed. Even if you're excited about your trip, the preparations involved can be overwhelming.

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Symptoms can range from mild to serious, and can include:
  • dizziness.
  • generally feeling unwell and tired.
  • excessive production of saliva.
  • headache.
  • nausea, vomiting.
  • burping.
  • sweating.


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According to the World Health Organization and the CDC, the following are some of the most common health problems associated with travel to developing countries: Traveler's diarrhea (by far the most common risk since it affects up to 80% of international travelers based on the destination) Enterotoxic E. coli diarrhea.

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One study from earlier this year found that people who were able to travel frequently reported better mental, physical, and emotional health than those who stayed closer to home.

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Why is Travel Important? Here Are 10 Important Benefits of Traveling
  • Traveling will improve your mental health. ...
  • Traveling makes your mind calm and more positive. ...
  • Traveling gives you creativity and inspiration. ...
  • Traveling will help you in understanding yourself. ...
  • Traveling helps you to reduce your stress and anxiety.


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Results show that millennials (ages 24 to 35) travel the most, 35 days each year, but were followed closely by Generation Z travelers (ages 18 to 23), who travel 29 days each year. Generation X travels the least, the result of work and family commitments.

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