Home : health : 10 Ways To Manage Ulcerative Colitis While Traveling

10 ways to manage ulcerative colitis while traveling

10 ways to manage ulcerative colitis while traveling

For people living with ulcerative colitis, traveling can be an anxiety-ridden experience. The physical symptoms of the condition are always painful, including rectal bleeding, sharp abdominal pain, diarrhea, and a looping, endless urge to seek a restroom nearby. These, in turn, lead to constant stress. So, how can someone with this condition make their travels less of an ordeal? Here are some handy tips for traveling better with ulcerative colitis:

Preparing well in advance
Taking two or three days to prepare before traveling can be helpful for people with ulcerative colitis. Even for short trips, one can do their packing and scheduling in advance to avoid making panicky, on-the-fly decisions once they hit the road.

Keeping an emergency kit in your carry-on
One can include things like tissues, wipes, multiple underwear/adult diapers, hand sanitizer, prescription treatment products, and other vital products in their emergency kit. Even if all items aren’t used, the kit can provide some much-needed assurance to travelers.

Carrying a water bottle
People with ulcerative colitis lose a lot of fluid, so they must always keep themselves hydrated. So taking an empty bottle and filling it just before boarding a plane is a smart way to carry water on flights, as airport security usually does not allow passengers to carry full water bottles.

Staying calm under any circumstance
Stress is a primary trigger for many people. Therefore, regardless of whatever scenario one finds themselves in, taking deep breaths and staying calm are key to preventing mid-travel ulcerative colitis flare-ups.

Carrying UC identification documents
Carrying some kind of ID or verification document that indicates that a traveler has ulcerative colitis is a must while traveling. Such documents enable such travelers to get privileges such as a Restroom Request Card, which lets them use any restrooms in any place (even if the toilets are not for customer use).

Carrying safe foods to snack on
Heavy meals can trigger ulcerative colitis symptoms. Therefore, one must only consume light snacks such as homemade sandwiches, bagels, or crackers from time to time to satiate their mid-travel hunger pangs.

Researching menus and food beforehand
Knowing about the foods one might have as an option is crucial for individuals with the condition. One must carefully research the foods served onboard flights, trains, or buses, as well as the meals available in the chosen hotel.

Being mindful of one’s triggers
Individuals need to keep away from foods, sights, sounds, or smells that could trigger their symptoms. Identifying these triggers must be a part of the pre-travel preparation.

Choosing an aisle seat
It makes sense for travelers with ulcerative colitis to choose an aisle seat as it lets them make a quick dash to the restroom when required.

Informing the concerned authority
In case one is traveling alone, it is recommended to inform the flight or train steward about the condition so they can extend help in case of an emergency. One may also reach out to fellow travelers for assistance.

Popular Reads

Here’s how you can get your allergies detected

Here’s how you can get your allergies detected

How many times have allergies caused you to sneeze every time you take a ride in the open air? Or rashes on coming in contact with a plant? Or swelling as a result of a peanut allergy? Sneezing, running noses, watery eyes, rashes, swelling all these reactions due to allergies can be quite distressing. Allergies are more common and can be caused by various things. The cause of allergies is still unknown, it could be genetic or just a singular development. However, they can be easily detected by just visiting your doctor and undergoing some tests. Read on to know more about what are allergies and how to detect them. What are allergies? The immune system is designed to fight any entrant in the body that it recognizes as foreign. However, at times, the immune system becomes over vigilant and starts fighting foreign entrants that are not harmful. Substances that cause the immune system to react this way are called “allergens”, and when you display symptoms of these interactions, you are diagnosed “allergic” to the substance. Allergens can include plants, grass, pollen, dust, food, animal dander among others. While symptoms like running nose, sneezing, watery eyes, rashes, itching, and others, are all attributed to allergic reactions.
5 frequently asked questions about Alzheimer’s disease

5 frequently asked questions about Alzheimer’s disease

A common form of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease is a debilitating and progressive disease that affects the brain and motor functions of the body. The disease progresses through stages. It begins to affect the regions of the brain that control language, thought, and memory. In most of the cases, it begins with a slight memory loss. In the final stages, Alzheimer’s disease leads to the loss of various abilities including motor skills, speech, and independent movement. Here are a few frequently asked questions about Alzheimer’s. What are the causes? Alzheimer’s disease does not have any definite cause. Research has been unable to conclude whether Alzheimer’s is developed by one cause or multiple ones. The exact cause of the ailment is not yet known. However, there are multiple factors that may increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. One of the major causes is ageism. Also, a family history of Alzheimer’s is another major risk. This may lead to the inheritance of genes that cause this disease. Some other possible risk factors that can cause Alzheimer’s include high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, and high cholesterol. What are the symptoms? In most cases, the first warning sign of Alzheimer’s disease is a loss of cognitive ability.
Four important steps in anemia management

Four important steps in anemia management

Hemoglobin is a protein molecule in the red blood cells responsible for carrying oxygen throughout the body. Its richness in iron gives blood its red color. Anemia is a condition where a person has low hemoglobin or red blood cell count. From an underlying disease to nutrient deficiencies, there are a lot of factors that contribute to the onset of this condition. There are many forms of anemia. Some of them include: Iron deficiency anemia -This is caused due to low iron levels in the blood. Most common causes of this type of anemia are heavy menstruation or internal bleeding. Vitamin deficiency anemia – This type of anemia is caused by the deficiency of vitamin C, B-12 or folate Aplastic anemia – Damaged stem cells in the bone marrow fail to produce enough red blood cells, leading to aplastic anemia. Sickle cell anemia – This is a condition characterized by the development of abnormal crescent-shaped red blood cells. Hemolytic anemia – This is a blood disorder caused due to premature death of red blood cells. Thalassemia – This is caused due to low amounts of hemoglobin in the blood. The blood disorders vary in duration and severity. Prompt diagnosis, and treatment are important because anemia could also be due to an underlying condition.