The
bill's current status: "Read twice and referred to the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation."
A
MUST-HAVE FOR YOUR TRAVEL FIRST-AID KIT? If peace of mind and
preparedness outweigh the statistical likelihood of being exposed to a
nuclear accident or attack, consider adding potassium iodide (KI)
tablets to your must-pack list. Taking the tablets will help
protect your thyroid should you be exposed to radioactive iodine
(released via a nuclear plant leak or explosion), which causes thyroid
cancer.
Organizations such as the
FDA and WHO (World Health Organization) have acknowledged the benefits
of having an available supply of the anti-nuke tablets. Note, however,
that taking KI tablets will not protect you from exposure to other
radioactive contaminants.
Important Caveats:
Tablets should only be taken when you have official confirmation of
radioactive exposure in your area and never as a preventative measure.
(You should take them within three to four hours of exposure.)
Consult a physician before taking KI if you're allergic to iodine or are
being treated for a thyroid condition.
An article in the
Harvard Medical School's Health Letter provides
more info on
FDA guidelines and purchasing options (there are only two
FDA-approved brands) for the iodine pills. Finally, look
for pills in foil-sealed packets—they should have a longer shelf life.
ANOTHER
AIR-POLLUTION SUCKER PUNCH: Got a cold? Just when you thought
you couldn’t feel any worse, researchers tell us, you can. The culprit?
Polluted air.
In
study findings reported in the July issue of the Journal of
Environmental Health Perspectives, scientists note that
"virus-induced inflammation in airways may be exacerbated by concurrent
exposure to oxidants in the environment." In plain English, they’re
confirming what most of us already know: Breathing polluted air when
you’ve got a cold (or asthma) makes you feel a lot worse than you
already did.
Your best protection against a double whammy? Boost your
immunity and reduce the number of colds you’ll get. Failing that:
Check the pollution levels of a destination so you’ll know what
you’re facing and arm yourself with remedies (OTC or homeopathic) and
extra rest. Most important: Limit your outdoor exposure.
Numerous cities and areas frequented by business travelers have
air-pollution levels that persistently exceed established national
standards for air quality. (A listing of these areas is provided on the
EPA’s Web site.)
Weather.com offers regional
Air Quality Forecasts and
respiratory distress maps.
DIAL-IN
STRESS RELIEF: If you've got a legitimate complaint about the
airport screening process, don't waste time griping and grumbling
and getting yourself more aggravated and stressed. Head for the phones
and dial the Transportation Security Administration's Consumer
Hotline (866-289-9673). It'a manned from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on
weekdays and you can leave voicemail on the weekends.
I
KNEW WE SHOULDA STAYED HOME! It's the kind of news that makes
workaholics smile and smirk at those of us who dare venture away for
necessary R&R. According to a recent Gallup poll of 1,000 Americans,
close to half (46%) of the respondents were tired before they
left for a vacation while more than half (54%) were tired when
they returned home with 19% saying they were exhausted.
Unsurprisingly, the survey noted that pre-vacation behavior
(working harder or staying later at the office before leaving; staying
up later and getting up earlier before departing) contributed to
fatigue while changes in sleep habits during the trip influenced
post-trip tiredness.
How To Avoid Vacation
Fatigue: Most of us don't need research to confirm the fatigue we
experience even on longed-for retreats, yet most of us do little if
anything to eliminate its causes. Experts such as Dr. Roger Cadieux,
clinical professor of psychiatry at Penn State University's College of
Medicine, recommend taking action to prevent and reduce unnecessary
fatigue—and enjoy a more restful getaway:
• Plan a stress-free
vacation. If visiting family or hurling yourself through a round of
physical activities will only wear you out, opt for a different type of
vacation.
• Don't over-schedule
your days and nights. Leave room to simply relax and savor your time
away.
• Don't take your work
with you. If you must stay in contact with the office, place limits
on your availability.
• Don't exhaust
yourself before you go. Easier said than done, but if you pace
yourself for a couple of weeks before you leave and commit to a
realistic travel schedule, it's possible to leave in a semi-energized
state.
• Get help with
chronic sleep problems before you go; they'll only intensify once
you're gone.
• Noise-proof your
accommodations (avoid venues near busy roadways; get a room that's
away from elevators, ice machines, and areas where groups are staying);
• Make room comfort a
priority: Pack your own pillows if needed; make sure the mattress is
comfortable; check that windows close and light can be blocked.
• Pack several days in
advance so you're not running around at the last minute searching
for clothes and other items
Warning!
(Sudden) Relaxation Can Be Hazardous to Your Health
Have you ever survived
the stresses and strains of everyday life without getting sick only to
fall ill when you take time off or go on a vacation? According to
Marc Schoen, Ph.D., an
assistant clinical professor and the lead researcher on a related study
conducted by the University of California at Los Angeles, you're
experiencing
the "let down effect." The cause, Schoen asserts, is "a
rapid shift from an excited, stressful, or energized state to a state of
relaxation."
Ironically, our
over-taxed body's production of extra immune-building white cells that
help fend off illness (the upside of stress)
grinds to a halt when we suddenly shift into a more relaxed state. That
leaves us more vulnerable to "any infection or virus we may have picked
up while we were in the stress phrase," Schoen notes.
Easy Does It:
To avoid getting sick on vacation or weekends, Schoen suggests easing
into downtime. In other words, don't switch from being a total
workaholic to couch-potato mode (something a lot of us—who tend to
collapse in a heap after taxing times—do).
To prevent the "let down
effect," take a couple of brisk walks for the first two days "off" after
a stressful period; engage in mild exercise; and do things that keep you
mentally stimulated. Schoen's book,
When Relaxation Is Hazardous to Your Health details other
methods and techniques. (There's also a
Let-Down
Prevention CD.)
GOT
FISCAL (AS WELL AS FITNESS) WOES? MAKE A PHYSICAL INVESTMENT: As
if the stress and strain of travel wasn’t enough. Now you’re reeling
from the market’s financial downturn. With bodies and minds faltering
from stress and anxiety, what better time to make a physical investment
in yourself? Your ROI: a healthier, stress-resistant, more resilient,
and energetic self.
If you’re turned off by traditional fitness and exercise books and
regimens, consider Jim Karas’
The Business Plan for the Body.
Unsure of your form? Check the streaming video how-tos. If tracking
your progress is central to your success, this features-driven site is a
real resource.
Deby Harper/