Traffic, delays, disruptions due to storms or wildfires, and other surprises may be part of your next business or pleasure trip. In short: Travel is more stressful (and more expensive) than ever. But you don’t have to submit to the anxiety and upset, Dr. Asim Shah, professor and executive vice chair in the Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Baylor College of Medicine, said in a news release from Baylor College of Medicine. Disruptions are unavoidable, but your response is not. If you can remain calm, the chaotic travel twists won’t feel so stressful. We’ve rounded up a few expert-backed tips for coping with stress, anxiety, and the chaos that comes with modern travel. 1. Know your triggers What are your travel-related triggers? People who experience anxiety have different sensitivities. If you pinpoint those triggers ahead of time, you will likely have a smoother travel day. “Triggers might include the uncertainty of traffic, flight delays, being in public places or seeing friends and family for the holidays,” Shah explained in a news release from the school. The upside? “Based on your triggers, you can make a plan,” Shah advises. Does traveling alone worry you? Travel with a partner or buddy. Talk to your companion about your fears so they can help you alleviate stress. Use your stress management techniques, such as listening to…  read on >  read on >

Just over 300 people have been sickened in norovirus outbreaks on three different cruise ships in December, new government data shows. This is the only month this year in which the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported three confirmed norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships. In all, 301 passengers and crew members fell ill during the December outbreaks, health officials said. “Norovirus can be especially challenging to control on cruise ships because of the close living quarters, shared dining areas and rapid turnover of passengers,” according to the CDC. “When the ship docks, norovirus can be brought on board in contaminated food or water; or by passengers who were infected while ashore.” Those sickened on Princess Cruises’ Ruby Princess, on a trip around Hawaii’s island, and Holland America’s Rotterdam and Zuiderdam voyages, both in the Caribbean, mostly experienced diarrhea and vomiting. The latest outbreak was reported on Holland America’s Rotterdam ship, which is set to end its Caribbean trip Friday in Fort Lauderdale. CDC officials said 83 of the 2,192 passengers on board and 12 of the 953 crew members were sickened.  “At Holland America Line, the safety and well-being of our guests and crew is our top priority. During the current voyage, a number of guests on Rotterdam reported symptoms of gastrointestinal illness,” a Holland America spokesperson told CBS News. “The cases have…  read on >  read on >

Watch out for tall, fast-moving cars. The height of a vehicle, not only its speed, determines its potential danger to a pedestrian, new research shows. “Multiple factors — in this case speed and vehicle height—converge to create negative outcomes on the road,” said David Harkey, president of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Measurements of the vehicles involved were used to examine the moderating effect of hood height.  “Our fondness for tall SUVs and pickups has intensified [the consequences of speeding],” Harkey noted in an IIHS news release. The report involved an analysis of 202 crashes involving people ages 16 and older in cities across the United States. The accidents occurred between 2015 and 2022. In general, higher vehicle front ends increased the likelihood of both moderate and serious pedestrian injuries, data showed. At 27 mph, the average speed of the crashes, a median-height car had a 60% chance of causing moderate injuries to a pedestrian and a 30% chance of causing serious injuries. Risks rose along with hood height, however: A median-height pickup — with a front end 13 inches higher than that of a median car — had an 83% chance of causing moderate injuries and a 62% chance of causing serious injuries. This tracks with earlier IIHS research that found that vehicles with taller front ends are more likely to kill…  read on >  read on >

Holiday travel is always stressful, but particularly so for people with food allergies. Airlines don’t always honor requests to protect the health of people with food allergies during flights, a new study published Dec. 5 in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. found. Many people with food allergies say that airlines promise to take steps to protect their health, but then don’t follow through: 20% were promised food allergy-related cabin announcements that didn’t happen 17% were promised allergen-free buffer zones that weren’t established 23% were promised allergy-free food options that weren’t offered “We are not asking for the moon and stars, we just want reasonable accommodations that are promised in advance of travel to be honored at 30,000 feet,” said study co-author Lianne Mandelbaum, founder of the non-profit No Nut Traveler. “On every flight it is uncertain if and how crew members will accommodate nut allergies, and this adds tremendous unnecessary stress,” Mandelbaum said. “Flying with food allergies is akin to a game of roulette, each flight a random spin around the wheel.” For this study, researchers surveyed more than 4,700 individual patients and families around the world to assess their concerns related to air travel with food allergies. Travelers with food allergies said they were most often worried about whether airlines would follow through on accommodations arranged during the flight-booking process. They also…  read on >  read on >

WEDNESDAY, Nov. 27, 2024 — Thanksgiving travel is a must for millions of Americans, but those plans will be complicated for some because they’re traveling with a loved one who has Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. “A family trip to visit a loved one, friend, or favorite destination can be a great way to spend Thanksgiving, including for those affected by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia-related illnesses,” Jennifer Reeder, director of educational and social services for the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, said in a news release. “Whether traveling near or far, there are preparations and adaptations family caregivers can make to help their loved one feel more comfortable and relaxed throughout the trip,” she added. Some tips to help holiday travel stay focused on family and joy include: Before embarking, family and friends should make sure that their loved one can travel at all, Reeder said. As dementia progresses, travel may become too difficult. It’s worth consulting with their doctor to make sure travel is recommended, based on how long the trip will be and the stage of the person’s illness. If the person can travel, make plans that take their abilities into account. Plan travel to minimize their anxiety and stress — for example, they might travel better at specific times of the day, or travel better by plane or by car. During travel, companions…  read on >  read on >