Dealing with the occasional bout of diarrhea or constipation is never fun, but the most inopportune time to experience digestive problems is while traveling.
“Traveler’s diarrhea is the obvious example,” says Dr. Eamonn Quigley, a gastroenterologist at Houston Methodist. “But this usually thought to be limited to travel in certain areas of the world where gastroenteritis risk is high.”
It’s certainly something to know about and take steps to prevent, but Dr. Quigley points out that diarrhea while traveling can occur anywhere and be completely unrelated to infection.
“What most people don’t realize is that constipation is actually the more common gastrointestinal phenomenon that arises during travel,” says Dr. Quigley. “The No. 1 reason for occasional constipation is travel.”
These aren’t the only two GI problems that seem to arise. You might find you’re more likely to get heartburn while away from home. Flying might leave you feeling bloated and gassy. And we’re likely all familiar with the nausea that can sometimes accompany a car, boat, or rollercoaster ride.
All to say, the digestive system seems particularly sensitive to travel and its related activities. But why? And are there steps you can take to make sure your bowel movements stay regular and stomach remains settled while on a trip?
“There are several things that can lead to digestive issues while flying, specifically, and traveling in general,” says Dr. Quigley. “And people prone to constipation, diarrhea and other GI issues might be more easily triggered by these factors.”
An important note: They can also be additive, meaning these factors can compound on top of one another to make problems more likely.
Our diet and eating habits often look different than usual while traveling. Away from home, we’re less in control of what we eat and when we eat. We might treat ourselves to snacks and desserts more frequently on vacation.
“Maybe we’re eating fewer vegetables and therefore getting less fiber, which can lead to constipation,” says Dr. Quigley. “Or sometimes we’re trying entirely new cuisines and we inadvertently eat something we’re intolerant of and diarrhea or indigestion result.”
