Traveling for Christmas? Stay healthy with these 7 tips

Unfortunately, traveling also increases the risk of getting sick - but there are steps you can take to increase your chances of staying healthy while away from home.

"You're not in your usual habitat, and that can make people disoriented, upset, anxious or even sleep-deprived, especially when changing time zones."

Staying hydrated has been shown to boost the immune system and protect against illness.

Water is always best, but other hydrating fluids include plain coffee or tea, sparkling or flavored waters, 100% vegetable juice, and milk or milk alternatives.

It's best to travel while "well-exercised," Siegel said.

"If you're regularly exercising, sleeping right and eating right before you go, I think that that puts you in much better shape when you're traveling."

"You wouldn't believe what these surfaces carry - we've studied that," he said. "There are a lot of germs in that tray table, and it's the person next to you who could be sick." 

One immunization that isn't given enough attention, according to the doctor, is Tdap, a combination vaccine that protects against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough).

It is given at least once every five to 10 years.

"There's a ton of whooping cough around this year," Siegel said. "Thousands of cases are reported, but many thousands aren't."

The doctor also recommends the shingles shot for those over the age of 50 and the pneumonia vaccine for people 60 and older.

"When you're under stress from travel, that might be when you could get sick," Siegel said, as the immune system isn't functioning at an optimal level. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also recommends that everyone 6 months and older receives COVID and flu vaccinations, with rare exceptions.

For those who take multiple daily medications, the doctor recommends traveling with one pill bottle and putting the various pills in it, making it less likely for any to get misplaced.

Siegel recommends bringing three or four extra days of pills for all medications.

"Depending on what chronic illnesses you may have, it's a good idea to be up-to-date with blood draws and visits to your doctor" before traveling, he added.

"The more you can catch some winks while traveling, the better off you're going to be," he said.

For those who have trouble falling asleep while on the road, Siegel recommends identifying what makes you drift off at home and using those same techniques.

The doctor recommends considering a mask for tight spaces where there are a lot of people around.

"You don't know what they have or what they are harboring," he said.

"That's why I would consider one, especially if you're at high risk."