During the holiday season, it’s all too common for people to fall ill in some way or another—whether it’s from stress, lack of sleep, dehydration, or generally being more rundown due to holiday travel. Add in the fact that cold and flu season is usually in full effect during the fall and winter seasons as well, and there are a wide range of factors that can potentially lead to someone feeling sick as holiday festivities kick off.
Why We Fall Sick During The Holidays
Falling sick during the holiday season can happen for a few different reasons. Perhaps one of the biggest factors is that many people travel during this time of year by car, airplane, bus, and train. In fact, AAA projected that some 115.2 million travelers would travel 50 miles or more over a 10-day period in December 2023 to see loved ones for the holidays alone. That projection was a marked increase over the 112.7 million people who traveled for the holidays in 2022.
With so many people traveling, especially on public transport, there’s a higher risk of catching a cold or bug that someone seated near you might have. But travel isn’t the only cause of feeling under the weather this time of year.
