Estrogen, progesterone, and cortisol balance while traveling

Jet lag is a term travelers use to describe their feelings of fatigue that are synonymous with long journeys. Uncomfortable seats and unrelenting stimulation can result in less than quality sleep on a long plane or bus ride. However, the reason people experience such symptoms may be because of more than just sleep deprivation; hormonal balance may be disrupted while traveling. The regulation of the stress hormone cortisol has been found to be greatly affected by daily rhythms which are upset while changing time zones. For some reason, eastbound travelers see more negative affects than those going west; perhaps because time is lost as opposed to gained.

What does this have to do with estrogen and progesterone? Well, lack of sleep can lead to stress; when a woman has too much cortisol, she feels stressed. Cortisol is made from progesterone. If a lot of a woman’s progesterone is turned into cortisol, her estrogen may be unchecked resulting in physical and mental symptoms. Though travel may complicate the body’s delicate balance of hormones, there is no reason to avoid it. Below are some tips to help maintain hormonal health next time you are on a long trip.

Tips for staying healthy while traveling

1. Rest up before the trip.

The health of a woman before takeoff is much related to how a woman will feel post-trip. Having a healthy lifestyle makes it easier to recover from trips that could be traumatic to bodies of less healthy people.

2. Keep hydrated.

Though it can be inconvenient to have to use the tiny airplane bathroom during a flight or stop at every rest area on a car trip, dehydration is a well-known proponent of hormonal imbalance.

3. Keep medications in carry on bag.

If you are taking prescriptions or herbal medications for hormone balance, missing a dose because of misplaced luggage could send hormones into a tailspin.

4. Choose a healthy snack.

Everyone likes to eat on road trips, especially junk food. But for women susceptible to hormone imbalance, what you put into your body has the greatest affect on how you feel. Opt for healthier snacks like trail mix and water instead of candy bars and sugary drinks.

5. Put the cigarette out.

Smoking is forbidden on most forms of public transportation these days, but putting a smoker in a car for hours on end is like buying tickets to a chain-smoking show. Avoid cigarettes; poor overall health makes recovery from long trips more difficult.

For more information

Always check with your doctor before embarking on a long trip. It’s a good idea to have a contact for a reputable doctor wherever you are. To read more about this and other related topics, click this link: estrogen and progesterone balance.