Traveling is a holiday tradition for millions of Americans. In fact, this year is poised to break records with over 110 million Americans traveling during the end of 2018 and early 2019.

With so many people on the roads and in the air, there are bound to be forgotten medications, minor illnesses, motion sickness, and more. But don’t worry! Ninety percent of Americans live within two miles of a pharmacy. So, you can rest assured knowing that you’ll have a knowledgeable health professional close by—no matter where you’re traveling!

We want to make sure you’re fully prepared. So, we’re sharing some of the most common health issues that could surprise you during your holiday travels, as well as breaking down how a local pharmacist can help resolve them!

Unexpected motion sickness

Motion sickness is one of the most common travel-related health issues. And, unfortunately, it doesn’t discriminate! Whether you’re traveling by plane, car, bus, or train, it’s important to be prepared. After all, it’s much easier to prevent motion sickness than it is to treat it.

So, before you leave home, stop by your local pharmacy to chat with a pharmacist. They can recommend a few over-the-counter medications that can help you to prevent ever feeling the effects of motion sickness. Or, in some cases, a pharmacist may even be able to prescribe a medication to treat the symptoms of motion sickness once it’s already taken its toll.

Forgotten or lost medications

Picture this: You’ve just hopped off a plane to visit family on the other side of the country for the holidays when it hits you—you never got your prescription filled before you left!

Good news! A pharmacist can save the day. In fact, if your pharmacy is a part of a large network like CVS, it could be as simple as calling your pharmacist and asking that they transfer your prescription to a pharmacy close to your travel destination.

In some more extreme situations, a local pharmacist may even be able to work with your doctor to prescribe a few doses of medication to hold you over until you arrive back home.

Unexpected minor illnesses

Minor illnesses are inevitable. No matter what steps you take to prevent them, they can still happen. And, because holiday travel often means being stuck in close quarters with many people on airplanes, trains, or even at holiday parties, the chances of coming down with something are increased.

If you’re one of the unlucky ones who wakes up at grandma’s house with an unexpected sore throat, don’t let it ruin your holiday! There’s likely a knowledgeable health professional right around the corner that is ready to help. Simply stop into the local pharmacy and chat with a pharmacist about over-the-counter drugs that can help with your symptoms.

In some cases, the local pharmacy may even have a quick clinic—like a CVS Minute Clinic or a Walgreens Healthcare Clinic—where a health professional can prescribe medication for minor illnesses. No appointments necessary!

The holidays can be stressful. And when you’re traveling to celebrate somewhere far from home, there can be lots of added problems like flight delays, traffic jams, and forgotten presents. While pharmacists can’t help with logistical woes, you can rely on them to be available as a health resource when you need them most—no matter where you’re traveling this year!