This time of year, respiratory illnesses such as cold and flu are the most travel-related conditions. On top of spending time in crowded airports and planes, holiday stress can weaken our immune systems. It's no coincidence that thousands of travelers get sick by the time they reach their destinations.

But illness is no reason to fear holiday travel. Instead, doctors suggest the following tips:

1) Old fashioned soap and water is very effective at fighting germs. Wearing masks on a plane won't stop a virus from spreading in the air, but washing frequently will keep you from passing it by hand.

2) Get plenty of sleep before you travel and drink lots of fluids to keep hydrated.

3) If you feel the signs of a cold coming on, try using a product that contains zinc gluconate glycine, like Cold-Eeze. Zinc has proven to reduce the duration of a cold by almost half in clinical studies.

4) After the cold, the next most common travel illness is diarrhea. Doctors recommend packing an anti-diarrheal in your bag as well. 

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