Staying healthy on holiday trips.

• Position: Travel

With the heavy travel season underway, Michael Marks, owner and director of Somerset Chiropractic Center in Boca Raton, Fla., offers advice on staying healthy during the holidays.

"People are so busy that they often neglect their own health," cautions Marks. "They're also doing things they wouldn't normally be doing, like traveling long distances, skiing, and other strenuous activities--and even carrying heavy packages through the mall or lugging suitcases around the airport.

"If your body isn't used to doing things like this, you're just setting yourself up to get hurt or sick, especially when you factor in all the stress and unhealthy eating so common [this time of year]."

Traveling presents even more challenges, since it exposes people to so many illnesses and creates more opportunities for injury. Marks indicates that it is important to:

* Protect your back. Do not overload yourself with too much luggage, and use suitcases with built-in wheels, if possible.

* Avoid sitting in one position, because even healthy people are susceptible to blood clots when traveling. If driving long distances, take regular breaks to rest and stretch your legs. During long flights, make an effort to move your legs and feet and flex your calf muscles.

* Make sure you have an adequate supply of all your regular medications because it can be difficult to get prescription refills at an unfamiliar pharmacy. If you are flying, keep medications in a carry-on bag in case your...