Traveling impacts your hormones, causing all sorts of changes that can affect your body as a whole.

What’s more, your stress levels can go through the roof and take a toll on your mood.

However, it’s possible to encounter these issues even when traveling by car.

Woman taking photos with her phone while sitting on a cliff

Generally, switching time zones or changing your daily routine can impact your health and energy levels.

Traveling can also alter the gut flora due to the changes your body goes through.

How does traveling affect your period?

Woman having menstrual pain while traveling

Yourperiod can tell a lot about your health, reflecting the changes your body goes through.

For example, traveling can disrupt the body’s internal clock, which may affect estrogen and progesterone levels.

This chain of events can delay menstruation, according to theHewitt Fertility Center.

A tampon and menstrual cup placed on top of a swimsuit

This lifestyle factor impacts the hypothalamus, altering the hormones that regulate menstruation.

As a result, it can lead to delayed or missed periods.

If that happens, they may experience changes in their menstrual cycle as well.

In some cases, it may increase or shorten the duration of the menstrual flow.

These issues are perfectly normal, and your period should get back on track once your trip is over.

Also, it’s not normal to feel extremely tired or have difficulty breathing when you’re menstruating.

Any of these symptoms should be evaluated by an OB-GYN.

Another option is to take high doses of ibuprofen or naproxen, notes theCleveland Clinic.

However, these medications carry potential health risks ranging from kidney damage to peptic ulcers.

The best thing you could do is maintain your routine as much as possible.

The same goes for your drinking habits, workout routine, sleep schedule, and other lifestyle factors.

If you normally sleep seven to eight hours a night, attempt to do the same when traveling.

This won’t stop or delay your period, but it can help you cope better with stress.

If you start planning things out at the last minute, you might end up feeling overwhelmed.

These products take up little space and will come in handy if “Aunt Flo” arrives unexpectedly.