During the University’s three-week break, many of us took off to exotic locations to refresh our pre-break, burnt-out selves. To get there, though, it required a sedentary three, six or even 12 hours in a 17-by-30 inch seat — a flight with little room for anything other than a sneeze. 

It is generally an exhausting, lethargy-inducing trip for any one person. And it’s why it shouldn’t have been any surprise that the most-traveled Secretary of State in history suffered a blood clot lodged between her brain and skull. Last month, Hillary Clinton fell ill to a stomach virus, which was subsequently followed by a concussion. It was when she checked in to a New York hospital that health specialists identified the clot.

Here’s why it should not have come as a surprise: According to Department of State, Clinton has spent a total of 86.8 hours traveling, with a total of 401 official travel days, and has covered 956,733 miles. Often, the globetrotter’s ride is a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, which is fitted with seats with 18-by-24 inch dimensions. In the past four years, she has spent 27 percent of her life traveling or on a plane. Folks, she’s spent more time on a plane in the past four years than the average American has spent eating and drinking.

The demands of being Secretary of State are apparent beyond just these numbers, though. In September 2012, Conde Nast published a profile on Clinton, following her for nine days around the globe. During those nine days, she dined with the Japanese prime minister, spent two days talking diplomacy at Diaoyutai, and rejected an offer to costar with Jason Segel.

But the American public wouldn’t love her for being anything less than herself. It is her rigor and passion in her career and in diplomacy that makes her the sweetheart of American politics. But for Hillary’s sake, she needs to let up on herself. 

Clinton was discharged at the beginning of the month, and she returned to work a few days after. She’s gung-ho about getting back in the groove of things, but for now, the best thing she could be doing to represent America in the eyes of the international public is to do good for herself and take it easy.

Just as a sedentary desk job may seriously deteriorate one’s health, causing higher blood pressure and raising risk for heart attack, a career that requires excessive travel increases risk of obesity and cardiovascular disease severely, according to a 2011 study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

To Hillary: Don’t wear yourself so thin that you expire sooner than the world needs you. Breathe. All of us Hillary fan girls want to see you around by 2016, and not just existing on the Earth, but as a model of good health, too. 

Nora is a senior in LAS. She can be reached [email protected].