Nobody wants their highly-awaited vacation to be ruined by illness. Certain diseases that are not common at home can run rampant elsewhere. Protect yourself and your family this vacation season with these tips to avoid sickness.
Do your Research
When you’re looking up the best flights and fancy hotels, spare some time to read up on any health alerts for the region you are travelling to. This will help you pack necessary medicines and preventative measures like water filters or sanitizer. You don’t want to step off the plane only to learn that the area is a hotbed for malaria.
Tell your Doctor where you’re Going
Informing your primary care physician of travel plans can help them prepare you to avoid certain illnesses. Your doctor can inoculate you against certain diseases that are more prevalent abroad. They can also give you tips to boost your immune system to keep you from getting sick.
It’s important to consider your health history, too. You may have a condition that makes exposure to certain elements more harmful. Always heed your doctor’s advice when it comes to health risks during travel.
Practise good Hygiene
Hopefully you already wash your hands at home. Stay on top of cleanliness during travel. Our immune systems are weaker when dealing with different climates, so you need to be extra cautious when handling food and drink.
Be aware of Food and Drink Quality
Speaking of consumables, stick to bottled water and be wary of questionable foods. Some locales don’t have strict clean water laws, so your best bet is to drink sealed and purified bottled water.
Foreign food can be exciting, but it also carries severe risks. Be aware of the cleanliness of the food, it’s source, and those handling it. When in doubt, don’t risk it. Also consider the content of the food, especially spices. If you aren’t used to eating super spicy curry at home, you’ll be in for a nasty surprise if you eat it now.
Preventing Insect-carried Diseases
The recent news of the Zika virus in South America has had travellers on edge, but there are plenty more diseases carried by insects too. Carry insect repellent and avoid areas with large concentrations of bug activity, especially mosquitoes or ticks.
In addition to using repellent, consider sleeping under a mosquito net. Also wear long sleeves and trousers outdoors. Don’t wear perfumes or leave food exposed, as the scents tend to attract bugs and other unwanted wildlife.
Know when to seek Help
If you do get sick during your vacation, it’s important to know when you should seek help. A small flu you could sleep off at home can quickly turn into a crisis abroad. If you see any of these warning signs, make sure you get to the nearest medical professional.
- You have diarrhea or vomiting that won’t go away.
- You have a high fever.
- You feel dehydrated even after rest and drinking
- You experience uncontrolled shaking, intense headaches, or profuse sweating.