As the weather gets better, our thoughts naturally turn towards our summer vacation. Making the right preparations can ensure that you enjoy your time away from the daily routine without worrying about getting sick which would ruin your holiday.
Before You Leave
If you’re traveling abroad, you should research the common health risks associated with your destination country. If you need to be immunized, many courses of injections/tablets need to be taken at least 6-8 weeks before you leave so you should make an appointment with your primary care physician.
Wherever you’re going, you should take a basic first aid kit with you. This should contain over-the-counter pain and fever medication as well as things like cold remedies, tweezers, bandages and plasters.
Many of the problems that travelers face while away from home are associated with overexposure to the sun and insect bites. For this reason, you should make sure that you take plenty of sunscreen and insect repellent with you.
If traveling abroad, you should always take out medical insurance. Falling sick while away can be very expensive especially if your condition requires repatriation. Although you can apply for cheap personal loans from PLNOW Direct, it’s much better if your insurer can take care of all the financial details.
While Traveling
If you suffer from motion sickness, you could take some over-the-counter anti-nausea medication, but always check the side-effects. Make sure you get plenty of sleep before your journey and wear suitable clothing. You might want to look great while traveling, but it’s vital that you wear loose-fitting clothes and comfortable footwear.
During the journey you should ensure that you stay well hydrated so you should drink plenty of fluids such as juices and water but avoid alcoholic drinks and coffee. Try to relax with a newspaper like the Mirror.
If you’re on a long-haul flight (longer than 4 hours), you are greater risk of suffering from deep vein thrombosis. You should therefore get up and walk around to improve your circulation.
To avoid the debilitating effects of jet lag, you should try to adopt the meal and sleeping times of your destination as soon as you arrive.
While on Vacation
Always make sure that you dress suitably when sightseeing. Put on your sunscreen about half an hour before leaving and reapply regularly. A pair of sunglasses with UV protection is a must while you should also wear a hat to protect you from heatstroke.
Be extremely vigilant about what you eat and drink as stomach upsets are one of the most common problems that travelers face when they’re away. Only drink bottled water and avoid ice in your drinks (as this is usually made with tap water). When buying fruit, always peel and wash it yourself in bottled water.
Certain foods to be careful about include undercooked meat and seafood and dairy products which haven’t been pasteurized or sufficiently refrigerated. If in doubt, don’t eat it and avoid buying from street vendors.