Tips for Healthy Travels

Travel Tips

Keep hydrated — It is especially important during the summer holidays to keep hydrated (2 L of water a day) and to maintain a healthy diet, including vegetables, fruits, proteins and carbohydrates. 

Rest - Trips can be quite hectic, especially for those visiting more than one country. It is important to try and rest (7-8 hours night sleep) and to try and nap (30 min) throughout the day. 

Common Cold/Cough — With a/c and changes in temperature, it is common to suffer from a cold, nasal congestion and coughing. It is advised to keep hydrated, rest and take paracetamol/ibuprofen to help with the pain. If any of the following should appear, it is advisable to visit your doctor: 

Fever. Chesty Cough. Night cough. Green Phlegm. White spots on your tonsils. Conjunctivitis. Earache. Persistent headache, especially on your sinuses. Rash.

Traveler's diarrhea — Contaminated food or water, viruses, anxiety and jet lag can contribute to traveler's diarrhea. It often strikes abruptly and causes four to five loose or watery bowel movements each day. In most cases, traveler's diarrhea will go away in a day or two without medical treatment. Most doctors don't recommend preventive medications such as antibiotics or anti-diarrheals (Pepto-Bismol/Fortasec), except in special circumstances. The best prevention is good hand hygiene and food and water safety. International travelers should drink only bottled beverages . For food, the general rule is: "Boil it, peel it, cook it or forget it.", especially in high risk countries. If diarrhea persists more than 48 hours, you experience fever, blood in your stools or have abdominal pain, we recommend you to contact our doctor.

Motion sickness — Travelers susceptible to motion sickness should consult a doctor about over-the-counter or prescription medications. Some natural remedies have been shown to reduce symptoms, too. Options include acupressure wristbands, ginger tea or dietary supplements.

Care before travel — Travelers of all ages leaving the country can benefit from a pretravel medical appointment, ideally four to six weeks before departure. The doctor will perform a physical exam and assess the health risks associated with travel plans.In most cases, the patient's regular doctor can provide this care. Travelers with specific medical conditions who are heading to Asia, Africa or Latin America may benefit from an appointment at a travel medicine clinic. There, care providers often have advanced training or board certification in travel medicine or tropical medicine. While services at these clinics vary, many providers offer a comprehensive overview of health hazards associated with specific travel plans and detailed advice on how to stay well. Contact our doctor if you have any travel consultations.

Jet lag — Older adults may have more severe jet lag and take longer to recover. Travelers can minimize jet lag by shifting to the local schedule as soon as possible. Travelers may be able to avoid jet lag by adjusting sleep schedules a few days before traveling.