DON’T TRAVEL SICK - SIMPLE TIPS TO AVOID SICKNESS

Getting sick is a part of everyday life, and being on the road doesn’t exempt you from that fact, especially when travel itself exposes you to a whole new range of bugs, parasites, and environments. The fact of the matter is the longer you are traveling, the more likely you are to pick up a bug or two. The last thing you want to do is to expose yourself to any more risk than you have to. Prevention is far better than any cure. Follow the following tips and be safe.

1.  Wash your hands – More Frequently

I know this sounds basic, but it is surprising how many people forget it. Hand hygiene is essential to stop the spread of infection and can dramatically reduce your chances of diarrhea, vomiting, food poisoning, gastroenteritis and flu.

Many travelers carry small bottles of hand sanitizers, these are great as a backup, but they aren’t a replacement for good old soap and water. Wherever possible, wash your hands under hot water for at least thirty seconds before and after eating and always after going to the toilet.

2.  Drink bottled water – Mostly rather Always

When you can’t be sure of the purity of the local water or you are traveling in areas where sanitation is not that great, then it should go without saying that you should avoid the local tap water. Even if locals drink it without any problems, your stomach may not have the right bacteria to protect you from becoming ill, avoid local water — even ice in your drinks — in places that don’t purify their tap water.

It is also a good idea to use bottled water to brush your teeth. But personally I prefer to use a bottle with portable filter as this reduces the need to buy bottles of water constantly, saving both money and the environment.

3. Be careful of food contamination – Avoid Uncooked food

Food contamination is one of the biggest causes of traveler’s diarrhea and gastrointestinal problems on any travel adventure. If you are not careful with your food on your travels, you could potentially be exposing yourself to diarrhea, Shigella,  Salmonella,  Giardia, Entamoeba, hystolytica,Campylobacter, Cryptosporidia, Cyclospora, cholera, and much more nastiness. You should always ensure — as much as is practicably possible — that any food you eat is fresh, cooked thoroughly, and served piping hot.

You may want to avoid — or be very careful of — the following:

·       Salads that may have been prepared in local untreated water

·       Raw fruit and vegetables that you haven’t peeled or skinned yourself (if you have, they are generally fine)

·       Food that has been left out and exposed for a period of time

·       Food that is shared, such as in buffets undercooked, raw, or reheated food, especially meat, fish, or rice.

4.  Have Familiar food from time to time – It Helps

Food intolerances happen when your gut can’t properly digest the food you’ve eaten, or you’ve introduced something completely new and different to it, which can irritate the digestive tract and lead to stomach pain, cramps, gas, diarrhea, vomiting, and heartburn. Don’t worry — this generally isn’t serious and will pass relatively quickly. The trick to trying new foods and new cuisine is to mix it up a little bit.

If you have a sensitive stomach, take it easy at first and don’t be afraid of eating familiar food from time to time.

5.  Try and stay active – Exercise and push yourself

One of the best ways to stay fit and healthy and fight off unwanted infections is exercise. The benefits of exercise are well known and well documented: it improves your overall health and well-being and strengthens your immune system, which makes you less susceptible to illness. And if you do get sick, your body is better able to fight off the infection and more quickly get you back on your feet.

If you aren’t active or fit before you start traveling, use it as an excuse to start! Go on a jungle trek, go hiking into the countryside or up a mountain, swim in the sea, go for a jog — whatever tickles your fancy as long as it gets you a little out of breath.

6.  Protect yourself against the Sun – Stay hydrated

Protecting yourself from the sun goes beyond getting bad sunburn though. You should also stay well hydrated if you are traveling in a country or region with a hot or tropical climate, as well as cover up with loose clothing and even a hat or scarf. If you don’t, then dehydration can set in very quickly, and that can lead to more serious conditions such as exposure, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke, which if left unattended can become a medical emergency.

 It happens a lot more easily than many people think so be sensible, use sunscreen, cover up, and stay hydrated.

7.  Get vaccinated – Take precaution

Prevention is always better than the cure, and nothing is better at protecting you from the risk of getting a disease than being vaccinated against it.

Not all vaccinations are required for every individual for every trip, and a lot depends on what vaccinations you have already, what country or region you are visiting, and individual factors, such as your personal medical history, how long you will be traveling, and what you will be doing.

8.  Protect yourself from mosquito bites – Apply Antimosquito.

Mosquito bites are an absolute nightmare for any traveler. At best they will simply annoy you with painful and itchy welts, but at worst they can transmit a whole variety of diseases.

Even if you are in a low- to no-risk area, it is still a good idea to prevent mosquitoes from biting you in the first place, even if it is only to avoid the annoyance of painful bites. It should go without saying that the best thing you can do to protect yourself from being bitten is to use preventive measures:

·       Air-conditioned rooms are great for minimizing mosquito bites, as they are often better sealed and less likely to let them in.

·       Cover up. Wearing the right clothing is essential. Wear light, loose cotton clothing that covers most of your skin, especially around peak exposure times and places, for example, near bodies of water or at twilight or after dark, the peak time for malaria-carrying mosquitoes to feed.

·       Sleep under nets where necessary.

·       Use anti-mosquito coils and plug-in devices where appropriate.

·       Always apply a good dose of 30–50% DEET spray, and reapply it regularly. Some people prefer more natural alternatives, but these are often not as effective or are often not clinically proven to be effective at all.

9.  Take antimalarials when necessary

Basically speaking, if the area you are heading to is considered a high risk for malaria then yes, antimalarials are usually strongly advised. If you are visiting an area that is a low to no risk, then antimalarials aren’t usually advised.

10.  Make an appointment with your Family doctor

Many travelers instead leave it until the last minute. The average recommended time to see a health professional is 6–8 weeks before you leave, but personally I would aim for a little earlier than that.

It is important to remember that none of these methods is completely foolproof. However, you can always minimize your risks with the tips above.

Go Ahead! Stay Healthy! Travel More!