September 17, 2009
The Health Travel Guide For International Travelers
In order to have healthy travel, you first need to be sure that you’re healthy before you leave. Get any recommended immunizations and medications. This list can be long or short depending on how exotic your destination is.
The best source for up to the minute information on healthy travel is a travel medicine doctor. These specialists keep up with all of the latest recommendations for anywhere in the world.
Also be up to date on all your routine vaccinations, including a seasonal influenza vaccine. It won’t protect against a new flu strain, but it protects against any seasonal flu that may also be occurring…, and not getting a "common" seasonal flu will help keep you stronger, so your body can resist that new strain.
Drink bottled water in places where the water is considered unsafe. It never hurts to err on the side of caution… if you are unsure, grab that bottle rather than tap water.
Eat nutritiously. A bag of chips and a sandwich might be good for your budget, but eaten often, they aren’t good for your travel health. Try to eat at least one good balanced meal a day with your proteins and veggies. If you have a serious dietary restriction, get it written out by someone who speaks the local language so you can use the note to order in local restaurants. We once traveled to Africa with a friend who was gluten intolerant… and she did fine. Chefs everywhere are willing to work with you.
Avoid unhealthy looking restaurants. If the food looks suspicious, you should move on to a healthier looking place. If the diners inside are coughing and sneezing, you might want to give the restaurant a pass.
Wash your hands often with soap and water, or use an alcohol based hand sanitizer to remove germs from your skin. (Purell is one brand we’ve used.) Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth… germs are spread more quickly with that kind of contact.
Exercise to get in shape before you leave on your trip, and keep exercising on the road. You’ll probably be doing enough walking so you won’t have to do any gym time. Just remember, exercise keeps you healthy.
Try to get enough sleep. If you’ve crossed many time zones, you will arrive with jet lag. It will take you a day or two or more to get acclimated to your new time zone. We know you want to spend all the time you can seeing the sights and experiencing that new culture, but if you get over tired, you’re much more susceptible to catching a cold or the flu.
Try to avoid close contact with sick people… try to stay at least 6 feet away. Influenza is thought to spread mainly through contact with sick people or through the coughing or sneezing of infected people.
Monitor the local health situations…. Listen to announcements from the local government and follow their guidelines and restrictions if there is some sort of a disease outbreak like the Swine Flu.
If you do get sick, get medical care. Pharmacies in Europe can help with common ailments. In most areas you can check with local clinics for more severe problems. Your hotel may be able to call a doctor to make a house call. Consider joining the non-profit IAMAT, The International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers. They can get you a list of English speaking doctors in member countries.
With this health travel guide, the proper precautions and preparation, almost all of your travel will be healthy travel. So go ahead, take that trip… it’s good for your health.
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