Common Health Issues for Travelers and How To Deal With Them

A lot of things can happen when you’re traveling. That’s why you need to prepare and equip yourself before setting out on a journey. Nobody wants to be sick while on vacation, whether it’s a short trip or a longer journey, and you should be able to enjoy it without any snags. Here’s some input on how to prevent common health problems.

Fight That Flu Off

There are a lot of benefits to getting a flu shot and many people do it regularly every year. If you haven’t gotten it before, it would be a good thing to get it now before you set off. You should get vaccinated a few weeks prior to the trip ‘cause it takes your immune system some time to build up.

Be mindful of washing your hands regularly, especially if traveling by bus or plane where it can be very crowded. And drink plenty of fluids. You should also pack some medicine in case of an emergency like ibuprofen or acetaminophen. They can ease flu-like symptoms such as fever and all sorts of body aches. Also, rest whenever you can. Traveling is exhausting and if you’re not getting enough sleep your immunity will go haywire. In case you do eventually catch a cold or a mild form of flu, there is a list of things you can do in order to overcome it faster.

Diarrhea

Nothing can put a damper on your trip like a Traveler’s Diarrhea. First thing to bear in mind is that you shouldn’t eat any food that hasn’t been properly processed. And it would be best to avoid tap water altogether and go for branded water bottles instead. Don’t eat out in places that seem unhygienic.

In case you do get a diarrhea, there are a couple of things that can help. Again, plenty of fluids, especially drinks that have a lot of electrolytes. You should eat dry food, such as toast and some simple biscuits. Boiled rice is also allowed. Avoid all types of heavy food, as it will only make things worse and delay your recovery. It would also be a good idea to have some probiotics as they help restore your intestinal flora.

Smart Sunbathing

Now, if you’re going to the French Riviera, Greece, or any other sunny place take a word of caution. You’ll be on the beach a lot and you may forget that you can get sunburnt. Therefore, buy a sunscreen with at least SPF 20 or higher and apply it every 90 minutes, and also every time you get out of the water. This is the best way to protect your skin. Another thing to know is that you should apply sunscreen some 20 minutes before you go outside. And don’t go sparing on it, make sure you put enough of it and that it’s disturbed evenly to cover all parts of your body.

You should buy at least two sunscreen bottles, preferably with a different SPF. Those who are of fair skin should be extra careful and it wouldn’t be a bad idea to start with a 50 SPF sunscreen, and later on switch to a lower SPF.

Respiratory Complications

This can be anything from a runny nose up to a more serious infection. So, bring a nose spray just in case as it is the first thing to fight off germs. If you’re travelling by plane, for instance, both your nose and throat can become dry because the plane humidity is quite lower than it is outside. That’s why it’s important to… what? Yes, you’ve guessed it. Drink plenty of water. It’s all about hydration, hydration, hydration. And if it’s a longer flight try to avoid alcohol which makes you dehydrated or even coffee as it is a diuretic.

However, if you have a deviated septum or nasal polyps maybe you should consider talking with your physician before the big journey. They may even suggest surgery. But have no fear. When we asked the experts that are performing the best rhinoplasty surgery in Sydney, we were told that in this day of age it is a common and very effective procedure.

Bladder Problems

Now, this is something that affects more women than men. You may be going to the bathroom way too often or you’re trying to urinate but it’s very painful. So that infection needs to be stopped in its tracks way before it has a chance to reach your kidneys. However, if that does happen you’ll need to seek medical help and you’ll probably have to take antibiotics. What you can do to prevent getting an infection is to have regular showers and change underwear more often than usual. If you get a milder infection you can either drink cranberry tea or take ¼ of tsp of sodium bicarbonate and dissolve it in water. It should help if the infection’s not too serious.

These were some of the common health issues that could befall you. Take into account all the things that have been recommend here as one never knows what to expect. Hopefully, nothing bad will go wrong and you’ll come back from your travels as healthy as a horse. Bon Voyage!

What are your best tips to stay healthy when traveling? Please share in the comment section below or via email, on Twitter, Facebook , Instagram or Google+. We would love to hear from you!!