10 simple tips to help you avoid sick when you travel
I get a lot of questions about health care on the road - "How can I avoid ill What? need vaccines? What happens if I do get sick? "Since I am not a doctor, I do not like to give medical advice so I asked Mike Huxley, a nurse and author of the blog Bemused writing backpackers a few articles on the health and Security when you are traveling. His first article focuses on creating the perfect first aid kit. This item features easy ways to stay healthy on the road.
health is a part of everyday life, and to be on the road does not make you exempt from this fact, especially when driving yourself it makes you to a whole new set of bugs, parasites and environments. The fact of the matter is, the longer you go, the more likely you are to get a bug or two.
The key to the opportunities that minimize this, however, is active to the risk factors to fight to get sick in the first place. The last thing you want to do is to suspend at any more risk than you need. Prevention is far better than any cure.
Wash your hands
I know this sounds simple, but it's amazing how many people forget it, and as a nurse, the simple act your handwashing was drilled from the first day of basic training as a key component in the infection control in me. The National Health Service (NHS) in the UK has had just by strengthening the importance of washing hands a huge impact on the control of infection in a clinical setting, but the same applies to every aspect of day to day life, and traveling the world is no exception.
Hand hygiene is important to stop the spread of infection and can increase your chances of diarrhea, vomiting, food poisoning, gastroenteritis, influenza, norovirus, MRSA, or even Hepatitis A. [dramaticallyreduce
Many travelers carry small bottles of hand gel, and they are great as a backup, but they are no substitute for good old soap and water. Wherever possible, wash your hands before under hot water for at least thirty seconds, and after eating and always after using the toilet.
Drinking mineral water
If possible 't be sure of the purity of the local water, or are in areas go where hygiene is not so great, it should of course be that you should avoid the local tap water. Although the locals drink it without any problems, your stomach may not have the correct bacteria you need to protect them from getting sick, prevent local water - even ice in your drinks - in countries that cleaning is not their tap water
I recommend that least of all with you always bottled water and check that the seal should drink intact up on the bottle (a common scam filled bottles with tap water for sale). It is also a good idea to use bottled water to brush your teeth. But personally I prefer to use a water bottle it with a built-in filter, as this reduces the need for bottled water constantly to buy, money and protect the environment.
Be careful of food contamination
is contamination of food one of the biggest causes for each trip adventure diarrhea and gastrointestinal problems of the traveler. If you are not careful with the food on the road, you could potentially expose themselves to diarrhea, E. coli Shigella Salmonella Giardia Entamoeba histolytica Campylobacter Cryptosporidium Cyclospora , cholera, and more malignancy
you should always pay attention, -. as much as practically possible - that all the food that you eat is fresh, thoroughly cooked and served piping hot.
I love street food because of this, as you can see how clean the kitchen is the environment, and the food is often prepared right before your eyes. But look out for signs of good hygiene practice in every street food stall or food court eat with you. If the person carrying the food handling gloves and change them frequently? Is there any other person the money or at least the handling, the person's diet to remove cooking and gloves replaced every time they handle money? Is handwashing a regular occurrence? Is raw food left outdoors or it is stored properly? These things may seem inconsequential, but they are important
You may want to avoid - or be very careful - as follows :.
- salads prepared in local untreated water be
- raw fruits and vegetables which are not peeled or skinned yourself (if you have, they are usually okay)
- foods that abandoned and left [1945013wurde]
- food that is shared as undercooked in a buffet, raw or reheated foods, especially meat, fish and rice for a specified period.
you are not likely to avoid a little stomach upset completely when traveling - especially if you are traveling long - but if you know good food hygiene practices and follow them as much as possible, then you can at least minimize the risk to get sick
[you have to be afraid of familiar food
Eating local food and immersion in the local cuisine is one of the absolute true pleasures of traveling and you should never be missed, but that said, a degree of common sense is needed. Jumping straight into a diet of spicy curries or mainly red meat is a great way to some form of gastrointestinal disorders to ensure, if your stomach is not used.
Food intolerances occur when your intestines can not properly digest the food you have eaten or you have something new and different to it introduced, which can irritate the digestive tract and to stomach pain, cramping, gas, diarrhea vomiting and heartburn cause. Do not worry - this is usually not serious and happen relatively quickly. The trick to try new foods and new kitchen it is to mix a little.
If you have a sensitive stomach, take it easy at first and not eating familiar food from time to time scared.
Try and active
One of the best ways to unwanted infections to stay fit and healthy and fight keep moving. The benefits of exercise are well known and well documented: it improves overall health and well-being and strengthens the immune system, making you less susceptible to disease. And if you do get sick, your body is better able to fight infection and more you will get quickly back on his feet. It is not foolproof, of course, because they are still fit people get sick, but in general are fitter, the better you shake your body in that annoying bug or disease will be. I always try and maintain a healthy lifestyle, and that does not change, because I am traveling.
If you are not active or fit before you start traveling, to start it as an excuse! Go on a jungle trek, go hiking in the countryside or swimming on a mountain, in the sea, jogging -. Whatever your imagination tickled as long as it is a little gets you out of breath
Protect
Sunburn travel experience seriously one can good ruin in front against the sun
Current recommendations for sunscreen say 15 should at least use factor, although I at least SPF 30 recommend
Protect to get over bad sunburn from the sun even goes. You should also stay up well supplied with liquid when you are in a country or a region with a cold or tropical climate and cover up with loose clothing and even a hat or scarf on the go. If you do not, then can set dehydration very quickly, and that can lead to serious diseases such as exposure, heat exhaustion and heat stroke, which if left unattended can be a medical emergency.
I once cut a sightseeing short day in Egypt when I develop the signs and symptoms of heat stroke spotted in another traveler and had to help her to be rehydrated and cooled. It happens a lot easier than many people think, be useful artificial UV radiation cover up, and stay hydrated.
vaccinate
Vaccinations are probably one of the most common travel health concerns that people ask as a qualified nurse in my capacity, my advice. There is no one-size-fits-all answer to these questions, but because of the unique nature of the individual circumstances, but it is a universal constant: If you can protect yourself, it is a good idea to do this
Prevention is always better than cure, and nothing is better than you are vaccinated by the risk, to protect from a disease against them.
Not all vaccinations for each are required for each trip, and much depends on which vaccinations you already have, what country or region you are visiting, and individual factors, such as your personal medical history how long you are traveling, and what you will do. For this reason it is important that you get one-on-one personal consultation of your local travel clinic nurse specialist or doctor before you travel.
To give you a basic understanding of the types of vaccinations you need, but they are often in three different categories divided:
- Routine vaccinations are those that all during her childhood and early adult life; specific timetables (and sometimes the administration of the vaccine itself) have to be different from country to country, but they generally include the BCG vaccine, the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, and vaccinations against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP); Hepatitis B; Hepatitis A (for risk groups); Haemophilus influenzae type B; rotavirus; Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR); and HPV (to prevent young girls only, cervical precancer and cancer). It is important that you are up to date with all your routine vaccinations, including boosters, if you want to go. If you are not, then post a health professional should be your first stop, before they leave at all.
- Recommended vaccinations are all vaccines that are not included in the routine schedule of their own country and are specific to a particular destination to travel. These might include vaccination against hepatitis A include (if you have not already done so), rabies, Japanese encephalitis, cholera and typhoid fever, among others.
- Required Vaccinations see vaccination against yellow fever, meningococcal disease, and polio. Many countries where yellow fever is present, you will need proof of vaccination have before you will be allowed, and if you travel elsewhere heading to a country where these diseases are present, you will need to show proof of vaccination - known as an international certificate of vaccination or prophylaxis (ICVP.) - before entering
protect themselves from mosquito bites
mosquito bites are an absolute nightmare for everyone traveler. The best they are simply annoyed with painful and itchy welts, but in the worst case they can be a whole range of diseases such as yellow fever, dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis and Chikungunya, not to mention malaria.
transmitted mosquitoes may be in many parts of the world is a problem, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization and the NHS are Fit for Travel Website excellent places to find out where it bursts of diseases such as dengue fever or malaria are.
even if you are afflicted in a low to no risk, it is still a good idea to prevent mosquitoes that bite in the first place, even if it is only to avoid the hassles painful bites , It should be understood that the best thing you can do to protect themselves is to be of bitten to use preventative measures:
- The air-conditioned rooms are to minimize both mosquito bites as they often better sealed and less likely to leave them
- conceal it in.. the right clothes to wear is essential. Wear light, loose cotton clothing. Most of your skin covered, especially at peak exposure times and places, for example in the vicinity of water or at dusk or after dark, the peak time for malarial mosquitoes to feed
- sleep under permethrin coated nets where needed.
- with anti-mosquito coils, plugs and sockets, where appropriate.
- Always use a good dose of 30-50% DEET spray, and reapply it regularly. Some people prefer natural alternatives, but these are often not as effective or are often not clinically proven to be effective at all.
It is important to remember that none of these methods is completely foolproof. You can do everything right and still bitten. I once dengue began in India despite all the usual preventive measures, and it was one of the most unpleasant travel experiences of my life. It is not "breakbone fever" for nothing the nickname! However, you can always your risks associated with the peaks minimize above.
antimalarials When needed, take
As a nurse, I advise people to antimalarials all the time to take, and one of the biggest problems is the large amount of misinformation and fear for this issue there surrounds.
Basically, if the area you are heading a high risk of malaria yes then applies antimalarials are usually highly recommended. If you visit an area, do not recommend a low to no risk, then malarials generally.
antimalarials are drugs and like all medications, they have side effects. There is not a kind of anti-malaria; There are a number of prophylaxis are available, each of which has a number of common and rare side effects.
The important thing to remember, however, is that any different antimalarial different people are affected. Just because a person develops side effects, that does not mean the next person. In fact, the people suffer from serious side effects that are in the absolute minority. A lot of people are only mild side effects suffer, and most will no have.
know if they are necessary and if it is not another thing, and a lot of different factors must be considered now. These factors include the following:
- The level of risk you are, the time of year in your target
- go
- Whether there is any current outbreaks
- How long you stay in all sorts of high-risk areas
- What do you (will spend some time in rural areas or cities, do a lot of time in the vicinity of water, other risk factors, etc.)
- your personal medical history
- past experience with antimalarials
an appointment with a travel health professional make
There is important that you discuss your plans well with a health professional before starting on your around the world adventure head. Many travelers leave it instead to the last minute. Too many people contact me to realize in a week for an appointment with my travel clinic before they do not leave, that vaccination in time must be weeks apart!
The average recommended time to see a doctor 6-8 weeks before you leave, but I personally would go for a little earlier than the destination, especially if you think need more than one vaccination, or if you have specific health concerns. The worst that will happen is that you get an appointment closer to your time of departure, if it is determined that you do not need as much time to get sorted things.
This very simple steps will dramatically reduce the risk of ill get abroad, but they are often so simple that many people overlook , Before you take on your trip of a lifetime on the road for a moment to think about your health and prepare properly. In this way you can enjoy your trip in peace.
Remember that this is just the general health tips, and while they are being written by a qualified nurse, they are not a substitute for consultation with your travel health nurse or doctor, in which individual health problems on the basis your personal history are discussed.
Michael Huxley is a nurse from the UK (which is primarily interested in emergency nursing and travel medicine) and writes about his travels in his blog Bemused backpackers. There he blogs about backpacking, sustainable travel and health issues. It's a great blog! Michael is also an active moderator in our community forums.
Important Note: The information provided here is for general travel health advice and for information purposes only. It is provided by a qualified nurse available, but there is no substitute for a personal consultation with a travel nurse specialist, your family doctor or a doctor who specializes in travel medicine advice to adapt to your individual medical history and needs.
PS - Last week I started a charity to raise money for disadvantaged schools. The program is called it FLYTE help school trips for disadvantaged youth Fund abroad. We have close raised $ 7,000 so far! Read this post for more information about the organization, our mission and how you can get involved or donate.
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