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Safeguarding Your Health While Traveling |
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| Name : |
Judith Albright |
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| City: |
Fort Collins |
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| State : |
Colorado |
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| Country : |
United States |
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| Article Reviews: 0 Reviews |
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Ah, vacation...that long awaited time when we can finally get away, have a change of scene, relax, or pursue excitement and adventure in some exotic setting. Exotic settings have their merits, but it is easy to forget that conditions outside the United States are not the same as they are at home. While there is less to worry about in Europe and other developed countries, there are many areas of the world where Americans can encounter serious health risks. As a result, thousands of travelers come home from vacations every year with more than souvenirs and memories.
The logistics of travel itself can compromise your immune system and put you to the test. All of the following have a major impact on your body:
• Rushing to catch planes, trains or busses
• Breathing recycled air on planes
• Standing in endless lines
• Eating food you are unaccustomed to
• Sleeping in unfamiliar beds
• Changing time zones and altitudes
• Constantly moving from place to place
• Over scheduling and tight timetables
If these are not enough to wear you down, travelers are commonly exposed to viruses, bacteria, and parasites in other countries to which their bodies have no resistance. Being the squeaky clean people Americans are, we have little immunity against infectious diseases and conditions that flourish in areas of the world where living conditions are poor and sanitation is nearly nonexistent. Insect bites can be a problem too. While mosquitoes are mostly an irritant at home, they can be downright dangerous in tropical climates where they are the airborne carriers of serious infectious diseases such as malaria and dengue fever.
Fortunately most travelers only encounter minor conditions that are not life threatening but can be serious enough to ruin a vacation. There is always the possibility that you could be stung by an insect or jellyfish, suffer serious sunburn, be overcome by heat, experience altitude sickness, have an allergic reaction, break out in a rash, or get sick from drinking too much alcohol. While some of this may be beyond your control, many situations can be avoided simply by planning ahead and using a little common sense.
How to Cope with Four Common Traveler’s Ailments
1. Intestinal Upsets and Traveler’s Diarrhea – Traveling in areas where sanitation is poor puts you at significant risk for consuming contaminated food and beverages, the primary sources of intestinal illnesses. The following precautions will lessen your chances of becoming ill.
• Drink only canned or commercially bottled beverages. Drinking directly from a bottle or can is generally safer than drinking from a glass or container of questionable cleanliness.
• Wipe off and thoroughly dry wet cans or bottles before you open them. Be sure to wipe clean any surface that comes into direct contact with your mouth. Water on the outside of cans or bottles can be contaminated.
• Choose only well known international beverage and water brands and make sure that seals on bottles have not been broken. In some areas it is common practice to refill bottles with local water to sell to tourists.
• Avoid drinking beverages made of tap water (lemonade or iced tea). Hot beverages (coffee and tea) made with boiled water are likely to be safe.
• Order drinks without ice. Outside major hotels, ice cubes are likely to be made with local tap water and should be considered unsafe.
• Stay away from food buffets unless you know the food is fresh and has been kept consistently hot. Food left standing for several hours at low temperatures is fertile breeding ground for bacteria.
• Resist buying food from street vendors no matter how enticing it looks. There is no way to know how the food was prepared or under what conditions.
• Eat fresh fruit only if it has a thick skin and you can peel it yourself. Fresh fruits and vegetables prepared in quality hotels are usually safe.
• Brush your teeth and rinse your toothbrush and mouth only with bottled water.
• Stay out of swimming pools that are not chlorinated – you are bound to get water in your nose and mouth, an easy way to introduce waterborne diseases into your system.
2. Severe Sunburn – Sunlight is composed of two harmful rays: Ultraviolet A and B. Ultraviolet B (UVB) is the cause of sunburn. UVB is strongest at midday in summer and should be avoided, especially from noon to 3:00 p.m. Ultraviolet A waves do not burn but penetrate deeper into skin, contributing to premature aging, wrinkling and skin cancer. UVA rays are just as strong early in the morning and late in the day. Water intensifies the sun’s rays, thus water sports put your skin at greater risk for serious burns. If you plan to spend a significant amount of time in the sun, purchase sportswear specifically designed for sun protection. Ultra violet rays penetrate regular clothing and untreated hats. Tee shirts and mesh fabrics offer no protection at all. For maximum protection:
• Use only sunscreen of 45 SPF or higher with “broad spectrum” protection. No sunscreen offers 100% protection—skin damage still occurs, just at a reduced rate.
• Add an application of lip block if you will be out on water. Water reflects back 50% of the sun’s rays, and lips and noses are especially susceptible to burns. Even a cloudy sky only blocks 20% of the sun’s burning rays.
• Avoid spending time in the sun in wet tee shirts which intensify burning on the shoulders. Keep your shoulders covered, both in and out of water.
3. Jet Lag – is caused by disruptions to the sensitive and complex internal clock that regulates the body’s circadian rhythms. Jet travel takes us across time zones too quickly for our body clock to adjust. While disruption of bodily rhythms is the primary cause of jet lag, there are actions you can take both during flight and afterwards to reduce symptoms and help you adjust to your new environment.
• Stop thinking about what time it is at home and change your watch to the time at your destination to help you adjust psychologically.
• Drink plenty of water in flight. The dryness in the cabin saps your body of fluids, which is a major cause of jet lag. If you are nervous flyer, the anxiety produced by fear of flying also contributes to dehydration.
• Drink only decaffeinated coffee or herbal teas if you want a hot drink. The caffeine in coffee accelerates dehydration and increases nervousness.
• Drink alcohol only after you reach your destination. Alcohol is also a major contributor to jet lag. Not only is it dehydrating, it can be debilitating. One in-flight drink is equivalent to two on the ground.
• Stay awake during the flight if your plane arrives at night.
• Try to sleep on a flight that arrives in the morning.
• Get out into bright sunlight at the first opportunity, especially if you are arriving after an overnight flight. Light has a powerful effect on your biological clock and will help keep you going.
• Eat a snack or light meal at your first opportunity. Eating signals the brain it is time to be awake
• Take a high potency vitamin B complex tablet – it will give you a temporary energy boost to help you get through the first day.
• Learn to use EFT before you leave home. Periodic tapping as you move through time zones helps you become “clocked in” when you arrive.
4. Motion Sickness - can occur any time you are inside or on board a moving vehicle. The exact cause is unclear, but is thought to be related to the balance organs found in the inner ear. If you struggle with this condition there are various ways to minimize the problem.
• Avoid eating a heavy meal or drinking alcohol the night before you leave.
• Stay away as far as you can from strong odors from food, tobacco, perfume and gasoline or diesel fumes while you are traveling.
• Ask for seat assignments in the section of the plane located directly over the wings, the area least subject to motion. On cruise ships, book a cabin admidship.
• Ride only in the front seat of a car or in the front seats of sightseeing busses. Riding in the back tends to intensify symptoms, especially on winding roads.
• Recline your seat as much as possible on planes and in cars
• Focus your eyes on the horizon or on some point inside when riding in a car. Don’t watch the passing scenery.
• Eat ginger candies or ginger snap cookies to soothe your stomach. Powdered ginger tablets are also available in health food stores.
• Obtain a prescription for Scopolamine, a small skin patch worn behind the ear that is quite effective in reducing symptoms. Or, purchase Bonine, a common over-the-counter anti-nausea remedy that does not make you sleepy. Take the recommended dose a few hours before boarding any moving vehicle.
The age old saying is still valid: a pound of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure. Being an aware and informed traveler will steer you clear of many of the potential health hazards you can encounter away from home. |
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