A vacation is meant to be a fun and exciting way to get away from the stress of daily life. Your next vacation may be a long awaited recharge you need to catch up on sleep or spend quality time with your family. Unfortunately, vacations can also serve as a moment when you are most vulnerable to certain travel related health problems.
Before You Travel, Talk with Your Primary Family Doctor
Before your next vacation, it is always ideal to check-in with your family doctor. It is important to ensure you are healthy enough to travel, especially if you are traveling outside of the country. The last thing you want to happen is to be ready to relax and get sick while on a remote island. You may even want to talk to a doctor online or ask online questions to ensure your health is 100 percent.
Travel Illness is Common and You Should be Ready for Any Travel Illness
Even if you doctor says you are fit for travel, you may still get sick on your next vacation. If you ask online questions you may have learned a few travel illnesses that you may experience. However, knowing what to expect will help you take steps to prevent, or be ready when illness strikes.
Here are some common travel health problems, and tips to assist you in avoiding them:
- Motion Sickness.Motion sickness is caused by a battle between your middle ear and what your vision is processing. Symptoms of motion sickness include salivation, nausea, vomiting, excessive yawning and cold sweats. There are natural alternative treatments for motion sickness such as ginger candies, ginger tea and acupressure on a point called the “Pericardium 6.”
- Respiratory Infections.Respiratory infections are usually the “common cold,” and it can be caused by a viral infection. Common symptoms include slight fever, runny nose, muscle aches and ear pressure. The symptomatic treatment for this infection centers on nasal decongestants like pseudoephedrine and fever control with paracetamol.
- Traveler’s Diarrhea.Traveler’s diarrhea is a common problem for many vacation-goers, and can be caused by a few different factors such as a change in eating habits, or any other type environmental change. It can also be the result of a parasitic infection. Ciprofloxacin is a common antibiotic for traveler’s diarrhea. Staying hydrated with lots of water and electrolyte drinks also helps to avoid such problem.
Know Your Options If You Get Sick While Traveling
If you experience any of the above common travel illnesses, you may find the simple tips useful. However, any illness should be a call to action to see a doctor. And if you are travelling abroad, will you trust the local doctor?
Submitted by Dr. Asim Cheema: https://stmichaelshospitalresearch.ca/researchers/asim-cheema/
