Summer Travel Health Tips
Put Health in Your Travel Plans
When traveling overseas, be sure that your trip planning takes health needs into consideration.
- If you have a medical condition such as high blood pressure, talk to your doctor about any changes in your treatment that might be necessary during the trip. How should dosage schedules be adjusted to account for time zone changes?
- Carry with you a list of your medications (both brand and generic names) and the conditions for which they are prescribed.
- Have adequate quantities of your medications, in their original containers, with you.
- Locate in advance doctors, clinics and hospitals at your destination that are capable of dealing with your medical problems in case of an emergency.
- Get all immunizations required or recommended for your destination.
- Make sure you have insurance coverage for hospitalization or emergency evacuation and know how to access that coverage.
For a Traveler's First Aid Kit, CLICK HERE.
Jet Lag Is Major Problem
Jet lag affects as many as two thirds of air travelers, bringing with it insomnia, daytime fatigue and other problems. Causes include travel across time zones, sleep deprivation, disruption of normal eating patterns and increased alcohol consumption during travel.
After returning from a trip to Australia, Sharon found herself sleeping during daytime hours and then unable to get to sleep at normal bedtime–a pattern that persisted for several days. To prevent this problem, try to get as much sleep as possible on the plane (even if this means frequent napping); using bright lights for three hours at the new morning time after arrival; and resisting urges to fall asleep early in the evening, gradually moving to a normal bedtime.
What To Do about the H1N1 Virus (Swine Flu)
The swine flu, responsible for more than 100 deaths in Mexico, is spreading rapidly. To protect yourself:
- wash your hands frequently;
- stay home from work or school if you have mild flu symptoms;
- go to a hospital if you have severe symptoms such as difficulty breathing;
- don’t worry about eating safely cooked pork. The disease is spread through personal contact, not food.
For an update on H1N1 Virus CLICK HERE.
Cramped Travel Can Cause Clots
Persons who traveled long-distances–whether by air, car, bus or train–had a two-fold increased risk of developing a blood clot, according to a population-based case control study. The risk was highest in the first week after travel.
Because the risk was higher for all forms of travel, the researchers believe that immobilization was a major factor. Short people and tall people had an even higher risk–presumably because the tall subjects were more cramped and the short ones were more subject to compression of leg veins because their legs did not reach the floor.
Prevention involves drinking plenty of fluids and getting up every hour or so to move around and stretch the legs.
