Health

It is important to take precautions while traveling.  Take a look at these suggestions to keep you healthy for travel.

Precautions travelers should take before a trip.

Research your destinations and possible health risks
Before you travel it is essential to know any possible health risks you may or may not be exposed to at your destination.  The Center for Disease Control and Prevention is a site managed by the U.S. Department of Health Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that offers advice and tips for travelers.  They have a database of countries that will tell you valuable health information.  You can also learn about disease prevention as well as where to find a qualified travel doctor and clinic in order to get the right vaccinations before your trip.

See a doctor before you travel
It is important to see a doctor before you travel, especially if you are traveling to a developing country or if you will be hiking or visiting a farm.  There are many doctors that specialize in travel health, and their knowledge will help you avoid any negative situations as well as provide insight into some health issues you may not have been aware of.   In the next couple of days I will be traveling to South America and I have an appointment today with a doctor specialized in travel health.

Pack smart
Think about what you might need while traveling.  Each destination requires different things.  If you will be in a big city with access to pharmacies and convenience stores then you won’t need to bring many things.  However it is always important to carry hand sanitizer as well as tissues.  Some other ideas include cough drops, antacids, anti-diarrhea medicine, anti-motion sickness, insect repellent, sunscreen, and band aids.

Medicine
If you will be taking prescription medicine abroad you must have all copies of the prescriptions as well as a note on letter headed stationery from your doctor.  Also make sure that the medicine you are bringing with you is legal in the country you are traveling to.  Check the embassy or consulate for a list of prohibited substances.

Precautions travelers should take during a trip.

Be wary of water and local produce
It is common that tourists get sick if they drink water that hasn’t been purified.  To avoid this try to only drink bottled water, also avoid juices sold by vendors.  Do no eat fruits and vegetables if you don’t peel them yourself.  Also avoid all unpasteurized dairy products.  As much as I love to eat street food it is important to take these precautions.  Street vendors wash their produce with local water and we all know what happens if we get sick from the water.  What I try to do while traveling is wash whatever I buy with bottled water.  If you are worried, I would suggest to avoid eating from outside vendors all together.

Watch the altitude
If you are traveling to a place with a much higher altitude than you are used to back home, allow for a few days in order to get accustomed before you do any strenuous activities such as sports or hiking.

Avoid animals
In many countries, animals may roam freely in the streets.  Their feces is often what creates many problems when it comes to disease or traveler’s diarrea.  Make sure that you are wearing shoes and protective clothing.