Healthy Travel Tips
Traveling overseas brings with it added health risks. When you travel outside of your own country you expose yourself to diseases that you may not face in your own environment. If overseas travel is in your future, keep these health tips in mind.
First, make sure you are prepared for any infectious diseases to which you may be exposed during your travels. This link offers a list of the infectious diseases that are out there and includes information about where they may be found and what the symptoms are. This student travel website also provides important information about protecting yourself from disease when traveling. One way to protect yourself from infectious diseases found abroad is to make sure to have all the necessary vaccinations. Some vaccinations are recommended for overseas travel that may not be included in a regular vaccination schedule. The CDC has vaccination checklist for travelers to look over to ensure they are protected when they leave.
You also need to be careful about animals and insects you may encounter abroad. Mosquitoes, ticks, and spiders can all carry diseases, so take protective measures when spending time outdoors. The Travel Doctor gives important information about protecting yourself from insect bites and stings while traveling.
The food of a particular destination can be problematic for travelers. Be sure you know the source of the food you are eating. Unless you are sure the water is safe to drink, do not drink water when traveling overseas. Buy bottled water and avoid eating uncooked foods to protect yourself from illness. The Foodsafe Partnership offers helpful information about eating when traveling out of the country. These food and water precautions are also quite helpful. Remember, foods that are grown with the country's water or washed in the water may be hazardous to your health if there is a problem with the country's water. Therefore, use caution when eating fresh fruits and vegetables in an area that has a water problem. This travel tips article provides more information about how you can actually end up consuming the dangerous water in another country.
Over exhaustion can be a problem for overseas travelers. Jet lag is a very real concern, as the body needs time to adjust to the new time zone. Be sure to plan enough time to let your body adjust to your new surroundings. Avoid planning too many activities for the first day of the trip. This link provides helpful information regarding the signs of exhaustion. When traveling to a hot location, be sure to watch for signs of heat exhaustion as well.
The World Health Organization publishes a regular travel report that provides helpful information about current travel hazards, disease outbreaks, and other risks you may face when traveling. Before you start your trip, download the latest version to learn of any problems you may encounter.