Who wants to get ill while travelling? Apart from spoiling a wonderful holiday or ruining a valuable business meeting, it can be EXTREMELY expensive and VERY inconvenient.
Personally, I like to tackle my own travel-health from three sides:
- Prevention
- First-Aid and
- Special Reserve
Basic Tips:
- Make sure you have enough of any chronic medication – including birth control pills - to last you through the entire trip, especially when travelling internationally. Medications are not necessarily the same across countries. Note that some countries will require a copy of the doctor’s prescription before allowing you to import your meds. Also be aware of extreme temperatures (aircraft hold as low as -70C, bus luggage hold up to +50C) which may negatively influence your meds.
- Try to keep to your normal time intervals for the medication. Implement any necessary changes (due to time-zones, diet, etc) gradually
- Have your teeth checked in good time to have any emergency work completed before your trip! Medical aids and travel insurance seldom cover more than the most basic pain control measures. On-the-road treatment is EXPENSIVE.
- If travelling to an area with endemic diseases (malaria, typhoid, cholera, zika virus, yellow fever, etc) take preventive meds or vaccines if you can, and take EVERY possible precaution to avoid being infected while you are exposed. If you are ill within 2 weeks of returning home, make sure to mention your travels to your doctor.
Prevention:
The body’s immune system is and remains our best weapon. Strengthening and supporting the immune system is the foundation of my travel-wellness strategy.- Load up with extra generous amounts of Vitamin C for a good week before travelling and keep up a generous daily dose for at least a week after completing your trip. Small doses spread throughout the day (or vitamin C powder dissolved in your glass water bottle) will ensure that the maximum amount is absorbed and used.
- Get as much exercise and exposure to sunlight as possible (without burning) before and during your trip. This helps to increase your Vitamin D levels while ensuring a good supply of fresh nutrients to the furthest corners of your body. At the same time, waste products are flushed out and stress levels kept at a minimum.
- Drink lots of good, clean water to help keep all systems GO!
- If you have a sensitive gut, stick to the rules of sensible eating:
- boil it, peel it, cook it, wash it or forget it
- If you are not sure about the water, buy bottled to drink.
- NEVER drink anything that you did not see opened and keep it with you at all times!
First-Aid:
When the first tummy rumble or throat-scratch occurs, some simple guidelines can still prevent the problem from becoming more serious:- Humic Acid (such as that found in Humi-Caps) is an absolutely marvellous all-round first-aid. Use 2 caps x 4 times per day for a quick and effective, proven anti-inflammatory and anti-viral agent (scratchy throat, sore knee, post-nasal drip, sinus, flu etc). For an upset stomach, take 8 Humi-Caps immediately and another 4 caps after 4 hours. All natural, no additives, no side-effects and very affordable – it doesn’t get much better than that! (*)
- Burned toast (or well-burned charcoal) absorbs toxins in the gut.
- Take in sufficient fluids and salts to replenish those lost in the battle.
- Make your own nasal inhalant using ½ cup cooled, boiled water with ¼ t table salt to combat the irritating effects of dust, air-conditioners and airborne allergens or pathogens. Use regularly and generously and make up a fresh solution as often as you can.
Special Reserve:
When there is already some pain or the first signs of discomfort (such as fever, swelling or redness, dehydration, coughing and so on) there are a few simple meds which might still prevent a full-scale medical emergency. The normal rules of drug storage and use (out of reach of children, don’t use if sensitive/allergic, NEVER exceed the dose, etc) are even more important on the road than at home:- Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is known to combat pain and fever.
- Aspirin: For pain, fever, inflammation. Remember its tendency to thin the blood! NOT for children presenting with symptoms of flu.
- Chest rub or drops containing menthol for blocked nose or cough. Also useful to cool bites and stings.
- Antiseptic cream for cuts, abrasions, traveller’s ‘nappy-rash’ and more
- 2-3 plasters (blisters, fingers and toes, bites and falls)
- Anti-emetic (car sickness)
If the condition is serious, or does not let up within a day or two, take the punch and see a doctor.
It is not worth spoiling your trip (and that of everyone else) just to prove how ‘brave’ you are.
This is definitely one of those times when discretion is the better part of valour.
Let us know your experiences – we would love to hear from you:
- Have you ever been ill on a trip?
- How did you stop yourself from becoming ill?
And above all – HAVE A HEALTHY TRIP!!
