The Health Hazards All Travelers Need To Avoid

If you’re about to embark on the trip of a lifetime, the chances are that you’re not really concerning yourself with potential health issues that may crop up along the way. You’re more bothered about finding your passport, sorting your visas, getting the right backpack and booking your accommodation. However, your health should never be neglected. It doesn’t matter where you are hot-footing it to, there are a number of health factors you need to consider. Getting clued up before you even set foot on the plane could be the difference between a travel adventure that is the experience of your dreams or the stuff of nightmares.

Vaccinations

If you’re traveling to a destination that has the dreaded mosquito lurking around every corner, you must check whether there is a risk of malaria on sites such as cdc.gov. If there is, it’s vital that you take the appropriate antimalarials prior to travel and possibly even while you are there to build up an immunity. While the drugs you take to prevent the disease can cause a little bit of queasiness and a general yucky feeling, this is a million times better than being struck down by a possibly fatal ailment.

Other conditions such as yellow fever, typhoid and hepatitis are common in other parts of the globe. It’s imperative that you do your research to make sure that the country you are traveling to is free from these diseases. If not, a simple vaccination could save your life.

Your Feet

If you’re planning on trekking while on your travels, you must invest in a decent pair of walking boots. Without these, you run the risk of developing blisters, sores or corns. While this doesn’t sound like too much of an ailment compared to diphtheria or cholera, you’d be surprised just how debilitating a nasty blister can be. Infections can occur rapidly, you can become very ill and your trip of a lifetime is cut short.

If you’re venturing somewhere particularly cold to do some snowshoeing, pay close attention to the weather. Freezing temperatures can cause acute flare-ups of gout and make toes joints seize up. At patient.info, you’ll find some handy hints on how to prevent gout in the first place. No one wants to be admiring the Northern Lights spectacle in Iceland after scaling a glacier, only to have the moment ruined by a gout flare up.

Tummy Bugs

The number of people who suffer some sort of digestive issues when they are traveling is rising, and it’s mainly down to lack of knowledge and hygiene. When in a foreign country, it pays to drink only bottled water as a rule of thumb. It’s not that the native water is filthy or harmful, but your digestive tract may not be used to the different mineral makeup of the liquid. If you’re especially worried about food poisoning, go veggie while on your travels. The majority of food poisoning cases are caused by poorly cooked meat and fish so by eating only lentils, grains and vegetables, you limit the chances of being struck down by sickness, and you may feel a tad healthier in the process.

Traveling is one of life’s most amazing experiences. Be sensible and look after your health to ensure you can make the most of your travels to far-flung destinations.