Doing some international travel this holiday season? Before you leave, prepare for a healthy vacation – by getting the proper vaccinations and knowing how to find a doctor in a foreign country. The right knowledge can reduce your risks – and if you get sick or injured, it could save your life (or at least your pocketbook). Read on for 5 traveling tips that help you stay healthy, no matter where in the world you’re going…
Taking the trip of a lifetime to a far-off land? Of course, you’re thrilled.
But you’re nervous too: Will I get eaten alive by malaria-infested mosquitoes? End up with Ebola, cholera or bird flu?
That’s unlikely, the experts say.
“Most travelers aren’t laid low by exotic diseases like malaria or Dengue fever, but by everyday ailments like sunburn, motion sickness, insomnia and traveler’s diarrhea,” says Jeffrey Band, M.D., chief of infectious disease and director of Interhealth: Health Care for International Travelers at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich.
“Your chances of dying from an infectious disease while traveling – even in a developing country like [those in] Africa – is just a sliver,” he says.
Still, an unexpected travel illness – whether it’s a foreign ailment or run-of-the-mill motion sickness – could jeopardize your health, ruin your vacation and possibly empty your bank account, Band says.
That’s why you should consult with your family doctor or a travel medicine expert to learn about potential risks, required vaccines and even what kind of insect repellent to pack.
“A travel medicine specialist can also fill you in on travel-related nuisances particular to the locale,” says Alfred Scott Lea, M.D., an infectious disease specialist and associate professor of medicine at the University of Texas Institute of Tropical Medicine in Galveston.
“In some developing countries, even if you’re staying at a nice resort, you could get bitten by a poisonous snake because they feed on the mice and rats that hang out near hotels,” he says. “And in island countries like Australia and the West Indies, avoid swimming in red tides where a jellyfish sting can cause a life-threatening illness called serotonin syndrome.
Read on for common international travel-health risks, and how to protect yourself and your family.
Health travel mistake #1: You break your leg bungee-jumping.
“The biggest cause of illness abroad is accidents, including injuries from recreational activities,” warns Bert Lopansri, M.D., medical director of the Loyola University Health System International Medicine and Traveler’s Immunization Clinic in suburban Chicago.
Healthy Traveling Tips:
“Contact your health insurance company before leaving to find out what’s covered if you become ill or get injured in a foreign country,” advises Robert Wheeler, M.D., in-house medical director for On Call International, a global medical and travel assistance provider based in Salem, N.H.
“If your primary insurance doesn’t cover you in a developing country, buy a short-term travel policy that covers medical expense and medical evacuation,” Band says. “For a list of sources for travel insurance, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). You can get data on travel health advisories from the CDC or the World Health Organization (WHO).
If you’re doing something adventurous, find a reputable organization with a good safety record, says Lopansri. The best way to check up on an adventure travel company is to talk to former clients. Another good sign is if they’re accredited by groups such as the Adventure Travel Trade Association or the Ecotourism Society.
Pack copies of your medical records so local doctors can provide better treatment if you get sick, says Wheeler.
“Know how and where to find competent care abroad,” Band says. “The U.S. Embassy in the country you’re visiting is the best source for finding reliable medical care.” Before traveling, print out a list of doctors, which is often available on the U.S. Embassy website for that country.
You may also want to get a free membership to the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers, a nonprofit organization that helps you find doctors and treatment anywhere in the world.
Health travel mistake #2:
You can’t go abroad because you don’t have the right vaccine.
To prevent the spread of diseases, some nations require that travelers get specific immunizations, along with a certificate to prove it.
“A travel medicine specialist is your best bet for getting the right vaccinations if you’re traveling someplace other than Western Europe, Australia, New Zealand or Canada,” says Donna Hanlon, M.D., chairwoman of infectious disease at Gottlieb Memorial Hospital near Chicago.
Healthy Traveling Tips:
Visit a travel medicine clinic (find one near you at istm.org ) to get information on vaccinations and immunizations for the country you’re visiting, says Band.
To find out required immunizations by country, see the CDC or WHO websites.
The CDC can also provide a form that helps you and your doctor determine which vaccines you’ve already received, which you still need and when you should get them.
“If you’re traveling to a developing country, see a travel medicine specialist 6-8 weeks in advance,” says Band. “This is especially important if you need to get vaccinated for hepatitis B, which is a series of three shots given over a 6-8-week period.” Most other vaccines provide protection within three weeks of getting them.
“If you’re traveling to sub-Saharan Africa and tropical South America, you may need to get a yellow fever vaccination as well as a certificate proving you got the shot,” Band adds.
“If you’re traveling to Saudi Arabia during the Hajj (the annual religious pilgrimage to Mecca held in late fall), you’ll need a meningitis vaccine as well as a certificate of proof [that you’ve been vaccinated within the past three years]," Band says.
“Some countries may want proof that you don’t have HIV,” Band adds.
“If you’re traveling to a country with malaria, pack an insect repellent with DEET. It’s the most potent and longest-acting repellent and offers the widest spectrum of protection,” says Lea. Natural repellants don’t protect too, he says.
Health travel mistake #3: You went to Thailand, but your medications went to Europe.
Left your medicine at home, lost your luggage or didn’t bring enough?
If you lose or run out of medications while traveling – especially for serious diseases like diabetes, hypertension, cancer and asthma – you could be putting your health at risk.
Fortunately, there are several things you can do to make sure you have the medications you need, Band says.
Healthy Traveling Tips:
Take most of your medications in your carry-on, but keep 2-3 days of medications separate in your checked luggage as a backup.
Ask your doctor for extra medication to take on your trip. For example, if you’re going away for a week, bring enough for at least 10 days in case of travel delays or if you decide to extend your vacation.
Get prescriptions from your doctor before you leave and keep them in your carry-on luggage. Also, ask your doctor to write a note for you on official stationary that states what conditions you have, your medications and dosages. This will help you obtain an emergency refill if needed.
Know the generic name of the drug in case it goes by another name abroad.
Still, “be careful about buying prescription drugs in developing countries, especially if they’re sold over-the-counter,” Band says. “There’s a higher risk of counterfeits [with] dangerous side effects.”
He adds, “Even if you’re just looking for something to take for a cold or the flu, be aware that some developing countries still sell older antibiotics and cold medications that were taken off the market in the U.S. because of toxicity issues.”
It’s probably safe to buy prescription drugs in Western Europe, Australia, Canada and New Zealand, Band says.
Health travel mistake #4: You’re really jet-lagged.
“Your body needs one day to recover from jet lag for every time zone you cross, so build time into your itinerary to recuperate,” says Marc Schlosberg, M.D., a sleep specialist and director of the National Rehabilitation Hospital Sleep Lab in Washington, D.C.
Healthy Traveling Tips:
“Try melatonin supplements, a synthetic version of the hormone produced in your brain that helps control your normal sleep-wake cycle and helps some people combat jet lag,” says Schlosberg. Dosages range from .5 milligrams (mg) to 5 mg. Ask your doctor which is best for you.
“Avoid driving or engaging in activities that require concentration until you’ve adjusted to the new time zone,” Schlosberg advises. “Even if you feel awake, jet lag slows your reaction times, impairs vision and causes bad judgment because your brain takes longer to process information.”
“Take it easy the first few days of vacation to avoid illness or infection,” says Steven Lamm, M.D., an internist and clinical assistant professor at New York University’s medical school and the doctor on ABC’s “The View.” “If you got up at 3 a.m. for a 6 a.m. flight, you’re starting your vacation sleep-deprived, which – combined with the normal wear and tear of travel (missing meals, exposure to different bacteria and germs) – can affect your immune system.”
Health travel mistake #5: Your legs are swollen.
On a long flight, low cabin pressure, dry air and sitting in a cramped seat for hours can increase your risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), the formation of blood clots in the veins of the legs, warns Roy Silverstein, M.D., chairman of the department of vascular cell biology and atherosclerosis and professor of molecular medicine at the Lerner Research Institute at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.
“Symptoms include swelling and pain,” Silverstein says. “If left untreated, DVT can cause chronic leg swelling, pulmonary embolism (blood clots in the lung) and even death.”
“You have a higher risk of DVT if you have a prior history of blood clots, diabetes or cancer, if you’re obese, take birth control pills, smoke, are in your third trimester of pregnancy or traveling with an injured leg or a leg in a cast,” he adds.
Silverstein offers the following tips for preventing DVT while traveling.
Healthy Traveling Tips:
Keep your legs moving by walking around the plane and flexing calf muscles. Sometimes flight attendants will demonstrate “flight exercises,” says Silverstein.
Don’t sit with your legs crossed, as it can interfere with normal blood flow and increase the risk of DVT, he says.
Stay hydrated during the flight by drinking lots of water. Moderate amounts of coffee and tea are fine too.
Consider wearing travel stockings (compression hose). They help prevent clots by putting additional pressure on your legs.
Don’t sleep on the plane for hours. Instead, take short naps and walk around the plane and move your legs every hour.
If you’ve had a blood clot before, talk to your doctor about taking a prescription blood thinner (such as Coumadin or Plavix) while flying, Silverstein says.
Are You a Travel Pro?
Have you taken the time to check into helpful travel tips to ensure that you have a safe and enjoyable time? Even if you have decided to engage in a bit of last-minute travel planning, remember that some essentials are too important to forget.
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