No one wants to get sick, especially not while on vacation. An illness or injury during a trip abroad not only ruins your plans, it could also cause stress due to the various unknowns. The best way to avoid becoming ill or injured while travelling overseas is to stay healthy and safe.
But how do you stay healthy while travelling overseas? That’s a tough question answer at times, but there are ways to protect your wellbeing. This article lists four of the most effective ways to protect your health while journeying abroad.
Safeguard Yourself with Vaccines
Although travelling abroad can be thrilling, it can also expose you to health risks that are rare in your home country. This is why getting the correct vaccinations is essential before flying off; these vaccines will be an efficient method of defense. They introduce a harmless, measured form of virus into your system, allowing your immune system to develop antibodies.
Once your body has battled these disease-causing bacteria from the vaccine, it will be trained to do this again if you encounter it naturally in a foreign country. Your body will also recover quicker if you catch the infection while travelling.
The most common travel vaccines people receive before departing include Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid, and Yellow Fever, but many more potential vaccinations can be found here. You should make an appointment with a healthcare provider to be vaccinated at least one month before departure. Some vaccines will require multiple doses, so make sure you contact a health specialist in plenty of time.
Choose Suitable Travel Health Insurance
Purchasing travel medical insurance as a safety net is a wise choice. Although you might not need to use it, this coverage will help if you need medical care during your overseas vacation. Remember, it is better to have travel health insurance and not need it than to need it and not have it.
International travel medical insurance will protect you from receiving extortionate medical bills because of ill-health or accidents; this is due to the medical coverage. Travel health insurance will also offer benefits related to travelling. For example, a good policy will often include coverage for medical evacuations, trip interruptions, and other issues.
However, it is likely that your travel health insurance will need you to take adequate precautions to protect your wellbeing during your trip. This means washing your hands with soap and water, avoiding certain foods and drinks, covering your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough, etc.
To be on the safe side, you should also declare any pre-existing medical conditions that you have to your insurance provider; they may or may not cover such conditions.
Pack Prescription and Over-The-Counter Medications
If you are on prescription medications, you will need to take them with you during your travels. You should also bring any over-the-counter medications that you use regularly, such as paracetamol and antihistamines.
If you are unsure whether the medication you take contains illegal ingredients in the destination country, you can check country regulations on the International Narcotics Control Board website or call the country’s embassy. Medications that can be restricted in some countries include anti-anxiety medication, injectable medication, steroids, and more.
Take enough of your medications to last the entirety of your trip with extra in case of damage, loss, or unexpected delays. When packing, use the original packaging, including the labels and information leaflets within. These can be included in a travel first aid kit, which is best put in your carry-on in case your hold luggage is lost.
Establish a Familiar Routine
It can be tempting to let vacationing change your entire routine. Enjoying indulgent foods, lying in bed until noon, and sipping alcoholic cocktails by the pool sounds like it a dream, but is can take its toll. Your body and mind, especially your circadian rhythm, will be affected by the chaos that a trip overseas brings. This is why you must try to limit changes and keep your routine simple.
A little bit of consistency can ease any shocks to your system. You can do a few small tasks, such as eating at the same time of day, exercising for half an hour, going to bed around the same time, daily to establish regularity without taking the fun away from being on vacation. These little moments can be built into your schedule easily.
Accomplishing small tasks everyday can also help. Vacations are great ways to explore, which means getting additional steps in is easy; this can help your body stay moving and benefit your wellbeing.
To conclude, protecting your health while travelling overseas can be a challenge at times. All countries have their own risks, with different illnesses and infections as well as rules. Knowing how you can shield your body and mind can help make vacationing less stressful.
With this in mind, holiday-goers should follow the tips presented in this article to ensure they stay in good health and receive help should they need it.
