Staying healthy on your travels

It may not seem like the funest thing to worry about but it's important to make sure you're fighting fit throughout your travels

Looking after yourself is important, especially when you’re travelling. You don’t want to miss a thing and that means staying on top form. So we’ve put together a little guide to help you stay fit and healthy throughout your travels.

Before you go

Taking care of your health starts at home. So you need to start preparing before you even leave the country. Fitness is important, especially if you’re planning a spot of adventure travel. So a regular exercise regime can do the world of good. And once you’ve got that in place, there are a couple more things for you to think about

Immunisations

Getting ill abroad can be scary, so being prepared is essential. The first thing you need to do is get your jabs. Which ones you’ll need depends on where you’re travelling, so speak to your doctor and find out what they recommend.

Possible jabs include:

• Hepatitis B
• Typhoid
• Hepatitis A
• Yellow fever
• Japanese B encephalitis
• Meningitis
• Rabies

Medications

If you have any medical conditions, you need to be extra careful. So when you pop to your doctor to talk about immunisations, ask what else you need to do to prepare. In most cases, particularly the contraceptive pill, you’ll just need a prescription to see you through your travels. In others, you might have to make arrangements to see a doctor while you’re away. The point is, you have to know what you need to bring to stay healthy.

Other medical supplies that you might want to take with you include:

• Pain killers
• Re-hydration tablets
• Throat lozenges A
• Cold remedies
• A first aid kit
• Alcohol-based hand washes
• Sunscreens

While you’re away

Travelling inevitably has an impact on your health. In some cases it’s the travel itself, while in others it’s what you do while you’re away. But knowing what these problems could be before you encounter them, can help you prepare.

Jet lag

If you’re travelling for long distances, it can take your body a while to catch up. You might find yourself wide-awake in the middle of the night or sleeping in the middle of the day. To minimise the effects, start adjusting your sleep cycle a couple of days in advance. And once you’ve arrived, make sure you drink plenty of water and avoid caffeinated drinks.

Travel sickness

Suffer from travel sickness? First of all, make sure you’ve got any medication that you take for this. You can also help to minimise sickness by eating a light meal before you travel, looking out of the window instead of at stationary objects and sipping a drink while you travel.

Ear troubles

Flying can play havoc with your ears, but if you keep swallowing as the plane takes off and lands, you should be able to minimise discomfort. Yawning is good too, but not so easy to do on demand.

Diarrhoea

Try to avoid stomach problems by drinking bottled water, boiling water or purifying it with iodine tablets. If you do come down with something, you’ll need plenty of fluids. Anti diarrhoea and re-hydration tablets should be taken as required, until you get better. Make sure you follow the directions on the label. And if it lasts for more than 3 days, consult a doctor.

Your health is just as important when you travel as it is when you’re at home, so make sure you’re prepared. For more information on what to do if your get ill while abroad, visit the travel health section of the NHS website.

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