They say traveling is food for the soul but what do you do if you’re prone to sickness abroad? Tiredness coupled with stress can be detrimental for your health. This is primarily why you should take special health measures when traveling to foreign lands.
In this post, we’ll be enlightening you on a few easy ways to take care of your health while traveling. Here are a couple of tips you should follow:
1. Get Some Quality Shut-Eye
The excitement of exploration might just get the better of you and keep you from sleeping through the night. Understand that your body needs plenty of energy to replenish itself for the new day ahead. The whole process of carrying luggage, keeping track of flight schedules and booking hotels can take a toll on your physical health. To keep yourself energized and fully rested, go to bed early each night. If you’re prone to jet lag, carry sleeping aids such as scented candles or sleeping masks to help you doze off in time. Sometimes creating a familiar atmosphere can also help you sleep better.
Similarly, you can also carry a small pillow to use during flights if you’ll be on air for a couple of hours. All in all, try to get as much quality shut-eye as you can. Listen to your body and try to make yourself as comfortable as possible.
2. Keep Your Self Hydrated
This is probably the most basic and common heath tip of all but it’s also the most neglected and undermined: drink plenty of water. We can’t emphasize enough on how important it is to stay hydrated, especially if you’re planning on frolicking all day on a warm sunny afternoon. Sun and sweat can easily cause you to feel dehydrated so make sure you pack a bottle of water. Depending on where you’re traveling, bottled water can be ridiculously pricey. Always carry your own bottle where ever you go.
If your travel involves the open wilds and lots of walking, stock up on purification tablets and always keep extra supplies in the head. Plus, it’s always a good idea to carry purification tablets if you’re worried about the quality of local water.
Also, it’s probably best too lay off alcoholic drinks and drink responsibly. After all, you won’t have your local bartender to call you a cab at the end of the night. Steer clear from alcoholic and sugary beverages that are likely to raise sugar levels. Drinking too much can disrupt your sleep cycle especially when you’re on foreign lands hence only consume moderate amounts. We understand that you’re on vacation or want to have fun but remember, your health should always be your priority.
3. Carry a Travel First Aid Kit
Stuffing two Band-Aids in your duffel bag isn’t enough if you’re traveling far and while. Ensure you have a travel first aid kit in hand. You can pack a small first aid box yourself or fetch yourself a portable sized one from the store.
If your travel involves the wilderness, get the necessary vaccines, stock up on extra supplies. Also, be vigilant about treating cuts and wounds in time to avoid bruises and infections. Here are the basic items you should include in your kit:
- Bandages
- Gauze
- Painkillers
- Surgical tape
- Antiseptic wipes
- Allergy medication
- Antihistamine cream (this will come in handy in case you get bitten by an insect)
- Antibacterial creams
- Small scissors
- Personal medication
Since you might not always have the luxury of washing your hands with soap, pack hand sanitizers and antibacterial wipes to ward off nasty bugs. If you’re traveling with kids, you may have to pack a more elaborate first-aid kit to cater the little ones. Don’t forget to pack a few items for your pet too!
And remember, if the pain does not subside and becomes unbearable, contact a physician using the best telemedicine software immediately. That’s right. Always seek professional medical advice. Educate yourself about contagious conditions such as Hand, Foot, and Mouth disease if you are traveling with kids.
4. Keep Yourself Warm
It’s easier to get sick when you’re traveling somewhere cold and wet. Pack warm clothes and keep dry as much as possible. The weather is likely to affect you more than locals so do your research and pack accordingly. Apart from warm coats, don’t forget to pack hats, mittens, cozy socks and scarves – basically any kind of article of clothing that will keep you toasty and warm.
Similarly, carry an umbrella and pack a rain jacket if you’ll be traveling somewhere that’s likely to experience rain. If you have friends living in the same city or country, you call them up and ask them about the weather. They will have useful advice to follow.
5. Eat Foods that Nourishes the Body
Yes, you’re on vacation and you get to enjoy yourself but remember to take care of your health. Eating green can be difficult when you have an array of delectable options to choose from but it’s important you eat nourishing foods. Dig into Belgium waffles for breakfast but make sure you include a few healthy berries and a glass of milk too.
Steer clear of sugar-loaded goods as it might cause you to feel lazy and lethargic. Include nourishing foods in between indulgences to get the hang of eating healthy. Make it as simple as adding more fruits and veggies to your diet or skipping coffee for fresh juice. What’s important here is that you attempt to eat healthy while traveling. This will also prevent digestion problems and unpleasant stomach pains that might end up ruining your trip.
So there you have it. We hope these tips will help you stay healthy while you’re out exploring the great unknown. Safe travels!
