Travel is good for us, but if you don’t take care to prevent sickness when traveling, your trip could be memorable for all the wrong reasons. Our bodies can react quite violently to changes in climate, differing water qualities, new and unusual foods and even our surroundings. Taking care to prevent sickness when traveling ensures you will be at the top of your game to get the very best of your experiences. After all, you don’t want to be spending more time in the hotel bathroom or in bed than sightseeing, and heaven forbid having to call a doctor.
Take the Echinacea herb about five days before leaving for your vacation. It can prevent sickness when traveling by boosting your immune system. It increases the number of white blood cells. You can take a solution of it via teaspoon or purchase a tablet. If taking the tablet, take one of them three times every day whilst on holiday.
Did you know you can stay healthy while traveling by simply not stepping on the floor? Airport security demands passengers step out of their shoes. The floor has thousands of people walking on it each day. Do you really want to stand on that icky floor in your bare feet? If you have any cuts or open sores you could be allowing fungal bacteria directly into your body. Wear socks and you won’t have to deal with this problem.
Stress can cause you to fall ill. Chamomile tea is a great remedy for travel stress. It takes the edge off of a long journey. Bring along some teabags just in case there are none available wherever you’re going. To prevent getting sick while traveling you need to remain in good health mentally and physically.
Always wash your hands. Door knobs and hand rails can be dirtier than your average toilet seat. Bring along some antibacterial wipes for the plane, as you can’t bring any liquids on-board unless they’re in a clear plastic bag. For the rest of your hand washing needs, bring along an alcohol-based sanitizer you can keep in your purse.
The nasal membranes are a gateway to your body. They become more of a high risk if you aren’t properly hydrated. You can use a hydrating nasal spray in extremely dry conditions but keep yourself hydrated at all times by drinking lots of water. Drink it as much as you can, especially if you’re going to a country with high humidity.
Street food is common in many cultures and the stalls aren’t always the cleanest of places. Eating at the right places is a crucial factor of staying healthy when traveling. Stay away from places if they don’t seem to get much business. If you see locals congregating around a stall, the chances are it’s safe to eat from. If there are lots of tourists surrounding the stall it’s a 50-50 call. It might simply be a gaggle of uninformed tourists or it might be highly recommended by the locals.
Not all countries have the same level of hygiene when it comes to the water supply. It’s perfectly fine to drink the water if you’re travelling domestically, or to a first-world country like France or the UK, but anywhere else you should exercise caution to prevent getting sick while traveling. Generally, you should opt for bottled drinking water. Make sure the seal is still attached when you buy it. Use it even whilst brushing. Check for any official warnings on local travel websites. If there are any warnings don’t bother taking the risk. Sometimes the water isn’t as pure as we would like.
It’s easy to think that staying healthy while traveling is just common sense, but truly, it is a little more. Things you do sub-consciously or naturally at home need to have some thought when you’re in a foreign land. And things have a way of catching you out. I was in India and had only eaten in our 5 star hotel restaurant when I got a real case of the Delhi Belly – so it’s best to always be prepared. Have you had any trips ruined by sickness?