If you are planning a trip this year, it’s important to always be health-conscious. Apart from viruses, there are also other health risks you need to be aware of. Getting sick in the middle of your travels is bad enough, so you need to stay protected from anything that could bring you down. Here are a few tips to help you stay healthy throughout your travels:
1. Get ample rest
You can never go wrong with having quality sleep. Getting the required nine hours of shut-eye is crucial to keeping your immune system up and running. In fact, recent studies show that sleep can help T-cells function better against infection. Other than that, being well-rested helps you make better decisions and become aware of your surroundings. It also makes sense to get as much sleep as possible to offset the effects of crossing time zones.
2. Be cautious when it comes to food
Any trip isn’t complete without savoring local delicacies. Then again, your gastronomic adventure could cause digestive problems if you are not careful enough. Norovirus and salmonella infections often result from consuming contaminated food. If you are having munchies during your travels, it’s always best to avoid street food and menus that were prepared in unhygienic places.
3. Bring along personal hygiene essentials
Nearly anything you come into contact with may carry germs and bacteria. The risk of infection is even greater in public restrooms. You are better off using personal items rather than what’s readily provided. Instead of using toilet paper, consider bringing along flushable wipes. You should also bring along a bottle of hand sanitizer or alcohol so you won’t have to use dispensers (unless they’re hands-free types).
4. Bring enough medication to last the journey
If you are taking any medication, you have to make sure you bring along enough to cover the entire duration of the trip. You may find yourself in situations where you run out of a certain drug and you have to travel miles to find a pharmacy. Even if you do find one, they may not carry the prescription drugs you need. If it’s critical that you must not miss out on scheduled doses, bring along a medicine box and stock as many meds as possible depending on the number of days you will be out traveling.
5. Get your inoculations
If you are traveling out of the country, you need to make sure you have taken the required inoculations. Tropical diseases can take a toll on your body, so it’s best to get inoculated before packing your bags. Other than that, you should also get the latest vaccines if you will be entering countries that require shots for specific diseases. Be sure to let your doctor know so you can get advice on getting your shots.
Everyone deserves a trip, but it doesn’t involve putting ourselves at risk. Taking the extra mile when it comes to making health-conscious preparations is a must if we want our journeys to go ahead smoothly.
