Maintaining Your Health While Traveling

Image courtesy of Unsplash. Traveling brings both joys and challenges. Nobody wants to get sick, especially while away from home, but it can happen. A bit of planning and preparation can help things go as smoothly as possible, healthwise. Preparation is key. Make sure you complete the emergency contact information in your passport, so if you’re in an accident, this information will be easily available. Pack any medications you take regularly, as well as a few extras, such as ibuprofen, Imodium, cold medications, antibiotic ointment, and a saline nasal spray. Bring a list of your medical conditions and medications in case your luggage gets lost. Pocket-size hand sanitizers should be placed in your purse, jacket, carry-on bag, and suitcase. If it’s flu season, or you’re going to an area where COVID is on the rise, bring face masks, too. Consider bringing a travel-size humidifier for your hotel room, particularly if you’re going to a dry climate. Bring along your medical records. Before the trip, make PDFs of your medical records so that you can access them with your phone. When stored as PDFs, these records will be available to you and any medical practitioner you see, whether wifi service is available or not. Your stored files should include records of all vaccinations, including COVID, current COVID tests, if applicable, a list of your medications, health insurance information, and documentation of any allergies or conditions such as diabetes. Get contact information in place. While planning the trip, consider enrolling in STEP (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program), offered by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs, which is free. This program will keep you advised of travel advisories and health issues in your destination countries, as well as provide a way for the U.S. Embassy and/or your loved ones to contact you in the event of an emergency. Take the contact information for the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers along on your trip, and even more important, consult their website before you go. This organization can alert you to particular health concerns in the areas you’ll be visiting and assist you in finding health care if you become sick while traveling. Make sure you know how to find the embassy or consulate in your destination country. They can help you find medical care and address a host of other issues, such as lost passports. Maintain healthy habits while on the road. Whether you’re at home or in a hotel, basic healthy habits of exercise, good nutrition, and adequate rest and sleep are important. Although missing a day or two of your cardio workout won’t necessarily make you sick, maintaining your wellness practices is a good idea. If your hotel lacks a fitness facility, consider walking in a safe area or climbing stairs. If you know you’ll spend the better part of the day sitting on an airplane, take the opportunity to do some brisk walking in the airport during layovers. Focus on staying well hydrated at all stages of your journey. Wash your hands before eating, and every time you get the chance in high-traffic areas. Getting enough rest and sleep is possibly the most important thing you can do to stay healthy while on the trip. Sleep deprivation (below 6-7 hours per night) can impact your immune function and even undermine your protection from vaccines. Staying healthy while traveling will make your trip more enjoyable and productive. So take a proactive approach and prepare with research, well-planned packing, and convenient information storage of your medical information. While on the trip, do all that you can to maintain healthy habits in regard to sleep, nutrition, and exercise. Not only will you enjoy the trip more, but you’ll return home in better condition. Before your trip, check out Enguide, a travel app, blogging platform , and place to give and receive travel tips.