Nothing can ruin that big trip like getting sick. Here are some tips for staying healthy while travelling: Don’t get sunburned. Consider using a tanning bed for a couple months prior to going to start a tan. Sleeping pills can make a long flight (over seas) seem shorter. If you are going to a developing country where there is a risk of traveler’s diarrhea, avoid eating foods from street vendors, unpasteurized dairy products, and raw or uncooked seafood. Peel fruits yourself. Drink water from commercially sealed bottles or drink carbonated beverages. Avoid ice. Brush your teeth with bottled water. Use caution when driving. Wear your seat belt. Consider a visit with a Travel Doctor (typically an Internist specializing in infectious disease. There are even special travel medicine clinics. Immunizations. If it has been more than ten years since your last tetanus shot, get one. If you have not had a flu shot and it is fall or winter, get one. Carry enough of your regular medicines (in their original containers), along with extra prescriptions for them and also eyewear prescriptions. If you're going to a country with an increased risk of mosquito-borne disease, protect yourself against insects. Insect repellents that contain DEET work the best. Wear permethrin-coated clothing and use bed nets while you sleep. Talk with your doctor about using medication to prevent malaria. The Center for Disease Control has more information about infections and travel. The American Association of Family Physicians website has tips for healthy international travel. Download MP3 file This podcast first aired on March 2, 2006.
