Travel Tips
How to avoid getting sick on vacation
By Tania Moffat Nasty bugs can be hiding anywhere, ready to ruin your trip. L
et’s face it: getting sick on vacation is kind of like an unlucky lottery where the odds are always against you.
You can do everything you can to try to avoid it – fold the corner of your ticket, pick your lucky numbers or play a smarter hand, but either way it’s a crap shoot. Getting sick is an inevitability in
life, but it is often easier to get sick while on holidays. Your body is being exposed to new bugs, bacteria, para- sites, food and environments. Often times you are passing through high traffic areas such as airports and ho- tels. You are changing your routines, perhaps staying up later, eating more or differently, having a few drinks and exploring new environments – beaches, water, forests, etc. All of this
66 • Spring 2016
combined with the stress of travelling, especially if you are crossing several time zones, can take its toll on your body.
How to stack the deck in your favour:
1. Stay hydrated. Many people have
trouble drinking enough water at the best of times. Add to that hot temps, alcohol, if you’re drinking, extra food and salt, if you’re eating out a lot; and dehydration can set you back. 2. Don’t drink tap water. Yes, even in the uber-fancy, diamond deluxe resorts. Use bottled water to rinse your mouth out when you brush. Is it necessary? Maybe not, but it’s an easy preventative measure. Also avoid ice and fruits rinsed in tap water, and en- sure your water bottles have not been refilled.
3. Wash, sanitize, wash your hands,
sanitize! Tey say a little dirt never hurt anyone, but to avoid ruining your holiday by picking up someone else’s nasties, be diligent and wash up. Pub- lic places are havens for viruses, try to keep your hands to yourself as much as possible, especially out of airplane seatback pockets. 4. Be probiotic. Taking probiotics
can help your stomach deal with the different bacteria being introduced to it through different meals and meth- ods of cooking. Tis is especially help- ful for people with a sensitive GI tract. 5. Murphy’s Law. Pack your mini- Imodium, Tums, Pepto
pharmacy:
and Gravol for stomach ailments and also Tylenol, Advil, Nyquil, Halls, or whatever go-to medications work for you and your prescriptions. Don’t
The Hub
Photo by skeeze.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80