healthyu
Travelling overseas soon?
While travelling overseas and internationally can offer wonderful
new experiences, it can also expose you to potentially serious
health risks. Did you know that one in two people suffer from a
travel-related illness while overseas? For some, this may be a minor
stomach upset, but for others it can mean catching serious diseases
like hepatitis, typhoid or malaria.
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HEALTHYU
With a bit of preparation, you can prevent an illness that could ruin your holiday, or
worse. Here are our top 10 tips for looking after your health while travelling:
1. Organise travel insurance, including cover if you
need to be evacuated to a suitable hospital.
2. Have a medical check-up before you leave to
make sure you are healthy and know how to
manage any pre-existing or chronic health
conditions.
3. Update your vaccinations well in advance before
you leave (at least six weeks beforehand) and
ask about specific vaccinations you may need
for your travel destination.
4. If taking medication with you, check that it’s
legal at your destination and always pack more
than you’ll need; carry a copy of the prescription
and a signed note from your doctor and adapt
your medicine routine for different time-zones.
5. Be vigilant with your own personal hygiene
when travelling in less developed countries and
be selective in what you eat and drink
(for example, eat at large, busy restaurants and
hotels and drink bottled water).
6. Be mindful of alcohol consumption and don’t
ever purchase, carry or consume illicit drugs.
7. Try to keep regular sleep patterns, eat healthy
and do exercise while overseas.
8. Always practice safe sex, as HIV / AIDS and
other sexually transmissible infections are
widespread in many countries.
9. Keep in regular contact with your friends and
family back home.
10. When you return home, see your doctor if you
are feeling unwell. Ensure you tell your doctor
that you’ve been overseas, where you went and
what activities you undertook.
Sources:
http://smartraveller.gov.au
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au
http://www.who.int/ith/en
http://www.health.gov.au
If you’ve been living in Australia while studying but plan to go home for
the holidays, your natural immunity will have weakened, leaving you
exposed to catching deadly diseases unless you’ve been properly vaccinated.
Immunisation is quick, cheap and easy, so take a moment to make an
appointment today and travel safe.