Simple Tips to Avoid Getting Sick When Traveling

Getting sick is no fun, especially when you are traveling. You will miss out on some amazing opportunities that you were looking forward too for quite a while. It can be costly as well- not only will you have paid for excursions and hotels even though you can’t enjoy them, but you may have to visit a foreign doctor that can be pricey and scary! To ensure that you can stay healthy while traveling you need to take precautions beforehand. Here are some simple tips to avoid getting sick when traveling.

• Keep Your Immune System In Tip Top Shape

You are bound to encounter a lot of germs when traveling. Whether it be in a crowded airline cabin or a shared taxi cab, you will probably run into someone who’s sick. Luckily you can keep from catching their illness by boosting your own immune system. Vitamin C tablets are a great way to do this. A tablet or two a day will keep your immune system strong and ready to fight airborne germs that you come into contact with.

• Stay Hydrated

When you are traveling it can be hard to remember to drink enough water. However, it’s so important to do so as it keeps your body healthy and ready to fight off any nasty sicknesses that you come in contact with. To make it easier to remember, set an alarm on your phone that goes off every several hours to remind you. If you won’t have your phone or setting an alarm isn’t appealing to you, make it a habit to drink 1-2 glasses of water with every meal or snack that you have. Sure, you’ll probably have to add in some extra bathroom breaks, but it will be well worth it to keep from getting sick.

• Only Drink Filtered Water

Speaking of water, it’s important to only drink filtered water while traveling. You’ve probably heard a horror story or two about someone drinking tap water in a foreign country and getting sick. This is because a lot of the time there is bacteria in the water that a foreigner is not used to. You should always drink bottled water when traveling to avoid getting a nasty stomach bug. Another important thing to remember is that you should use bottled water when brushing your teeth and you should avoid getting ice in your drinks as well. It might be an inconvenience to have a luke-warm soda, but it’s better than getting sick and missing out on your vacation. If you are worried that your location won’t have any bottled water, take a reusable water bottle with you that has a filter.

• Wash Your Hands Frequently

One of the easiest things you can do to keep from getting sick is to wash your hands frequently. Your hands touch so many germy things throughout the day, like door knobs and light switches, so it’s essential that you wash your hands often in order to remain well. If you are going to an area that doesn’t have running water, carry sanitizing wipes with you. You can use hand sanitizer, but the wipes tend to be more efficient at getting rid of germs.

• Be Choosy About What You Eat

Street food tends to be tempting, especially in a foreign country with so many different options, but you need to be careful about what you eat in order to avoid getting food poisoning. When visiting a street vendor, stay away from things that aren’t cooked like sushi or fruits and vegetables. Instead, eat those types of foods at one of the local restaurants where they are washed and prepared properly. While eating street food may be a great way to experience a local culture, you still need to take precautions.

• Use Sunblock

If you have ever had a really bad sunburn or sun poisoning, you know how important it is to use a sunblock. Even if you don’t use sunblock often, you really should use it when you are traveling. The sun may be more intense in certain areas and you might not realize it until it is too late and you experience a really bad sunburn. Opt for a sunblock that has an SPF of 30 or more and is sweat proof.

• Have Prescription And Over The Counter Medications With You

Even with your best efforts you may experience ailments when you are traveling. It’s best to be prepared just in case this does happen. Before you travel, talk to your doctor and let them know you will be visiting a foreign country and ask them to write you a prescription for an antibiotic just in case you get sick. In addition to this, make sure you stock up on over the counter medications and supplies such as Neosporin, pain relievers, bandages, motion sickness pills and nasal spray.

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