Let Health Travel With You

Circle of Wellness-Physical
Body

There’s nothing better to beat the stress and anxiety of modern living than a long, relaxing vacation. According to Statistics Canada, Canadians took over 6.7 million trips abroad in 2006. While some of these trips may be for business, others are for pleasure and relaxation.

While planning your vacation, so that it is packed full of all the good things that help you relax and enjoy, also ensure that your health is protected while you’re travelling!


Reasons people fall ill on vacation

Most people do not take the necessary precautionary steps, and often fall sick while traveling. Some of the reasons include:
1. Not vaccinating against diseases that are prevalent in the destination country.

2. Consuming contaminated food or water.

3. Not carrying suitable medicines to treat a disease, should it occur.

4. Getting a tattoo or piercing while abroad.

5. Consuming large amounts of alcohol, or purchasing alcohol from a questionable establishment.

Diseases that start off on a relatively small scale can reach epidemic proportions, if people do have a sufficient level of immunity, or sufficient preventive medicines. This was best illustrated during the 2003 SARS epidemic in Canada, which spread like wildfire.

Types of diseases people are prone to during travel

If you have not immunised yourself in advance, or have not kept your immunisation levels updated, childhood diseases may revisit you while you’re on vacation, including diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, and others. Other high risk diseases that are prevalent in certain countries are malaria, yellow fever, dengue fever and schistosomiasis

Tips to prevent these diseases

1. Visit your doctor: The best thing to do is to visit your doctor about 6-8 weeks in advance before you travel. Depending on the current level of your health, your immunisation levels, and your travel schedule, your doctor can recommend certain vaccinations and medicines, as well as any other preventive measures you may need to take.

2. Keep immunisations updated: Ensure that you update your immunity to common diseases. Many vaccines only last for a limited amount of time before losing effectiveness.

3. Get a private health insurance plan: While you’re travelling, your provincial insurance plan may not cover you. It is best to get yourself additional private health insurance coverage. You can get detailed information from your travel agent or insurance company.

4. Take suitable vaccinations: Depending on the country or area you’re visiting, you may be required to take precautionary vaccinations to reduce the risk of disease.

5. Wear appropriate clothing: If there are mosquitoes in the area you’re visiting, try and wear long sleeves and full length trousers in the evenings and at night, to protect yourself from mosquito bites.

6. Wash your hands before eating: Always ensure that your hands are clean, especially before eating and drinking.

7. Use sun protection: In tropical climates, the heat of the sun may be difficult for Canadians to bear. Therefore, when outside, use a sun block of at least SPF (Sun Protection Factor) 15 to 30. Also, try using an umbrella or parasol to protect against the sun’s scorching rays.

8. Always carry a medicine kit: Keep handy a box of medicines that your doctor recommends. Label the box with the name each medication, so that they are easy to locate and identify.

9. Swim in salt water: If you have to swim, do so only in salt water, or if you are completely sure that the water is clean and properly chlorinated. Otherwise you might end up with a skin rash or other infection.

Have a safe vacation! All in all, vacations are a great opportunity to spend quality time with family and friends. Make sure to protect yourself adequately from possible health hazards. Follow our tips for a safe and pleasant vacation. Bon voyage!