For anyone who has traveled through multiple time zones, traveled from one climate extreme to another, or to a place where things like hepatitis are contracted if you’re not overly cautions, then you have probably experienced some sort of illness during or after your vacation.
A cold, flu, or even a nasty virus might be contracted if you aren’t careful and treat your body right. Here are some tips on keeping your body healthy on vacation:
- During your flight, drink as much water as possible, eat lightly, and avoid caffeine and alcohol.
- If you can keep your excitement at bay, take a mid flight nap. This will rejuvenate you for when you land.
- If you are traveling across time zones, try to stay awake until early evening or nighttime. Get your body on local time as quickly as possible to avoid Jet Leg.
- Make sure you are getting enough sleep and try not to go, go, go the whole time you’re on holidays.
- Avoid tap water. Some places, you are ok to drink the tap water, but some places are a definite no-no. As a general rule, stick to bottled water to stay away from water related stomach bugs.
- When changing climates drastically, be sure to stay nourished by packing packets of your favorite soups, Neocitran, or Theraflu. If you do come down with something, most hotel bars will give you hot water so that you can mix your favorite remedy and be back to your regular self in no time.
- If you are headed somewhere there is a risk of contracting hepatitis, consider getting a vaccine. They are effective, have few side-effects and will take your worry away. Talk to you doctor for more information. Hepatitis A is commonly found in shellfish, contaminated water or food that was mishandled. Be sure to practice good hygiene, avoid raw foods and fruits and vegetables that have already been peeled. Hepatitis B is contracted through infected fluids. To avoid contraction, do not use needles and avoid any situation where bodily fluids might be exchanged. Places that are high risk for contraction (and may require you to get a needle) are South and Central America, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.