Traveling is exhilarating and can actually be good for your health. However, it can also put a lot of stress on your immune system. The flight alone is going to expose you to a lot of germs and is a perfect incubator for colds and flu.
There are a lot of ways to actually get sick when you are traveling. Accidents can also happen and need to be avoided. There are ways to stay safe and healthy and we will go over those tips in this article. However, before setting out you need to have the best international medical insurance for US citizens so you are covered. Even when doing your best to stay healthy, anything can happen on the road.
Get rest
It’s tempting to go full tilt while you are on vacation to take advantage of every minute. Overplanning is something that just about everybody is guilty of especially when your vacation time is limited.
It’s important to get rest while traveling so you can give your immune system a break. If you travel to a part of the world that requires a long flight, then dealing with jet lag right away will help you get into a regular sleep pattern. The best way to fight it is to resist a nap when you arrive and get out in the sun for a few hours. Then, go to sleep at a normal hour according to local time.
Then, just follow what your normal sleep pattern would be on a typical weekend when you are not at work and you should be fine.
Eat right
You should definitely get out and enjoy the local delicacies. It’s one of the best reasons to travel, after all. However, don’t overdo it. If you are eating a lot of fried food or general junk then you’re going to feel the effects from it.
Not only that, but sometimes the food may actually get you sick because of food poisoning and salmonella. Make sure to go to places where you can trust the preparation and avoid street food stalls that don’t look like they are clean or up to regulation.
Wash your hands
The best way to avoid getting sick is to wash your hands. A lot. Pretty much after every time you are touching something then you need to wash your hands right away. If you take public transportation or a taxi to a restaurant then wash your hands as soon as you get there. When you get back to your hotel, wash your hands before you tough anything in the room.
You should also carry around a small bottle of hand sanitizer to keep the germs away for when you are on the go.
Drink lots of water
It is very easy to get dehydrated when you are on the road. Mainly because you don’t really think about your water intake. You should have a bottle of water with you as you go about your day.