Stay Healthy On Holiday – How To Look After Yourself And Have Fun In The Sun

Posted on Feb 27 2017 - 5:21pm by Editorial Staff

You may have noticed that when people return from jetting off abroad for a summer break somewhere nice and warm, they often fall ill shortly after returning. Why is this? Well, it could be because of a number of different reasons, of course; but fundamentally, it comes down to one thing – they tend not to take steps to remain healthy when in foreign climes. Here then are some ideasof how to look after yourself on a summer holiday…

Vaccine check

You should check with your doctor whether you’re correctly vaccinated for the part of the world you’ll be travelling to at least four weeks before you leave. For middle-aged and older travellers, it may be advisable to get a flu shot. Really, you might ask? Yes, when you consider that flu’s fairly prevalent in Southern Hemisphere countries in the summer months (their winter). Remember, Travel medication is essential for your journey. Tamiflu is an antiviral which stops you getting ill when your away.

Any existing health issues?

If so, discuss these with your GP at the same time. Should you have a chronic condition and you plan on going overseas you’re highly advised to check what the deal is; what tips should you follow? Be organised; make sure you have enough prescription medication – should you need it – to cover the duration of your trip too.

Travel insurance

If you do have a condition, you must check out what travel/ health insurance you have or will need to have to cover the treatment costs you’ll accrue while abroad should you suddenly be taken seriously ill. Hopefully, this won’t happen, of course; but you need to be prepared. Obviously what cover you have (or will need) will vary depending on where you’re going and which country you hail from in the first place.

Medications and nutrition

As mentioned above, it’s crucial you bring along enough of any prescription medication to cover your entire trip. You should also pack copies of your prescriptions themselves, your insurance details and emergency contact info, while packing a first aid kit (filled with bandages, plasters, gauzes, antibacterial creams, antiseptic wipes and a thermometer) is advisable for hiking trips.

Moreover, as your regular routine tends to go out the window when you’re travelling abroad, it can be difficult to maintain as good a diet as you’d like, but you still need to get your fill of nutrition. In which case, you may consider turning to supplements. A couple that might be suitable are Colosan (a colon cleanser that doesn’t irritate the bowels as it does its work) and Collagen tablets (help ensure comfortable joint movement, tissue renewal and healthy skin, bones and cartilage).

Prepare for exotic climes

If you’re intending to head out to the tropics, be aware that unfortunately some unpleasant diseases are lingering out there just waiting to be caught by hapless overseas tourists. Once again then, check with your GP about the potential need for immunisations against the likes of, yes, the exotic-sounding yellow fever, typhoid and hepatitis A. They’re all properly nasty.

Avoid the UV rays

When you’re off on summer hols, there’s nothing for it; you have to be sun-smart. That means liberally dousing your skin in sunscreen when you sense the big orb of gold’s at its strongest and hottest at the height of summer – and it’s best to do so around 15 minutes before you venture outside; reapplying it every two hours. Consider wearing sunglasses tooas well as a broad-rimmed hat to protect your head.

Hydrate yourself

Getting pulled out of your normal lifestyle’s no excuse not to remain hydrated. Generally speaking, we should all be consuming between nine and 13 cups of fluids a day – yes, really; that much (although tea, coffee and water-rich fruit and veg can count in that total). The worst thing you want to do is to spend too much time in the sun and drink yourself silly and make yourself properly ill because,on top of that, you simply haven’t been drinking enough water. That wouldn’t do at all – but it can certainly happen!

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Editorial Staff at I2Mag is a team of subject experts.