Health and Wellbeing
Travel Health and Wellbeing
No matter your age, travel health can be a threat to the success of your trip. This can occur before or during your trip. There are many interventions you can use to mitigate that risk, especially during the trip itself. The goal of this page is to educate our readers on the role they can take in their health during travel. It is about being prepared and understanding how and why it is the best choice for you. By understanding, you will be more likely willing to take on the actions and behaviours needed to assure you are in the best health for your adventure.
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Travel Health – Being Prepared
How to Stay Healthy During Travel
Here are our top suggestions to get yourself in the best health before your adventure.
- In the months before your trip, start increasing your walking every day. Try to include hills and uneven surfaces. Strengthen those legs and feet. Wear the shoes you will take on the trip to break them in. Include stretches pre and post-walk to make your body a bit more limber and able to balance better.
- Drink lots of water daily, and add some fresh lemon juice to detox a bit. If you take supplements, make sure not to miss any days to help your body be in the best condition it can be and, most importantly, strengthen your immune system. I start this about one months before my travels.
- Start packing early, 3-4 weeks, so you aren’t rushing or stressed at the last minute trying to get all you need together. Check out our Packing Tips page on that topic.
- Get lots of rest the week before your trip. We are well aware that is easier said than done but do your best. Some people believe you can start setting your body to the new clock. If it works for you, go for it. Our jet-lag prevention routine works so well for us that we don’t need to add some long-term intervention.
- Eat a healthy balanced diet; this the not the time for heavy fried food, lots of carbs, and sugar-heavy desserts.
- Treat yourself to a massage, pedicure, manicure or facial, or all of the above. Much of this you can do yourself if funds if you want to save. Having your skin in good shape and muscles relaxed promotes a healthy body and mind. It is important to care for yourself; you deserve it!
- Get a haircut or fresh colour so you look as good as you feel.
What to take with you
Essential Health Supplies
- Prescription meds in original bottles in a sealed bag/pouch (Keep in Carry-on)
- List of your prescription meds, medical conditions, and Dr contact at home. Keep with your meds at all times.
- Over the counter meds
- Vitamins in small sealed mini bags
- Ziploc bags (3) can be used as ice bag
- Bag with disposable gloves (10 pair) Hand Sanitiser
- Disinfecting wipes Travel size
- Masks (cloth and disposable)
- Water purification tablets
- Aloe gel for sunburns
- Contact sheet with name, passport info, insurance, emergency contact, medical conditions, medications, and your Embassy details
- Medical insurance card
- Travel insurance info with copies (have policy available electronically and printed)
Over The Counter Meds
- Ibuprofen
- Paracetamol
- Aspirin
- Benadryl
- Travel sickness med (Meclizine)
- Tums
- Pepto Bismol chewable
- Alka seltzer
- Anti-diarrhea medicine (Loperamide)
- Mild Laxative
- Hydrocortisone cream
- Sudafed
- Mucus relief (guaifenesin)
- Nasal Decongestant Spray i.e. Afrin Acid reducer i.e., Prilosec
- Emergent C, Zinc, Quercetin
- Eye drops
- Throat and cough lozenges
- Vicks ointment travel size
- Electrolyte mix individual packets
FREE Travel Medical Supply List & Planner
Check With Your Doctor / GP
The info given here is general and publicly available. That said, we are each our unique beings; what is ok for one person can be risky for another. Any meds on this list, even though they are over-the-counter, you should discuss with your GP. If you wonder why, here are a few examples:
- You have kidney disease or maybe even had a kidney removed to donate to a family member. Your kidneys are now compromised; therefore, you need extra protection. The over-the-counter med Ibuprofen, also known as Motrin, is processed through the kidneys and is often contraindicated with these medical conditions.
- Should you have a history of liver compromise or chronic liver disease, a physician may advise you to avoid Tylenol as your liver processes it.
- If you have GI issues, especially if you are prone to bleeding or on a blood thinner, aspirin and ibuprofen would be contraindicated. It reduces our ability to clot and increases bleeding risk. That is not a big issue for the average person, but it can be for some with such problems as ulcers.
In the current medical environment, we have made it very easy to ask our medical providers questions. It is often just an email away. An in-person visit is often not necessary or warranted. When in doubt, ask. They are your health care provider and are there to serve you and keep you healthy.
Final thoughts
How to stay healthy during travel is something you have quite a bit of control over. The travel medical supply list provided above is one way to assist in that goal. It seems like it would take up a lot of room, but we assure you it doesn’t. If it increases your chances of travel success and averts more serious problems, it becomes priceless. The lesson here the access and quality of items you need may not be available to you when you are abroad, so you need to bring them with you.
Travel health and safety is about being prepared for the what if’s. Hopefully, you can avoid more serious illnesses or eliminate the time seeking medications or medical care if you are ill. Your health and safety are paramount. This is your dream to travel; keep it as safe and healthy as possible.
Stay well and strong during your adventures!!
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