Travel Health

Thorough planning will lessen the risks of health problems while travelling.  Ensure you are well prepared for your journey.

If you are traveling by air, ensure that you pay extra attention to rehydration.  Cabin air can dry out your skin and nasal passages.  Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.  Also ensure you take moisturizer with you on board, as well as nasal spray to relieve dry nasal passages.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is when a blood clot has formed in a deep vein of your body, most likely in a leg muscle.  This can cause your leg to swell, and result in considerable pain.  If part of the blood clot breaks off, it can travel through the body and get stuck in a lung or artery.  If you experience chest pain and shortness of breath, seek medical advice immediately.

DVT is more common if you remain seated for a long period of time.  Long distance flights will put you at more risk of developing DVT, which is why it is important to stretch and take a short break several times during the journey.

Wearing compression stockings can decrease the risk of DVT significantly. They encourage normal blood flow throughout the body.  Your pharmacist can help you to determine which size stockings are right for you. Taking a low dose aspirin such as cartia may also assist.

Jet lag is a common consequence of long-distance travel.  Flying across different time zones can disrupt your body clock, resulting in some of the following symptoms:

- Tiredness

- Irritability

- Digestive problems

- Loss of appetite

- Loss of concentration

Some people are more affected by jet lag than others.

Ensure you are well rested before the flight.  In addition, the following may help combat the signs of jet lag:

- Drink plenty of water, and avoid alcohol.

- Use Blindfolds, earplugs, and neck pillows to help you sleep while travelling.

- Remove your shoes to take pressure off the feet

- No-Jet-Lag: this is a homeopathic treatment for relieving the symptoms of jet lag.  It comes in tablet form, with no side effects.

Most people at some time will experience motion sickness. Symptoms include feeling uneasy, cold sweats, and eventually vomiting.

Some tips for avoiding and dealing with motion sickness:

- Don't read, and focus on a distant object.

- Rest your head against a seat or pillow

- Do not smoke

- Avoid alcohol and spicy foods, and eat dry crackers to settle an upset stomach

- Take an over-the-counter antihistamine such as Dramamine before you experience symptoms or motion sickness tablets. Such as:

At Ease 5 Tablets

Blackmores Travel Calm Ginger 45 Tablets

Ear Planes

Sea-legs 12 Tablets

Seaband

Naturopharm Travelmed Spray 25ml

Naturopharm Travelmed Tabs 120

Bowel Health

Constipation can be an unpleasant consequence of a long trip.  It causes abdominal bloating and uneasiness.  Having to strain during bowel movements is a sign of constipation.

Here are some tips to avoid constipation while travelling:

Include plenty of fibre-rich foods in your diet, such as whole-grain cereals, fruits, and vegetables.  Avoid fatty foods, and ensure your fluid intake is adequate

Consider taking fibre supplements, such as Metamucil; and acidophilus capsules, to support your digestive system. Malcolm Harkers solution laxatone which is a bowel regulator is also helpful and popular.

Sleep

If you need to sleep on long distance flights, Unisom tablets are a safe and effective medication to use under the supervision of your pharmacist or doctor.  They have a short half-life, which means you wake up feeling fresh.  Alternatively, a natural product such as Malcolm Harker CalmNurse, or Clinicians REM Sleep can be used.

A quality pair of earplugs with noise filters is also highly recommended.

Children

Children on long distance flights also need the correct care. They must be well hydrated and something kept on hand in case of ear pain upon ascend or descend due to pressure.

Ear pressure problems are common during air travel, and affect children more than adults.  This is caused by air pressure changes during landing or take-off.  Air pressure in the ear fails to equalise with outside air pressure, and severe ear pain results.  EarPlanes can be used to help cope with these pressure changes.  EarPlanes are not recommended if you have an ear infection.  Flying is usually not recommended if you are suffering from an ear infection.

If your child is prone to ear pressure problems, a nasal spray can be used 30 minutes before using EarPlanes.

Sedation for children should be approached carefully and after you have spoken to a health professional.  If required, Phenergan may be used or a natural alternative such as Malcolm Harker CalmNurse.

After Your Trip

If you feel unwell on your return, or within a few months of your return, you require a post travel check up.

A doctor experienced in travel medicine as soon as possible should undertake this. Tropical diseases and parasitic infestations are best treated early. If left untreated, some diseases can be fatal.

If you are suffering any of the following after a trip, you need a post travel check-up:

- Fevers: Fevers can be serious if you have visited a malarious country, even if you have been taking malaria pills. Malaria can take years to develop, after initial infection.

- Persistent diarrhoea

- Stomach pains

- Dark coloured urine

- Skin rashes or lumps

- Persistent cough

- Headaches

- Joint pains

If you feel well

If you feel well on your return, you generally do not need a check-up, with the exception of the following:

Schistosomiasis Test: If you were exposed to unclean water which could have been contaminated with Schistosomiasis (Bilharzia), a medical check-up is essential, even if you do not feel unwell.  Usually this includes a blood test, which may need to be repeated.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs): If you had sexual contacts with other travellers, locals or sex workers while you were away, you definitely need a check-up on return. Condoms do not fully protect against STDs.  Some diseases do not show any signs or symptoms immediately, and you may require a blood test a few months after exposure, and possibly later.

Worming: If you have been to a developing country it is advisable to take a course of mebendazole when you return home.  If you are currently suffering from diarrhoea, you will need a bowel examination before taking mebendazole.  Travellers require a higher dosage than those who may use mebedazole in a developed country setting.  It is advisable to take Vermox (mebendazole) 100mg twice a day for three days.

Giardia-if this is suspected after a visit to your doctor-Malcolm Harrker Giardia Guard may be of assistance.

Helpful Links

Family Doctor

BBC - Travel Sickness

Motion Sickness Signs and Symptoms