Going on a trip, whether for business or pleasure, can create travel stress—what if you miss your plane, lose your luggage, get sick? You can avoid travel anxiety and stay healthy with careful planning, says our Bottom Line expert William Schaffner, MD.
Check in at a specialized travel clinic. Doctors at these clinics are up to date about the hazards you may encounter and can recommend preventive steps you should take. These could include getting a Tdap booster for tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough)—which you should get every 10 years even if you’re not a traveler—and other travel-related vaccinations and medications, such as anti-malaria drugs if you’re going to a country where that disease is endemic. Find a travel clinic at the website of the International Society of Travel Medicine (ISTM.org).
Consider your risk tolerance before booking an adventure vacation. A colleague of mine used to say that anyone who participates in a sport where they park an ambulance at the finish line is nuts…but there are hundreds of thousands of people who go skiing every year and don’t worry about injury. If you’re not a risk taker, don’t plan a trip that takes you out of your comfort zone and fills you with unnecessary stress even if it’s a bucket-list item that sounds appealing.
Have a plan for flare-ups of any chronic conditions. You usually can get medical help in an emergency situation abroad. Your hotel or the local American Embassy or Consulate should be able to refer you to a local physician who speaks English. But you might want to have this information before you start your trip. Also consider buying travel health insurance, which covers costs for medical treatment abroad as well as getting you to the nearest medical facility and, with evacuation coverage, flying you home if deemed necessary.
Pack a health emergency kit. Besides the typical bandages and ointment, include pain relievers and other over-the-counter medications for minor ailments such as heartburn, achy joints, colds, allergies and headaches. Also bring medications to help you avoid diarrhea from unfamiliar foods and/or seasickness if you’ll be on a boat or cruise.
Stick to your medication schedule. Even if you change time zones, take your daily meds based on the time of the prior dose. If you’re unsure of how to adjust to a major time difference, ask your doctor. Reminder: Travel with enough of each drug to last a week or two longer than you’ll be gone in case of unforeseen delays, and never put your medications in checked luggage that could get lost or delayed. If you don’t have access to your medication list through a patient portal on your smartphone, carry a printed one in your wallet and leave another copy in your hotel room. Pack two pairs of prescription glasses and extra contact lenses—replacing them abroad is possible but probably not easy.
Stay vigilant about water, raw produce and more. It’s not enough just to order bottled water at restaurants—make sure the waiter brings you a sealed bottle (otherwise it’s probably one they keep refilling in the kitchen). One piece of advice from a travel doctor I know: “If you can’t peel it or heat it, don’t eat it.” But that can be a challenge if you’re health conscious and love salads, for instance, or if you’re adventurous and like sampling street food. In these scenarios, consider your own risk tolerance and how confident you are in local health practices. To get more information: Go to the “Destinations” page of the CDC website at wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/list, where you can see timely warnings about the countries you’re visiting.
Practice good hygiene. Now that the most dangerous waves of COVID are behind us, people have become nonchalant about frequent handwashing and wearing masks. Consider revisiting these safety precautions when traveling to crowded tourist sites, especially indoor ones and particularly if you’re in a high-risk group that makes you more susceptible to serious illness or infection—being over age 65…having any chronic underlying illness such as heart disease, lung disease or diabetes…being immune-compromised…or being pregnant.
