For many people, summer calls for vacation time abroad and traveling by airlines. When visiting another place, you may often neglect your health or forget that mere traveling can bring health issues of its own. Here are some main points to remember when you travel international, or to any other destination this summer.
Vaccinations
While passport and airline rules already require you to get your vaccinations, it is also important for your own health to do so before traveling abroad. One of the common vaccinations for many nations is the rabies vaccine. While there is a risk of serious side effects from the vaccine, such as nausea, hives and fever, rabies is 100% fatal if untreated. That is why the vaccine is for pre-rabies and post-rabies exposure to the disease. You will be at risk of getting rabies on every continent except Antarctica.
Another main vaccine is for typhoid fever, which has its bacterium called Salmonella typhi transmitted through the ingestion of contaminated food. This occurs from poor sanitation, bad regulation of infection, or overcrowding in a place. The risk of this vaccine causing serious harm is rare, and only one to six percent of people will experience side effects ranging from headaches, fever, to redness or swelling. Most US travelers to Asia, Africa, or Latin America are required to get the typhoid fever vaccine.
Yellow fever is a mosquito-transmitted disease that has severe symptoms of hepatitis and hemorrhagic fever and has a high mortality rate. However, the side effects of its vaccination are quite mild, with only two to five percent of people having mild headaches, body aches, and a low fever. Yellow fever occurs in sub-Saharan Africa and certain countries of South America, Panama, Trinidad, and Tobago. Because it is a mosquito-borne disease, you can further prevent risk of it by spraying your exposed body with insect repellent containing DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) while you are sleeping.
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Flight Health
Over one million people fly internationally a day, which makes flight health impertinent. Air travel increases the risk for deep venous thrombosis (DVT) which is also known as “Economy Class Syndrome” or “Traveler’s Thrombosis”. Prolonged periods of inactivity and cramped seating on an economy class cabin can cause slow circulation and edema, or leg swelling. Bending your knees can compress the popliteal vein which is behind your knee where a clot may form. In addition, low oxygen and humidity at high pressured elevations can lead to dehydration. People who smoke, use oral contraceptives, or are obese are even more at risk of developing DVT as their bodies have a lower tendency to counter the blood clot. To prevent getting DVT, you should move around during your flight, stay hydrated, and avoid alcoholic beverages.
While a vacation is a release from stressful school or work, you still have to be careful in order to prevent health problems! Remember to keep your body in check, whether you are at home or on international grounds, for the best holiday possible.
