Do you know how to stay healthy while traveling abroad? If you have a strong immune system or rarely fall ill, this question may never have crossed your mind. Unfortunately, having a strong immune system is not enough to stave off illness while traveling internationally. Here are three tips to help you stay healthy while traveling abroad.
Visit Your Doctor
Before you embark on your international excursion, it is essential that you visit your doctor. This is done not only to ensure your current health is good, but also to update your vaccinations. Unlike children, who receive vaccinations frequently, most adults do not continue to receive vaccine boosters or new vaccinations.
Receiving vaccine boosters or new vaccinations can help keep you from contracting a number of illness and diseases such as:
- malaria
- hepatitis A and B
- tetanus
- typhoid
- yellow fever
Remember, not all countries have eradicated many of the childhood diseases that we have eradicated in the U.S. Therefore, you may also need booster vaccinations for measles-mumps-rubella, chickenpox, etc.
Discuss your destinations with your doctor at length so he or she may recommend the appropriate vaccinations.
Avoid Tap Water
Here in the U.S., we take having clean tap water for granted. Other regions of the world are not so lucky. Because the water supply may be tainted, it is advisable never to drink tap water outside of the United States. Even using ice in foreign countries is not recommended.
Drink bottled or carbonated water instead. Use bottled water for brushing your teeth as well as any cooking.
Choose Food Carefully
It can be very tempting to have an authentic food experience while visiting a foreign country. However, the food vendors selling local delicacies might not be the best choice if you wish to avoid diarrhea and food poisoning.
Stick to eating in restaurants instead. These too should be chosen carefully. If a restaurant is not crowded with locals, it is probably better to choose a different restaurant. If the locals will not eat there, you should not eat there either.