My Travel Hobby » Health

How to Prepare Your Personal Health Travel Kit?

admin — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 20:10:48 +0000

It is very important for travelers to bring their personal medical traveling kit and this is especially true for travelers with underlying disease or having a current medical condition. It is a life saving tool for people travelling, especially when health problems which are usually unexpected occurrence happens along the trip.

There are medical travel kits being sold in the public, this kit usually consists of common medication and items that are important for travelers. The problem with this is that these commercial kits are made for the masses and may not have special medication needed by you, especially if you have a current medical condition which requires you to take daily medications. Because of this, I find it more advisable to make your own personal health kit. Guidelines that you can use in assembling a kit like this includes; the place of destination, length of stay and medical history and current medical condition.

Aside from functioning as a first aid, the medical kit should also help with your underlying disease. Especial medications recommended by your family doctor should also be included inside the kit. In this way, any health problems that may arise during the travel such as exacerbation of the current illness can be managed immediately.

You should bring enough supply of medication for the entire duration of your travel. You should also keep in mind that certain drug’s pharmacological name is always the same but brand name may change depending on the country you are visiting. With this in mind, it is always important to keep the medication in their original bottle or packaging to make it easier to find a similar drug in case you need to buy more.

The ever famous pain reliever or analgesic, the Paracetamol has different commercial names around the world. Drugs brought from overseas with their original packaging are easily identified by medical officials so it won’t give you more problems if your things are checked by medical and airport officials.

If you have an alert bracelet or a necklace with an inscription of your medical condition, it is always wise to wear it every time on your trip. This bracelet is usually given to patients with diabetes and allergy as well. A note or a card with enough information about your current medical condition must be kept always inside your wallet or your travel documents. This will help medical practitioners or paramedics to easily understand your condition and they can take the proper step to manage your disease.

4 Tips to Remedy your Toothache while on a Trip

admin — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 13:08:34 +0000

Experiencing toothache while on a trip or vacation is like torture! You have no idea where to go or who to approach and don’t know any tooth doctor. What are you going to do then? Just endure the pain and wish that the trip ends so you can get an appointment with your dentist back at home? I don’t think so! What you’ll be discovering in this article are some easy to do tips that can alleviate the toothache and can possibly save your vacation from a pre-mature ending.

Remedy #1: A Salt and water gargle. Yes, a saline solution gargle can relieve toothache. Plus it is also very easy to do; you can just get the ingredients from the hotel or buy them in a local store. All you need to do is dissolve the salt in lukewarm water, and gargle it for a few minutes. The salt and hot water brings an analgesic effect which can relieve the pain. You may want to do this on a regular basis during the trip until you can get professional help.

Remedy #2: Peppermint oil and clove oil. These two oils can help you alleviate pain because they provide an analgesic effect which works immediately. You can get these easily in local grocery stores. All you have to do is put a small amount on a cotton ball and apply it directly on the aching tooth. Avoid contact to the gums though as it may cause a burning type of sensation. For children, peppermint oil is more recommended since it is milder compared to clove oil. Aside from this, peppermint does not taste as offensive as clove oil hence it will be much easier to give to children during trips.

Remedy #3: Black tea bags. Black tea bag is especially effective if the tooth already has an abscess as this can help in pus drainage. To use the black tea bags, all you need to do is wet the bags in lukewarm water and place it in the mouth for 4-6 hours. Immediate relief is brought about by chemicals which are present in the tea bag which also helps in pus drainage.

Remedy #4: Ice. In the presence of tooth swelling, application of ice is very effective in relieving the pain and edema. If an ice pack is not within reach, you may use a towel. Place the ice inside the towel and place it on the painful tooth to alleviate the pain and swelling.

These 4 remedies will help you save your vacation and get instant relief when toothache attacks.

5 Vital Guidelines for Travelers

admin — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 07:25:07 +0000

It is a must for travelers to stay healthy during a trip. Being healthy will give you a more enjoying and memorable experience on your trip. Keeping your body in top and healthy condition is not that hard. Just follow these simple tips that I’m going to give you to ensure a quality trip or vacation.

1. Always carry a first aid kit – before the trip, prepare things that you may find useful along your travel. Some items that may come in handy include bandages, tweezers, insect repellant, pair of pincers, scissors, sun block etc. Also include medication prescribed by your doctor if you are having an underlying or current disease.

2. Bring your medicines in its original packaging – This is very important because airport authorities and customs might check your belongings. If all your things like your prescription drugs are properly marked, then it would be easier to explain the authenticity of the drugs or medications that you are carrying. Plus it would be easier to buy additional medications especially if you travel to another country. Most medication has different commercial name in different parts of the world.

3. Vaccines and immunization – CDC or Center for disease control lists which immunizations and vaccines you should get including medicines that are important to bring to your trip. Some countries requires tourist to take vaccines in advance before allowing them to enter their land. Some just gives recommendations on what vaccines or medicines to take. Visit CDC webite at http://www.cdc.gov/ to learn more about necessary vaccines and immunization requirement for different countries.

4. Keep your body nourished- Eating right will keep your body strong and increase your vitality not to mention increasing the body’s immunity to some disease and infection. This is the simplest way to maintain your vigor and energy during travels. Keeping your body well nourished doesn’t mean that you can eat everything; proper diet should be maintained also. Always remember to keep sugar and carbs on a low.

5. Exercise – How? If possible, stay in a hotel with gym. Walking is a form of exercise which you can do on trips and will save you money from fare as well. Instead of using a lift, you may want to consider also using the stairs to burn those calories and to increase total body endurance. Continue doing your daily exercise that you usually do at home even on vacation trips.

7 Ways to keep your body fit during plane travel?

admin — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 10:55:36 +0000

It is always important to keep your body fit and healthy even during travel or vacations. Air travel brings some stresses and may expose you to some health problems. This article will discuss to you how you can prevent these problems from happening.

One of the stresses your body gets is not on board but before the flight. Most of the time, airports require the passengers to arrive 2 hours earlier the departure time. This brings stress especially if we are rushing to catch the check in time. To avoid this, leave your house early to avoid rushing. Wear comfortable shoes or sandal also because most terminals are huge and it would require a lot of walking just to reach the gate for boarding. Don’t give too much stress to your body by carrying your backpacks and luggage. There are free trolleys that you can use inside the airport. Dehydration can be avoided by taking lots of fluids. Small walks can prevent deep vein thrombosis which may happen especially during long flights. Nervousness can be avoided by relaxing and distracting yourself by reading.

Travel through air is not always advisable for those who had a recent surgery. Change in air pressure may compromise the speed of tissue healing. Cabin pressure may also worsen sinus infection and common colds. Bring all your important prescription drugs and medical history as well. Travel insurance is also an option if you don’t want to spend on unexpected health problem during the trip.

Here’s a list on what you can do during the flight:

1. Alcoholic and caffeinated drinks can add up to dehydration so you must stay away from these drinks.
2. Long flights will lead to long hours of immobility which can cause upset stomach. To avoid this, you should not eat a very heavy meal prior to the flight.
3. Immobility can affect digestion and can also cause muscle and joint pains and edema. During a flight, you may stand and move around to prevent the effects of immobility to your body.
4. Do some ankle pumping exercise by moving your ankle up and down. Compressive stockings may also help in preventing blood pooling and ensures good blood flow.
5. Prevent sinus and ear pain by swallowing sweets or pinching your nose, especially during take-off and landing.
6. Wear protective mask if you just recently got ill and have low immunity. Infection spreads easily inside the plain because of high humidity inside the craft. This is due to dehydration and drying of the oral and nasal mucosa due to high humidity.
7. If you have a history of motion sickness, it is helpful if you’ll take anti-motion sickness drug before boarding. Always bring all your important medications and consult your doctor for additional emergency prescription for the trip.

It is very important to follow the precautions above to avoid health problems during flights. This is always true for frequent travelers and to those who travel rarely as well.

6 Ways to Avoid Diseases due to Contaminated Water

admin — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 19:06:12 +0000

Gastrointestinal problems are common problems encountered by travelers especially by drinking local unpurified water. Contaminated water often cause diarrhea and also predispose travelers to bacterial infection. Aside from bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli, pollutants and chemicals may also lead to health problems when drinking contaminated water.

We drink water every day, and if we are not careful, it may cause different health problems. Follow the tips given below to avoid problems like these.

1. If available, always make sure that you drink only bottled water. Although bottled, this doesn’t always mean that it is safe to drink. Make it a point to check if the product is sealed and be certain that there are no leaks in the bottle. If there are holes or leaks in the bottle, there is a great chance that the water is contaminated. Make it a point to drink only popular bottled water. This will eliminate your doubts of the water being contaminated or improperly decontaminated.

2. The elderly are more easily infected. If no bottled water is available, boiled water is a good substitute to avoid contamination. Boiling the water will kill the bacteria and decontaminate it. Cold water is not usually safe. To develop immunity to the contaminated water, younger people can take in light amounts gradually to develop immunity against bacteria present in the water.

3. Aside from bottled water, tea, fruit juice, cola and other manufactured drinks are good alternatives to rehydrate the body. This will keep you away from drinking contaminated water.

4. Like the elderly people, children are also more prone to infection. When brushing, always instruct children to use clean and safe water to avoid the risk of infection. Don’t allow your children to brush using tap water. Use bottled water instead. Drinking small amount of water is unavoidable with children especially when they are rinsing their mouth after brushing their teeth.

5. Contrary to most beliefs, cooling the water does not decontaminate and kill bacteria. Avoid the use of ice in your drinks during trips even if the restaurant or waiter insists that they had boiled the water before using it to make ice. Remember, it is better safe than sorry.

6. You can bring your own water purification device during trips. There are products in the market that can disinfect water discreetly even in the restaurant to ensure safe drinking water. It is small so you may take it all the time, ultra violet light is used for disinfection.

4 Reasons Why Travelers’ Neck Pain Worsens and How to Relieve them

admin — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:05:17 +0000

Stiffed neck is a common problem that travelers experience. Long hours of sitting predispose travelers to wrong posture. This usually leads to a very torturous trip and an unpleasant trip. How could you enjoy your vacation or be effective in your business meeting if you’re experiencing stiffed neck? What we can do is to endure the pain until it’s gone, or better yet seek medical help if we have extra cash for medical bills. If you don’t want this stiffed neck problem ruining your vacation or trip, then here are some tips that can relieve your neck pain instantly and cost effectively.

1) Hot packs. Heat relaxes the muscle and can lessen the tension. It relieves heat by counter irritation effect. The heat sensation blocks the pain sensation. But too much heat can lead to inflammation plus the stress that happens during a trip can add up to the swelling and pain. You don’t want to be in complete bed rest in your trip, don’t you?

Tip: Cryotherapy or ice pack. Apply cold compress on your strained neck muscles.
A better tip: Wet a towel and put in the freezer overnight. You can use it in the morning as a cold compress; the towel will easily adapt to the contour of your neck and will give even cooling throughout the neck region.

2) A relaxing sleep with a big comfy pillow. Yes the rest will help, but the big pillow? No way! This will further stress your neck muscle leading to more pain.
Tip: A rolled towel, cloth under the neck.

A better tip: It’s better to use a down pillow. Ask the hotel staff about it, they are common now in hotels and lodges.

3) Analgesics. NSAID or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug may do the trick. However, many over the counter drug may lead to more problems than relief. Side-effects are not uncommon with pain relievers. Drugs with caffeine will cause sleeping problem.

Tip: Abstain from caffeine; it can lead to slower recovery. Ibuprofen is a safe analgesic, but don’t take it in an empty stomach.

A better tip: Amica and turmeric are common herbal medicines that you can use. Bring some of them in your next trip.

4) Stretching. Keeping the neck in a poor position for a long time like in dozing off with the head against the window will lead to stiffed neck. The soft tissues in the neck like the muscle and ligaments are in great strain. Stretching will further stress these structure and will worsen the pain.

Tip: Do gentle stretching only when inflammation has subsided.

A better tip: Book yourself to a massage session once you arrive in your hotel. Ask the therapist to do gentle kneading as deep kneading and tissue massage can worsen the pain.

Neck pain is not uncommon to travelers. Thankfully, there are simple remedies that can alleviate the pain.

Essential Tips for High Blood Pressure Travelers

admin — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 11:00:31 +0000

People who travel often are more prepared for medical problems than those who travel rarely. Travelers with hypertension must be mentally prepared of the possible medical problem that may arise during a trip.

Air craft attendants are trained first aiders so there’s not so much to worry about during flights. But for blood pressure patients, there are lots of things that should be considered during the flight. During a flight, the blood pressure is higher due to high altitude, oxygen tension is lower and air turbulence may also give rise to problems. These may greatly affect the blood pressure of such patients.

Current technology ensures safety for different people with medical condition during flights. This makes air travel not a problem for blood pressure patients as long as there will be no complication that will arise during the flight.

This is not always true especially for hypotensive patients. These people usually find it hard to breathe and with the effect of high altitude, this may give rise to shortness of breath. The best thing to do is consult your doctor and ask for a plan for your travel.

Air travel means motion. This may affect blood pressure patients in developing problems because of their sensitivity to movement. Air sickness is common for blood pressure patients especially during air travel. Precautions such as anti-motion sickness medication should be made the night prior to the trip.

To avoid rise in blood pressure, it is always important to remain relaxed and seated during the entire duration of the trip. Eating a not so heavy meal is very important as well to avoid upset stomach. Refrain from drinking alcoholic and caffeinated beverage as these drinks can lead to dehydration. Dehydration should be avoided; this can be done by drinking plenty of liquids and refraining from drinking beverages such as cola and beer. Antiemetic medication is a very helpful drug that you can take if you find it hard to relax during flight and this prevents vomiting.

Packing your things for the travel is important. Keep your medical files and information about your medication on top of the inside of the briefcase for easy access. Phone numbers and information on who to contact during emergency should also be written in your file.

To avoid increase in blood pressure, meditation and thinking happy thoughts are very helpful activities to maintain your blood pressure and to prevent it from shooting up.