Travel is one of the indispensable leisure activities in today’s society. It helps us expand our knowledge, reduce stress, and restore our health after long days of work and study.
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| Travel helps us expand our knowledge and reduce stress (Photo: TTO) |
With summer approaching, the long holiday breaks present a great opportunity for exciting travel adventures. However, to ensure a delightful trip, we need to maintain our health by keeping in mind the following basic precautions:
1. Preventing Motion Sickness: Motion sickness is a disorder that affects the body’s balance mechanism, located in the inner ear. This condition can occur in some individuals while traveling by car, plane, or boat.
Common symptoms include discomfort, dizziness, headaches, sweating, pale complexion, and nausea.
Prevention Methods:
– Avoid eating a heavy meal before traveling.
– Request that others refrain from smoking in the vehicle.
– For those who are particularly sensitive, ask to switch seats to a more central location, avoiding seats near the wheels or at the back of the vehicle.
– About 30 minutes before traveling, take anti-motion sickness medication such as Dimenhydrinate 50mg: adults should take 1 tablet; children aged 8-12 should take ½ – 1 tablet; and children aged 2-8 should take ¼ – ½ tablet. A second dose may be taken after 4 hours if necessary.
2. Preventing Dehydration: Many people avoid drinking water during travel due to concerns about needing to urinate, which should be avoided as it can lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance from sweating and respiration, resulting in concentrated urine and increased risk of kidney stones and urinary infections.
Therefore, it is essential to drink enough water as needed (such as mineral water, coconut water, or fresh fruit juice) and to stop every 2-3 hours for restroom breaks.
3. Preventing Gastrointestinal Illness: It is advisable to eat cooked food and drink boiled water. Avoid eating street food due to unsanitary conditions which can lead to gastrointestinal diseases such as diarrhea, typhoid fever, cholera, dysentery, and hand-foot-mouth disease (in children).
Consider bringing a few packets of Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) to mix with water (1 packet dissolved in 1 liter of boiled water) in case of diarrhea before reaching a healthcare facility for examination and treatment.
4. When traveling to high-altitude areas, pay attention to keeping warm, especially for children, to prevent respiratory illnesses. Individuals with asthma should carry an inhaler to prevent sudden asthma attacks.
5. It is advisable to bring a personal first aid kit that includes cotton, bandages, sterile gauze, hydrogen peroxide, and alcohol to clean wounds and provide initial care in case of an accident.
6. Consider bringing a few packs of pain relievers (such as Paracetamol 500mg), antibiotics (such as Amoxicillin 500mg or Erythromycin 500mg) for temporary use in case of injuries. Also, bring anti-motion sickness medication like Dimenhydrinate 50mg for long journeys.
In conclusion, having a fun and healthy travel experience is what everyone desires. To achieve this, it is crucial to pay attention to food safety and to take precautions against accidents during travel, ensuring a joyful and meaningful journey.
Family Doctor NGUYEN DINH SANG
