timespliters
3rd October 2007, 10:37 PM
03/10/2007
As record numbers of British travellers complain of poor health on holiday, Francesca Hoyles looks at ways to stay healthy.
Record numbers sick or hurt on holiday
1 Immunisation
Some immunisations take a while to become effective and you may not be able to get them all in one go; visit your GP or health clinic six to eight weeks before you travel.
Wear light coloured clothes that cover your arms and legs
Dig out vaccination log books before you go and be prepared to ask any questions you have about potential health risks for the countries you plan to visit.
Destination-specific vaccination advice can be found at fitfortravel.
2 Deep vein thrombosis
Sitting still for long periods of time has been linked with an increased risk of DVT.
On long journeys, you should:
get up and move around as much as possible;
when seated, rotate your ankles, move your feet and do some stretching exercises;
take regular deep breaths;
drink plenty of water and limit consumption of alcohol and caffeine;
wear loose clothing to aid circulation.
If you are in a high risk group, seek medical advice before you travel. Read more about this at the Department of Health website.
3 Insects
To avoid being bitten by mosquitoes, particularly in malarial areas, you should:
use an insect repellent containing DEET;
wear light coloured clothes that cover your arms and legs. Bear in mind that mosquitoes can bite through very thin fabrics and are attracted to dark colours; Wearing shoes and socks to protect ankles and feet is also sensible;
sleep in a screened room or under repellent-impregnated mosquito netting;
avoid wearing perfumes – some attract mosquitoes.
4 Food
To avoid contaminated food and water, which can cause a whole host of problems – from travellers’ diarrhoea, to hepatitis A, cholera and typhoid – take these simple precautions:
only eat in restaurants where you are sure the food has been freshly and thoroughly cooked. It should should arrive piping hot;
avoid salads and foods that may have been washed in contaminated water - if you can’t peel or shell it, it may be unsafe;
wash your hands before handling food – carry an antibacterial hand gel for times when this isn’t possible;
be sceptical about water and ice quality – if you’re in any doubt, refuse ice and choose bottled water, checking the seal is unbroken. Depending on the circumstances you can also purify water with tablets, or by boiling or filtering it.
For more information, see the Foreign & Commonwealth Office’s website.
5 Sun
The Australians have perhaps the world’s most sensible approach to skin cancer prevention. Follow their lead and "slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen and slap on a hat". Read Rosanna de Lisle's article on why we should avoid the sun.
To stay healthy and comfortable in a hot, sunny climate, drink plenty of water, wear light-coloured, loose-fitting clothing and stay out of the sun between 11am and 3pm.
telegraph
As record numbers of British travellers complain of poor health on holiday, Francesca Hoyles looks at ways to stay healthy.
Record numbers sick or hurt on holiday
1 Immunisation
Some immunisations take a while to become effective and you may not be able to get them all in one go; visit your GP or health clinic six to eight weeks before you travel.
Wear light coloured clothes that cover your arms and legs
Dig out vaccination log books before you go and be prepared to ask any questions you have about potential health risks for the countries you plan to visit.
Destination-specific vaccination advice can be found at fitfortravel.
2 Deep vein thrombosis
Sitting still for long periods of time has been linked with an increased risk of DVT.
On long journeys, you should:
get up and move around as much as possible;
when seated, rotate your ankles, move your feet and do some stretching exercises;
take regular deep breaths;
drink plenty of water and limit consumption of alcohol and caffeine;
wear loose clothing to aid circulation.
If you are in a high risk group, seek medical advice before you travel. Read more about this at the Department of Health website.
3 Insects
To avoid being bitten by mosquitoes, particularly in malarial areas, you should:
use an insect repellent containing DEET;
wear light coloured clothes that cover your arms and legs. Bear in mind that mosquitoes can bite through very thin fabrics and are attracted to dark colours; Wearing shoes and socks to protect ankles and feet is also sensible;
sleep in a screened room or under repellent-impregnated mosquito netting;
avoid wearing perfumes – some attract mosquitoes.
4 Food
To avoid contaminated food and water, which can cause a whole host of problems – from travellers’ diarrhoea, to hepatitis A, cholera and typhoid – take these simple precautions:
only eat in restaurants where you are sure the food has been freshly and thoroughly cooked. It should should arrive piping hot;
avoid salads and foods that may have been washed in contaminated water - if you can’t peel or shell it, it may be unsafe;
wash your hands before handling food – carry an antibacterial hand gel for times when this isn’t possible;
be sceptical about water and ice quality – if you’re in any doubt, refuse ice and choose bottled water, checking the seal is unbroken. Depending on the circumstances you can also purify water with tablets, or by boiling or filtering it.
For more information, see the Foreign & Commonwealth Office’s website.
5 Sun
The Australians have perhaps the world’s most sensible approach to skin cancer prevention. Follow their lead and "slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen and slap on a hat". Read Rosanna de Lisle's article on why we should avoid the sun.
To stay healthy and comfortable in a hot, sunny climate, drink plenty of water, wear light-coloured, loose-fitting clothing and stay out of the sun between 11am and 3pm.
telegraph