Health is often times an overlooked aspect when it comes to travel.
Fortunately, with spring right around the corner and many travelers making plans for the summer, travel health expert Dr. Gio Miletto and The Planet D adventure travel bloggers Dave Bouskill and Deb Corbeil have teamed up to develop a comprehensive list of health tips for travelers.
Unsurprisingly-given the recent slew of international health scares-topping the list is travel vaccines.
"Plan ahead and find out what vaccines you'll need before you embark on your journey. Some are required for entry into certain countries, and some need to be taken a few weeks in advance," said Miletto. "Travelers' diarrhea protection, hepatitis A and B are top of the list for any destination. Also yellow fever and typhoid fever may be required for South America, Asia and Africa."
Carrying a travel health kit and investing in medical insurance are also key to limiting risk while traveling. The experts suggest travelers keep pain relievers, Band-aids, hand sanitizer and other over-the-counter treatments handy.
"I had to be air-ambulanced out of the Amazon after I broke my back, and I was incredibly thankful for the medical insurance. I didn't have to worry at all," said Bouskill.
The experts also recommend that travelers pay attention to the water they drink and the food they eat in destinations they're unfamiliar with. "As much as it is great to sample the local fare, always look for restaurants that have lots of people so you know the food is fresh and they are continuously cooking," said Corbeil.
Meanwhile, using insect repellent can help prevent dangerous bug bites, while sunblock is always a wise choice when spending significant time outside.
Although a majority of the advice encourages common sense practices, the list does offer helpful tips on how to combat jet lag and safely adjust to altitude.
"Traveling can be disruptive to your body's normal rhythm. Get a good night's sleep before you travel and consider taking low-dose melatonin at night to help you adjust," said Miletto.
While there are plenty of things that our out of someone's control when they travel, there's clearly a lot a traveler can do to ensure that he or she is prepared for the worst.
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