Prepare for healthy travel

You can never be too prepared when it comes to traveling; here are some tips . . .

Whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, it’s imperative that you arrive and remain in good health throughout the duration of your trip. Here are some tips for staying at your peak, no matter your destination.

Traveling a long distance? Jet lag is an inevitable physiological consequence exacerbated by difficulty sleeping. Although jet lag usually resolves itself, a variety of interventions may ease the process. Try shifting daily activities prior to departure to correspond to the time zone of your travel destination. Also, stay well-hydrated, avoid alcohol and pursue activities in sunlight upon arrival.

Several studies in humans have concluded that in about 50% of subjects, melatonin can significantly improve jet lag by reducing the number of days to establish a normal sleep pattern, reducing sleep latency (amount of time to fall asleep) and decreasing daytime fatigue. The dose for jet lag is 5 mg taken orally at bedtime for 1 week beginning 3 days before the flight. Additionally, your physician can prescribe a short-acting sleeping medication, such as Lunesta or Ambien. Potential side effects may include a mild amnesic syndrome (you might not remember any details of your flight) and some mild “hangover” effect. Other sleep-aid options include over-the-counter medications like Benadryl or Tylenol PM.

Travel health kit

Prescription medications

• Pack in carry-on luggage in original pill bottles with copies of prescriptions

• Controlled substance and injectable medication: pack a letter on prescribing physician’s official letterhead

• Check with the American embassy in the country you’re visiting to confirm if your medications are allowed into the country (optional)

Over-the-counter medications

• Antidiarrheal medicine
• Medicine for fever or pain
• Antihistamine
• Decongestant
• Anti-motion sickness
• Antacid
• Antifungal and antibacterial ointment or cream
• Hydrocortisone cream

Special prescriptions

• Consider obtaining prescription for an antibiotic for cases of severe diarrhea
• Depending on travel destination, anti-malarial medications

Other useful items

• Sunscreen
• Insect repellant
• Band-Aids, gauze, ace bandage, tweezers, small scissors, antiseptic
• Copy of your health insurance card

Vaccinations

Routine immunizations

• Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR)
• Polio
• Tetanus-diptheria
• Influenza
• Pneumococcus

Travel immunizations

Hepatitis A is part of routine U.S. childhood immunization. It’s recommended for all unvaccinated travelers going anywhere other than Australia, Canada, western Europe, Japan or New Zealand.

Typhoid: Recommended for travelers to Asia and other developing countries in Central and South America, the Caribbean and Africa

Malaria prophylaxis: If traveling to countries with a risk of malaria

Susan Locke, MD, is Healthnetwork’s medical director.

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