When you’re out enjoying a vacation, worrying about your health amongst the sun, sea, and sand might be the furthest thing from your mind. However, it’s important to remember some of the most common risks and how they might affect you long, long after you’ve landed back home. To make sure you don’t come back with the souvenir of failing health, here are a few things to watch out for.
Rule one: hydrate
The number one thing you should bear in mind when you’re traveling is to always know where you’re going to get your next drink of water. Before you depart, make sure you check as to whether freshwater is readily available from taps in your destination. Otherwise, be prepared to spend plenty of money on bottled water. You might even want to take a water purification kit, as seen here.
Take the sun seriously
Whether you’re hitting up a resort in the Caribbean or catching Malibu at its best, you want to make sure that you’re not underestimating the sun. Aside from causing some nasty sunburn that can ruin at least an afternoon for you, don’t underestimate the link between direct sunlight exposure and skin cancer. Make sure you choose a sunscreen with broad-spectrum protection, that blocks both UV-A and UV-B rays, and opt for SPFs higher than 30. Most importantly, remember that water-resistant doesn’t mean that it won’t come off in the sea or pool, so reapply after swimming no matter what.
Make sure you fill up on vitamins
A vegetable-heavy meal a day goes a long way. However, it’s easy to find yourself getting lost in local cuisine. So, it’s at least recommended that you take a multivitamin every day. Make sure you get your daily dose of Vitamin C, as well. Not only do you not want to feel fatigued on your journey, but you want your immune system to be at its strongest in a foreign environment.
Mind your eyes
If you’re heading to a sunny destination, or even a snowy one, then you should be prepared not just for sunburn, but the risk to your eyes, as well. There is a range of issues that can be caused by direct exposure to sunlight in the eyes, including cataracts, eye diseases, and even cancer. As such, it’s important to look at places like this website and choose the right protection. If you need prescription sunglasses, you need to order them well in advance of your journey to make sure you have them on time.
Check for health risks ahead of time
Of course, before you go abroad, you should always be sure to check what vaccines you might need before you leave. These should be arranged with your doctor as soon as you can before the vacation. Be sure to protect yourself from mosquito bites, even if you are vaccinated, too. Bug spray and nets can be a lot of help, so use them.
You don’t need to put a lot of effort into staying healthy to make sure that you do. What’s most important is that you stay aware and stay vigilant. Then you can enjoy yourself free from worry.
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