| Staying Healthy Away From Home |
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By Sherry Ballou Hanson
July 2003
Continued from page 1
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Eating Right
Real meals are virtually nonexistent on planes unless you travel across the country or internationally. Vaughan, who authored the World War II novels Whose Voice the Waters Heard and Touch the Face of God, travels frequently and always allows enough time for a good meal before arriving at the airport.
Roberta Duyff, a registered dietician, also believes you should watch what you eat when you fly. Duyff suggests passengers who have dietary restriction such as diabetes request a special meal in advance from the airline.
"It's okay to say no to the serving cart," says Duyff. "But drink plenty of fluids, as the air in planes is dry."
Price always times his road trips so as not to hit major cities at rush hour. "I tend to eat a lot of fruits and nuts and vegetables when I've traveling, usually the dehydrated kind, and I drink a lot of water."
You also may want to consider traveling with a small cooler, which you can fill with sandwich makings and salads, fruit juices, or yogurt.
Whatever your mode of travel, wash your hands before eating. Many communicable diseases, especially respiratory and intestinal viruses, are spread through physical contact. The vehicle of transmission could be something as simple as that pen you sign your credit card receipt with at a hotel, restaurant, or gift shop.
Carry water with you when you get off the plane or ship so you know it's safe. The biggest cause of traveler's diarrhea is contaminated food and water. Don't eat or drink anything you can't trust. (see sidebar for details on eating locally).
Nothing can put a damper on traveling faster than getting sick. However, don't be afraid to try new foods in safe restaurants.
"Try a cuisine you haven't tried before if you are going to a foreign place," advises Duyff. "It's part of the experience."
Duyff, who also is the author of the American Dietetic Association Complete Food and Nutrition Guide, recommends bringing home some food ideas and ingredients to try in your own recipes. New flavors and cooking styles can be a welcome reminder or "gift" of and from your journey, one that keeps on giving.
Medical Concerns
Schedule a pre-travel visit with your doctor before traveling abroad, especially if you plan on visiting Africa, Asia, or South America. Your doctor can make sure you have the necessary immunizations and advise you on what to do for traveler's diarrhea and other common ailments. The CDC's Web site also has a section on Travelers' Health that details the immunizations for various diseases
(http://www.cdc.gov/travel/vaccinat.htm).
Next, check with your health insurance company on what services are covered overseas. Carry your policy and ID card with you. If you or a member of your party does become seriously ill abroad, a U.S. consular officer can assist you in locating appropriate medical services.
If you are taking medications, keep them in your carry-on bag when flying rather than your checked luggage, which might get lost en route. Always carry extra medication when you are traveling. Trying to fill a prescription while away from home can be a hassle.
In recent months, many travelers have been wondering if they should worry about Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). If your company requires travel to a risky location such as Toronto, Canada, which recently reported several new SARS cases, monitor yourself for fever and symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing both during the trip and for 10 days following your return. Contact a physician immediately if you experience these symptoms. Use caution, but don't go overboard.
"I wouldn't wear a mask unless someone forced me to fly to China, Hong Kong, or Singapore," advises Amy Cheng Vollmer, associate professor of biology at Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, Pa. "Any other air travel, I drink eight ounces of water for every hour I am in the plane - no mask."
For West Nile Virus and other tick- and mosquito-borne diseases, the principal approach is avoidance. Some countries in Latin America, the Caribbean, Australia, and the South Pacific require the aircraft passenger compartment be sprayed with insecticide while passengers are present. This practice is judged safe by the World Health Organization (WHO), but could cause problems for travelers with allergies.
During the summer of 2002, incidences of the virus peaked at 4,000 cases in 39 states, with 284 deaths in the United States alone. Avoid the locale, the season, and the time of day when ticks and mosquitoes are most active, which is dawn and dusk. Use repellants on exposed skin and clothing, and wear a hat, a long-sleeved shirt (tucked in with the collar fastened), long pants (tucked into socks), and boots.
The CDC recommends skin repellant with up to 50 percent concentration of DEET as the active ingredient. Keep in mind, however, that DEET can cause a rash if you have sensitive skin. You also should treat bed nets, clothing, hats, shoes, and camping gear with repellants containing permethrin (e.g. Permanone or deltamethrin), but don't put them directly on your bare skin.
Travel Healthy
While each trip presents its own unique set of obstacles, you can maintain your health and avoid illness by taking the time to prepare. Use all the available resources (the internet being particularly accessible and timely) to find out what you can expect at your destination, as well as the mode of transport. Ask your doctor for advice on diet, exercise, and avoiding illness. There's always some way to exercise, eat healthful foods, and fend off illness, all of which will maximize the enjoyment of any journey.
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