Traveling to a new location is exciting and a lot of work. You are busy planning flights, accommodation, transportation, sight-seeing, and more. When doing all of this planning, did you remember to visit your local clinic for a check-up? It may not seem like an essential part of getting ready to leave, but it is vital for your health. Here is why you should visit a doctor before you travel.
Immunizations
Not only will your doctor make sure that you are updated on all of your standard shots, but they will inform you of the immunizations that are recommended for your travel destination. For instance, if you are heading to Asia, then it is recommended that you receive the Japanese Encephalitis vaccination. Other destinations may require vaccinations such as Yellow Fever, Polio, Varicella, Typhoid, Meningitis, Tetanus, and more.
Health Condition
If you are suffering from an existing severe or chronic medical condition, consulting with your doctor will ensure that you are aware of all the steps necessary to keep your body in top condition. In addition, if you are pregnant or expect to become pregnant, your doctor can guide you in how to best care for your body and maintain a healthy pregnancy. Whatever your condition may be, your doctor will be happy to advise you on how to stay happy and healthy on your trip.
Illness Avoidance
It is extremely easy to get sick while on the road, but your doctor can help you decrease that probability through travel awareness. Your health team will share information on how to deal with jet lag, altitude sickness, and other such complications. Also, they can advise you on how to avoid illnesses relating to food, water, and insects.
Prescriptions
When you head off to a foreign country, there is no guarantee that they are going to have your favorite medicines, let alone if you would even be able to get them or read them! Your doctor here can prescribe you with helpful prescriptions for ailments like motion sickness or diarrhea so that you are ready when it happens. As well, doctors can give you a list of over the counter medications that they recommend you stock up on and take with you such as Airborne or Gas X.
Health Alerts
Disease and health problems break out around the world consistently, but sometimes it isn’t advertised on social media for a country on the other side of the planet. However, your health professionals will be up to date on all international health alerts and inform you of the best way to keep yourself safe.
The last thing that you want happening when you are enjoying your time abroad is to get sick. Nothing quite ruins a vacation like diarrhea, altitude sickness, or contracting a rare disease because you didn’t get your shot.
Make sure to schedule an appointment to visit a doctor before you travel so that you can avoid all of those nasty bugs and have a journey of a lifetime.
