by Lindsay Shapka in Travel Tips, Travel
There's nothing better than a new adventure, but staying healthy and not gaining weight while you travel can be a challenge. Trust, me — I, and a huge pasta belly that I brought back from Italy (and thankfully lost), know.
You're thrown out of your comfort zone, knocked out of your regular routine, and are no longer surrounded by familiar food, and your favorite workout spots.
Read Moreby Lindsay Shapka in Travel, Travel Tips
So, you have decided where you want to go for your next adventure, your tickets are booked and you have bought a brand new shiny travel book ready to get you trip started.
Next step? Getting your travel vaccinations and immunizations sorted out.
Though you can head to your family doctor for a consultation, specialized travelers health clinics are your best source of information. Ideally you should visit a doctor six to eight weeks before you board the plane, but it is never too late to get a disease preventing shot in the arm.
The Centers for Disease Control and the International Travel & Health Guide published by the World Health Organization are both fantastic resources to do some of your own research (which I heartily recommend).
The only vaccination required by international regulations is Yellow Fever, but you will only be asked for proof of this vaccine (or need to get it) if you have travelled in Africa or South America.
Of course, the types of vaccinations that you will receive are dependent on where you are traveling to, but here is a brief rundown of some of the basics:
This shot is good for 10 years and is a VERY important one. Tetanus is usually found in soil, dust, and manure and enters the body through breaks in the skin; usually cuts or puncture wounds caused by contaminated objects (think rusty nails). It causes lockjaw and, if untreated, death.
Most of us should have received at least one MMR vaccination (usually as a child), that was considered to be good for life. It has recently been discovered that adults are now getting the mumps more regularly (in Canada 300 adults get it each year) and are more susceptible to the infection without a second shot (a friend of mine was recently in Thailand and contracted the mumps while there). Though health professionals may not recommend getting a second shot, insist on it if you are headed to South East Asia. Better to be safe than sorry!
This is a bacteria that is transmitted though contaminated food and water. Though it makes you feel like garbage, it is not life threatening when treated with medication. The vaccination lasts for about 3 years, but is not 100% effective, so you still need to watch what you ingest.
This treat of a virus is transmitted thorough contaminated food and water and has NO specific treatment. In other words, get vaccinated. A series of two shots will usually cover you for life.
This is the only STD that can be prevented by a vaccination so is WELL worth the three shots that protect you for life. It is spread by contact with infected body fluids (which does not necessarily mean sex) and can result in liver cancer, cirrhosis, and death.
This is one of the few mosquito-transmitted viruses that can be treated with a vaccination. It is most common in places with hot, jungle-like conditions. This virus causes an inflammation of the brain (encephalitis), with symptoms including sudden headache, high fever, disorientation, coma, tremors, and convulsions. If you receive the 'live' vaccination, one shot covers you for life. For tips on preventing other mosquito transmitted viruses click here.
Once you have gotten your immunizations, you should be given a booklet that will list all of the vaccinations you received. This is handy to carry with you if you plan on being out of your home country for a lengthy period of time.
Well that about covers it!
Ya, a lot of these viruses, diseases, and infections sound scary, but as soon as you get the vaccination you don't have to worry about it — all that you have to do is enjoy your adventure!
Disclaimer: I want to emphasize that I am NOT a medical professional of ANY kind, nor did I interview a medical professional specifically for this blog. What I have written is based solely on my own experience, and from research in various online and print publications. If you disagree with anything that I have written, or would like to add to it, please leave a comment below!
by Lindsay Shapka in Travel Tips, Travel, Travel Adventures, Adventure
Nothing can ruin a vacation more than huge, itchy welts all over your body.
I learned the hard way that I react differently to mosquito bites outside of North America when I woke up one morning in Thailand and my eye was swollen shut.
A mosquito had spent the night sucking the blood out of my cheek while I was sleeping.
After the initial shock, of not being able to see out of my left eye wore off, I realized that the entire left side of my body was also itchy and looked down to find even more bites that were quickly swelling to epic proportions.
To make the situation even worse, my travel buddy, who had been sleeping next to me all night, was completely bite free.
From that moment on, I decided that mosquito spray was going to have to be my best friend.
I know that they are better for the environment and your health, but in my experience, the all-natural or organic bug sprays do not work on the swarms of mosquitos that come from humid, hot climates.
If you react like I do to foreign mosquitos, stick to sprays that contain DEET. I know, I know, it’s a chemical that can cause side effects if you are exposed to it over the long term, but it’s either that or get eaten alive and potentially contract a fatal disease from one of your swollen bites. In other words, pick your poison.
The strategy I use is to wear a milder spray (like one of the nicely scented, child-friendly ones) during the day, and then switch to a more intense, deep-woods style spray at night. The heat of the day tends to keep most mosquitos in hiding (though they will still find you when you head to the shade), but they come out in full force once the sun goes down.
So, other than itchy bites, what are you trying to avoid by using all this bug spray?
There are a few serious diseases that you can get from mosquitos when traveling in tropical and sub-tropical environments:
Malaria: there is no cure or shot for this guy, but you can take pills to prevent it
Dengue Fever: no cure, no shot, no pills
Japanese Encephalitis: there is a vaccination for this one and if you are going somewhere where it is present, get it. This nasty disease can lead to brain damage and death.
Yellow Fever: vaccine available and some countries won’t even let you in unless you've had it
Zika: no vaccine and the long-term side effects are still being investigated
Other than wearing mosquito spray (I wore it 24 hours a day when in Southeast Asia), I suggest carrying a mosquito net with you. Many hotels will already have them installed in your room, but it’s better not to risk it. Nets are light, don’t take up much room and are easy to set up. Bring some duct tape and a screw in hook as options to hang it up yourself.
If you are planning on sitting out on decks or balconies at night, it’s also worth packing some mosquito coils or small citronella candles to burn to help keep the bugs at bay.
If you do end up getting bitten, an antihistamine will help with the swelling and itching. When I was in Thailand, one of the pharmacists there gave me Tiger Balm to put on the bites which cooled them off and took away some of the irritation as well.
Mosquitos find people using their strong sense of smell, and it has been speculated that eating bananas or taking vitamin B12 will make your blood smell bad and keep them away. There is no scientific evidence to support this, BUT after I started taking B12 daily (this was recommended to me by a Chinese herbalist), any bites that I got didn’t swell or itch.
Lastly, check with your local Traveler’s Health Clinic for updates on risk zones, and know where international clinics are located in the countries that you are headed to so you can find help quickly if you need it.
The CDC has great information about prevention, diseases, and where mosquitos carrying different viruses are located.
