Healthy Travel

Lisa Iannucci, Michael P. Zimring

Description

Nothing can ruin a trip like an illness, an accident, or a medical emergency. But many of these situations are preventable - or at least, more manageable - with knowledge and planning. Healthy Travel is a concise, well-organised handbook for all travellers. According to the authors., smart travellers are those who do their health homework ahead of time. When you travel, do you take along a comprehensive list of medical, emergency, and contact information in your carry-on, pocketbook, or briefcase? You should and with Healthy Travel, you will.

Sujets

• Reference
• Travel

Informations

• Publié par: Turner Publishing Company
• Date de parution: 15 juin 2005
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781591206194
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

The information contained in this book is based upon the research and personal and professional experiences of the authors. It is not intended as a substitute for consulting with your physician or other healthcare provider. Any attempt to diagnose and treat an illness should be done under the direction of a healthcare professional.
The publisher does not advocate the use of any particular healthcare protocol but believes the information in this book should be available to the public. The publisher and authors are not responsible for any adverse effects or consequences resulting from the use of the suggestions, preparations, or procedures discussed in this book. Should the reader have any questions concerning the appropriateness of any procedures or preparation mentioned, the authors and the publisher strongly suggest consulting a professional healthcare advisor.
Basic Health Publications, Inc.
28812 Top of the World Drive Laguna Beach, CA 92651 949-715-7327 • www.basichealthpub.com


Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Zimring, Michael P.
Healthy travel / Michael P. Zimring, and Lisa Iannucci.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 13: 978-1-59120-619-4
1. Travel—Health aspects. I. Iannucci, Lisa. II. Title.
RA783.5.Z56 2005
613.6’8—dc22
2005012316


Copyright © 2005 by Michael P. Zimring, M.D., and Lisa Iannucci
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the copyright owner.
Editor: Kate Johnson
Typesetting: Gary A. Rosenberg Book design: Carol Rosenberg Cover design: Mike Stromberg
Printed in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3
This book is dedicated to my late father, Joseph G. Zimring, M.D. His love and professional integrity continue to inspire me to treat my patients with dignity and respect.

—Michael P. Zimring, M.D.


From the time I was young, all I ever wanted in my life was to be a writer—or so I thought. Then I became a mother and learned that life is about so much more. This book is dedicated to my three wonderful children, Nicole, Travis, and Samantha, who made me realize how good it is to achieve my own dreams and how much better it is to watch them achieve their own. To the moon, stars, and back, I love you all so much. And to my mom, Patricia Quaglieri, thanks for all your never-ending love and support—I love you.

—Lisa Iannucci
Contents


Acknowledgments

1. A Pre-Trip Checkup
2. Prepare to Stay Healthy
3. Traveler’s Woes: DVT and Jet Lag
4. Lines, Luggage, and Screaming Children: Stress-Free Travel Is Possible!
5. Straight-Up Tips for a Healthy Back
6. Healthy Body
7. Healthy Eating
8. S.O.S.: Medical Emergencies
9. Safety Check
10. Your Personal Health Notebook

Resources
About the Authors
Acknowledgments


There are several people that I would like to acknowledge for their contributions to the development of this book: Penny, my wife, for supporting me and encouraging me through this new venture; Dr. Walter B. Koppel, my good friend and colleague, for reviewing the manuscript; Dan Collins of Media Relations at Mercy Medical Center, for encouraging me to pursue opportunities that led to this publication; and Lisa Iannucci, my coauthor, for inviting me to collaborate on this project. It was truly a pleasure and educational experience working with Lisa and our editor, Kate Johnson.

—Michael P. Zimring, M.D.


There are several people that I’d like to thank for helping me get this book off the ground: Dr. Michael Zimring for agreeing to take on this project and having great energy and passion for the topic; Dan Collins at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore for introducing me to Dr. Zimring and encouraging him to work on the project with me; Norman Goldfind for having faith in this book and being one of the most accessible publishers I’ve ever met; my fellow travel writers and others who shared their personal travel experiences; my talented illustrator Amy Manso; and mostly “Ollie”—my editor Kate Johnson—who kept me on track, does a job well done, and makes this whole process fun.

—Lisa Iannucci
1. A Pre-Trip Checkup


Y
OU PROBABLY WOULDN’T VENTURE ON A LONG ROAD-TRIP without first giving your car a complete inspection to prevent any potential problems along the highway. You would make sure the tire pressure was correct, the oil was changed, the windshield-wiper fluid was filled, and the roadside emergency kit was stocked.
When you travel, do a similar pre-trip checkup on yourself, your children, and any pets that are going with you. It’s important to get medical clearance for travel, especially if you have any preexisting conditions that could flare up or if you have recently undergone surgery. For example, if you have cardiovascular disease, there is nothing wrong with traveling if your condition is stable or compensated. However, you should consult a doctor if you are on medication for acute or chronic cardiovascular disorders. Such factors as intense heat, temperature changes, traveler’s diarrhea, and infectious diseases can all place a strain on the circulatory system. This is why it’s important to discuss preexisting conditions with your physician ahead of time.
The last thing you need is to be stuck in an airport because you didn’t bring the right documents for your medical syringe, stranded in a foreign country without an adequate supply of an essential medication, or in a precarious or even life-threatening position simply because you didn’t go to the doctor or dentist before you left home.
APPOINTMENTS, PAPERWORK, AND SUPPLIES
Protecting yourself from any potential medical complications is a matter of education and preparation. Get off to a good start by doing the following as a pre-trip checkup before you leave (for your convenience, a summary of this section is included within the checklists in Chapter 10 ).
Seek Medical Advice at Least Six Weeks Prior to Departure
You, your spouse, and your children—anyone who will be traveling—should have a medical checkup. This is especially important if you are traveling internationally, if you have any preexisting medical conditions including heart disease, hypertension, or any other chronic condition, or if you have recently had surgery or a heart attack. Schedule appointments with your physicians (and any medical specialists you see regularly) to get medical clearance to travel.
Make a list of your questions before each appointment, bring it with you, and write down the answers so you don’t forget anything after you leave the doctor’s office. At your checkup, inform the physician of your destination(s), how long you will be away, and how you will be traveling (by car, plane, boat, and the like). Ask about any particular health concerns you may have such as dietary changes, any prescription or over-the-counter medications that you may need, and any suggested or required vaccinations (vaccination details are given later in this chapter). If you are disabled, be sure to discuss all of the medical equipment you might need on your trip.
Visit a Travel Clinic
To prepare properly for the challenges of a journey through “the global village we call earth,” travelers should also seek medical advice at a travel clinic at least six weeks prior to departure. Why visit a travel clinic when you already have a personal physician? Because although your physician knows your medical history, he/she may not keep up to date with what’s happening all over the country or overseas. To find a travel clinic near you, visit the International Society of Travel Medicine at www.istm.org (click on “Travel Clinic Directory” and put in your search criteria).
The travel physician conducts a risk assessment to determine what health challenges you may face when you’re away from home. To do so, he/she takes a personal health history that should include your health problems, medications, allergies, and current immunization status, and then considers several other factors, starting with your destination(s)—and, if there’s more than one, the order in which they are to be visited.
Additional factors that determine the degree of risk you will face are the setting of your trip (such as urban, rural, or wilderness) and your style of travel (such as whether you are staying in a first-class hotel, sophisticated resort, local housing, or tent). Whether you are traveling on business, taking the family on a relaxing beach vacation, going mountain climbing, or embarking on a safari or wilderness adventure, the purpose of the trip is an important consideration as well. The physician will also inquire about your “traveler personality.” For example, are you content to eat only “safe foods,” or are you the type to try anything, such as tempting treats from a street vendor’s cart?
Once the assessment is complete, the travel physician will make recommendations including appropriate immunizations, any prophylactic medication(s) you may need, and suggestions for the treatment of minor or annoying illnesses that you may encounter (such as traveler’s diarrhea; see Chapter 2 ).
In addition, a full-service travel clinic can make emergency arrangements so you have someone to call if you develop a serious medical problem or injury while traveling. In conjunction with a travel assistance company (for an example, see the inset on page 5), the travel clinic would be able to coordinate any emergency care with your primary physician, coordinate your care at a foreign destination, and, if necessary, arrange your evacuation for proper care. (See also Chapter 8 .)
Research Your Destination
Visit the U.S. Department of State’s website at www.state.gov and review the relevant consular information sheet(s). These sheets are available for every country and describe en