Has this ever happened to you? You plan for months or even years for your dream vacation. Then, two days after you get there, you start to develop the dreaded bug or virus. It’s worth noting that this is more common than most people think and it’s not hard to understand why. I’ve had it happen and it sucks. No lie. The last thing anyone wants to do is be sick and feel like it’s your fault for dragging the whole family’s vacation down. It’s not necessarily your fault though.
After all, if you’re traveling abroad, you’ll be on a plane filled with people for several hours, all sharing the same bathroom. They might not have the same hygiene standards as you. As well as this, it’s possible that you pick up a virus when you reach your vacation destination. Some people are more prone to issues here than others and their bodies may not respond well to the new environment. So many variables make it hard for anyone to pinpoint the exact cause, so it’s hard to prevent, but you can prepare yourself in how you’ll respond if it does happen.
If you have spent a fortune on a holiday, then you don’t want to let this ruin your vacation. But is there a way to beat it? That’s what we’re going to explore today.
Can You Avoid Getting Ill Completely?
Possibly, one of the first things to consider is whether you can just avoid experiencing an illness while on vacation. There are some ways that you can limit your chances of getting ill, but there’s no way to 100% guarantee that you won’t develop a virus.
First, make sure that you are keeping good hygiene standards. As mentioned, you can’t trust other people to wash their hands thoroughly so you need to be taking this step. It’s a little difficult to get sprays for keeping your hands clean on a plane. However, you can certainly take wipes onboard to ensure that your hands are kept clean throughout the journey.
You should also think about your diet. One of the best ways to ensure that you avoid getting sick is to strengthen your immune system. You can do this if you eat the right fruit and veg. Ideally, you should be making sure that you are filling your diet with anti-oxidants. It’s tempting to just go completely unhealthy when on vacation and have multiple cheat days. But, if you want to limit your chances of getting sick, then this is always going to be a mistake.
You should also avoid scenarios where you are more likely to develop an illness. An example of this that you want to keep in mind is swimmer’s ear. This infection can be quite nasty and a lot of people from the UK to develop it when they swim underwater in America. The best way to avoid this is to wear ear protectors when you are swimming in the pool no matter where you’re from or where you’re vacationing.
You also need to make sure that you’re being careful with heat exhaustion in a tropical environment. Make sure that you are drinking plenty of fluids and rest in the shade when necessary. You also want to avoid the heat of the day. And by tropical I don’t just mean exotic…y’all you can and will overheat if you’re visiting an environment that you are not acclimated to.
What Should You Do If You Notice You’re Feeling Ill?
If you notice that you’re feeling ill, then you want to make sure that you are taking meds immediately. You might have taken these with you packed into your suitcase. Alternatively, you can probably contact the hotel reception. Energy drinks are also beneficial and can provide you with the support that your body needs to fight off a cold or virus that is starting to develop. This is probably best described as the ‘push through and go’ approach. You can load yourself up on meds and ensure that you are ready to face the day. A lot of holidays require a lot of walking, swimming or exercise so you probably are going to need quite a few meds. What you need to take will depend on your symptoms. If it’s a sore throat, look at the strepsils dosage and take as many as are recommended as often as you can.
Take The Day
Alternatively, if you do notice that you are starting to develop what is the beginning of a virus, then you might want to consider taking the day. Often, with the right rest and the correct meds, a virus-like this will pass from your system in about 24 hours. That’s why it can be worth booking a few extra days on your holiday. If you do get sick, you’ll have time for some off days. Off days can also help you take the pressure off and ensure that you aren’t doing too much without a break. This is ideal for what is best described as an active vacation.
When You’re Ill
If you do find yourself ill on vacation with a full-blown virus or cold, you have a few options. You can admit defeat and retreat to your room. Depending on how bad the illness is, you might be forced to write off the majority of the holiday. However, again, if you make sure that you are approaching it the right way, you can cut the recovery time down.
One of the ways to do this is to drink plenty of fluids and handle the symptoms correctly. For instance, you might have a fever. If that’s the case, it’s important that you don’t wrap yourself up or turn up the thermostat. You need to let it run its course and with a little luck, you’ll feel better tomorrow.
Alternatively, you can continue the vacation but with a few changes. For instance, if you’re feeling ill then you shouldn’t go in the water as this is always going to make things worse. You’ll need to ensure that you keep a check on your symptoms too. It’s important that if you do find you start to develop more issues, you get professional support. This is one of the reasons why it’s crucial that you do arrange health insurance whenever you go on holiday. If you can get the right treatment, you are more likely to recover long before your holiday concludes.
We hope this helps you understand some of the best ways to keep your health in check when on vacation. Even if you do develop a virus, there are ways to fight it and ensure that it doesn’t put a dampener on your vacation.
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