There’s nothing worse than planning the trip of a lifetime, only to start to feel ill a few days in. When you get sick at home it’s normal to feel drained, exhausted and utterly dreadful. But when you’re abroad it’s normal to start feeling pretty vulnerable too. After all, you’re thousands of miles away from home in a foreign country. There are many reasons why you may have gotten sick, but luckily there are a few things you can do for yourself to move your sickness along and help speed up recovery. Want to know more? Read on for 5 steps to take if you start to feel ill on vacation.

Remember, uninsured medical evacuations can cost a lot of money, and while they only happen in extreme circumstances it’s still vital that you have travel insurance in place, so you’re covered.

Make sure you’re using your first aid kit

If you packed properly, then you should have brought some first aid essentials with you. A little bit of self-care can go a long way when you’re under the weather, so now is a good time to use what you have in your first aid kit. With any luck, you have added some pain relievers, antacids, antihistamines, diarrhea tablets and re-hydration medicines. If you have something with you that could accelerate your recovery, then take it. If not, then head to a local pharmacy and ask for assistance. Hotel staff will be able to point you in the right direction.

Drink plenty of water if you feel ill on vacation

It’s easy to become dehydrated when you’re on vacation. Whether you’re sick and passing fluids quicker than you should, or you’re drinking more alcohol than you are water – make sure you don’t forget to balance your intake of liquids, as alcohol ultimately just dehydrates you more. If you’re feeling ill, then drinking plenty of water is a good idea. Replenishing your lost fluids is vital to aiding recovery so avoid drinking alcohol, and stick to water, fruit juices and even ice pops. Keep your fluid intake up as much as possible while you’re overseas.

Listen to your body

When you’re feeling ill, the best option is to listen to your body. Getting enough rest is essential, so instead of heading off sightseeing, where you’re likely to feel drained and potentially even worse, opt for a day by the pool or relaxing in your air-conditioned accommodation instead. Taking one day to rest and recover is better than feeling sick during your whole vacation.

Eat plain and simple foods

If your issues are stomach related such as gastroenteritis, then it’s best to stick to a bland diet of foods that are easier to digest. Avoid dairy if you can, as well as greasy, fatty foods and alcohol. Stick to plain toast, crackers, even dry cereal to keep your meals simple until you’re feeling a little better.

When to seek help

If you’re suffering from shortness of breath, weakness, chest pains, fever, difficulty breathing or a potential infection, then you should seek medical assistance as soon as possible. Don’t wait. Don’t worry about funding your medical treatment as your medical insurance should cover you for all your expenses. It’s better to miss out on your vacation than to get sicker.

 

 

 We’re in the first month of 2020, and many of us are still figuring out or trying to keep our new year’s resolutions. Many of our resolutions are health and fitness related. After all, we all want to lead the best lives we can – able to do as we please, when we please, and not suffering the symptoms of negative health consequences that can disrupt our happiness and wellbeing. If you’re planning on leading a healthier lifestyle, a good place to start is cutting out foods that are bad for you. Here are a two foods that you might want to consider cutting down on or waving goodbye to!

 Alcohol

 Alcohol can be fine to incorporate into your diet. It’s a legal substance and it is easily accessible. Many of us base a lot of our social lives around drinking with friends – picking up an alcoholic drink in the grocery store, in your local pub, at a bar, in clubs, or even at restaurants where you are casually dining. Some of us drink at home over a meal, some of us go out to drink. As an occasional thing that we partake in every now and again, alcohol is fine. But it’s important to remember that there are a whole host of negatives that can be associated with excessive alcohol consumption whether it’s binge drinking or drinking too much on a regular basis.

Alcohol can inhibit your mental capacity, resulting in you making bad or regrettable decisions. It can cause alcohol poisoning. It also comes hand in hand with a whole host of long term health consequences to your liver and other organs. If you believe that you may regularly be exceeding the recommended alcohol consumption limits, or if you are ever concerned that you are becoming dependent on alcohol, you will need to cut down your consumption or remove alcohol from your lifestyle altogether. There are various steps that you can take to achieve this and the best for you will depend on the severity of your over consumption. It’s generally best to consult your doctor who can take a look at your individual needs and give you personally tailored advice. They may recommend alcohol support groups or attendance at an alcohol rehab center.

Sugar

 Sugar is sweet and the majority of us find it delicious. There are various evolutionary theories set out to explain this. But at the end of the day, we are very different from our ancestors. Sugar is so mass produced nowadays that we are eating it in much higher volumes than people seem to have ever consumed it before. The bad news is that sugar can have a detrimental impact on our overall health and well being. It’s extremely bad for your oral health and can cause tooth decay, toothache, and the need for many dental procedures. It also has no nutritional value – it doesn’t provide any essential vitamins or nutrients to our diet, which means that when we eat it, we are filling up without getting any health benefits. So, reduce the amount of sugar in your diet. If you need a sweet snack, opt for fruit, which contains natural sugars.

Cutting out foods that are bad for you is just one step in the right direction to better health. These are just two foods you should seriously consider cutting down on throughout the rest of the year! You’ll feel all the better for it!