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Travel healthy and smart, no matter the season


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    Monday, February 20, 2017, 9:39 PM - Heading out for a well-deserved holiday? Make sure you return with great memories, and not an unwanted souvenir like a nasty travel disease, rash, or painful sunburn.

    Warm beaches, tropical drinks, and perpetual sunshine beckon winter-weary Canadians, but paradise has its hazards, which could include hepatitis A, hepatitis B and a myriad of other problems. So before you even pack up that bathing suit and short shorts, be sure to pack some common sense. Know your risks and plan ahead.

    “Many Canadians may be putting themselves at risk of acquiring a number of preventable, travel-acquired illnesses,” pharmacist Victor Wong tells HuffingtonPost.ca. For those traveling to Mexico, Cuba and the Caribbean, find out if vaccinations for travellers’ diarrhea, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and typhoid may be appropriate for you. If you’re heading somewhere exotic, find out if you need malaria prevention.

    Health risks vary according to destination, itinerary, duration of journey, and medical history of the traveler. Ideally, it’s best to visit a qualified health professional 4 to 6 weeks before leaving. “In many provinces, Shoppers Drug Mart offers travel consultations and can administer vaccinations to ensure you have the most up-to-date health advice based on your travel plans,” says Wong, owner of two Shoppers Drug Mart pharmacies.

    Pharmacists can also recommend what you may need in order to stay healthy while travelling, including over-the-counter products that you might not easily find abroad. They can also ensure you have a full supply of your prescription medications to last you while you are away, and, in all provinces except Quebec, pharmacists are able to inject travel vaccinations so if you have a prescription from your doctor, you can get the vaccination from the pharmacist when you pick it up.

    Did you know that up to 65% of travelers to developing countries report a health problem during their trip? Although most of these are mild, self-limited illnesses such as diarrhea, respiratory infections, and skin disorders, why take the chance of being sick away from home or returning home with something worse.

    “I often have patients running into the pharmacy the week before their vacation in a panic, wondering about vaccines,” says Wong. Be sure to give yourself enough time – if your trip is mere weeks away, pharmacists can still make recommendations for the best options to protect your health within the time available.

    Travel healthy and smart with tips from Shoppers Drug Mart:

    • Besides seeing taking care of your health before leaving, thoroughly research your destination with guidebooks, online research, travel agents and speaking to friends and family who’ve been there. Whether you’re heading off to a yoga retreat or on an eco-tour, it’s not only important to know about the sights you’ll see – but also potential health risks.
    • Be sure your first aid kit is stocked up and stowed away in your bag. What if you feel sick after that cooking class or light headed after a hike? Manually activated hot/cold compresses or pain killers are easy to pack. Your pharmacist can advise you what common pharmacy items to include in your packing list.
    • Protect your skin. Pack appropriate clothing. Wear light-coloured, loose clothing to avoid bug bites, breathable fabrics when in the heat, and lather on the sunscreen.
    • Wash your hands frequently with warm, soapy water – or use a hand sanitizer - after using the bathroom and before eating. This helps keep fecal matter from spreading from your hands to your mouth, where it can cause infection.
    • Where sanitation is suspect, stick with cooked foods eaten while they are still hot. Only eat fresh fruits and veggies that you peel yourself. Uncooked food, like salads and fruits, and raw meat or shellfish, can cause traveller’s diarrhea. And any contaminated food can cause a number of diseases, including traveller’s diarrhea and hepatitis A. World Health Organization estimates show 1.4 million cases of hepatitis A each year.
    • Avoid tap water in regions with poor sanitation. That includes staying away from ice cubes too unless you are sure they’re made from non-contaminated water.

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