You need to take care of yourself wherever you are, but even more so when you are traveling. It is easy to fall pray to an illness when you are in a foreign land because your body has not yet had the opportunity to shift to the atmosphere, cuisine and environment in a new place and this can have consequences. Traveling can put you in contact with germs that your body simply isn't used to.
What you need to remember if your traveling overseas is to find out what vaccinations you'll need initially because many countries maintain different requirements. In the United States, call your doctor or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to get a list of the important vaccinations. You'll need to allow plenty of time for this step in case you need to get vaccines that require more than one dose.
The three most prevalent afflictions that occur when traveling overseas are jet lag, altitude sickness, and diarrhea. When you travel globally, the change in daylight can confuse your body, resulting in jet lag. Jet lag can cause any number of problems from an upset stomach, to insomnia, and lethargy. You can avoid jet lag; for example, when traveling from west to east, you need stay out of the sun until a day after you've arrived. If you're traveling from east to west, exercise or take a walk after you touch down.
Dry air, a decrease in oxygen, and low barometric pressure are what cause altitude sickness. When you travel to a greater altitude than that to which you're used it can be a common problem. Issues such as dehydration, shortness of breath and headaches can plague you. Find out what elevation you're traveling to before you go this way you can prepare yourself.Slowly increase your altitude every day to get used to it. If that isn't possible, cetazolamide can help prevent symptoms. Check with your doctor before you set off .
Diarrhea can be a grave issue. Traveler's diarrhea is called turista, and is usually the result of a foreign microbe entering your digestive tract. This usually can occur when you consume food or water that has been contaminated. To prevent turista, be cautious of the food you eat and the water you drink on your trip.
All medicines should travel in appropriate containers. Keep them in the containers they came in from the pharmacy. All the necessary information should be on the pharmacy label. Labels should show the child's name, medicine name, dose, name of the prescriber, and the medicine's strength. Many parents know the name of their child's medicine but not its strength; this can cause problems because many medicines come in multiple strengths.
Pack medicines so you'll have immediate access to them at any time during the trip. They should be packed so that they're protected from getting wet or from extreme temperatures. When traveling by car, keep medicines up front in the passenger area, not in the trunk or glove compartment, which can become too warm. On a plane, keep medicines with you in a carry on bag. Do not pack them in a suitcase that will be checked and stowed in the baggage compartment. It is more likely to get lost and could be exposed to temperature extremes.
Have quick-relief medicine available at all times. Don't leave it behind at the hotel when you go out for the day.
If your child takes medicine by nebulizer, you may want to consider obtaining a portable nebulizer, which is usually smaller than a regular nebulizer and runs on batteries or a car cigarette lighter (DC power) rather than plugging a cord into an electrical outlet. A portable nebulizer is convenient for travel, but it is usually less powerful than a regular nebulizer, so treatments may take longer. And some portable nebulizers do not put out the proper medicine particle size mist. (Only certain size particles can go down into the small airways.)
Another consideration is the fact that many health insurers will not cover the cost of a second nebulizer, let alone a portable one that is more expensive. If you decide to get one, you may have to pay for it out-of-pocket. Another option you might want to discuss with your child's physician or nurse practitioner is switching from a nebulizer to MDIs with a spacer, as long as the medicine your child takes is available in that form and you learn how to use the device properly ahead of time. These devices can be used successfully even in infants, as long as they're used with a face mask.
If you bring a nebulizer on a plane trip, you will probably need to check it with luggage rather than carry it on board with you. Since luggage is sometimes lost, it is a good idea to identify an equipment company near your destination that will rent a nebulizer for the length of your stay just in case.
Special Considerations for Flying
Two special circumstances apply to airplane travel and asthma. First, air inside a plane cabin is recycled. Second, air in a plane is thinner, or has less oxygen. If your child's asthma is not under control before getting on the plane, your child may have increased symptoms. Consider postponing travel if your child is having a difficult-to-control flare. Planes are diverted to the nearest airport only in a life-or-death medical emergency, but otherwise they continue to the planned destination. If your child has a flare that becomes worse on board, the flight will seem painfully long for everyone involved. The best advice is to get your child's flare under control before you fly.
Going Abroad
International travel makes planning even more complicated. These trips absolutely require that all medicines be properly labeled. Make sure that you take along enough medicine to last the entire trip because the exact same medicine may not be available in the country you're visiting. You should also keep a copy of your child's asthma management plan with the medicine.
Plug adapters may also be needed if you are going to use a nebulizer because electrical outlets abroad may differ from those in the United States. Adapters for different countries are available where luggage is sold. If you're visiting a country where you don't speak the language, make sure that you identify hospitals in advance.
Asthma and its treatment should not be any more burdensome while traveling than it is at home if you use common sense, plan ahead, and prepare to have a safe and enjoyable trip. Bon voyage!
Both Eric Seminara & Ricky Hussey are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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