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| Keys so that nothing spoils your rest days |
How do holidays affect our health?
On vacation, we break the routine to which our body is accustomed. We practice new activities and expose ourselves in a much more intense way to natural agents such as water or the sun. If we travel to distant or exotic destinations, our body has to adapt in record time to the environmental conditions, time zones, and gastronomy of the place. And we are traveling more and more: according to data from the National Statistics Institute (INE), residents of the World made 24.6 million trips in the summer of 2017.
For this reason, and since adapting to our vacation spot is not always easy, it is important to prevent complications by taking a few simple precautions before leaving on a trip.
What are the most frequent conditions during a trip?
In most cases, health-related incidents during the holidays remain daily nuisances, from mosquito bites that don't let us sleep at night, to a urine infection.
One of the most frequent conditions at this time of year is otitis since it is in summer when you sweat more and showers and baths are more frequent. All this increases the desquamation of the skin that covers the external ear and the humidity and as a consequence, an environment is created where bacteria and, sometimes, fungi can proliferate better. Even if we bathe in pools with treated water or on blue flag beaches, this external otitis can appear due to the previous presence of bacteria that proliferate in the face of excess moisture and flaking.
Otitis causes symptoms such as pain in the ear, edema and/or redness of the ear canal, and sometimes discharge. The best way to prevent it is to avoid bathing in unreliable water, use a bathing cap or earplugs and, above all, keep the ear canal clean and dry.
What are the causes behind these conditions?
We can talk about two types of causes of these inconveniences:
· The rupture of our daily habits such as the change in the hours of sleep, the diet, and the practice of exercise... can have repercussions in imbalances in our body such as diarrhea, constipation, insomnia, etc.
· The presence of external agents such as insects, heat or cold, and humidity... can also affect the appearance of infections, bites, allergic reactions, and others.
How should we prepare for the holidays?
Prevention begins at the time of packing, in which we must not forget to include a first-aid kit with basic medicines, comfortable shoes to avoid foot discomfort and sunscreen with a factor of 30 or higher, a hat, and sunglasses. Likewise, once we are at the destination, we must not neglect a minimum of health related to our diet, rest, or exercise, so that the change in routines causes the least possible impact on our body. Finally, it does not hurt to find out in advance and locate the health centers, hospitals, and pharmacies in the area to which we are going, to be able to resort to them quickly if necessary.
What medical coverages are essential?
It must be remembered that when we left World we did not have public medical coverage. For this reason, it is very important to find out about the health systems of each country and have the necessary coverage in each case, since otherwise, if we require admission or suffer an accident, the costs of assistance, which can be very high, would fall on us. In the case of citizens with World nationality who are going to travel temporarily to other countries of the European Union, the European health card can be requested, which ensures us in most eurozone regions. This card is free, it arrives by mail at home within a maximum period of 10 days and can be ordered here. For other destinations, there is travel medical insurance that can be taken out when taking a flight or managing a trip at the agency.
10 tips to enjoy a healthy vacation
On vacation, you must take a series of measures that allow you to be prepared for unforeseen events that may occur, as well as maintain healthy lifestyle habits, just like the rest of the year. Relaxing on vacation does not mean relaxing in the care of your health.
1. Protect yourself adequately from the sun.
Whether you choose a beach, nature, or cultural destination, on vacation you always spend more time outdoors. For this reason, your suitcase should not be without sunscreen with a factor of 30 or higher to protect you against UVA, UVB, and IR-A radiation. You will also include sunglasses and a hat. Despite these measures, as far as possible you should avoid the sun in the central hours of the day, from twelve noon to four in the afternoon, when the radiation is strongest.
2. Boost fruits and vegetables in your diet.
Constipation is a common travel companion. On vacation you may tend to relax on your diet, so you should make an effort to continue eating foods rich in fiber, which promotes intestinal transit. You also have to practice a little exercise every day.
3. Drink plenty of fluids.
More than ever, on vacation in hot places or when you are going to do extreme sports, it is important to drink at least two liters of water a day to keep your body hydrated, both to deal with high temperatures and intestinal problems. . You can also have isotonic drinks, juices, soups, salads, etc. In case of visiting undeveloped countries, you should always drink bottled water and avoid drinks with ice, since these are usually made with tap water and may contain bacteria for which you have no defenses.
4. Faced with jet lag, maintain a correct sleep routine.
After a long-haul flight, your internal clock tends to prevail against the time zones of the new destination. To avoid drowsiness and insomnia, we recommend that you sleep as much as possible during the flight if you arrive at your destination early and, if you arrive at night, go to bed as soon as possible. Subsequently, you should try to establish a regular sleep schedule.
5. Avoid tight clothing and move your legs frequently.
To avoid the feeling of tired legs and fluid retention, loose-fitting clothing that promotes circulation is recommended. If you take long trips by car or plane, you will frequently move your feet and legs, walking if possible, or twisting your ankles.
6. Pay attention to your feet.
Especially when you go sightseeing, you must use flexible footwear with a suitable width for your feet, to prevent the appearance of chafing, calluses, or blisters. You must wear shoes with a padded sole or, failing that, use a plantar pad. It is also essential to dry and hydrate your feet well, and in swimming pools or common areas, use slippers or flip-flops to prevent the development of fungus.
7. Do not remain in a wet swimsuit.
Moisture in clothes after bathing favors the growth of bacteria that cause cystitis or urinary tract infection, so you should put on dry clothes as soon as possible.
8. Beware of bites.
To flee from mosquitoes, you should do without colognes or soaps with aromas that are too sweet or intense, as they attract their attention. In the areas of greatest risk, it is also advisable to wear clothing that covers all the skin, resort to mosquito nets and, above all, apply mosquito repellents, strictly following the manufacturer's application instructions.
9. On guard against tropical diseases.
If you travel to exotic destinations, it is a good idea to visit the International Vaccination Center in your city a couple of months in advance to find out about the necessary vaccinations or precautions in the area. It is important that you strictly comply with the vaccination schedule indicated by the specialist.
10. Prepare a first-aid kit with the essential products and the usual medication.
Hydrogen peroxide, skin disinfectants, sterile gauze, and adhesive tape will allow you to quickly clean and heal a wound. Painkillers, flu, antidiarrheals, and antihistamines can also be very helpful, as can motion sickness pills. Also, if you suffer from a chronic illness, you mustn't forget to take your usual medication with you the entire time you are away from home.
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