Start your holiday on the right footing by making sure you’re covered health-wise from the off – particularly if you’re embarking on a long haul flight.
Check out our top 10 health tips to keep you on top form before, during and after your holiday so that all you have to do when you get there is enjoy the experience:
1. Try to get out your seat and walk around now and again to avoid the risk of DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis). It’s a good idea to have plenty to drink – that way you’ll be forced to get up and go to the toilet at regular intervals.
2. Drink plenty of water, particularly on long haul flights, and try to avoid alcohol which will only dehydrate you. The less you drink, the better you’ll feel once you get there.
3. If you’re prone to sinus trouble or have recently had a cold, buy a Vicks inhaler and inhale deeply a few times before you fly to clear your nasal passage and avoid headaches, which can be caused by the pressure of the increasing altitude.
4. If you suffer from travel sickness, don’t leave it until the last minute. Try acupressure bands and position them on your pulse points at least an hour in advance. They won’t make you feel groggy like standard travel sickness pills.
5. If your ears are prone to popping during the flight, try chewing some gum. This can be quite distressing for children so if you’re flying with family, suggest they have a lollypop in hand ready for take-off.
6. Remember you can only take liquids in quantities of up to 10ml on an aircraft as hand luggage so decant any important medication into smaller bottles beforehand to save having them discarded by security at the airport.
7. Make sure the emergency contact details are up-to-date on your passport before you travel.
8. Apply for a European Health Insurance Card if you haven’t already done so. It will entitle you to cheaper, or sometimes even free, medical treatment when holidaying in an EU country. You can do this online at www.ehic.org.uk/Internet/home.do and it’s absolutely free.
9. For the latest travel updates from the Foreign Office, go to www.fco.gov.uk before you embark on your trip. The Foreign Office should be your first port of call if you run into difficulty abroad and it’s a good idea to keep the phone number (0207 008 1500 or +44 207 008 1500 when overseas) with you at all times. You can also register for its consular service so that you can be found in an emergency.
10. Make sure you read up on the do’s and don’ts of the particular country you’re travelling to before you go. Do women need to cover up, for example? Or is the water safe to drink?
Also, don’t forget to compare travel money before you head off– leaving you one less thing to worry about while you’re in the air.
