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Three steps you can take to ensure you remain healthy during a foreign holiday

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If you are planning to take a trip abroad, here are a few tips which should help you to stay healthy during your holiday.

Make an appointment with a travel doctor before you go

One of the most effective ways to reduce your chances of becoming ill during your travels is to make an appointment with a travel doctor before you head away. 

During this appointment, the doctor will, if necessary, be able to give you the vaccinations that are required for the country you will be visiting. These may include Hepatitis A, typhoid and yellow fever vaccinations.

If you will be travelling through an area where there is a high risk of contracting malaria, the doctor may also prescribe anti-malarial medication; this usually needs to be taken for several days before you plan to leave and for a few weeks after you return home.

Avoid drinking tap water

In countries that have sanitation problems, the tap water sometimes contains bacteria that can cause illnesses, such as gastroenteritis.

Locals who have lived in these areas and consumed this water all their lives usually have a natural immunity to this potentially harmful bacteria, which prevents them from getting sick; however, if you have never visited this place before, your body won't be immune and you could become quite ill if you drink the water.

As such, it is best to only consume bottled water and to avoid ordering drinks that contain ice when dining in restaurants. If you have no other option but to drink tap water, make sure to boil it first and allow it to cool before drinking it; this should kill off any dangerous bacteria that may be present in it.

Allow yourself to rest if you feel tired

Travelling can be very tiring. Many people try to ignore their exhaustion and 'power through' all of the activities listed on their holiday itinerary because they don't want to miss out on any special moments.

However, taking this approach could put you at risk of catching a cold or the flu during your trip, which could, in turn, potentially spoil your entire holiday experience. This is because failing to rest when you're extremely tired can lower your immune system and thus make it harder for your body to fight off germs.

As such, if you don't want to end up spending your trip in your hotel room, feeling congested, weak and unable to even get out of bed, it's important to rest when you begin to feel worn out.


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