F E A T U R E    A R T I C L E Common Travel Illnesses

Jet lag
The first ailment that hits travelers is jet lag.  This is the disorienting feeling that you get from changing time zones rapidly.  You may feel ready for bed at noon, and/or have insomnia all night.

There are many theories about the best remedy for jet lag.  These include:

• staying awake until the local bed time even if it means not sleeping for an extended period of time
• going to bed when you feel sleepy but awakening one hour earlier/later every day until you are adjusted to local time
• staying outdoors as much as possible so that your body can use the sun's clues to adjust to the local day/night cycle. 

A student traveling from the United States to Japan (a 17-hour difference) remarked:  "The flight from Japan gave me jet lag that lasted for probably four days.  I kept wanting to go to bed too early, then I'd wake up at 1 or 2 in the
morning and not be able to go back to sleep."

Another traveler had these thoughts:  "Try to sleep as much as you can on the flight.  When you get there, you'll be too excited to sleep anyway."

Motion sickness
Any type of motion, whether it's in the air, on water, or on dry land, can give you that queasy feeling known as motion sickness. 

To counteract the nausea, try to keep your eyes fixed on a motionless object outside of your vehicle, such as a tree on the horizon.  Also, nibble on something bland, like crackers.  Some people use "sea-sickness bands": elastic wristbands with a plastic button that applies acupressure to the inside of the wrist.  If you know that you are susceptible to motion sickness, ask your doctor before your trip if he/she recommends that you take something.

Even a seasoned sailor can experience motion sickness:  "I only feel bad when I go below deck while sailing and lose the horizon as a reference point."

Altitude sickness
Being thousands of feet above sea level can cause you to develop a condition called altitude sickness.  This is result of the low oxygen levels at high altitudes.  Common side effects are headache, nausea, lethargy, insomnia, and being short of breath.

Prevention includes drinking lots (and lots and lots) of water, and avoiding fatty foods, heavy exercise, alcohol and other depressant drugs.  Before you go, check with your doctor to see if he/she recommends prescription medication.  Also, try to acclimate to higher elevations slowly, working up to your destination's altitude over a day or two depending on how high you're going.  If the symptoms are too bothersome, you may need to descend to a lower altitude.  Pay attention to your body's signals:  altitude sickness can be very dangerous, even fatal, so do not hesitate to seek medical help.

A recent 14,000 ft. mountain climbing expedition left this traveler with these effects:  "I felt totally drained of energy, I lost my appetite.  It made it very
difficult to keep hiking at a pace I should have been able to handle.  As
we went back down, the lower we got the more normal I started to feel."

Traveler's diarrhea
Certainly, traveler's diarrhea is no one's favorite subject, but unfortunately is very common.  It usually hits at the beginning of a trip and lasts for several days.  If you are traveling to areas without proper sanitation or food preparation resources, keep in mind the following information:

Check with your doctor before you leave about possible medications to take with you.  Make sure that you read the label carefully for health precautions and dosages as these medications are not safe or recommended for everyone.

To avoid traveler's diarrhea drink only bottled, carbonated beverages (this includes water) or boiled water.  Also, use this water to brush teeth and wash face and hands.  Eat well-cooked meats and vegetables that are served fresh and hot, and thick-skinned fruits that you can peel yourself.

Do not drink or eat:  ice cubes or drinks made with local water, unpasteurized milk products, cold or undercooked meats, fish, uncooked or unpeeled fruits or vegetables, anything with mayonnaise, and food from street carts.

If you do come down with traveler's diarrhea, fluid replacement is extremely important.  Dehydration and electrolyte imbalance are dangerous side effects of diarrhea.  As always, you should seek prompt medical advice if symptoms are severe, bothersome, or persistent.

One student afflicted with traveler's diarrhea admits, "I was very careful about what I ate, but the one and only time that I didn't, I got really sick.  My best advice is to never let down your guard."

By Susan Ernenwein and Alice Hoover

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