Travel Tips From the DoctorPlan ahead for sun exposureBeaches and hotel pools aren’t the only vacation destinations that warrant packing sunscreen in your travel bag. “Tourists typically spend many hours outdoors wandering through quaint towns, sitting in sidewalk cafes, and waiting in lines for museums or amusement-park rides,” said Dr. Clifford Dacso, a physician with the Travel Medicine Service at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. “Sometimes they don’t realize until the end of a day of sightseeing how long they’ve been out in the sun. And by then, they’re seeing their red-faced reflection in the >mirror and probably wincing at the pain of sunburn on their arms, neck and head.” Besides a blistering sunburn, overexposure to the sun can cause cancer, premature aging of the skin and suppression of the immune system. Ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun can damage the eye’s lens and cornea. Vacationers leaving winter climates for warmer parts of the world should anticipate their outdoor activities and take along these sun protectors:
Snow skiers and golfers need to be extra careful about too much sun exposure, Dacso said. If you’re flying, do drinkAirplane travelers should drink plenty of water before, during and after their flight to avoid dehydration. “The air in planes is often dry, and it’s not unusual for passengers to become dehydrated before they start to feel thirsty,” said Dr. Wayne Riley, director of the Travel Medicine Service at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. By keeping their bodies well-supplied with water, plane travelers can help prevent constipation, sluggishness and other side effects of dehydration. Drinking at least eight ounces of water before, during and after a plane trip should be sufficient to prevent dehydration. Also try to avoid alcohol and beverages containing caffeine. Limit use of melatonin for jet lagAirplane travelers should be wary of taking the hormone melatonin too often for jet lag. Available over the counter in drugstores as a “food supplement,” melatonin has become a popular pill for combating sleepiness, fatigue and decreased mental alertness resulting from jet lag. “Research indicates that melatonin is effective for short-term treatment of jet lag, but we don’t know yet whether long-term use is safe,” said Dr. Clifford Dacso, a physician with the Travel Medicine Service at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. Until long-term effects are studied, travelers should not take melatonin for more than one month at a time, Dacso said. The dosage and time schedule for taking melatonin will vary according to how many time zones the traveler is crossing and the plane’s departure and arrival times. Ask your travel medicine physician for recommendations. Edited By Shekeria Brown |
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TM