A healthy body is a guest-chamber for the soul; a sick body is a prison – Francis Bacon
You should take care of your health 10 times more when you travel to another country because the climate conditions, food, water, etc will vary. If you are living in Europe or the USA, then it will be difficult to withstand the lifestyle in India as it will not be that much sophisticated. India is known for its population, pollution, garbage, bad roads, etc. So you should take good care of your health to prevent diseases and returning back Safely.
In this article…
1.Take travel vaccinations
Consult your local doctor or medical practitioner at least 4 weeks prior to the journey and check your body completely. The World Health Organization(WHO) suggests taking vaccinations for many diseases before traveling to India which includes Hepatitis A, B, Malaria, Typhoid, etc. Check with your doctor and make sure you take all the basic and precautionary vaccinations. Also, check with the Indian embassy in your country about the list of specific vaccinations you need to take as the government of India expects proof for some vaccinations. For example, if you are coming from an African country like Kenya, you need to take a vaccination for yellow fever.
Carry the proof of all the vaccinations you took for immigration purposes.
2.Travel health insurance
Even if you are very 100% healthy and fit, health insurance is mandatory for travel. Get a good one for the whole duration of the stay and know about the expenses it will cover and the list of hospitals where you can use the insurance. Keep the health card and list of hospitals in the city of travel always with you.
3. Keep a travel health kit
Get a good pouch and pack all the necessary medicines for fever, cold, cough, headache, diarrhea, vomit, etc. Keep all the pain relievers, antibiotics, and ointments for insect protection. Also keep a first aid kit with cotton, band-aid, scissor, etc. If you taking any regular medication, keep that medicine. Also, keep a copy of the original prescriptions inside the pouch.
4. Avoid exposure to germs
Carry a hand sanitizer liquid or soap with you always and wash your hands with it before eating food. If there is a need to visit the hospital to see a sick person, avoid it completely. Don’t stand or sit near a sick person to avoid infection.
5. Drink mineral water
Many diseases spread in India because of water. So always drink only the distilled mineral water bottles. Before buying the bottles make sure that is sealed properly and text revealing that it has been purified. Some of the trusted mineral water brands in India are Aquafina, Bisleri, Beverley, etc. Don’t drink tap water or the ones offered in water cups in hotels.
6. Eat healthy and fresh food
Don’t eat any food served in roadside shops or restaurants even if you find that very cheap because they are unhealthy. Even if you go to big restaurants, eat only fresh food that is hot and avoid eating food at room temperature. Don’t eat the cut vegetables and fruits. If you want to eat fruits and vegetables, then buy it yourself and eat it after washing it completely and peeling its skin.
Make a list of good restaurants in the city and eat there only as much as possible. Check out the following sites to get an idea.
Tripadvisor
Yellowpages
JustDial
Mouthshut
7. Say ‘No’ to spicy and Oily food
Indian restaurants are popular for their spicy and oily food. Unless you are 100% sure that it won’t affect your health, don’t even think of it as they don’t use fresh oil for making the food, and frying in the reused oil leads to health hazards like diarrhea, food poisoning, etc. Spicy food does not suit all and your nose will become reddish in color after eating it and it will affect the health.
8. Mosquito bite
Mosquitoes are a popular character in almost every part of India and you should avoid getting a bite from it. Stay in air-conditioned rooms as much as possible. If not, apply mosquito repellent cream on your body and sleep inside a mosquito net. Wear full sleeve shirts and cover all parts of your body to prevent from bites. Apart from mosquitoes fleas and ticks can also spread diseases. Keep always the insect repellent cream with your travel health kit.
Make sure that the bedspreads and pillows in your hotel room are replaced every day and they are clean.
9. Safe transportation
Avoid walking in crowded areas or slums where there is a possibility of infection. Don’t travel in overcrowded buses or trains as you may get infections through the air you breathe. Travel in air-conditioned buses and taxis as much as possible. If you walk, always cover your legs with shoes and socks as the roads may not be clean. Don’t plan your trip during monsoon season at any cost. If unavoidable, don’t go out if it is raining as most of the time the rainwater gets mixed with the drainage which will lead to severe fever and other diseases.
10. Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)
If you are a US citizen and traveling to India, this will be helpful to you. STEP is a free service by the US government which gives many travel tips and alerts to US citizens who are living in other countries or traveling. You just have to register on the site once for getting the travel tips.
Also read – Tips for first time visitors to USA from India
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