Travel is a great way to take a break, refresh, see new places, or visit friends and family. For those of us with health challenges, some extra planning must be undertaken in order to keep ourselves healthy as we travel.
To begin with, you'll want to make yourself aware of the planning and implementation for healthy travel in general. Preparing ahead for everything from time zone changes to the need for medical equipment to packing your bags to prevent problems is good practice.
But there are some particular issues you should be aware of that relate to international travel only. From potential diseases you may be exposed to, to cost and money issues, to access to professionals and hospitals, travel abroad can wreak havoc with your health and your wallet if you are not prepared.
Here are some extra considerations for travelers with health challenges who want to travel outside the United States:
Some countries require vaccinations Americans don't ordinarily need. And some countries may not require certain vaccinations, but travelers are smart to get them. The CDC maintains a list of travel health information for world destinations that can inform you about the shots you should get before you go. Do this many weeks before you actually travel since you will probably have to make special arrangements with your doctor, and possibly your insurer, to be sure you get those inoculations in plenty of time.
The foods you'll eat and the water you drink may be considerations, too. You've heard of Montezuma's Revenge - the digestive upset that results from drinking water that may be laced with bacteria. Plan to drink bottled water outside of the United States. Foods may be more challenging, especially if menus are presented in a foreign language. Learn some of the basics about food before you go, and write down the names of some common foods you know won't present you with problems. Conversely, write down the foreign language names of foods you know will be problematic so you can be sure to avoid them.
Learn some health and medical basics of the language spoken in your destination location. Be sure to include basic words like "doctor" or "hospital." Also include the words used to describe your illness or condition. You can find that information at many of the language or destination sites here at About.com, or try Google Translate if you can't find those sentences elsewhere. Write them down and pull them out to review if you need to at your destination, and if you can find a guide to pronunciation, practice them ahead of time, too.
Insurance and payment for services, should you need medical help while you are away, can become problematic, and are different for every other country you might visit. Contact your insurance company before you go and find out what coverage you have in all the countries you'll visit. If you have coverage, it's possible you'll be expected to pay out-of-pocket and be reimbursed by your insurer later, so you'll want something in writing that explains how that reimbursement will work. You won't want them changing their mind later. Learn more about insurance and payment for health services in 200 foreign countries from the US State Department.
Finally, be aware that you may contract an illness while you are away, but not feel symptoms or get sick until after you have arrived home. If you should begin to see a rash or run a fever or have other problematic symptoms within a few weeks of your return, make an appointment to see your doctor, and be very definite about where you have been that could have exposed you to possible illness.
Preparing ahead for your travel, whether its international or domestic, will allow you to relax and enjoy your time away knowing you've planned for potential problems.
