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As travel restrictions have eased in many regions, more people are traveling today than in recent months. And while travel plans are mostly focused on details such as packing, booking accommodations and transportation schedules, it is also very important to make preparations for maintaining good health while you’re on the go.
Anyone with a chronic pain condition already knows to pack any necessary medications as part of their pre-travel planning. But for those who don’t anticipate health issues along the way, planning for wellness is often not a top item on their activities list.
In case you’re planning a trip but haven’t given much thought to prevention and preparation for good health when traveling, we’ve provided a handy checklist that we hope will prove useful in ensuring healthy, pain-free adventures, wherever you may be going.
1. Research your destination
No matter where you’re traveling, it is wise to learn about any health concerns that may be associated with your planned location. Especially if traveling abroad, you’ll want to be aware of local conditions that can lead to adverse consequences for your health, including insect populations, water issues, potential natural disasters, and climate necessities.
You can check travel health notices for your destination by visiting the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website.
2. Get necessary vaccinations
Some regions are prone to contagious diseases, and visitors may be required to have designated vaccinations prior to visiting. Well before traveling, you will need to determine what vaccines are recommended or required for your destination, so as not to be surprised by any mandates at the last minute.
3. Pack any medications you are taking
If possible, it’s a good idea to fill prescriptions before you travel, even if you still have some medication remaining. This allows for any unexpected circumstances that may prolong a trip, ensuring that you’ll have enough of your medication on hand despite any schedule changes. If you know you’ll need medication in the hours during a long flight, be sure to have your dosage readily accessible, in your carry-on baggage.
Always keep your medications in the original RX bottle, so that airport security can verify your authorization to carry pharmaceuticals. Additionally, it’s a good idea to keep a list of your current medications on your person in the event of a medical emergency during any part of your trip.
4. Consult with your pain physician before travel
This might seem at first like an unnecessary step, yet it could prove to be an important one. If you already know you have a medical condition, you should consult with your doctor to ensure that travel is safe for you, and to learn any precautionary steps you should be taking in association with your condition. You’ll need to know whether it’s safe for you to fly, if long car trips may be harmful for your situation, and so on.
If you have no known conditions, it’s still a good idea to have a check-up, in the event that you have any conditions you’re not yet aware of.
5. Contact your health insurance provider to confirm coverage
Your health insurance plan might not cover services in certain regions or with certain physicians. Find out how your coverage may be affected depending upon your destination, and if necessary, make contingency plans in the event that you have need for urgent medical care during your travels.
6. Find out what healthcare facilities are available in the region of your destination.
An emergency situation is no time to ask where to find urgent medical care. In the United States, a call to 911 is all one needs to know… emergency dispatchers know where to take you for help. But when traveling overseas, do you know how to summon help on a moment’s notice? Don’t wait to find out; research any 911 ‘equivalents’ specific to your destination and map out locations of healthcare facilities prior to your trip.
7. During your travels, pay attention to signs that your body may be ill
When caught up in the flurry of activity occurring during vacations and other travel adventures, it’s surprisingly easy to disregard the body’s important signals. For instance, exhaustion or weakness could be misconstrued as merely a result of “all the excitement,” or becoming overheated may be attributed to local climate.
While it’s true that the body may naturally experience rhythm shifts due to a change in activity and location, it’s still a good idea to pay sufficient attention to any adverse symptoms you experience, so as not to overlook signs that can indicate the need to consult a physician.
We hope this checklist has provided helpful tips that will save you time and possibly help prevent health issues during your travels. Feel free to print it out and keep it handy, (or perhaps stored away with your luggage, so it’s on hand the next time you need to pack for a trip.)
Vacations are meant to be fun, and business trips are meant to be productive; taking time for healthcare preparation can help to ensure that your travel objectives aren’t disrupted by unexpected (and unwanted) medical issues along the way.
Here’s to happy, healthy and pain-free traveling!
About Florida Pain Relief Centers
If you live with chronic pain conditions that affect your mobility and hinder your travel aspirations, let us help relieve your pain so you can experience more of what life has to offer.
The expert pain management experts at Florida Pain Relief Centers can provide you with information on the latest minimally invasive, proven procedures and treatments to help minimize or eliminate your suffering.
We believe that life should be enjoyable; not just bearable. Call Florida Pain Relief Centers today at 800-215-0029 to schedule a consultation or click the button below to set up a consultation online for one of our clinics.
