If you can't tell we're in a different location shooting this video. We're on the
sunny beaches of Mexico enjoying a long anticipated 20th anniversary trip with my beautiful wife.
This has been a trip that I've been looking forward to for a long time. Maybe you have
something similar planned or want to in the future and that's why you are watching this
video. Well keep watching because I'm going to show you what I've done and am
going to do to make sure we stay healthy during this trip and have the time of our lives.
Welcome to Family Med, your medical home for practical and accurate information to help
your family make healthy decisions. I'm Doctor Erik Richardson, my passion is helping
you cut through all the health information clutter on the internet. If that sounds like
the kind of information you or family needs make sure you follow along with us, hit that
subscribe button and share it with your friends. So today we are talking about how you stay
healthy while traveling. We are going to go through some great suggestions to make sure
that you enjoy your trip here.. and not here.. here, but not here ..,
Here.., Not here... We are going to be talking specifically about things you
can do here in Mexico however these recommendations are going to apply no matter where you go
in your international travels. So what is the first thing that you want to
do before even leaving on your trip? Well I suggest making sure that you make sure you
get your vaccinations in order. OK so my amazing trip started here on my computer
before I even left. I'm going to show you a great resource that you should use while
planning your trip. That is a trip to the Center for Disease Control Website. This is
a great resource that can tell you any specific concerns regarding your trip related to your
health. Most specifically it looks at your risk of infectious diseases. This is a great
resource. It's here that you are going to be able
to see what vaccines you will need to keep yourself from getting sick while abroad.
there are a lot of other great resources, One of them can be
your local health department.
Also in some areas some of your health clinics have a travel medicine office.
Here in my local area of Nampa Idaho, with the Saltzer Medial Group.
we have a travel medicine clinic that you can go to and find all this information out as well
and figure out what you need to have in order to update your Immunizations.
Talk to your doctor and make sure your immunizations are up to date before you leave on your trip.
One of the main things that I look forward to while traveling is trying different foods
and eating a great restaurants. But this is the main area that you will get yourself in trouble
We've all heard of or maybe been one of those on their dream vacation who got sick and couldn't enjoy it.
So this is the main area you have to watch yourself. Those tacos on the street are definitely delicious
but unless you have that stomach of steel, you may want to think twice. The problem is
that many of the sauces are not refrigerated and you don't know if they are using purified
water in making them. If you must do it, make sure you ask around to find out the most reputable
one. Also avoid eating fresh fruits and vegetables unless you know that they have been washed
with purified water. You should also steer clear of things made with raw eggs, raw fish,
unpasteurized milk and wild game. You can certainly try and be adventurous but be warned,
it may come back to bite you.
Now something that you may want to talk to your doctor about is possible treatments that
you can take with you while traveling. Diarrhea while traveling is more likely to be caused
by a bacteria that can be treated by an antibiotic. Talk to your doctor about whether taking an
antibiotic with you in case you get sick is appropriate.
The third thing is that you need to drink smart.
Everybody has heard while traveling that they shouldn't drink the water. This is certainly
true. Make sure that your water comes from purified sources. Stick with bottled water.
Be careful using the faucet at your hotel in brushing your teeth or while showering
as this can be a source of contamination. Some hotels purify their own source so make
sure you find out before drinking. Also be careful with your drinks. Common sources
of contamination are from reconstituted juices or ice made from unpurified water.
The 4th is keep those bugs away:
Mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas all exist in Mexico and can carry some nasty diseases.
We see diseases like Dengue, Leishmaniasis, Chagas and even the Zika virus. They are typically
rare in the resort areas however if you are going inland or in areas less populated they
are certainly possible. The best way to protect yourself is use a bug repellant with the active
ingredient of DEET. Avoid being out during twilight and use a bug net if you are sleeping
outside. Be cautious if you are pregnant. The CDC does recommend that you stay away
from mexico if you are pregnant due to the possibility of Zika virus transmission
The 5th recommendation is protect yourself outdoors.
Make sure you bring a good broad spectrum sunscreen of at least a SPF50. Not only should
you bring it but you should use it and often. Sunscreen needs to be reapplied at least every
2 hours or sooner if you are swimming or sweating a lot.
The sun is hot down here so make sure you stay hydrated. Its common due to our fear
about drinking the water that we may not drink as much as we should. Dehydration can be a
big problem. If you drink alcohol like many people do here also be cautious. Alcohol acts
as a diuretic and can increase your chances of dehydration. So make sure you get that
bottled water and drink it.
Plan ahead and bring the right kind of clothing.
supportive shoes, watch the weather, make sure there is nothing going on that will get yourself in danger.
So those are a few things that you can do
to help protect yourself.
There is a lot more great information out there, remember
to review the CDC recommendations and take a look at their site before leaving. Traveling
is a blast, we can't guarantee that we can get through our travels without any problems
but certainly focusing on these few things will go far in giving you the best chance
of enjoying your dream vacation. I know that for me it has been.
So hopefully you have found this information
to be helpful. Remember to go ahead and like, subscribe and even share these with your friends.
It really is key for me to be able to continue to produce this kind of information for you.
So from the sunny beaches of Mexico remember take care of your body, because it's the
only one you have.