Travel medicine encompasses the prevention and management of health problems associated with travel. It aims to assist people who are travelling or living abroad. Before travelling, providers of travel medicine screen for things that could go wrong while you are away from home. They then recommend ways to avoid getting sick or developing complications from those risks.

Just because you are going on a short trip, or to a place you consider low-risk, doesn't mean that something can't happen to affect your health. Travel often disrupts your normal routine. You eat different foods and drink different water. You experience changes in climate and activity. Perhaps you sit on a plane for a long time or are exposed to new things. Our GPs help you to think through these things ahead of time.

Traveller’s Diarrhoea & Flying-Related Illness

Upset stomachs and traveller’s diarrhoea are among the most common complaints from people while abroad. Exposure to unfamiliar water and food sources, as well as changes in hygiene habits can upset your stomach. Even if you’re travelling domestically or to a place with reliable infrastructure, disruptions to your normal routine can be hard on your digestive system.

Air travel can make you more susceptible to illness as well. The air in airplane cabins is dry, you can’t move around much and it’s easy to become dehydrated. Flying can also interrupt normal meal times and sleep schedules — you may start to feel ill before you land.

There’s plenty you can do to avoid upset stomachs and illness while travelling. Learning how to identify risky foods and water sources, when and how to hydrate, and good hand washing practices can go a long way. If you have an underlying health condition or are concerned about severe consequences of gastrointestinal illness, speaking to a doctor before you leave can give you peace of mind and help you plan ahead.

Altitude Illness

Altitude illness is another issue anyone can face while travelling, though it tends to affect those hiking or skiing in mountainous areas. Heading to the mountains? Know that the higher you go, the less oxygen is available to you.

Often the first symptoms of altitude illness (headache, fatigue, light-headedness, nausea or difficulty sleeping) are written off as normal travel or hiking fatigue. But they can be signs your body is not adjusting to the change in altitude. If left untreated or without proper preparation, things can become much worse. Symptoms can disrupt your trip and may have safety implications as well.

Good trip planning can go a long way for preventing altitude illness. Know how to pace yourself when ascending high elevations, and take time to hydrate and rest. Some travellers benefit from speaking to a doctor before travelling if they have conditions like respiratory illnesses, heart problems, or if they’ve had issues with altitude in the past.

Motion Sickness & Travel by Sea or Air 

Motion sickness on planes, cruise ships, ferries and car trips is another worry many travellers have. When your balance and visual perceptions change while you’re travelling by car, plane or ship, your body can react with nausea, dizziness, sweating and fatigue. Symptoms can even linger after you reach your destination.

Children, older travellers and first-time cruisers or flyers are more likely to get motion sickness. But anyone can be impacted by motion sickness - especially on choppy waters or bumpy flights.

There are steps you can take to prevent or minimise motion sickness while travelling. Finding a safe way to position yourself during travel and taking breaks to hydrate, eat and rest can work for many. Medications are available for some travellers who are prone to severe motion sickness or are travelling for long periods of time.

Travel Fatigue, Jet Lag & Long-Haul Effects

Long journeys can take a toll on your body even if you don’t become ill while travelling. Flying long distances, sitting for long periods of time and inadequate sleep can cause fatigue, headaches, dehydration and difficulty concentrating.

Jet lag can leave you irritable, cause stomach issues and make it hard to stay awake at appropriate times. It can last for days, leaving you tired when you finally arrive at your destination. For some travellers, the fatigue associated with long travel can cause disruptions to their trip or create safety issues if you don’t take care of yourself.

Plan ahead by gradually adjusting your sleep schedule before you leave, hydrating during your flight, moving around when you can, and allowing yourself time to recover when you first arrive.