The Christmas buzz is in the air. You only need to visit a motor park in your neighbourhood to know that people are now flocking out of town to various destinations for the festivities.
Be it Calabar, Osun or Kaduna, doctors say you must take some steps before you head out of town. According to them, long-distance travel, which most families embark on during holidays, take a toll on health if you fail to plan ahead for such trips. Continue..
They say that one of the many things you should do before travelling is a medical checkup. Family physician, Dr. Femi Omolola, says it is important that one travels with a clean bill of health to avert any crisis.
Omolola states that even though it’s normal for people who travel for long hours to experience travel-related illnesses like fever some days after the trip, those with previous illnesses may experience worse health challenges.
“Many people don’t know their blood pressure levels and if you have high blood pressure, you should not embark on any journey that is more than five hours at a time.
“That means if it will take you 10 hours to get to your home town, break the journey into two days, stop in a place and rest. Then continue the journey the next day.
“But if you don’t do blood pressure test and travel for 10 hours, you may develop serious health complications on the way or some days after you arrive there and attribute it to forces in your village going after your life, which is not the case.”
Public health physician, Dr. Segun Agbaje, reiterates that before travelling to any destination, one should find out which infectious diseases are endemic in such areas.
Agbaje says this advice is most beneficial for those who are travelling with kids, whose immunity levels are not as strong as that of adults.
He states, “If you are traveling to villages in places such as Oyo, Jigawa, Yobe or Bauchi where cases of meningitis have been recorded lately, you need to make sure that your kids have completed their immunisation against the disease.
“You should also vaccinate yourself against it, too. Meningitis is a serious infection that can kill children and maim adults. All travelers should be prepared for travel and be aware of the health issues and measures to protect themselves from sickness.”
The physicians warn that individuals above 50 years, people living with disabilities and persons living with underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and kidney challenges must undergo proper clinical evaluation before they embark on any long distance trip to avoid serious complications.
“We have had cases of people who collapsed and died on the plane after going on long flights. If your blood pressure level shoots up while you are in transit because of the altitude of travel, it may be difficult to control it, and this can cause sudden death or a heart attack.
“Check your blood cholesterol and sugar levels if you are diabetic before you embark on a journey, either by road or air,” Agbaje notes.
For the physicians, people with medical conditions or those who may require urgent medical attention must ensure that they spend their holidays in destinations with functioning health facilities.
“If you are pregnant, it would be suicidal to travel to a village that does not have a doctor. You may fall into labour and need a Caesarian Section. Who will carry out such a specialised procedure if you are stuck in the middle of nowhere in your village?
“Don’t put your life and that of your baby at risk. If you are on dialysis, it goes without saying that you must be fit to even consider travelling at all. If there is no doctor, stay put.”
The experts say parents must arrange vaccinations or medications to protect against diseases such as hepatitis, typhoid or malaria wherever they are going with their kids.
“In fact, some countries legally require travellers to have certain vaccinations, such as yellow fever, weeks before they travel. It is best to see your doctor few days before you go. However, if you have to travel at short notice, you can still have some vaccines. If you have been cleared, don’t forget to pack first aids kits,” Omolola adds.
Being home for the holidays is part of the joy of the season. But for many of us, getting there is super-stressful. It’s you – with gifts, luggage and kids in tow – up against flight delays, crowded airports and traffic-packed roads.
Be it Dubai or Enugu, here are tips to help you escape the heartache and headache of holiday travel by air or by road.
Plan for delays
Prepare mentally to be stuck in traffic, delayed or rerouted. It will help you take charge, minimise stress, and figure out Plan B. In case you are stuck on the road overnight, carry snacks, extra clothes for everyone, and some small toy surprises as a diversion. Just in case, get in touch with friends or family in connecting towns ahead.
Stay well-fed
An empty stomach makes for super-cranky travelers. And it’s easier to beat boredom with some food as a distraction, especially for kids. Since airlines are increasingly unreliable for keeping your tummy satisfied, stock up on healthy non-sticky snacks. Choose protein or high-fibre foods to keep you feeling fuller, like nuts, dried fruit, and hard-boiled eggs. Or, pick up your next meal at the motor park or while you are waiting to board.
No comments:
Post a Comment