ONLINE HEALTH CARE: Health for Travellers.

Travelling to different climates and environments abroad can expose you to disease and health risks. You should be aware of the dangers and how to stay healthy. Diseases which aren’t present in the UK such as yellow fever, malaria, rabies and dengue fever are common in some areas of the world.

Vaccinations and immunisations

Visit your GP as soon as possible to check if you need any vaccinations or other preventive measures (such as malaria tablets).
Remember, these treatments aren’t usually available as NHS prescriptions.

General travel health tips

You should also make extra preparations if you have an existing medical condition.

take out adequate travel insurance or you could face a huge medical bill if you fall ill and need treatment
get a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to entitle you to free or discounted healthcare in European countries
check the health section of our country travel advice before you travel
drink plenty of water in hot climates to avoid dehydration
be safe in the sun - use a high-factor sunscreen and avoid excessive sunbathing between 11am - 3pm
find out the local emergency services numbers and the number of the local hospital
practice safe sex - take condoms with you as quality varies in different countries. HIV and Aids, and other sexually transmitted diseases can be caught worldwide.

Long-distance journeys

don’t wear tight clothing on long-distance journeys
do regular stretching exercises such as flexing and extending your ankles to avoid circulation problems
walk round at regular intervals on long flights
drink plenty of water on flights and avoid drinking too much alcohol.

Consult your doctor before long-distance travel if you:

are pregnant or have given birth in the last 6 months
have a history of blood disorders, deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism
are taking hormonal medication (including the contraceptive pill)
have cancer, heart problems or have recently had surgery.

If you have a pre-existing medical condition

tell your travel insurer about your condition
ask your doctor how the trip might affect you
check local conditions such as climate and pollution levels and consider how you might be affected
carry a doctor’s letter and a copy of any prescriptions
ensure your medication is legal in the country you are visiting – the British Embassy can advise you
learn key words and phrases in the local language for your condition, medication and emergency help
take the same precautions you normally would in the UK if you weren’t going to be at home for a while
if you suffer from a mental illness you should be aware that facilities and local attitudes to mental health problems may differ from those in the UK. Do some research before you go.