Singapore residents are now traveling abroad more, with over seven million
departures in 2010, up from five million in 2005.
Whether you are traveling for a short business trip or for an extended
vacation with your family, it pays to take steps to protect your health. Here
are a few pointers to take note of before and during your trip.
Be prepared
Always make sure that you obtain travel insurance prior to the trip. This is
not only to ensure that your baggage is taken care of, but also to ensure that
medical bills which might be incurred during your trip are covered. If you are
traveling for work, check if your company is providing adequate insurance
coverage for you.
If you need to take prescription medicine regularly,
pay a trip to your doctor at least a week before your trip so that you can stock
up on medication if necessary. Depending on your destination, you might also
wish to pack anti-diarrhea pills, as well as standard medication for runny
noses, coughs and gastric problems.
A checklist on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website recommends getting a
prescription from your doctor specifying which medications you are taking. Other
advisories recommend leaving the medication in its original packaging. The last
thing you want at the end of a long flight is to be questioned by Customs
because your unlabelled pills look like illicit drugs.
Last but not least, get the necessary vaccinations, be it for influenza,
malaria, yellow fever or meningitis. Infectious disease physician Dr Wong Sin
Yew advises travelers to "seek pre-travel health advice and vaccinations before
their year-end holidays, if the countries they are visiting have a high
incidence of contagious diseases like flu and hepatitis."
On board
Singapore's normal humidity is about 70 per cent, while that within an
airplane cabin is about 5 to 20 per cent. This can cause problems for people
with dry skin or eyes.
To keep your eyes moist, instill lubricant eye drops regularly. This is
particularly important for people who already suffer from dry eyes or other eye
conditions. Dr Lee Sao Bing, medical director of Shinagawa Lasik Centre,
suggests reducing the use of the inflight entertainment system. People tend to
blink less when they are staring at a screen, and this can aggravate dry
eyes.
Those with dry skin may benefit from applying a body lotion before the
flight. On board, a sheet mask for the face can also help to restore moisture to
the skin. Cindy Cheong, a beauty consultant trainer for SK-II, says that putting
on a sheet mask for ten minutes towards the end of the flight can rehydrate and
refresh parched skin.
One should also make the effort to walk around the plane during the flight,
even if it is only to the washroom and back. Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT),
otherwise known as Economy Class Syndrome, can set in if one is stuck in a
seated position for hours on end.
While you're there
Depending on your destination and the activities you'll be doing, it may be
wise to bring along a good pair of wraparound sunglasses. This is particularly
important if you are going for a beach holiday or to somewhere with lots of
snow. UV light is reflected by the sea as well as by snow, and can actually
cause sunburn on one's eyes.
To protect your eyes, Dr Lee recommends using sunglasses that provide 100 per
cent UV protection, are polarised, and wrap around the face so that light
striking the side of the face is filtered before reaching the eyes.
As many people know, UV rays can damage the skin and even increase the risk
of skin cancer. Apply sunblock generously to exposed parts of the skin and
reapply it every two hours to maintain its effectiveness. Consider wearing a cap
to shield face and eyes from the sun as well.
If you intend to take part in water sports such as diving or swimming, make
sure that you do not wear contact lenses but use powered goggles instead, says
Dr Lee. This will greatly reduce the risk of eye infections. Contact lens
wearers should also follow the instructions of their contact lens practitioner
and not wear their lenses beyond their recommended duration. |
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