by Dossie M Terrell

Created on: April 30, 2009   Last Updated: August 03, 2011

After saving all year for your summer vacation, you never intend to have a catastrophe, that could have been prevented, torpedo your carefully orchestrated plans.  There are many types of problems that can derail your plans as well as dampen the fun of those traveling with you, especially if you become ill.  In order to eliminate any unintended consequences of all your good intentions, consider the following as a part of your vacation planning.

You do not need to feel homebound because you suffer bouts of arthritis, as there are many assistive devises available to make your travel tolerable. There are many providers who will help you tailor your trip to your needs, such as helping you determine which car is more suitable, etc.

~ Take bottle water with you, if possible.  If you are motoring, take a lot of it and stay hydrated. Do not drink sodas in lieu of water; in fact, minimize the amount of sodas and alcohol.

~ If you are taking vital medications with you, ensure you stay on schedule. You might want to discuss your plans with your doctor, especially if you have a condition that requires careful monitoring, such as diabetes.

~ Renew all your prescriptions not less than one week before your trip. Review your prescription policy on early refills. Determine if refills are allowed and whether there are quantity restrictions. Also, determine whether there will be coverage of any prescriptions written by out-of-network or foreign providers.  

~ Make a list of your medications along with the number of refills and keep it near your driver's license or passport, if you are traveling abroad. This is helpful should there be an emergency.

~ Make a list of all medication allergies and what the reactions are.  This will help determine the type of therapy needed and how long it should take to recover should you require medications while on your trip.

Ensure those traveling with you know where you are keeping the names of the medication, indications, dosages and the manufacturers in case you need to result to herbal remedies. This website provides is a natural medicine comprehensive database for consumers. It should assist with the conversion process. It also offers a plethora of medical information about medications you may be currently taking.

 If you will be flying or driving for five hours or more, inactivity during long trips may cause severe problems, such as "Deep-vein thrombosis" or DVT, which can happen when a blood clot is lodged in a deep vein, usually in the lower leg or thigh.  DVT can cause death if the clot breaks off and travels to the lungs as it has the potential for blocking an artery (pulmonary embolism.)

Whether driving or flying, below are some precautions to take for trips that are more than five hours:

~ Do not drink alcoholic or caffeinated drinks. According to medical experts these types of drinks thicken the blood and increase platelets stickiness, which can cause blood clots.

 ~Always drink lots of water, i.e. one quart for every five hours of flight time to prevent or combat dehydration. Some jet lag can be traced to dehydration.

~ Stand and shift up and down on tiptoes and back down again several times. If flying, walk up and down the aisle once or twice every hour to keep the blood circulating.

~ So that the blood does not pool in the legs, exercise the calf muscles at least once hourly.

~ Do not under any circumstances cross the legs as it will impede circulation.

~ Change sitting position often and elevate the legs to prevent muscle stiffness.

Have a great trip!

Additional medical resources:

http://drugs.about.com/od/costofdrugs/a/travel_w_dru gs.htm

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