The book How Not To Die, Surprising Lessons on Living Longer, Safer, and Healthier by Jan Garavaglia, M.D. has some great advice for senior travelers. You can see Dr. Garavaglia on her Discovery Health Channel show called Dr. G: Medical Examiner. Some of her advice is so pertinent, that I have excerpted parts of her book here.
Another caution for senior travelers is to avoid over-taxing your body by doing things that you are not normally accustomed to doing. “Any abrupt, accelerated change in behavior can trigger a heart attack, particularly in someone with cardiac risk factors, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, high cholesterol, or a family history of early heart disease.”
Dr G’s advice boils down to common sense. “Be careful what you do on vacation. If you try to cram in a lot of activities you’re not used to doing, you can put yourself at a higher risk for heart attacks or other problems. Take it easy on your trip, and you’ll have a better vacation.”
“People who are sick on vacation often don’t seek prompt medical attention…If you’re on vacation and start to feel ill, please don’t ignore unusual symptoms. Get checked out as soon as possible. What’s the worst thing that can happen if you’re wrong about your symptoms? You’ll find out you’re fine and get to resume your vacation.
If you’re going to be traveling to a foreign country, plan ahead. Get a free list of English-speaking doctors in many countries around the world from the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers at www.iamat.org; or (716) 754-4883. Otherwise, you can usually find English-speaking doctors by contacting the staff at a large hotel or the local U.S. consulate or embassy.
When all is said and done, a vacation may actually save your life. Some research suggests that taking at least one vacation per year increases longevity by reducing the kind of stress that has been linked to heart attack, hypertension, depression, and other illnesses. And here is a whopper of an effect: A study done by psychologists and published in Psychosomatic Medicine showed that men who take more frequent vacations have a 30 percent lower risk of dying of heart disease, and women have a 50 percent less chance of dying of heart disease, compared to those who don’t vacation.”
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