Safe Travel Advice from Dr. G (Part 2)

by JandJ on 5:09 pm

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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Safe Travel Advice from Dr. G (Part 1)

by JandJ on 4:17 pm

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 the 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.

While traveling, the first caution is to avoid deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which can lead to death. DVT is basically deep blood clots in the legs that dislodge and flow to the heart or lungs, which is fatal. It can happen on planes, “long rides in cars, trains, or buses, or even after you’ve sat at your desk all day. Usually the body is able to naturally break up clots that form in the bloodstream, but with immobility, the blood becomes sluggish, and clots form that the body can’t dismantle. Once the person gets up from his or her seat and is mobile again, a clot may break off and travel to the lungs.”

Dr. G advises air travelers to get up every half hour and to do leg exercises in your seat.  She writes, “Even while waiting in the airport terminal, it’s important to keep moving your legs to help blood flow. Get up and walk around when you can… If you can’t walk around in the plane or terminal, exercise your legs by curling or pressing your toes down. This causes the muscles to contract and squeeze on the leg veins, helping to pump the blood along.

When traveling by car, try to stop every couple of hours. Get out and walk a bit. Even if you’re the driver, you still need to take walking breaks. (In another section of her book, Dr. G advises to never pull over on the side of a freeway. In her experience as a medical examiner, it is safer to wait until you get to an off-ramp, side street, or gas station.)

Although DVT and the resulting blood clots don’t usually broadcast their symptoms, warning signs may include chest pain, unexplained shortness of breath, ankle swelling, tenderness, or a warm feeling in the calf of one leg. These can appear during a very long trip or within a couple of days after flying. If you experience any of these symptoms, seek medical attention. There isn’t much value in putting your feet up or drinking lots of water at this point. Getting medical help quickly is your best shot.”

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Cheapest Time of the Year to Visit…

January 8, 2009

I recently read an article detailing the best times of the year to find bargains for certain retail items. For instance, winter is the best time to buy an air conditioner since demand is low. It stands to reason that if you travel off season, you can get significantly cheaper airfares and hotel room rates. [...]

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Overseas Travel Checklist

November 20, 2008

U.S. Passport or other recommended ID for U.S. citizens (Carry it; do not pack it.)
Green Card or document for Lawful Permanent Residents
Notarized travel permission letters for minors traveling without their parents
Entry documentation for the country (s) you will be visiting (Is a Visa required?)
The medication that you need for the trip and in its original [...]

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Air Travel Tips

August 5, 2008

Some tips for making airplane travel safer and more comfortable are:

Carry enough of all of your medicines in your carry-on luggage. Ask your doctor whether you should change your dosages if your eating and sleeping times will change at your destination. Bring enough medicine to last your whole trip. Take extra medicine with you in [...]

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