Welcome to Passport Health’s holiday blog series, “The Twelve Health Tips of the Holiday Season.” Using the structure of the classic holiday song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” we will be looking at twelve issues that holiday travelers are likely to face and providing sage advice on how to best overcome them.

The classic holiday tune begins with ‘Twelve drummers drumming.’ There is little worse than being on vacation and feeling that drumming and throbbing in your head that portends the onset of an illness. Here are Passport Health’s twelve tips to overcoming (and avoiding) sickness while traveling.

Prepare before you go

The first key to healthful travel anywhere is to make sure you have all the required and recommended travel vaccinations, medications, and speciality travel health supplies before you depart. Tropical travel may well mean you need malaria pills or a Yellow Fever vaccine. No matter the destination, it is always wise to pack a travel sized first-aid kit so you are prepared in the event of an emergency.

Immunize

Getting vaccinated before your trip is the very best way to avoid serious illness, and a Passport Health travel specialist can help you figure out the exact immunizations you need for travel depending on the locale you will be visiting. Even if you are just traveling domestically, be sure to get your annual flu shot, especially because the busy holiday travel season will put you in touch with more people (and potential carriers of the flu virus) than normal.

Get traveler’s insurance

Traveler’s insurance can make a world of difference in the event something serious happens overseas. Hospitals in some countries require patients to demonstrate an ability to pay which can be time consuming and expensive. Traveler’s insurance services can help avoid this hassle and cost. If your travel plans tend to the extreme, consider a plan with evacuation insurance as well.

Wash your hands

Washing your hands, especially before eating, is one of the simplest and most effective health measures you can take. Some of the most common travel health problems, including the flu, are spread by dirty hands. Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly before every meal or at the very least use hand sanitizer.

Get plenty of sleep

Sleep is important! Even when on vacation, it is important to have at least eight hours of sleep each night, and it is generally suggested to try to keep a sleep pattern that is similar to your normal schedule. Insufficient sleep and serious changes in circadian rhythm can compromise your immune system and could lead to illness. Do your best to always get a good night’s sleep.

Wear sunscreen

Sun poisoning is a very common illness, but it is also very preventable. Remember, sunblock is a must, and not just in tropical destinations! Whether you are on the beach, on the slopes, or touring around town, be sure to protect yourself. Bad sunburns can easily ruin a trip and can lead to significant health problems later on, including cancer. The American Melanoma Foundation suggests using a sunblock with at least 15 SPF and recommends using a ‘broad-spectrum’ formula that can protect against multiple forms of ultraviolet radiation.

Learn key phrases

If you are in a country in which a different language is spoken, having a phrasebook or knowing a few words can be critical, especially if you are having a health issue. Being able to ask where a restroom is could save you from embarrassment, and being able to ask where a hospital is could save your life.

Pack your prescriptions

If you take prescription medications, be sure to bring an ample supply with you, and it is usually best to pack your medications in their original bottles. Also, basic, over the counter medications may not be available in your destination, so pack plenty of these in your travel first aid kit as well.

Be flexible

If you do get sick, don’t be afraid to change your plans. Sometimes it can be better to take a day off and rest rather than risk your health by pushing through the onset of an illness. Take it easy, and try to get over whatever it is that you have come down with so that you can enjoy the remainder of your trip.

Stay Hydrated

Water is key to overcoming any illness. Be sure to drink sufficient amounts of water (potentially with re-hydration salts added), especially if you are suffering from any forms of food poisoning, fever, or diarrhea. Proper hydration will help you to feel better more quickly.

Check your luggage

If you are still sick when you are traveling home, or even between stops on your itinerary, check your larger carry-on bags. Although this can be expensive, it can also be worth the price. Hauling extra bags can be downright grueling while sick, so let the airline do the heavy lifting for you to remove an additional stressor from your travel.

Don’t stress!

Do your best to avoid stress before, during, and after your trip. Stress can harm your immune system and make you more susceptible to illness. Try not to sweat the small stuff, take deep breaths, and find ways to smile through the challenging situations. After all, those “challenges” are likely to become great stories when you return! With a relaxed attitude, you will surely enjoy your vacation more and stay healthier throughout.

Have you found anything to be particularly helpful when traveling with sickness? Comment below or on our Facebook page to share your story.

Ohio, Wisconsin, New York, Illinois, and even the National Hockey League have all fallen victim to at least small scale mumps outbreaks during 2014. This contagious disease typically starts with a few days of fever, aches, tiredness, and loss of appetite and is then followed by swelling of the salivary glands. Though there is no specific treatment for mumps (almost all care is supportive to help the patient ride out the disease), there is plenty that can be done to avoid contracting the virus.

Get Vaccinated!

According to the Centers for Disease Control, the National Institutes of Health, and other organizations, vaccination is the best method to avoid the mumps. Studies have shown that 85 percent of people who receive two mumps vaccinations will be adequately protected from the virus. While some theorize that these new outbreaks are a different variant that is immune from the vaccine there is, as of now, no evidence to support this although the CDC continues to investigate these new cases.

If you are vaccinated and do still contract the mumps, much like flu symptoms, the symptoms of the mumps can be lessened by having been given the MMR vaccine. While it still may be possible to contract the virus, your body will be more protected if you are vaccinated.

Flu Prevention is Mumps Prevention

Everything that you would normally do to avoid the flu will also be very effective in avoiding mumps. Though the virus has only been found in a few isolated groups in North America, the tips below are all generally good practices that can help you avoid the flu just as much as mumps:

• Be sure to regularly wash your hands with soap and water
• Sneeze and cough into a tissue or your elbow to avoid spreading the disease through airborne particles
• Avoid sharing drink, food, and utensils; these can all carry the flu or mumps viruses

Watch for symptoms

Unlike many viruses, it takes about 16 to 18 days to show symptoms of mumps. If you begin to show signs of mumps, contact a healthcare professional. Mumps can potentially have serious complications if it goes untreated, so it should be taken seriously. Additionally, once you have contracted the virus, it can take anywhere from 12 to 25 days for your body to heal. Starting the treatment as early as possible will help get you back on your feet in a more timely manner.

Stay home

If you do come down with the mumps, please stay home! Like the flu, mumps is very contagious, but, unlike the flu, it can last for weeks. Keeping friends and coworkers healthy should be a top priority if you come down with the virus. Though many will hopefully be protected from the disease through vaccination, don’t risk it! Stay home, do what you are told by medical professionals, and you should hopefully feel better soon.

For any additional questions about the mumps or the MMR (Measles-Mumps-Rubella) vaccine, visit the Passport Health website.

Have you experienced the mumps? What additional suggestions might you have for avoiding the virus? Comment below or on our Facebook page with your thoughts.

December marks the beginning of the holiday season not just in North America but also in many different parts of the world. Across diverse countries and cultures, a variety of winter holidays are celebrated this month. Whether you are in Toronto or Tennessee, Hong Kong or Hamburg, the holidays described below provide festive reason to travel during the winter months!

Christmas

This holiday, celebrated by billions around the world, is a religious and cultural holiday commemorating the birth of Christ. Common celebrations that are well known in the US include exchanging gifts, playing Christmas music, decorating a Christmas tree, and enjoying a special meal. However, many other nations honor this holiday in unique and unexpected ways. For example, you can travel to the Philippines to experience the longest Christmas celebration in the world; festivities begin in this nation in September and include placing a star shaped lantern, called a farol, in all windows as a reflection of the Star of Bethlehem. If you are seeking a warm destination for Christmas, consider a trip to Australia, as Christmas falls in the middle of the summer in the Southern Hemisphere! You can celebrate the day on the beach with about 40,000 Australians on Bondi Beach in Sydney. Alternatively, if you prefer a more traditional, white Christmas, take a trip to Finland where this holiday is taken so seriously that a Declaration of Christmas Peace is read every Christmas Eve at noon (and has been since the 13th century) in the Southern parts of the country. The declaration notes that any behavior that challenges the holiday spirit “shall under aggravating circumstances be guilty and punished according to what the law and statutes prescribe for each and every offense separately.” So, enjoy your celebrations, but be sure not to get out of line!

Hanukkah

This eight-day Jewish holiday commemorates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem two-hundred years before the birth of Christ. Also known as the “Festival of Lights” or “Feast of Dedication,” this holiday is observed by the lighting of candles or other lights of the menorah, a unique candelabrum.

Each night for the full eight nights a candle or candles is lit (the same number as the day). Many menorah have a spot for an additional candle for the purpose of illumination while the other eight are to be used exclusively for remembering the story of the temple in which a one day supply of oil miraculously lasted for eight days.

For unique Hanukkah celebrations, consider a trip to Alsace, France, to see double-decker menorahs with space for 16 lights that were created to allow fathers and sons to join together as they each light their own lights in one single menorah. For a tasty treat, travel to Santa Marta, Colombia, to enjoy patacones, or fried plantains, instead of the traditional potato latkes.

Kwanzaa

Maulana Karenga created Kwanzaa in 1965 as a week long celebration held in the US and other nations of the Americas that would be uniquely African and give an opportunity for unity and reflection on African culture and heritage. The holiday celebrates seven principles of the Kawaida, a Swahili term for tradition and reason. These are: unity, self-determination, faith, creativity, purpose, collective work and responsibility, and cooperative economics.

Families will often decorate their homes with art, colorful cloths and fresh fruit to represent African idealism. It is customary for children to show respect and gratitude to family members and ancestors during ceremonies. Food and drink is usually shared, and, generally, individuals will drink from a common cup that is passed from one to another. Ceremonies include drumming and musical selections, libations, and selected readings.

Kwanzaa is a non-denominational holiday which is celebrated by individuals of varying faiths as it focuses on remembering African history and culture. A notable celebration is held at the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in New York City that features interpretive dance and African dance, song, and poetry.

Dongzhi Festival

Literally meaning “the extreme of Winter,” this holiday celebrates the beginning of longer days and thereby increased positive energy from having more light. Dongzhi is celebrated in China and some other parts of Asia.

Traditionally, it is a time for families to reunite, and one activity that commonly happens during these reunions is the making and eating of tangyuan, or balls of glutinous rice. These balls are fairly similar to songpyeon used in the Korean thanksgiving festival of Chuseok. Consider a trip to China during the winter to taste this culinary delight!

Bodhi Day

This day commemorates the day on which the Buddha experienced enlightenment. Celebrated throughout Asia, tradition states that Siddartha Guatauma (the Buddha’s name before he achieved enlightenment) had resolved to sit under a peepal tree and simply mediate until he found the root of suffering and how to liberate oneself from it.

Services and traditions vary amongst Buddhist sects, but all commemorate the Buddha’s achievement of Nirvana and what this means for us today. Many choose to use the day to study Dharma, meditate, or act kindly to one another. Some sects will stay up the entire night practicing meditation as well as sesshin (a Japanese word for intense mediation or gathering of the mind). If you prefer a meditative end to the year, consider a trip to China, Korea, Japan, or Vietnam to celebrate this holiday.

What holiday traditions do you have? Comment below or leave a message on our Facebook page and let us know.

Traveling overseas for a mission trip is sure to be a fun and fulfilling experience. Whether you are sharing your faith or simply helping an afflicted area, there is a lot to be learned and gained from volunteer travel. Trips like this, however, whether they are for a few days or a few years, bring with them perils that most travelers will never have to deal with. These additional risks mean you will need to be extra prepared. Here are handy tips that will help make your mission trip a success:

1. Be careful of what you drink

Having safe drinking water is key. Although soda is typically a safe bet too, sugary, caffeinated drinks can make you feel sluggish after the initial energy boost subsides, so water is the best way to stay hydrated. Pack a water purification kit so that you do not have to rely on the availability of bottled water.

2. Be physically and emotionally prepared

Any kind of mission travel involves hard work, be it physical or emotional. Exercise daily, eat well, and do everything you can to be physically and mentally prepared for what is to come when you are overseas. You are likely to see poverty that far exceeds anything you have seen in the US, so make sure you have a good support system in place for emotionally challenging experiences.

3. Learn the language

Try to find out about local customs and learn useful phrases if the people speak a different language. In fact, knowing the local language is almost indispensable if you are a missionary staying in country for a long period of time. Being able to communicate will immediately let the locals know that you care about them and the work you are doing. This knowledge will also help keep you out of trouble.

Remember, however, that different words can have very different meanings in various areas. Even if you know the local language fairly well, you’re probably going to make a few mistakes along the way. For example, a common nickname for Ruth in Colombia is an extremely offensive name for a woman in Peru! Most times, people are willing to forgive these mistakes, but having a humble attitude will surely help.

4. Remember to take care of yourself

If you are feeling sick or have an ache that is not going away, allow yourself time to rest and recover. If you don’t take the time to rest, a small injury will never be able to heal and can quickly turn into something much more serious. Although you are doing important work, it is crucial to take time out to address “small” issues as they arise so that you will be able to do more in the long run.

5. Carry a backpack

As a missionary, you are living simply and likely do not need to carry all that much with you on a daily basis, but going without a bag isn’t always the best option. Taking a backpack will allow you to carry crucial supplies like extra water, food, books, pamphlets, and a small first aid kit. Any number of things can fit in a backpack, and all of them can help in your mission.

6. Dress properly

Make sure you dress according to cultural norms and as is most proper for the everyday issues you will face. If you are going to a rainy or wet region, then wear a waterproof jacket or shirts that dry easily. In some areas, there can be extreme temperature differences between night and day, so remember to dress in layers. As you peel the layers off during the day, you can store the additional items in your backpack.

7. Be prepared for unpleasant situations

Unpleasant occurrences are simply a part of the missionary experience, so prepare yourself to face these situations in advance. First, it is very likely you may get a nasty stomach bug that results in vomiting or traveler’s diarrhea. Prepare yourself by packing antibiotics and oral rehydration salts. Also, since you are likely to be in more rural or impoverished regions, the chances you will be bitten by a dog increase. Be sure to talk to your travel health specialist about the Rabies pre-exposure vaccine for added peace of mind overseas.

8. Enjoy your trip

Certainly, your mission trip is going to involve awful days full of shocking experiences, but you are also certain to experience some of the best and most rewarding days of your life. Enjoy your trip, and always look on the bright side of any situation.

For more information on traveling tailored to Mission Groups, contact a Passport Health travel specialist via our website or by phone at 1-888-499-PASS (7277).

A new report shows there has been a sharp decline in Hepatitis A cases in recent years throughout the United States.

An analysis of federal data found that hospitalization rates from this disease have fallen from 7.2 to 2.9 patients per million admitted to hospitals from 2002 to 2011. Hepatitis A cases have fallen by almost 90% over the past 20 years, a major step forward in the fight against the potentially deadly liver disease.

The study was inconclusive on whether this decline was due to increased precautions in restaurants and other public places (where hepatitis A is commonly contracted) or due to the over 70% vaccination rate for Hepatitis A among children, but it is logical that both reasons were likely contributing factors. Another key indicator that may have played a role in the decline of Hepatitis A cases is the increased vaccination rates among travelers to countries where the disease remains endemic.

“Hepatitis A vaccination is very important for everyone, especially travelers to high risk countries,” says Melanie Kohr, Vice-President of Clinic Operations for Passport Health. “Travel trends are on the rise, and, if more people are vaccinated against this potentially deadly disease, then the likelihood of spreading it when a traveler returns greatly declines. This can play a critical role in national health in the long term and for the health of close family members, no matter the situation.”

Hepatitis A is an acute liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). It does not lead to chronic infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control. It is transmitted by the ingestion of contaminated food, fecal matter, or close person-to-person contact. The CDC estimates that more than 2,000 new cases happen every year and suggests vaccination for all children starting at age 1 year as well as travelers to certain high risk countries.

What other factors could play a role in this decline in hepatitis A infections? Please tell us your thoughts in a comment below.