eNewsletter - July 2009
Plan Ahead for Healthy Travels
Make a Travel Medicine Clinic Your First Stop
The new low airfares and bargain travel packages are truly tempting if you want to:
- Take that dream cruise
- Study abroad
- Volunteer your time to help the less fortunate
- Conduct overseas business
Wherever you're headed, cruise on into a travel medicine clinic first
"Traveling out of the country increases your risks of exposure to diseases you normally wouldn't encounter at home," says Steven D. Mawhorter, MD, a Cleveland Clinic internist/infectious disease specialist with a Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. "You want to stay healthy so that you'll be able to enjoy your trip and be productive in international business."
A travel medicine specialist can review your unique itinerary, length of stay and current travel conditions/advisories before you go. Vaccine and medication recommendations will be tailored to that corner of the globe using the latest guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the World Health Organization.
Preventing Illness, from Yellow Fever to Flu
"Immunizations range from the exotic to the routine," says Dr. Mawhorter. "Our goal is to maintain your health to optimize your trip. Vaccines can be seen as 'seat belts' for your protection. Hepatitis A is carried in contaminated food or water, and yet is preventable with a vaccine."
You'll need a Yellow Fever vaccination if you're traveling to parts of Africa or South America. Or you may simply need a flu shot or Hepatitis A vaccine if you'll be spending 10 days on a cruise ship in the Caribbean or the Mediterranean with thousands of other passengers.
Travel Assessment: Worth your While
Travel medicine experts will provide useful tips on how to avoid insect-borne and food-borne illnesses and can address personal safety concerns related to your destination. It will be worth your while. "Data shows you're much more likely to stay healthy with face-to-face expert advice," Dr. Mawhorter notes.
For Those with Special Issues
If you've been putting off an international trip until you recuperate from surgery or an illness, your primary physician and specialists will give you the "green light" to travel. Then a pre-travel risk assessment can help you feel confident in managing any special issues. Also, if you live with a chronic medical condition, seeing a travel medicine specialist before leaving will empower you to manage your risks.
When you return, should the need arise, post-travel screening can ensure that you've come back healthy and sound. Follow-up medical care is also available for any travel-related illnesses.
Related Content
Cleveland Clinic International Travel Clinics Website
For more information, visit Cleveland Clinic's Center for Specialized Women's Health.
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