Getting your passport in order, arranging transportation to the airport, packing, buying airline tickets, making hotel reservations, and ensuring your plants get watered while you’re out of town are just a few of the many tasks you may need to complete before an international trip. Amid the flurry of activity, it can be easy to overlook scheduling an appointment with a travel medicine specialist.
At Apex Medical, our providers offer numerous services, including travel medicine. Getting a pre-travel exam can help prevent contracting certain diseases, as well as help you make sure you have the correct medications with you on your trip.
You may wonder why you might need a pre-travel appointment, especially if your trip is short. A specialist can assess your risk of travel-related illnesses, ensure you have the appropriate immunizations, and apprise you of any health regulations or drug-resistant organisms in the area you plan to visit.
Some regions and countries have higher risks of particular diseases than others. For example, the risk of contracting malaria is higher in South America than in Europe.
Some illnesses that are common in other countries, like typhoid fever, can be prevented with vaccinations. A travel medicine specialist can help you understand what vaccines you need depending on where you plan to visit.
Your travel medicine specialist can also provide information to help you avoid jet lag, altitude sickness, blood clots, or other health risks associated with traveling. The most common travel-related illness is diarrhea from eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water, and your doctor can help you know what precautions to take to protect yourself.
You should aim to visit your doctor early enough to ensure maximum protection from your immunizations and in time to make any necessary medication preparations. Most experts recommend having a pre-travel medical visit at least two weeks before your trip and ideally four to eight weeks before travel.
If you have a health condition requiring medication, you may need to take it. The laws that govern medications vary by country, though, so you should discuss your medication with your travel medicine specialist before your trip.
Another potential concern regarding your regular medication is time zones. You may need to take your medications at a different time than you’re used to for them to be properly spaced.
Storing your medicine may also be a problem. Your doctor can give you tips on storing it safely while traveling. This is especially important if your medication needs to be refrigerated.
Travel medicine specialists are available at all three convenient locations of Apex Medical Center. If you plan a trip, add “schedule a pre-travel exam” to your task list!
