Health and Travel

From vaccines for exotic tropical destinations to simply keeping in shape on the road, here's a forum for everything that concerns two of the things nearest to our hearts: travel and staying healthy.

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How to prevent and ease altitude sickness in Peru's Andes (and elsewhere)

Here in Cusco we´re high - as in 3,399 meters (11.152 feet) above sea level; other destinations in the Peruvian Andes not quite so much: for example, Machu Picchu 2,430m (7,972 ft.), Pisac 2,980m (9,776 ft.), and Urubamba 2,870m (9,416 ft.). And one issue that some (by no means all) visitors from lower-lying places can face is what we call soroche or mal de altura - altitude or mountain sickness provoked by the lower air pressure and oxygen levels up here. It can kick in at heights starting at…

Started by Tripatini

1 Reply · Reply by José Balido yesterday

5 (sometimes surprising) ways flying is affecting your body

Gus Ruballo You land. Your throat feels like sandpaper. Your head is heavy. Your eyes sting. You've been sitting still for eight hours… so why does your body feel like it just ran a marathon? Most travelers accept this as the price of flying. But there's nothing inevitable about it. These symptoms have specific, well-documented causes — and understanding them is the first step to actually doing something about them. Here are five things flying is doing to your body right now. Some I´ll bet…

Started by Tripatini

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Don’t Let the Bed Bugs Bite! 7 Tips to Keep Them from Ruining Your Holiday

Picryl They're baaack...well, actually they never really left. Ranging from around seven down to just one milimetre (a quarter to 1/32 of an inch).in size, cimex lectualarius lurk on mattresses and sheets an feed on your blood - usually at night while you sleep, and can cause reactions from patches of redness to good-size blisters, usually accompanied by itching and occasionally allergic symptoms. Bed bugs are tenacious - able to survive nearly a year without feeding - and getting rid of…

Started by Tripatini

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Observations and advice about jet lag

Many of us who travel across various time zones experience jet lag, and some are more prone to it than others. Circadian rhythms (your body's internal clock) tell you when to stay up and go to bed, and because they're pegged to to your home time zone rather than the new time zone you've gone to, you experience jet lag if you cross more than two or three time zones. Flying from the U.S. East Coast to Europe, for example, when you arrive around 8 AM your internal clock still thinks it's 2 AM,…

Started by Tripatini

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José Balido March 8, 2026 at 2:12pm

After six years since my last visit to Cuba, last fall I dearly wanted to go be with my uncle Tito for his 90th birthday, but after doing extensive research and talking to people from there (including Tito himself, who said "by no means come"), I sadly concluded it was too dangerous healthwise due to rampant viruses and diseases like dengue, chikungunya, and hepatitis A afflicting much of the population as well as visitors. This came out subsequently, and sums it up pretty well. Of course, it also says that if you take the right vaccines and precautions, you should be OK, but better safe than sorry, and quite apart from the diseases, another huge factor is that the massive fuel shortage is resulting in power outtages every day for much of the day. So tragic. https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/visiting-cuba-now-h...

Visiting Cuba: Now, Health Advisory Urges Tourists to Get Vaccinated Against Key Diseases

Spain issues travel advisory for Cuba, urging travelers to be vaccinated against Chikungunya, Dengue, and Hepatitis A to ensure safe travel.
Paul Varmuza March 6, 2026 at 9:42am

As someone whose road trip was recently almost ruined by nausea, this hack is something I´m trying next time - and it apparently works for air travel, too https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/health/experts-travel-sickness-c...

Expert's travel sickness 'cure' is to listen to one thing

Taskeen Ahmed believes there is a hack to beat travel sickness, whether it is on a car, train, or plane
Maria de los Angeles September 17, 2025 at 12:31pm

Every once in a while I read about the risk of blood clots on long-haul flights. Here´s a good overview, and some tips on how to reduce risk: https://www.webmd.com/dvt/flying-blood-clots

What You Should Know About Flying and Blood Clots

Learn how flying in planes can raise your chances of getting a blood clot, and what you can do to prevent and treat it.
David Paul Appell September 15, 2025 at 1:11pm

Here´s a good review of what vaccines are important to consider before traveling to some countries: https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/travel-preparation/the-most-import...

MSN
Ed Wetschler September 13, 2025 at 1:28pm

When it comes to health (as with many other things, actually), prevention is always best, so on that front this is definitely worth a read! https://www.huffpost.com/entry/health-essentials-doctors-pack-trave...

Everything You Need To Stay Healthy When You Travel, According To Doctors

The best sanitizing solutions, comfortable footwear and supplements to keep you feeling your best.
Wendy Capra December 30, 2024 at 10:49pm

More good advice re jet lag https://www.travelandleisure.com/how-travel-experts-beat-jet-lag-87...
Barbara Necker October 10, 2023 at 12:06pm

Guarding your health on the road begins before you hit the road, so Fodors has some pretty good suggestions on that front: https://www.fodors.com/news/travel-tips/how-to-plan-for-emergencies...

Worried About Getting Sick Abroad? Do These Things BEFORE Leaving for Your Trip

Fodor's provides expert travel content worth exploring so you can dream up your next trip. The world is a weird and wonderful place—we want to show y…
Jordan Simon January 8, 2023 at 3:01pm

A Travel+Leisure writer advises us on how to protect our health during winter travel: https://www.travelandleisure.com/health-cold-flu-covid-tips-traveli...

How to Stay Healthy While Traveling This Holiday Season, According to a Doctor

Everything to know about staying healthy this holiday season while traveling.
José Balido March 8, 2022 at 2:03pm

Such a funny coincidence: I had just bought my first compression socks, and suddenly I come across this article on why for health reasons everyone should wear them on long-haul flights: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/compression-socks-flight-essential_l...

The Flight Essential Not Enough People Bring On A Plane

Here's what you need to know about this crucial carry-on item.
AloTrip September 24, 2014 at 8:14am

Nha Trang beach in Vietnam

Source: AloTrip.com