Highlights:
- There are a lot of clues for dehydration at high altitudes, like loss of appetite or nausea.
- Most cases of travelers’ diarrhea are resolved within 1-2 days.
- Book a cabin on lower levels if you’re going on a cruise or ship, and you know you get seasick.
Altitude Sickness
Whether you’re going skiing or hiking Annapurna, you’ve got to be prepared for altitude sickness. A higher altitude means lower air pressure, less oxygen available and possibly some side effects for you.Everyone’s body reacts differently, especially if you live at lower altitudes. At 8,000 feet, the altitude difference is noticed by about 20% of people. Smokers may even notice it before 8,000 feet.
Symptoms: You’re going to breathe a little faster to compensate for the lower air pressure at higher altitudes.
You may urinate more frequently, and if you don’t, you should think, “Wait a minute, I’m not urinating more, I must be dehydrated.” Clues for dehydration at high altitudes also include loss of appetite or nausea. Your heart rate could increase. Maybe suddenly you feel dizzy when you stand up. You don’t have enough fluid in your body.
What to do: Re-hydrate! Take deep breaths.
Try stretching, and moving slowly until your body adjusts to the conditions. Put your head between your knees if you feel dizzy, or lie down and take a nap. Plan to get a good night’s sleep as part of the adjustment process. Sleep is one of the best ways to get your body used to higher altitudes.
Also, eating healthy is important. Why pack your stomach with a bunch of crap? Your body has to work harder to process it. You don’t want your blood rushing to process food. You want your blood to be helping you adjust.
Travelers' Diarrhea
Travelers' diarrhea is an unpleasant but common illness that affects millions of travelers each year. Most people get diarrhea in the first few days of a trip, but it may occur at any time while traveling and sometimes after you return home.It occurs most often when traveling to Latin America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
The primary source of infection is ingestion of contaminated food or water. Most cases are benign and resolve in 1-2 days without treatment. Travelers’ diarrhea is rarely life-threatening.
Symptoms: Watery bowel movements, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramping, fever and just feeling crummy.
What to do: Avoid foods or beverages purchased from street vendors or unhygienic establishments. Avoid raw or undercooked meat, seafood and peeled fruits (when you’re not sure when they were peeled, especially oranges, bananas and avocados).
Carry Pepto Bismo, Imodium A-D or Metamucil wafers with you.
Motion Sickness
- Motion sickness occurs when the inner ear, eyes, and other areas of the body that detect motion send unexpected or conflicting messages to the brain.
- The best way to treat motion sickness is to stop the motion.
- If can’t stop the motion, move to in an area with the least motion.
Motion sickness occurs when the inner ear, eyes, and other areas of the body that detect motion send unexpected or conflicting messages to the brain. For example, when you’re on a plane that’s experiencing turbulence, your body can sense the motion, but your eyes are telling your brain you are sitting still.
Symptoms: Nausea, dizzyness, sweating and headaches. Once you start feeling sick, it’s hard to get rid of the symptoms.
What to do: Stop the motion by getting off the ride or out of the car.
If you can’t stop the motion, move to areas with the least motion. Many people take prescription or over-the-counter prevention medicine, like Bonine and Dramamine. Most of these treatments work best if they are taken prior to the activity, travel or movement, but be careful since they often leave you drowsy.
In general, avoid strong odors and spicy foods. Sipping ginger ale and eating dry crackers can help.
If you’re inside a boat, go outside and get some fresh air, and look at a fixed point on the horizon. If you have to stay inside, move to the center of the boat, lie down or limit your head movement. If you are a person who frequently gets seasick, book a cabin on lower levels, close to the middle of the ship. Stay away from the fumes of the engines when you’re fishing.
In a car or train, sit in the front seat. Avoid reading, watching TV or playing video games. Look forward and avoid moving you head excessively. Get some fresh air.
Do not tell yourself you are going to get motion sickness, and stay away from anyone who is vomiting or complaining of feeling sick. Hearing others talk about feeling ill may make you start to feel badly.
