Wholly Healthy: Holiday Travel Advice

Christmas travel is such a delight! However, there are a few things for travelers to consider before embarking on holiday pilgrimages. As a physician, one of the most important things to consider is general state of health. If you feel good and have no problems, then hit the open road. However, if you are not well, if you have a suspicion that a significant illness has arrived or is imminent, please think twice. Few things are harder for patients than being in a strange town with doctors they do not know. Furthermore, when visiting relatives who are ill, check with them first. Generally, viral illnesses like colds don’t matter. But for those with poor immunity — loved ones on chemotherapy, for instance, or with HIV — a simple illness brought to their homes could lead to serious complications.

When traveling, it’s wise to have an up-to-date list of all medications. This can be done at home on the computer or printed out by a family physician or pharmacy. When visiting ERs or urgent care facilities out of town, a current medication list is invaluable. Furthermore, it’s helpful to have a list of all significant illnesses, as well as a discharge summary from any recent hospital stays. Despite the dream of an electronically connected medical world, few hospitals are linked, and it can be difficult to obtain critical information. The more you carry along — on paper, phone or flash drive — the better.

Please sign in or sign up to view the entire article.