MEDICAL MATTERS/Dr Muiris Houston: With the fears of terrorist attacks and SARS, holidays abroad may not be top of everybody's agenda this year. But seasoned travellers are remarkably resilient; some reportedly chose to go to Morocco after the recent bombings there on the basis that it was unlikely to be targeted a second time.
Air travel poses a greater challenge since September 11th. Security in airports around the world has increased to a point at which the nervous, the disabled and older travellers need to prepare well if their trips are to be smooth ones.
I recently received a boarding card with no date on it. After a 15-minute wait to get to the security gates, the airport's security staff insisted I rectify the airline's oversight. Their rigidity and unwillingness to contact the airline on my behalf underlined the new reality of air travel.
I made the flight by the skin of my teeth, but somebody with a significant handicap would have had great difficulty and endured significant stress.
Keeping healthy while travelling begins well in advance of your holiday. To reduce stress it is important to check that your passport is in date well before you leave; some countries require that it remains valid for six months after you propose to leave their jurisdictions.
Travel insurance is vital. Be sure to reveal medical conditions when taking out insurance, to ensure it matches your requirements.
Will you require vaccination? A rule of thumb is that if you are travelling beyond western Europe, North America or Australia, then you must consider vaccination. Early advice from your GP or local travel vaccination centre will establish the exact requirement.
If you are handicapped and require specific assistance, then contact the airline well in advance of departure. Ask about boarding the aircraft in a wheelchair. Can you be facilitated in a separate security channel? With the growth of low-cost carriers, airlines have different policies on passengers who require oxygen, so ask for written confirmation of availability and cost.
Rather than focus on the latest check-in time, ask your travel agent or airline about the earliest time you can check in for a flight. It generally pays to add extra time in the airport, to allow for security and check-in delays.
For the nervous flyer this advice is especially relevant. By eliminating as many potential panic moments as possible you will avoid triggering a flood of adrenaline that for some is disabling.
If, like me, you are blind without your glasses, then pack a spare pair or bring your optical prescription on holiday. It pays to anticipate some health problems while you are away: a few tablets to treat nausea or diarrhoea will get you through the first few hours of Delhi belly or the trots; rehydration sachets are important if you are travelling with small children, as are a bandage and dressing kit.
Do you usually take medication? Rule number one is to pack your regular tablets in your hand luggage. They are then available on the flight and you avoid being without essential medication until you are reunited with lost checked-in bags.
People with diabetes need to plan for long-haul travel. Such journeys effectively shorten or lengthen the day, depending on the direction of travel.
Some general guidelines include: travelling east to west the day is lengthened, and you may need an extra meal and extra insulin; travelling west to east the day is shortened, and so you may need less carbohydrate and insulin. It's best to go over these issues with your family doctor before the holiday.
Jet lag is caused by an alteration in the body's usual cycles (circadian rhythms). Its symptoms, which include physical and mental fatigue, sleep disturbance, irritability and disorientation, are usually worse if you cross more than one time zone and are travelling from west to east. Some simple steps can help to reduce jet lag:
Get as much rest, sleep and exercise as you can in the days before you travel.
Avoid alcohol, tea and coffee during the flight.
Drink plenty of water to counteract dry cabin air. Bring your own water.
Stretch and exercise regularly in your seat and walk around the cabin at every opportunity (this will also help prevent deep vein thrombosis).
Set your watch to the time of the destination before you board.
I hope this smorgasbord of travel advice is helpful. For more detailed information, try the World Health Organisation's website, at www.who.int/ith/.
You can e-mail Dr Muiris Houston at mhouston@irish-times.ie. He regrets he cannot answer individual queries