Travel Medicine (cont.)
What should be in my first aid kit?
- Prescription medications that you take at home
- Medications that your doctor recommended prevent travel-related illness
- Over the counter medicines to treat minor illnesses (heartburn,
headache, head cold, mild diarrhea, motion sickness)
- Sunscreen, lotion to use
to treat sunburn
- Insect repellents
- Bandages, tape, thermometer, and tweezers
- Adventure travelers who are far from medical help will need to consider
additional items
- Women who get vaginal yeast infections should consider carrying along a
treatment course (pills or vaginal products)
- Other items according to your itinerary
What are the medical concerns with jet lag?
Jet lag happens when travelers cross several time zones and disrupt their
normal sleep-wake cycle.
To reduce the duration and the symptoms, try to be outside when the sun is
up. It may make for a very long (or short) first day, but it will help you
adjust more quickly. Some travelers also try to change their sleep-wake habits
before they leave.
Medicines are available that can promote sleep, but there are few studies on
how well they work with jet lag. Zolpidem (also known as Ambien) is a
prescription sedative that promotes sleep. Another group of prescription drugs
known as the benzodiazepams also promotes sleep, but they may have more side effects.
Melatonin is a natural hormone available as an herbal preparation in the United
States. Doses of approximately 5 milligrams have been shown to induce sleep.
Melatonin is available over the counter.
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