First Things First

To make sure that you do not bring back home some unwanted and dangerous disease, check with your general physician if you need to take any vaccins prescribed for the place of visit. This is especially true if you are visiting exotic destinations abroad.

Dr. Dilip Joshi, General Physician says, "Vaccination should be done three months before your trip"

Dr Joshi gives the list of the appropriate vaccinations:

• for a pilgrimage you need to take a cholera and typhoid vaccine
• on safaris you need to take a yellow fever vaccine
• Vaxigrip vaccine for influenza
• Pneumo23 vaccine if you have a really low immunity
• Hepatitis vaccination for safety

Dr. Gurnam Kaur Suri, Consulting Physician, Hiranandani Hospital advices you to carry antacids and paracetamol to deal with unexpected health hazards.

Special Care for Your Kids

It may sound obvious, but it is very important that you research the climate of the destination you are going to.

According to Dr. Manoj Nailk, General Physician, "Making your kids wear and yourself wearing the right kind of clothing reduces the chances of your kid falling sick due to the climate change."

Dr. Gurnam also mentions that if you or anyone in the family has medical history of any particular illness, it is better that you carry his/her health records like prescriptions and medical test reports, in case you need reference.

Chew Away the Motion Sickness

Falling sick on the beginning of your trip can ruin your mood for the rest of the trip. If you suffer from motion sickness Dr. Gurnam advises you to chew gum during your flight or road trip.

Putting ear plugs or simply sleeping the journey off may also help.

Light Exercise

Exercise during the choc-a-block schedule of your vacation may sound like a far-fetched idea, but Dr. Manoj asserts that light exercise will actually keep you energised throughout the day and help you enjoy your trip more.

If you don't want to be tired, he advises something as simple as taking a brisk walk.