To minimize these risks, plan your trip well and know what to expect from your body. When traveling abroad, be aware of the particular diseases in the country so you can get vaccines if they are available. Jet lag, caused by high-speed travel over several time zones and characterized by fatigue, malaise, tension, or nausea, is the most common health problem encountered by those traveling by airplane. Since the body needs to reprogram itself to the new cycles of light and darkness in different time zones, Nuciforo recommends that travelers not schedule their most important touring for the first day, but instead acclimate to the surrounding environment. Dehydration exacerbates the effects of jet lag, so drink water and avoid salty foods and alcohol during flight.
Many travelers also experience motion sickness when traveling, especially in planes or automobiles.
The patch, worn behind the ear, contains a medicine that alleviates the symptoms of motion sickness. Most users are affected by dry mouth, and some may feel drowsy, but otherwise there are few side effects. Once at your destination, keep in mind a few health tips while sampling the local fare. Still, many of these foods will contain bacteria to which our bodies aren't accustomed. You can reduce your risk of exposure to these germs by watching out for undercooked food, especially meat, poultry, fish, and eggs.