Follow
Stay healthy on holiday: The remedies the experts won't leave home without…
By
Anna Dunlop
PUBLISHED:
19:29 GMT, 16 August 2010
The last thing anyone wants is a holiday blighted by illness. ANNA DUNLOP asked medical experts for the remedies they always pack in their suitcase…
Christopher Eden, urologist at the Hampshire Clinic, Basingstoke:
'I take Ciprofloxacin antibiotic tablets – they'll help treat diarrhoea, as well as urinary and chest infections, and infected cuts. Talk to your GP about getting a prescription before you travel.
'And probiotic supplements will help your intestines recover after sickness, restoring levels of “friendly” gut bacteria to tackle traveller's tummy.'
Pack up your troubles: With our expert recommendations in your suitcase, you won't have to worry on holiday
Andrena McElvanney, ophthalmologist at Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals:
'Take some eye drops – the humidity on aircrafts can make eyes feel dry and gritty, especially for those who have had eye surgery or wear contact lenses.
'Look for eye drops without preservatives – so as not to irritate sensitive eyes. I recommend Blink Contact.' (Blink Contact Eye Drops, 4.39, Boots)
Stella Huyshe-Shires, chair of the charity Lyme Disease Action:
'The risk of Lyme disease – which can cause fever and dizziness, bladder problems and fatigue – is increasing everywhere in the world. The bacteria which causes this awful disease is carried in ticks – in their saliva.
'So I travel with a tick remover – a small hooked device that works by gently lifting and twisting the tick out of the skin without pressure.' (Tick remover, 4.99, lymediseaseaction.org.uk)
Dalia Nield, a consultant plastic surgeon at The London Clinic:
'I never travel without aloe vera, a natural remedy with anti-viral, anti-inflammatory and soothing properties; use it for burns, blisters and cold sores.' (Available from pharmacies)
Dr Chris Fenn, nutritionist:
'I take Windsetlers gel capsules to stop the painful bloating I experience on the plane, and at other times on holiday.' (Windsetlers Gel Capsules, 3.29, Boots)
Dr Matthew Banks, a gastroenterologist at University College Hospitals:
'When travelling, there's a good chance of catching infectious gastroenteritis, either through food or contaminated water. So I take an oral rehydration solution – if you don't replenish your water and electrolytes (salts and other compounds), there is a risk of dehydration, headaches and fainting.
'And I also take over-the-counter anti-sickness medicine.' (Oral Rehydration Solution, from 1.99, chemistdirect.co.uk)
Dr John Ashworth, a dermatologist at Salford Royal Hospital:
'Sun exposure can cause the skin to become dehydrated, impairing recovery from more serious cell damage.
'I take Afterburn Sunburn Rescue Gel, which helps soothe and repair sun-damaged skin. The gel draws water to the skin surface from within, boosting the recovery phase and reducing the risk of peeling.' (AfterBURN Sunburn Rescue Gel, 6.43, mastersdirect.com)