Dr. Henry Domke is a Family Physician who has practiced in central Missouri for over two decades. He has always had a strong interest in disease prevention, health maintenance, and patient education. 
In addition to his practice of medicine, Dr. Domke takes Nothing can ruin that big trip like getting sick. Here are some tips for staying healthy while travelling:
- Don’t get sunburned. Consider using a tanning bed for a couple months prior to going to start a tan.
- Sleeping pills can make a long flight (over seas) seem shorter.
- If you are going to a developing country where there is a risk of traveler’s diarrhea, avoid eating foods from street vendors, unpasteurized dairy products, and raw or uncooked seafood. Peel fruits yourself. Drink water from commercially sealed bottles or drink carbonated beverages. Avoid ice. Brush your teeth with bottled water.
- Use caution when driving. Wear your seat belt.
- Consider a visit with a Travel Doctor (typically an Internist specializing in infectious disease. There are even special "travel medicine" clinics.
- Immunizations. If it has been more than ten years since your last tetanus shot, get one. If you have not had a flu shot and it is fall or winter, get one.
- Carry enough of your regular medicines (in their original containers), along with extra prescriptions for them and also eyewear prescriptions.
- If you're going to a country with an increased risk of mosquito-borne disease, protect yourself against insects. Insect repellents that contain DEET work the best. Wear permethrin-coated clothing and use bed nets while you sleep. Talk with your doctor about using medication to prevent malaria.
The Center for Disease Control has more information about infections and travel. The American Association of Family Physicians website has tips for healthy international travel.
This podcast first aired on March 2, 2006.
RE:HPV WHY do all articles relay how to 'prevent' HPV, and that it causes 'cervical' cancer...and RARELY if ever TELLS about clinical trials for the REST OF US...SPECIFICALLY THOSE WHO have had an hysterectomy or partial hysterectomy, and have NO cervix..OR those who are over 50 years of age...even though 80 percent of women over age 50 are said (ON THIS PAGE EVEN) to have HPV! I'm shocked at this as HPV is also the leading cause of vaginal and vulvar cancer.
NOT ONCE HAVE I SEEN A SINGLE CLINICAL TRIAL FOR LADIES WITH HPV WHO HAVE NO CERVIX..AND HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR HPV..AND DYSPLASIA. NOT ONCE HAVE I SEEN ..A SINGLE 'HINT' AT TREATMENT FOR STOPPING THE VORACIOUS ITCHING THAT GOES WITH HPV.
It proves that ladies over 50 are INVISIBLE IN THIS country. We were victimized by our partners, now deserted by the medical community who renders us 'invisible.'
Posted by: rosie james | Saturday, July 15, 2006 at 09:25 PM