Strategies for Staying Healthy on Study Abroad

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Staying healthy while abroad is up to you. And when you get right down to it, is not terribly different from staying healthy at home. You still need to eat right and wash your hands, for instance, and your asthma will follow you wherever you go, but there are some differences, too. Healthcare varies widely in terms of availability and quality, and if you're going to a country where English is not the primary language, well, that's a whole different can of worms.

Change often can stir things up within your body — the stress of moving to a new place alone takes a toll — so it's important to be ready for whatever health problems may arise. Do your best to collect some information about the healthcare system in the region where you'll be studying. Good questions to find the answers to are

• What are the medical care facilities like?
• How do you pay for medical care?
• Do you have a legal right to medical services?

Realize that standards of sanitation vary throughout the world and may be better or worse than you're used to. As a result, you may have less resistance built up toward everyday germs in other places. In developed countries, like Canada, Australia, and Western Europe, health risks are about the same as here in the U.S. But in less developed parts of the world, such as Africa, Asia, or South America, health risks can vary widely from place to place.

No matter where you study, you can keep yourself safe and healthy by following a few simple rules:

• Wash your hands with soap and water. It's the best way to prevent catching and spreading germs.
• Get plenty of sleep. Don't allow yourself to get run down.
• Eat healthy, exercise regularly.
• Don't share cups and utensils with other people.
• Pay attention when walking or driving - car crashes are a leading cause of injury among travelers. Avoid traveling at night when possible. Always wear your seat belt.
• Use latex condoms to reduce the risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.
• Don't share needles with anyone.
• Never eat undercooked ground beef and poultry, raw eggs, and unpasteurized dairy products.
• Do not eat unpeeled fruits or vegetables.
• Stay in well-screened areas and use insect repellent to protect yourself from insects. Also, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants tucked into boots or socks to keep ticks away when you're tramping through rural areas.
• Do not go barefoot in rural or undeveloped areas. Keep feet clean and dry or you risk contracting a fungal or parasitic infection.
• Don't handle animals (especially monkeys, dogs, and cats) to avoid bites and serious diseases (including rabies and plague).

Here are a few wellness items that have served thousands of travelers well and that you may want to carry with you:

• Insect repellent containing DEET (diethylmethyltoluamide)
• Over-the-counter anti-diarrheal medicine
• Iodine tablets and water filters to purify water in case bottled water isn't available

If you do become seriously ill or injured while abroad, make sure you contact everyone who may be worrying about you, including your family at home in the U.S. If you end up hospitalized or in an emergency medical situation, your first point of contact should be your program director, International Student Office, or Health Services at your abroad university. They can point you to a doctor who speaks English.

If you're having trouble locating medical help and can't get in touch with the people I just mentioned, a U.S. Consular Officer can help you locate the appropriate medical services and inform your family. If necessary, a Consular Officer can also assist in the transfer of funds from the United States. However, payment of hospital and other expenses is your responsibility.