Here’s why you get sick after vacation

An overseas holiday offers the perfect chance to relax and unwind. So, technically, you should feel well-rested and recharged when you return home at the end of your vacation.

However, falling sick after a vacation is unfortunately quite a common occurrence. Not only do you need to grapple with the prospect of going back to the daily grind, but you also find yourself battling a cold, sore throat or other ailments.

Here are some reasons why this happens.

 

Fatigue

While holidays are supposed to make you feel relaxed and recharged, they are often physically tiring. For starters, you might have to wake up very early to catch planes and trains. Long hours of travelling can also be very taxing, and differences in time zone can rob you of much-needed sleep.

What is more, if you join a package tour, are participating in adventure activities like mountaineering or simply just like to maintain a packed schedule when travelling, you could well find yourself on your feet for long hours every day.

All this contributes to fatigue which destabilises your immune system and makes you more susceptible to catching flus, colds and more.

 

Dehydration

Flying is incredibly dehydrating and can wreak havoc on your skin, throat and sinuses. In fact, on a single long haul flight, your body can lose close to two litres of water.

Even if you try to rehydrate by drinking plenty of water on the plane, you will not be able to stop the dehydration of the mucous membranes in your body, which then become less efficient at trapping viruses and bacteria, leaving you more vulnerable to catching a bug.

 

Change of diet

Trying the local cuisine is part of the fun of travelling. But the sudden change in diet can leave your body struggling to adapt, especially if you usually eat healthily at home.

What is more, when you travel, most if not all of your meals will be enjoyed at local eateries. However, as restaurants and street hawkers usually prioritise taste over healthfulness, you might find yourself consuming food that is high in salt, sugar and fat compared to what you would eat at home.

All of this can lead to problems with digestion and stomach upsets that can leave you craving home-cooked food.

 

Low hygiene standards

When travelling in developing countries, hygiene standards can often be quite different from what you are used to in Singapore. For starters, in many developing countries, drinking tap water or beverages containing ice made from tap water can make you very ill.

Even if you are very careful, there is no telling when contaminated foods or unsanitary utensils might give you a bad case of food poisoning. Food poisoning can take anywhere from several hours to a few days to hit you, so you might suffer the effects of one only upon your return to Singapore.

If you do get hit by a bout of food poisoning while on holiday, the best travel insurance plans in Singapore offer coverage for medical treatment overseas as well as upon your return to Singapore.

 

Germs

One of the biggest causes of ailments like the common cold or flu is other people. The more frequently you come into contact with other human beings, the more likely you are to fall ill. Public transport and crowded places are hotbeds of germs.

When you travel, you are likely to be out and about all day, every day. In addition, if you are travelling mostly by public transport, you are likely to be taking multiple rides each day. This raises your chances of catching something, especially if you are travelling in dense cities such as London, Paris or Tokyo. Wash your hands frequently with soap and avoid touching your face to lower your chances of falling sick.

 

Other than washing your hands often, getting enough rest and staying hydrated, don’t forget to protect yourself with travel insurance from HL Assurance. HL Assurance’s Travel Protect360 have just introduced cashless Post Journey Medical Outpatient claims should you need to see a doctor back in Singapore. You can now visit a clinic for follow up treatment in Singapore without having to incur any costs or submit any claims. Seeking medical care after a trip has never been so convenient or stress-free.

 

Check out our latest travel insurance promotions now to compare travel insurance plans on our website.