Health Mistakes You Should Avoid on a Cruise
By Sara Butler
Cruises are all fun in the sun until someone gets ill. Vacations on the seas are popular for many people to get rest and relaxation, but it can come with some health hazards many people don’t anticipate. There are things you can do to minimize the chances of getting ill on your next cruise. Here are a few tips to help ensure some smoother sailing.
Bring Your Own OTC Meds
Over-the-counter medications that you may need in an emergency such as ibuprofen or cortisone cream will be very expensive -- or not available at all -- on a ship. So make sure you bring your own supply of things you might think you need. You may never use them (hopefully!) but it’s better to be safe rather than sorry!
Wash Your Hands
There are a lot of people on a cruise ship and those people bring a lot of germs with them. You’ve probably heard about entire cruise ship populations being decimated by the likes of the norovirus in the recent past -- you must take that seriously! Before you eat you must lather up to help stop germs from spreading. Wash with warm, soapy water for at least 20 seconds.
Take Advantage of the Hand Sanitizer
If there’s no soap and water on hand, then, by all means, hit the hand sanitizer station. While washing your hands will always be more effective, when there’s a hand sanitizer station nearby, there’s no reason not to hit it. There’s certainly no such thing as cleaning your hands too much when you’re on a boat with thousands of other people.
Wipe Down the Cabin
It’s a good idea to bring some sanitizing wipes to wipe down surfaces in your room such as the television remote or telephone. Even though your room was cleaned, housekeeping rarely wipes down some services such as light switches and door handles. Do it yourself to help keep you healthy!
Be Careful at the Buffet
Cruise ships are famous for having all kinds of indulgent food on hand. Sure, you can take advantage of it but just make sure to only allow yourself a couple of treats each day so you don’t go overboard.
Also, if you suffer from seasickness, large meals can make you feel worse. The first couple of days on the ship you should take it easy and be nice to your digestive system until your body adjusts.
Have fun on your cruise, but be smart so you can stay healthy!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Houston, Tex.