Traveling as a tourist can be an amazing, life changing experience – but depending on your destination, there can be a few risks as well, especially regarding health issues. If you travel somewhere exotic, for instance, there are different weather patterns, sicknesses and diseases, and the medical industries in certain other countries will definitely not be the same as you’re used to.

So, if you do plan on traveling, and you do want to avoid health issues, or at least want to know how to deal with them, what are some tips that you can follow? Consider the list below, regarding video chatting with a doctor, calling your medical insurance company, researching local medical clinic ratings, consulting local guidebooks, and bringing any potential medicine that you might need with you in the first place.

Video Chat With a Doctor

A relatively new development with regard to health options for travelers includes setting yourself up with a video chat with a doctor. There are a few different websites and companies that provide this service, and all you have to do is log on to a central site, put in some necessary information, and a certified doctor will walk you through your symptoms and ways to treat yourself. This is a great way to get professional input about your health fast any time you’re on the go!

Call Your Medical Insurance Company

Insurance laws and medical availability in different countries can throw a monkey wrench in your plans quite quickly. If you do run into some type of health event and need some information quickly, calling your medical insurance company can help either point you in the right direction, or give you your options when it comes to coverage where you’ve traveled to.

Research Local Medical Clinic Ratings

If you do have to go to a local clinic when you’re out traveling, it’s important that you at least try to do some research about them first. Find out if there’s any sort of rating system at your location, and always go to the place that seems to have the best overall service and end results.

Consult Local Guidebooks

Local guidebooks might give you some information about local sicknesses or common traveling ills as well. If you’re visiting someplace on a mountain range for instance, you might just need to look up information about altitude sickness.

Bring Your Medicine With You Just In Case

Even if you don’t plan on getting sick, it’s not a bad idea to bring some basic medicine with you. These could be pain killers, antibiotics, inhalers, or anything else you might need that could be difficult to come by at your destination. Just be sure to check it all safely in your luggage.