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While some of us harbour secret dreams of exotic adventure like climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, trekking through the lost city of the Incas to Machu Picchu or even haggling at the Chatuchak markets in Bangkok, these are diverse and often hostile environments in which survival is a matter of preparation and vigilance.

There is another type of traveller who prefers the luxury of the cruise ship, the thrill of the bus tour or a more sedate adventure visiting the grandchildren at home.

No matter your travel style, make sure your travel dreams don't become your travel nightmares!

Follow the travel health care tips from leading travel medicine author and one of Australia's most respected travel health care specialists, Dr Deborah Mills.

Asprin
Make sure you always carry asprin in your travel kit. Heart attacks are more comment for the over 50s, but if you take asprin within 4 hours of the attack it can improve your survival rate.

Drugs
Over 50s are more likely to be on courses of medication, have unwanted side effects from different drug interactions and even lose or misplace your medication. Be careful and be vigilant at all times.

Blood pressure
Keep an eye on your blood pressure and take precautionary methods like wearing compression stocking when you fly.

Medical History
Carry a comprehensive copy of your medical history detailing things like if you have had a heart attack, or are on any specific drugs for your thyroid. It makes life a lot easier if you don’t have to explaining the specifics in a foreign country.

Diarrhoea
An attack of the ‘bali belly’ can do more harm than just being uncomfortable. Becoming dehydrated can play havoc with other medications you may be taking.

Vaccines
A Flu Vaccine is an essential for people over 55. There is also a new vaccine available for shingles which is highly recommended for travellers over 60.

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About Dr Deborah Mills

Dr Deborah Mills is the medical director of the Dr Deb's clinics.

She has worked as a Travel Doctor since 1988 - in the days when no-one even knew what a travel doctor was. She is one of the pioneers of Travel Medicine in Queensland and hence, is often known as Dr Deb - THE Travel Doctor.

She is a regular on radio and television, and has been widely published on the subject of travellers health. Her book "Travelling Well - The 'must-have' guide to enjoying good health while you travel" is now in its 15th edition, with over 140,000 copies in print.

As well as studying infectious diseases in Australia and many corners of the globe, she draws from her own travel experiences on all 7 continents, to ensure travellers get the critical 'been-there-done- that' information that they need to travel with confidence and make the most of their journeys.

For more great travel information and resources click here.