A foreign hospital is the last destination a tourist wants to visit.
But seemingly innocuous activities like enjoying an ice-cold drink or wearing flip-flops by the pool can have dire consequences.
According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI), 3,000 Britons need urgent medical attention abroad every week.
Contaminated water, sprained ankles and even just the stress of a long flight can be enough to seriously mess up your long-awaited trip.
Here, experts explain the health risks of going on vacation and offer some tips to minimize your risks.
Dirty water, sprained ankles and even the stress of a long flight can be enough to mess up your long-awaited trip
Avoid ice cubes
Sitting by the pool on a hot day with an ice-cold drink sounds like the ideal luxury.
But disease-causing bacteria, such as E. coli and cholera, can lurk in cocktail ice cubes made with unclean water.
Although the water has gone through the freezing process, the critters are strong enough that some will survive.
“If they’re frozen, you’re still at risk because when the ice cubes thaw, you’ve got some viable bacteria still alive,” says Dr Joanne Santini, professor of microbiology at University College London (UCL).
Ice cubes are not the only potential carrier of pathogens.
Like ice cubes, ice can also harbor bacteria, so be careful when buying from street vendors.
Disease-causing bacteria, such as E. coli and cholera, may be lurking in your cocktail ice cubes, experts warn
However, there is an even greater risk of getting sick when washing fruit or brushing your teeth with contaminated water.
This is because the liquid has not been boiled or frozen to kill some pathogens.
“It depends where you’re going and whether there’s fecal bacteria in that water,” says Dr. Santini.
She said, “Parts of Southeast Asia, South Asia, parts of Africa and probably some places in the west will contaminate drinking water with faeces.”
“So if you use that water to wash something, drink something or brush your teeth, you run the risk of contracting organisms like e. coli or salmonella.”
If you don’t think the water at your vacation destination is safe, you should drink bottled water or boil the water before drinking, or you could get diarrhea or cholera, Dr. Santini warns.
Be careful wearing flip flops
Flip flops can be the ideal footwear for relaxing by the pool.
But podiatrists warn that sprained ankles and bone fractures are a risk when wearing the classic summer shoes.
“While flip flops and flip flops are great for poolside strolls, we don’t recommend them for longer walks as they provide little support for the feet and could ultimately do more harm than good,” said Emma McConnachie, spokesperson for the Royal College or Podiatry.
She added: ‘Flip-flops and backless shoes can put you at an increased risk of injury, especially if alcohol is involved or longer walks.
“Common injuries include blisters, strain on the foot due to lack of support and prolonged use, sprained ankles, and even fractures in the bones of the foot and ankle.”
Providing children with safe footwear is also recommended to help prevent poolside accidents.
Ms McConnachie said: ‘Young people are less likely to heed ‘no running’ warnings at the pool, try swim socks or swim shoes instead as these can be worn both in and out of the pool.’
Podiatrists warn that sprained ankles and bone fractures are a risk when wearing flip flops
Flip flops have their uses, however, as they can protect your bare feet from nasty infections such as plantar warts or athlete’s foot.
Both warts and athlete’s foot are common and spread through contact with infected cells.
Pool side and changing areas are the perfect environment to contract these infections.
Long-haul and night flights
Some health risks of a vacation are already present before you arrive at your destination.
Rushing to get to the airport on time can be stressful and those who travel at night also face sleep deprivation.
And that’s before you struggle with the ensuing jet lag.
Professor Russel Foster, an expert in circadian neuroscience at the University of Oxford, emphasizes that just one night of poor sleep can be enough to make you sick.
“There’s a very clear link between stress, jet lag, and immune suppression,” he says.
The stress of getting to the airport and the loss of sleep from time zone changes or catching the plane in the wee hours can lead you to catch a bug
He adds: ‘Even one night of poor sleep can have a significant impact by suppressing the immune system.’
This means that the combination of the stress of getting to the airport and the loss of sleep due to time zone changes or flying in the early hours can put you at risk of getting sick on holiday.
Professor Foster said: ‘It can make you more vulnerable to picking up a bug or infection, both on the plane and when you arrive. You’re a bit more vulnerable.’
Swimming in polluted seas or lakes
A dip in the sea or a refreshing swim in a lake is a classic holiday activity.
But bacteria that can cause infections and diseases like E. coli and cholera can lurk in polluted seas or lakes.
Even in British waters, seas polluted with sewage can make you sick.
Bacteria that can cause infections and diseases such as E. coli and cholera can lurk in polluted seas or lakes. Even in British waters, seas polluted with sewage can make you sick
Experts generally recommend salt water for swimming because it generally contains less risky pathogens than fresh water.
People with immune deficiencies should be especially careful about swimming in fresh water.
Swimming in such contaminated water can cause dysentery, as well as respiratory infections and ear, nose and throat infections, says Immunodeficiency UK.
The charity is urging people with suppressed immune systems or their carers to inquire about how clean the sea and lakes are before taking a dip.
It adds that even swimming pools can pose a similar health risk if the water quality is not adequately monitored and cleaned regularly.