Enjoy the local sights not the back of the bathroom door!

Most of us look forward eagerly to our holiday – a time of relaxation and enjoyment. And more of us are choosing to visit exotic and foreign countries in the hope of absorbing some of the local flavour.  However, while the local food may look appetising, it can often lead to severe diarrhoea. Tummy troubles are definitely not on the list of ‘adventures’ abroad but research shows that over 42% of Brits have suffered from stomach upset whilst on holiday.

New research has shown that Brits are seriously unprepared for their holidays, especially when it comes to considering their health.

• Six in ten adults have admitted to falling ill whilst on holiday, which is unsurprising as health comes in at the bottom of the list of concerns after being robbed (27%) and the flight crashing (23%).
• The top destinations Brits perceive as high risk are Africa (19%), India (18%) and Pakistan (14%).
• In reality, the top three places where holidaymakers fall ill are Spain (32%), Greece (14%) and France (9%).
• Over 40% of UK travellers experience Travellers’ Diarrhoea each year, making it the primary health problem encountered while abroad.  A bout of this can be costly in terms of both days lost on the sun lounger or exploring your destination of choice, but also money from associated medical costs - particularly in more severe cases.

To protect you and your family from tummy upset, Dr Felicity Nicholson, Medical Director of Trailfinders Travel Clinic has these top tips to ensure a happy, healthy trip abroad:

• Avoid tap water unless you are 100% sure it is safe to drink. This applies to ice cubes, washed salads and when brushing teeth. If unsure, drink onlybottled water with a sealed lid

• Use antibacterial gels and wipes to clean your hands before eating

• Take Bimuno before you travel to build up your immune strength and digestive protection

• Ensure you eat well cooked meat and eat it whilst it’s hot

• Avoid shellfish and other seafood if it is not properly cooked

• Only eat fruit that you can peel yourself

• Avoid food exposed to flies

In this video, Dr Hilary Jones, GP gives explains the risks we face abroad and the recently developed measures we can take to help protect ourselves against Travellers’ Diarrhoea.

For more information and advice on digestive health go to www.bimuno.com.

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