There is nothing like taking a break from the everyday grind for a well-deserved vacation. We spend time carefully planning locations, accommodations and attractions to ensure a relaxing, entertaining and memorable break from the ordinary. 
The recent outbreak of measles in a popular vacation destination highlights the need to be health-conscious while enjoying other locations. Spending a little bit of that planning time to consider steps to take to stay healthy should also factor into the vacation literary.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Traveler Information Center (http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/Travel) offers sound advice, podcasts and videos to help you stay healthy when traveling. You can use the CDC site, and the links to other websites provided on the CDC site, as a resource to help you plan your getaway. You’ll find:
• Health notices: The CDC and World Health Organization (WHO) post warnings and travel notices so that you can better understand the health risks of your destination.
• Information on geological and weather-related hazards such as earthquakes and tsunamis.
• Security concerns: Going to a war-torn country, or one that is unstable may not be as fun as another destination. The U.S. Department of State travel tips web page can keep you up-to-date on the political status of your destination.
• How to prepare medically for your trip: Check with your health insu

rance company to verify coverage for your destination or purchase additional health insurance or even evacuation insurance. Factor in out-of-pocket payments for medical care.
Be alert to symptoms of illnesses before and during travel. If you show signs of illness prior to vacation, the CDC recommends a discussion with your doctor. Symptoms to watch for include:
• Being obviously sick — things like skin or eyes turning yellow, severe

 headache, weakness.
• Fever of 100°F or greater
• Rash on the skin
• Breathing difficulty/shortness of breath
• A severe cough that lingers
• Confusion particularly if it is a new symptom
• Bleeding or bruising unrelated to an injury
• Persistent diarrhea
• Persistent vomiting unrelated to motion sickness
In addition to the above symptoms, the CDC adds a warning regarding deep vein thrombosis/pulmonary embolism’s (DVT/PE) and air travel. Flights over eight hours may increase the risk of this health concern especially if any of the following is true for you:
• DVT/PE is a condition you have had in the past
• Recent surgery
• Pregnant
• Smoker
• Had hormon

e replacement therapy or are taking birth control pills
• Cancer
• Blood clotting issue
• Impaired mobility
Wearing loose clothing, staying hydrated, stretching your legs and arms and walking if possible or on the advice of a doctor wearing special stockings are things to consider if you are at risk for DVT/PE.
The lower air pressure on flights lowers the amount of oxygen in the blood. If you have certain medical conditions such as heart and lung disease or blood disorders, talk with your doctor and the airline to arrange for additional oxygen.
Proactively factoring in health issues while planning your perfect vacation allows you to be prepared and protected when you travel.
Marsha Hinton, ghostwriter, can be reached at www.marshahinton.com.