Glossary

Medical glossary

Advice for travelers often uses words that aren't always clear the first time you read them. We've gathered them in one place and explained them briefly, without medical jargon.

A clear word takes away half the worry: once you know what a condition is called, it's easier to describe it to your doctor.

— Editor's note

On the way

Motion sickness: Nausea, weakness, paleness and sweating while traveling in a moving vehicle. It happens when your eyes and your balance system send your brain different messages about movement.
Vestibular system: The part of the inner ear responsible for your sense of balance and your body's position in space.
Jet lag: A mismatch between your body's internal clock and local time after flying across several time zones. It shows up as sleepiness, trouble sleeping and fatigue.
Dehydration: A state in which the body loses more water than it takes in. Signs include thirst, a dry mouth, weakness and urinating less often.
Swelling (edema): A buildup of fluid in the body's tissues. On a long journey, legs often swell a little from sitting still; marked swelling in one leg is a reason to see a doctor.

Climate and altitude

Heat stroke: Dangerous overheating, when the body can no longer cool itself down. It needs urgent help: call 112 (or your local emergency number).
Sunburn: Red, painful skin after spending a long time in the sun without protection.
Hypothermia: A drop in body temperature caused by cold, wind or wet clothing. It comes with shivering, drowsiness and clumsy movements.
Altitude sickness: Feeling unwell at high altitude when the body hasn't had time to adjust to the thinner air: headache, weakness, poor sleep.
Acclimatization: The body getting used to a new climate, altitude or time of day. How long it takes varies from person to person.

Getting ready

Vaccination: Receiving a vaccine so that your body builds up protection against an infection in advance. Whether you need vaccinations before a trip is up to your doctor.
Travel medical insurance: A contract under which an insurance company pays for medical care during a trip, within the terms of the policy.
Travel first-aid kit: A set of supplies for the trip. What goes into it is decided together with your doctor, based on your health and your route.
Chronic condition: An illness that lasts a long time and needs ongoing monitoring. Before a trip, a plan of action is worked out with the doctor who treats it.
Medical summary: A document with brief information about a condition and prescribed treatment. On a trip, it helps a local doctor understand the situation faster.

Where these words appear in the guide

Topics
Motion sickness, time-zone changes, heat, cold, altitude and long flights, grouped by topic. Plus our article catalogue.
Prevention
How to prepare for a long flight: what to do ahead of time, how to look after yourself in the cabin and how to recover after landing.
Methods
Simple non-medication habits for the road: moving, water, sleep and light, dressing for the weather, clean hands and care with food.
Questions
What to ask your doctor before a trip, when you live with a chronic condition, or before traveling with kids or older relatives.
Research
How to read news about travelers' health and tell real science apart from a sales pitch.
Sources
What this guide is based on, what it does not do, and how to use it when you travel.

Topics
Motion sickness, time-zone changes, heat, cold, altitude and long flights, grouped by topic. Plus our article catalogue.
Methods
Simple non-medication habits for the road: moving, water, sleep and light, dressing for the weather, clean hands and care with food.
Questions
What to ask your doctor before a trip, when you live with a chronic condition, or before traveling with kids or older relatives.
Research
How to read news about travelers' health and tell real science apart from a sales pitch.

Sources

WHO — travel health advice
Russian Ministry of Health — general health guidance

This guide summarizes general information about staying well while traveling as of the date it was prepared. Advice for travelers is updated from time to time, and what is right for you personally is something to decide together with your doctor.