‘Health is wealth’ is one of those expressions that’s often overused and seldom put to use. We don’t realize importance of good health unless an illness strikes us down.

You, our young reader, on his / her way to a top international study abroad destination for higher education cannot afford to take the subject of good health lightly.

After the initial euphoria of living in a foreign country, the stress of being away from your family & people, and a certain lack of discipline in maintaining good health could lead to illnesses. Here’s how you could prevent it…

Maintain a healthy lifestyle: Exercise, go for walks, be outdoors, practice hygiene, don’t skip your meals and get enough sleep.
Don’t take things for granted: Given that we have just crossed over a period of global pandemic, exercise appropriate caution like using sanitizer, face masks (wherever needed), etc. Remember, nobody is invincible.
Mental health is important too: Pressure of studies could sometime get to you. It’s understandable. Maintain schedules, finish your revisions and projects on time, seek out help if you feel overwhelmed by your assignments, etc.

These preventive measures would help you stay on top of health. An illness, however, can strike despite these measures, and it should not be taken lightly under any circumstances.

In fact, you must be prepared for any medical eventuality before leaving India for your study abroad country. Here’s a checklist that could come in very handy.

Health Insurance: It is compulsory to have health insurance in most study abroad countries. However, the specific amount and where to avail it could depend from country to country. Consult your study abroad counsellor, or connect with us for more info
Medicines / Medication from India: Many countries allow prescription medicines and generic drugs. Confirm whether you are allowed to carry your specific prescription or medicines for general conditions like common cold, flu, etc. You can connect with us for more info on this
Doctor’s appointment: Visit a doctor a fortnight / month before departing for your study abroad country. It’d be better to get health checkups done rather than regretting later

Let’s say that you are down with some illness (God forbid) in spite of taking all these measures, what could / should be your response. Perhaps one of few of the following:

Take rest: Don’t overburden yourself at the time of illness. Taking proper and enough rest, in most cases, it’d be enough as resting enhances your immune system’s capability to fight off the medical condition
Doctor’s appointment: First and foremost, list down possible clinics / doctors nearby your college or student accommodation before you fly / once you’ve landed. And don’t feel awkward or be conscious about consulting a doctor in a foreign country.
Seek help: Inform your college authorities about the nature of your illness, if it is serious, and request them for guidance. It’d be very wise to keep them informed and updated.
Reach out to your family: If all else fails, don’t be scared and don’t panic. Connect with your family. In all probability, speaking with them would put your mind at ease and their love would help you recover fast. In any case, they would always be in a better position to take positive actions and decisions.

Don’t be indifferent with your health, do everything to prevent illnesses and take good care of yourself. After all, the ones who have good health have a great chance to realize their dreams and fulfil their potential.