A basic medical check-up is often ignored when people venture for a trip requiring physical activity and fitness.
While trips like Amarnath pilgrimage demands the traveller to undergo a fitness test, the practice is not followed in the case of locally organised trips and trekking that require physical endurance.
In Coimbatore, around 10 people die due to health issues while ascending Vellingiri Hills every year. The victims were mainly people with heart diseases.
As per rough estimates from tour operators, more than 80 % of pilgrims visiting places in other States such as Varanasi are aged above 50. Those who fall in this age group are prone to health issues, worsening of which may turn fatal while away from home.
“Primarily, the person who is going for long trips should personally assess whether he or she is fit for the task. Those having serious health issues and those who are under medication are advised to seek medical opinion before the start of the journey,” said K. Kolandasamy, Director of Public Health.
R. Soundravel, Resident Medical Officer of Coimbatore Medical College Hospital, felt that there should be a mechanism instituted by the Health Department wherein pilgrims or tourists can undergo medical examination to check their fitness level. This will help tour operators to discourage those who are found unfit for specific trips.
“People who have co-morbidity (presence of multiple diseases/health disorders at a time), uncontrolled diabetes, high blood pressure, hearts diseases, neurological disorders and those taking diuretic (drugs that promote increased production of urine) are advised to avoid trips that require severe physical activity. People venturing for such trips should have the ability to withstand extremes of the temperature,” he said.
According to Dr. Soundravel, people going to places that have high temperatures should avoid direct exposure to sun between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. as it will cause dehydration.
Hence, travellers should ensure that the body is hydrated enough by drinking adequate water, he said.
