Maintaining Health and Nutrition

General Advice

It is important to take every precaution to maintain your health while you are abroad. If you fall ill, you are much more likely to become homesick or do poorly, which will have a negative impact on your study abroad experience.

Health Care

If you are currently under the care of a health care professional, it is important to discuss your study abroad plans with him/her and seek any advice or recommendations that he/she may have to offer. Something that you may have under control here may not be as easily controlled in another environment. Elevation, extreme heat and smog are a few of the factors that may have a drastic impact on your health. Discussing this with your health care professional in advance will help prepare you for any difficulties that you may encounter. You should also notify the Study Abroad Programs office and your on-site coordinator of any special needs or health concerns that you may have.

Prescriptions

If you take medications regularly, you should take an adequate supply with you. Your host country may not have the same medications available or they may not meet U.S. standards. It is important to take a copy of your prescription(s) with you as you are traveling to ensure that you are able to take the medications with you through customs.

Food and Water

As you travel to a new country and begin to try new foods, you may feel ill until your body adjusts to the new water and cuisine. Here are some tips to help you along the way:

  • In countries where sanitation may be questionable, only drink beverages that have been boiled (tea or coffee) or that come in sealed containers (soft drinks, juice or water).
  • Only eat fruit that you peel yourself so you can be sure that it has not been contaminated with unclean water.
  • Don’t use ice cubes! Ice cubes have not been boiled and pose the same risks as tap water.
  • Try to continue eating the same number of meals that you would eat in the United States. Now is not the time to try dieting or to eat junk food.

Many countries offer a variety of food sold from roadside stands. It is not recommended that you eat food from these establishments. Although host nationals may have no difficulties eating from such places, you will not have developed the same immunities and will be more likely to fall ill.

Travel Health Clinic

Similar to the United States, there are a variety of contractible diseases abroad, some of which are preventable through vaccinations. We strongly encourage you to schedule an appointment at a Travel Health Clinic, either through CMU’s Health Services or in your home town. CMU Health Services offers a full-service Immunization/Travel Health Clinic. 

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

There are diseases which are transmitted through sexual activity. You must use the same precautions abroad as you take here at home. For more important information regarding sexually transmitted diseases and prevention, please visit the CMU Health Services website.

Medical Care Abroad

Should you find yourself in need of medical attention while abroad, immediately contact your on-site coordinator or faculty leader. They will be able to provide you with specific information about where you can seek medical attention.

Insurance

To participate in a CMU study abroad program you are required to have health insurance that sufficiently covers you outside of the United States. CMU will automatically enroll students in a study abroad group health insurance policy through HTH Worldwide Insurance (www.hthstudents.com).

The policy will cover you during your term of study. Your health, medical evacuation, and repatriation coverage will terminate on the last day of your program. If you intend to travel after your program ends, you may extend the insurance through HTH Worldwide Insurance.

DO NOT cancel your existing insurance policy because the study abroad insurance coverage expires upon your return to the United States. In the event of illness, you must keep your current health insurance so that you can continue treatment upon your return home.

A waiver form is available on Blackboard for you to complete if you do not want to purchase CMU’s health insurance because: (1) you have health insurance, AND (2) you have checked with your insurance carrier and are certain that you will be covered while in a foreign country. The waiver form must be completed and submitted to the Study Abroad Programs office by the published deadlines (available on Blackboard).

NOTE: Study Abroad insurance is included in the cost of all faculty-led programs and may not be waived.

  For Further Health and Safety Information

The following websites provide useful information regarding health and safety abroad: