Tips to avoid getting sick in Mexico [VIDEO]

Tips to avoid getting sick

Mexio has a delightfully rich culture, long stretches of white sand beach, lush jungles and vast deserts, a paradise with an ambiance that will change the way you see the world.

But unfortunately even paradise comes with a price, paired with a fancy name coined the “Montezumas”.

Although getting sick in Mexico is very common, you can usually rule out the food as it’s more often exposure to the tap water or the ocean. The ocean & water supply in Mexico can carry bacteria we are not used to in the U.S. and Canada, consequently offering symptoms that can ruin the better part of 3 days.

Here are a few tips I follow when feeling a little under the weather in such a sunny place:

1. Should you see a doctor?

If at any moment you think you are suffering from dehydration or anything emergent, please see a doctor. The doctors and emergency service at Vallarta Medical Center in Centro PV are my favorites.

2. Hydrate with Electrolytes

Since I've come down with the Montezumas twice now, I've learned some of the tricks the Mexican people use to get through it a little easier. I recommend the square bottle of flavored electrolytes from any grocery store or pharmacy to help keep them hydrated.

Also, at any of the restuarants you can ask the staff if they can make a special drink they often use for dehydration, a cocktail made of mineral water, lime and salt. It has an excellent way of rehydrating the body.

3. Use Microdyn on Fruits & Veggies

If you're not using microdyn to clean your fruits and veggies, even the ones with a peel, you might have been exposed to bacteria there. Microdyn is available at any grocery store, usually somewhere around the produce section. 

4. Rubbing Alcohol for Nausea

Another trick my boyfriend used when I came down with the dreaded Montezumas was dabbing my palms, face and the bottom of my feet with rubbing alcohol. The smell of rubbing alcohol is often used in hospitals to alleviate nausea. 

5. OTC Medications

The pharmacies here sell most of the medications you need over-the-counter, so you can speak with them about what they recommend to help cease the vomiting.

Read more: How to get your prescription medications OTC in Mexico

Don't hesitate to go to the ER I recommended above, it's a fantastic, modern facility with a $500 pesos ER fee. That's it. Tests & some services are additional, but nothing in comparison to what we'd pay for healthcare in the US.

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Living Abroad: Mexico