( Traveling Healthy JINX MONTEZUMA'S REVENGE Although tap water is relatively rel-atively free of contamination contamina-tion in the cities of the Western world, drinking water wa-ter which is new to our systems sys-tems can occasionally cause diarrhea. Whether you know this temporary affliction as "Montezuma's Revenge" or the "Aztec Two-Step, " traveler's trav-eler's diarrhea is something you'll want to avoid on your next vacation or business busi-ness trip. Watching what you eat and drink can help ensure a healthy trip. Avoid drinking tap water or using ice. At meal-time, ask for chilled bottled water or order mineral min-eral water, plain or sparkling. Also keep a supply in your room for brushing teeth, or taking medications. Temporary traveler's diarrhea diar-rhea can be caused by eating eat-ing or drinking in excess, eating spicy foods and even jet lag, in addition to drinking drink-ing unfamiliar water, so it is a good precaution to get plenty of rest and eat and drink moderately. You may have to be especially cautious cau-tious if you're visiting developing devel-oping nations because, for vacationers visiting these areas of the world, traveler's travel-er's diarrhea is the most common complaint for which medical attention is sought. When planning a trip, ask your doctor what immunizations you may need, such as typhoid. Carry IMODIUM capsules on your next trip and jinx Montezuma's revenge. Then have a frank talk about traveler's diarrhea. While it is not a major medical med-ical worry, you'll want to be prepared in advance. Your doctor can recommend recom-mend a fast-acting anti-diar-rheal medicine, such as IMODIUM (loperamide HC1) made by Janssen Pharma-ceutica. Pharma-ceutica. IMODIUM, which comes in capsule form, provides pro-vides fast relief within one hour after the initial dose. IMODIUM also reduces painful pain-ful cramps and prevents loss of water and electrolytes, electro-lytes, which maintain the body's delicate chemical balance. bal-ance. However, if symptoms persist or if you develop a fever over 101 or notice blood or mucous in your stool, consult a doctor. Knowing that temporary traveler's diarrhea is not serious can give you peace of mind. Having a quick-acting quick-acting remedy, such as IMODIUM on hand, can make you feel confident. confi-dent. Slip the capsules into in-to your luggage and jinx Montezuma's Revenge.