Health
Messages: 2,534 - Threads: 362
Welcome to Thorn Tree's Health Branch
You'll find plenty of information about traveling and health here. However, it's important to use common sense and balance when seeking advice on health and safety. Use the information on this branch with caution.
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Edited by: katija
Anchovies Health Benefits
With its lean and small structure, a big percentage anchovies’ composition is made of proteins. Equipped with Omega-3, this fish does good work for the heart. Several research studies have suggested that Omega 3 compounds have anti-inflammatory properties and could help in lowering blood cholesterol levels.
Jun 10, 2013 5:32 PM
beach2u
last reply
Jun 11, 2013 7:19 AM
nutraxfornerves
1 replies
168 views
Cigarette smoke: How to protect yourself? Dust masks?
The problem with dust masks is you are ingesting a lot of the carbon dioxide you just exhaled. When I wear one it seems very stuffy, probably for that very reason. Just wondering if anybody had found a particular fabric that might be held over the nose to filter smokers disgusting pollutants. In some countries there are a lot of people smoking in public spaces, or confined spaces like a bus. Not a comfortable situation for someone with sensitive lungs. In the Philippines people just hold their shirt over their face or a handkerchief to filter the cars exhaust but I'm not sure how effective that is. I heard that tobacco particles are very small.
Jun 6, 2013 4:18 AM
lauradowniex
last reply
Jun 12, 2013 1:49 PM
slev
4 replies
263 views
Vaccinations
Does anyone know if I need to get any vaccinations to travel to Tunisia?
Jun 4, 2013 4:30 PM
nutraxfornerves
last reply
Jun 4, 2013 4:30 PM
nutraxfornerves
0 replies
216 views
Polio in East Africa
The US CDC has posted this notice:
According to the Polio Global Eradication Initiative, there have been four cases reported from Somalia in May 2013. These are the first wild poliovirus cases reported in Somalia since 2007.
Also, two cases have been reported from Dadaab, Kenya. These are the first wild poliovirus cases confirmed in Kenya since July 2011. Dadaab hosts a major refugee camp, housing nearly 500,000 people from across the Horn of Africa, including from Somalia. Countries across the Horn of Africa are now at risk of this outbreak because of large-scale population movements and persistent immunity gaps in some areas.
CDC recommends that all travelers to Somalia and Kenya, and surrounding countries of Djibouti, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Uganda and Tanzania be fully vaccinated against polio. In addition, adults should receive a one-time booster dose of polio vaccine.<br...
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Jun 4, 2013 7:22 AM
harmanbhamra
last reply
Jun 6, 2013 12:30 AM
rorygemwriter
3 replies
221 views
inexpensive london travel clinics?
hi guys,
this is my first time on this forum. I was wondering if anyone had any good (or bad) experiences with private travel clinics in London?
My research has found that they are quite pricey, especially the big name ones. My GP only does certain vaccines and I'm planning on going travelling across Asia later this year so I will need pretty much everything I think.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
thank you
Harman
Jun 2, 2013 4:19 AM
Vanhellsink
last reply
Jun 6, 2013 12:39 AM
rorygemwriter
2 replies
303 views
No Good Here No Good There
After more than five years travelling I've returned home rudderless without direction and a feeling that I don't belong here. I'm finding everything familiarly boring with ordered predictability and a sterility that I'm sure will be the death of me, albeit a very hygienic one, if I tolerate it any longer - I may be experiencing reverse culture shock perhaps.So somewhat foolishly I am taking the money I had set aside for re-establishing myself and heading back out to Asia where with a little frugality, I should be OK for another eighteen months.
However, I feel I'll just be going through the motions as I'm not imbued with the same excitement or fervent desire I once had to go off exploring, and God forbid I have to endure another temple excursion, ceremony, backpacker ghetto, same foriegner questions blah blah blah - this negativity toward wandering around the world and meeting pe...
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May 29, 2013 6:47 PM
urchin79
last reply
Jun 6, 2013 2:29 AM
neverwinter
4 replies
435 views
feel pretty rough, not sure what to do, which meds to take
I´m in Huaraz, Peru and woke up today vomittig with some diarhoea, mostly vomiting. I feel hot and cold and generally rubbish esp as not eaten for 24 hours. i´m acclimatised so it´s not that sickness. I think the meal last night was the culprit.
i also have a bad headache which feels like one of my frequent sinus infections as it´s one side and i´m congested.
The hostel person said to take Cipro (ihave this and also azithromycin) but i thought that was for diahroea? I also hae Doxy for my sinuses should I need to take it (from GP at home).
So any advice great, I feel too rubbish to trawl through webpages and too drained to leave hostel.
Oh and just prior to my sinuses flaring up I noticed a tiny red pinprick hole on arm so wondered if a mozzie gave me something? I did not think they were in the mountains tbh
thanks
May 27, 2013 4:53 PM
kimanjome
last reply
May 29, 2013 6:32 AM
nutraxfornerves
3 replies
384 views
Doxycycline for malaria--do side affects get worse?better?
Have only two options for an anti-malarial in Africa: Malarone or Doxycycline. This would be long-termish use of 5 months on a college study abroad program, so doctors here won't prescribe Malarone unless I take a holiday from it every 28 days to allow my liver a break. Therefore I will have to take Doxy, as the doctors are unwilling to prescribe Lariam (generic) or even Alaren. The study abroad program only allows Doxy or Malarone usage. When I talked to the agency reps they told me that Doxy is preferred for long-term exchanges (and some women take anti-fungals on a routine basis) while Malarone is used for the students doing summer study abroad programs of one-month length.
Problem is, in the past I have had a reaction to Doxy about a week after starting the course. Fortunately on both occasions the course was only 10 days so by the time the side affects were really ge...
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May 24, 2013 10:20 AM
nutraxfornerves
last reply
May 25, 2013 9:35 AM
nutraxfornerves
2 replies
332 views
Yellow fever vaccination booster not needed, says WHO
Yellow fever vaccination booster not needed
Very important This has to do with protecting individuals from getting the disease. It does not mean that the 10-year validity of the certificate has changed. Until WHO announces a change in the International Health Regulations, I would assume that individual countries may still enforce the 10-year validity. (I guess... more »
May 23, 2013 3:12 PM
nutraxfornerves
last reply
May 23, 2013 3:12 PM
nutraxfornerves
0 replies
238 views
Malaria and yellow fever--online courses
The US CDC has launched a series of online continuing education courses. These are aimed at healthcare providers, not the general public. I have not looked at all of them, but did look at a couple that might be of interest to TT users.
These are designed for US healthcare providers who are required to do continuing education in order to maintain a license. Anyone can go through the course, however. The way the website is set up, it may take you to a registration page, which you need if you are going for credit. Some of the links are bad. I figured out how to get to the course directly. If you are interested, but don't want CE credits, use my links below, not the ones on the CDC page.
There are minimum system requirements, including some plug-ins.
[_Malaria 101 for the Health Care Provider_|http://www.cdc.gov/parasit...
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May 23, 2013 6:31 AM
nutraxfornerves
last reply
May 23, 2013 6:31 AM
nutraxfornerves
0 replies
239 views
US CDC Travel Health site revamped
Here is the press release:
NEW CDC Travelers' Health Website
05/22/2013
We’ve been hard at work redesigning the Travelers’ Health website. These changes will enhance your experience and make the site easier to use and more helpful as you plan for your trip abroad. Have a look around—we hope you like what you see!
Health care providers: new clinician destination pages include information on transmission, non-vaccine-preventable diseases, and patient counseling. These pages are your ‘one-stop shop’ when you see patients planning international travel.
http://www.cdc.gov/travel
May 18, 2013 7:12 PM
jenpet3
last reply
May 23, 2013 2:23 PM
mikehuxley
2 replies
438 views
Yellow Fever Vac - bad side effect
It has been 4 days since my yellow fever vac - and since about 6 hours after the stab to now, I feel like I have been ran over by a wild herd of elephants. Low grade fever (for the first day only), intense body aches, weakness, tired, some nausea, and just a general flu-like feeling. Luckily, my 6 yr old son is still symptom free. Our travel nurse told us we might only feel ill for 24-28 hours after the shot, yet I feel not a stitch better. Anyone else feel this ill after the vac, how long did it last, was the recovery fast, and please tell me that I will be feeling better soon! We leave in 1.5 weeks for a 6 week travel through Africa and I can't imagine I will get back to feeling "normal" enough to go at the point in time.
May 15, 2013 12:16 AM
lovenessa
last reply
Jun 14, 2013 5:37 PM
chilipepper21
3 replies
475 views
Yellow fever vaccination in Columbia/Peru
Hi,
I am leaving for South America in a few days, starting in Columbia-Ecuardor-Peru-Brazil. I know there are no immunizations needed for the first 3 countries but is necessary to enter Brazil. I have read that this vaccine is easily attainable while in Peru and I was just wondering if anyone has experience with this. Would there be any issues with getting this prior to visiting Brazil?
In case we go to the Amazon in Ecuador, is this vaccine available for visitors in Columbia?
Thank you in advance!
May 14, 2013 10:24 AM
kalpea_tuli
last reply
May 19, 2013 12:31 AM
rorygemwriter
6 replies
635 views
tuberculosis?
Two fridays ago I got a disease from sharing a drink with someone. The day after I had a sore throat and started feeling ill. I was ill for several days, it seemed to be long for the flu. Then it was over, but now, over a week later, I have fever, even though for a few days I felt better.
Could I have tuberculosis?
May 12, 2013 10:28 AM
teeanni
last reply
May 17, 2013 8:54 AM
travelkittee
2 replies
571 views
Travel Insurance for Pregnant Americans - Recommendations
I imagine there is a thread that has this question answered somewhere on here, but when I searched, I couldn't find one, so please share a link if there is and apologies for asking again if that is the case but...
I a citizen of the USA and will be traveling in Europe during weeks 15-20 of my pregnancy. I just booked a flight yesterday. I am looking for options for travel insurance that will cover emergency evacuation or medical expenses due to complications of pregnancy. I don't plan to be anywhere far from what should be decent medical care, so maybe the emergency evacuation is not as bit of a concern, and I'm healthy and haven't had any complications in the pregnancy but I know it's still a good idea to have the insurance. I'll be traveling in Croatia, Germany, and Czech Republic, along with 4 days in Budapest, Hungary.
I realize most places consider pregnancy a pre-existing...
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