Hot answers tagged health
78
In Bulgaria, Russia, former USSR countries and others, it's considered offensive not to drink when you've been invited to, and you might need a good solid excuse if you decide not to drink at all. Expect to be on the receiving end of some good-natured banter if you decide to abstain completely.
Medical reasons are a possibility, although it will be ...
34
I find several things help, some are physical or physiological while others are purely mental:
I find it easier to adjust to "it's morning, get up now!" - as you get when you fly east - if I get light on my face as soon as possible. On the plane, open your shade, eat the "breakfast" they give you, and do the things you do in the morning. In a hotel, get ...
30
An american software engineer living in Japan gives a good overview of how big Japan is and why you shouldn't be afraid to travel there after the nuclear accident.
Essentially, the summary is that Japan is very large. It's unlikely that your travel plans as a tourist will be anywhere near the accident.
Source: http://mapfrappe.com/index.html?show=3057
30
Here are few tips from the point of view of a cabin crew member:
Always tell the cabin crew, no cabin crew would want a passenger to vomit in the seat or floor, they will help you and even let you use the toilet in the worst times (shortly after take off or shortly before landing). Vomiting in the toilet is much easier and more comfortable it is just like ...
27
Basically, you can't.
The world is full of GI diseases, even in developed, First World nations. There are some decent steps to trying to minimize your exposure:
Properly cooked foods. Everything heated to a proper internal temperature (depends on the dish, check the USDA's site for guidelines), no sampling the raw chicken dish, etc.
For fruits and veg, if ...
27
The cabin pressure is not constant - it's allowed to drop as the plane ascends, within safe levels (typically down to the pressure one would find at between 1500 and 2000 meters of altitude).
The reason for this is that a pressure difference between inside and outside puts stress on the fuselage. Reducing the maximum difference allows the fuselage to be ...
26
I was in the unfortunate position of being insistingly encouraged to drink 3 years ago on the Trans-Siberian. I was much worse for wear after that experience, and sought out suggestions (in fact I really shouldn't have had that much considering my meds).
Anyway, this year I returned. And indeed, the best way if you can't just refuse outright, is simply to ...
24
Well I'm a bit of a sub-expert on this, having worked nine years in the hostelling industry and encountering them as a traveller once in India.
There's a bit of a dirty little secret in the hospitality industry about just how bad the bed bug problem has been for the past few years. Apparently all the big/expensive hotel chains have been having problems - ...
23
To @Halabi's excellent answer, I'd like to add the passenger perspective:
If you know that you may vomit during the flight, prepare yourself:
Have a change of clothes in your carry-on, in case you manage to vomit over your shirt and pants, plus a plastic bag to store your dirty clothes.
Bring tissues, or a towel, to clean up.
Make sure that there ...
21
MOST IMPORTANT: Get to an embassy/consulate. Identification can be done later. But if at all possible, that embassy/consulate is the most sensible, safest place for you to be.
For example, let's say you're a Kiwi. Many countries have NZ embassies or consulates. Failing that, like when I needed one in Bolivia, there's the Australian embassy who will also ...
18
And we introduce Mark's patent-pending method to surviving the hell that is NZ to London superhaul economy class travel:
Prepare your entertainment. Sure, you will likely have movies on the plane. But I've done several 10-13 hour trips with broken screens or no entertainment system - SINCE 2010. Don't bet on having it. Charge laptop batteries, iPads, ...
17
How did I miss this question?? I've done this! Before it was even considered 'touristy' (we had to apply to the Ukrainian government for permission in 2008).
Now on the safety aspect, I was assured by my science teacher travel buddy and the scientists there that it's perfectly fine to go for a day. As for the radiation, apparently even spending a weekend ...
17
As a Russian and non-drinker, I want to add some info about the culture of drinking in Russia.
First of all: You don't have to drink vodka, even if your partners are. It is ok if you just say: I can't drink alcohol as strong as vodka, I need wine (or cocktails, or whatever you need). Ask women about this - they're more reliable in such situations. But if ...
17
I'm a Russian who doesn't drink vodka. If your goal is not to drink at all - just say so and be done with that. If you like to drink a little but just don't want to kill your liver - tell them that you prefer cognac or whiskey (whichever you like the best). Wine will also work but probably raise a couple of "be a man" things.
The goal is to have a drink ...
17
Addition to Mark's answer :
Don't look at the time during the flight You can't do anything about it and the flight will feel a lot longer if you keep looking at the time. Don't check your watch regularly and avoid looking at the in-flight map showing the current position of the plane.
Bring your own headphones. The headphones available on the plane ...
17
Venomous spider bites have not caused a death in Australia since 1979. You are far more at risk getting in to a car than being biten by a spider in Australia. Bites from red backs very rarely cause anything more than a little discomfort, but if you are bitten, always seek immediate medical help. Anti-venom is widespread and you should not be far away from ...
17
While a full yawn is best, simulating the movement your jaw makes in a yawn is enough to pop your ears (and often simulating a yawn makes a real one happen anyway)
If you have a cold, or if you let the pressure build up a lot it can be difficult to get the eustachian tubes to open, so in those instances I hold my nose, close my mouth and gently try and ...
15
Final answer: Basically almost no pharmacy in Tajikistan knows of Warfarin, Coumadin or other variants.
This includes the pharmacies at the CARDIOLOGY hospital in Dushanbe.
However, on the grounds of said hospital is the English-speaking Prospekt Medical Center (based from London). They get requests for warfarin "on average, every 4 or so years" and as ...
15
I just try to make a conscious effort to use only my right hand for most things when I'm in public places - paying for transportation fare or items in a market, eating in public restaurants, even pushing doors open. If you're mindful enough, you should be able to manage most of the time; if you forget once in a while, just correct yourself as soon as your ...
15
Familiarity can certainly reduce the likelihood of sea sickness, as your body can get used to it.
The usual problem is the swell - which you just don't get on lakes. Out on the ocean you have no stationary frame of reference so your brain starts to believe the boat is stationary. As it is actually moving, this confuses your brain and causes sickness.
...
15
I have written an article about seasickness, so I will give a resume.
Seasickness has nothing to do with willpower. If someone accuses you of that,
tell him that Horatio Nelson and Shackleton on the "James Caird" were both
seasick.
The exact cause of seasickness is still unknown. The "frame of reference" theory
has the flaw that blind people can get ...
15
On a flight from Los Angeles to New York, you'll receive a radiation dose of 40 microsieverts. Equivalent doses:
Two (2) chest X-Rays
Eight (8) dental X-Rays
Eating 400 bananas
Sleeping next to someone for 2.2 years
XKCD has an excellent visualization depicting these doses, including the BED!
Source: http://xkcd.com/radiation/
14
Let me suggest a rule I learned from packing for camping that I think applies just as well to packing for business or leisure travel. It seems a little counter intuitive at first. Don't bring things you need for emergencies. Bring what you need for trivial little annoyances.
From a camping point of view, this means treatments for sunburn, bug bites, ...
13
I am living here in Tokyo and nobody worries much. Don't worry if your plane lands in Tokyo.
I don't have a Geiger counter but hearing from the local news, Tokyo seems quite safe.
Other places more in the south (Mt Fuji, Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Nagoya, Okinawa) should be even safer.
You might just want to avoid the Fukushima area, even though going there for ...
13
As a UK Gov directive it is still applicable.
The UK Border Agency Rules, Para 36 states
A person who intends to remain in the United Kingdom for more than 6
months should normally be referred to the Medical Inspector for
examination. If he produces a medical certificate he should be advised
to hand it to the Medical Inspector. Any person seeking ...
13
Several non-authoritative points on the Amsterdam Red Light District:
Personal safety: most of Amsterdam (including the RLD) is generally busy and safe. Working girls normally rent the same room repeatedly, and are generally traceable in case of crime. Since prostitution is above-board, police is aware of common problems and ready to assist if necessary. ...
13
No, tap water is usually not safe to drink in India. Households commonly buy large, office cooler type bottles of drinking water or have in-house filtration systems. So if it's a normal tap, then don't drink from it.
The exception is if the tap has a cooling or a filtration unit next to it. (I can't find a free image for this to include here.) These could ...
13
I wouldn't count on your passport being something other people looked at when deciding to treat you. In Canada people use MedicAlert bracelets for this purpose - according to their website they're international.
Really important things like allergies are engraved on the back, and there's a code that hospitals can use when they phone, and they can get ...
12
1 to 3 months is not too long term to get travel insurance. Many insurance companies offer travel insurance and there are many options depending on what you want covered, how much you want to cover it for, and the duration of the coverage.
Your travel agent might only suggest one company though which may not be the cheapest or best. They seem to have some ...
12
Malaria is transmitted by a specific type of mosquito (female anopheles) that breeds in still / stagnant water that collects after monsoons. If you're travelling during winter or summer in India, you don't have to worry about this too much as the weather conditions are not conducive for these specific mosquitoes to breed. Locals usually don't take malaria ...
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