Questions tagged [health]
Preventing illness and injury while travelling and how to deal with them if they do occur. Where appropriate use a more specific tag (examples under `tag info`).
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What are the current travel restrictions on individuals entering the United States from regions affected by Covid-19?
This community wiki explains the current restrictions by the United States of America on the entry of individuals who may pose a risk of transmission of the SARS-Cov2, the virus which causes the Covid-...
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How to prevent "Delhi Belly" from eating/drinking locally?
Montezuma's revenge or Aztec two step in Central America, mummy's tummy, or Cairo two-step in Egypt, Kurtz Hurtz in Uzbekistan, Bombay belly or Delhi belly in India.
A case of the sh-- or Hershey ...
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Are there tips and tricks to overcome a fear of flying?
Are there tips and tricks for people with fear of flying that can makes them have a more pleasant experience when flying? I know drugs can do magic, and we've previously had debate on pills vs alcohol....
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Long Term Travel - what insurances can / should I get?
I'm a freelancer in the field of software development and I'm planning to travel to different places, but also continue working. I'd expect to stay at a certain place (country) for 1-3 months. Pretty ...
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Can I get warfarin in Tajikistan (or nearby?)
I've run into a major problem, requiring urgent Warfarin. However, am in Khorog, Tajikistan, and there's NONE in town, and the pharmacist at the hospital believes there to be none in the country, ...
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Dual Canadian and British citizen - healthcare coverage in the UK?
I want to know if I am entitled to medical assistance in the UK while visiting for 3 weeks in June. I am travelling on my Canadian passport since my UK one is outdated.
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How to convince airport security that I am not dangerous when having metallic parts in my body?
I had an operation some time ago and now I have small screws in my shoulder which will not be removed anymore. When I decided to fly for vacation, I supposed that these will may bring me into trouble ...
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How can I avoid or minimize jet lag on flights?
From my personal anecdotal experience, I've found it worse when travelling east around the globe. I also tend to stay awake most if not all of the flight, so sleeping time doesn't tend to matter as ...
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Best way to make my ears pop?
What is the best way to make my ears pop when landing on a plane? The hold-your-nose-and-pitch method is very painful; are there any other methods to pop ears?
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Is Morocco currently safe to visit despite the Ebola outbreak?
I'm travelling to Morocco over the Easter period, and while I am aware that the current Ebola outbreak is mainly in Guinea, Liberia and Mali, and would have to cross the Sahara to get to Morocco, is ...
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How to avoid drinking vodka?
This summer, I spent some time in Moscow and St. Petersburg; I also visited a friend and his family. Their custom was to drink a lot of vodka during the meal. We, the guests, also had to drink some ...
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Is it safe to travel in Japan considering the nuclear situation?
Are there any areas that should be avoided and are there any steps I should take to protect myself from radiation?
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Would I be allowed to get on a plane from the UK and fly to America with tea?
Today I was doing some research on food and drinks and realised that tea is not a very big thing in The U.S. and that all the "good" brands of tea are extremely overpriced or quite "unattractive".
So ...
user42025
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Getting a foreign prescription for a prescription drug filled in the US
My wife takes a prescription medication that cannot be stopped. Her supply is running out while in the US and we've tried faxing her foreign doctor's prescription to Walmart but they wouldn't accept ...
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What should I do to avoid ear pain when flying?
I always feel a pain in my ears when flying. Specially when descending. The last time I had extreme pain, feeling it inclusive around my eye balls. It felt like someone was touching the eye and ...
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To how much radiation are you exposed on a transcontinental flight?
You often hear people object to being scanned because of the "radiation" argument. I find this always quite amusing from people just being exposed to higher radiation levels during the average ...
user141
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Avoiding air travel sickness without Dramamine/Dimenhydrinate or other drugs
My wife is very prone to motion sickness, especially on air flights. In the past we've handled this with Dramamine (Dimenhydrinate), which helped quite a bit.
Unfortunately, my wife's reaction to ...
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Are there portable non-electrical water filters that filter chemicals, metals, and pathogens?
My relatives will be travelling in North America, UK, and Hong Kong. For environmentalism, they do not use bottled water, and need a water filter that:
removes chemicals, metals, and pathogens. They ...
user13759
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How to vomit during a flight?
Last time I travelled I wasn't feeling quite well just before boarding the plane. I either had eaten something wrong or a flu just appeared. The thought of having to vomit during the flight made me ...
user141
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Are there any airlines that still allow smoking on-board flights?
Do any airlines still allow smoking on-board international flights, or is this something that has been banned across the board everywhere? If this is because of fire hazard regulations, what about e-...
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How does one recover from a (personal) disaster while abroad, travel-wise?
I was watching the Bond flick Die Another Day last night. In it, Bond ends up in terrible shape, but manages to escape to the shores of Hong Kong, where he strolls into the lobby of a swanky hotel, is ...
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Is it safe to drink the tap water in Istanbul?
Is the water from the tap/faucet potable in Istanbul or must I buy bottled water? If not, what are the specific contaminants in it?
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Going to New Delhi for a conference. Where to drink/get water?
I've just read Drinking tap water in India, which has some mixed messages (in different answers) regarding tap water safety in different locations and conditions in India.
Now, I'm traveling to a ...
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Carrying medicines internationally for a friend
A friend of mine has asked to carry medicines from India to UK. She is also going to provide me the prescription for those medicines.
However, I am a bit reluctant because the prescription that she ...
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Is it necessary to take malaria pills when travelling in South India?
Sources seem to differ on what precautions are required. Is there an authoritative source I can check, or is it better to drug-up anyway (or not to)?
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Is it true that you can receive emergency care in the UK completely free of charge?
In a related question @GayotFow mentions that:
I am aware that visitors can received emergency treatment from the National Health Service (NHS) for free.
This seems a bit suspicious but other ...
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Avoiding or minimising altitude sickness?
From my personal anecdotal experience, I've seen first-hand some horror stories with altitude sickness. I will always tell people now to acclimatise, drink fluids, and follow the local tricks like ...
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Getting nauseated from air travel, but it's not motion sickness... what to do?
My sister is not particularly inclined to air travel—she regularly throws up, and the feeling of nausea is evident well before motion sickness could occur (i.e. inside the terminal).
I suspect some ...
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Travelling to the US with codeine-based medicines
I'm travelling to the US next month, and I'd like to take my codeine-based painkillers with me. In the UK these are available without a prescription, over the counter from a pharmacist. (It isn't just ...
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What is the difference between primary coverage and secondary coverage on a travel insurance policy?
What is the difference between primary coverage and secondary coverage on a travel insurance policy? Which is recommended for short-term travelers?
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What are the signs of a bed bug infestation?
Bed bugs have become a real problem recently, with more and more places reporting outbreaks. What can you do to avoid being exposed to these nasty parasites?
If you do get exposed, what can you do ...
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We're all adults here - how to use a squat toilet if you have trouble squatting?
So, we have a great question and answer on how to use a squat toilet. However, the answers there basically assume you're healthy and able to use one as per the instructions.
A group of us are going ...
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I bought a flight ticket, but now I have a health issue which specifically forbids me to take flights. Can I get a full refund?
I bought a plane ticket from Turkish Airlines, 2 months before the flight. Then I went to the doctor, and the doctor said I have a health problem, which specifically forbids me to take flights for one ...
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How can I visit Chernobyl?
I have heard that it's possible to visit Chernobyl as a tourist (and some questions here on Travel bear this out, asking if it's safe to do so.)
I'd like to visit it. What do I need to know to do so ...
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Is LifeStraw a silver bullet water purification solution for travelling in India?
LifeStraw has a 0.2 micron filter. Since "most bacteria are 0.2 µm in diameter and 2-8 µm in length" (source), is it safe to drink water from any source using LifeStraw without boiling? (India in ...
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Travel health insurance that counts as "credible coverage"
I am taking a long-term international trip of around 11 months. I am quitting my job, and so will lose my health insurance.
I am looking at different travel health insurance plans such as World ...
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How to survive the heat in regions with very high temperature?
I am soon going to visit Las Vegas, and I heard that high temperatures are very normal there. I can't rule out the possibility of taking a walk while it's, say, 39 degrees Celcius. What steps can I ...
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Preventing sea sickness?
I come from a land locked place (in Canada) where there are no oceans around and just lakes. Whenever I go on a boat in a lake in Canada, I never get seasick and I feel fine. Sometimes when I come to ...
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Where in Thailand should I be cautious about malaria?
We have found a magnificent offer to go with our children to Thailand. It is a two week holiday starting in Bangkok going south ending at a beach resort. It all looks very promising.
A friend who is ...
user141
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Do infants need their own seats on long flights?
What is the best way to approach a long (8+ hours) flight with a young child (1-2 years old)?
It seems I am not required to purchase a seat for a child under two years of age which would save some ...
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Is it safe to use earbuds in an airplane?
I like using my earbuds when in the airplane, since they provide better sound insulation than the standard economy headphones, but I've been told (I couldn't find any information confirming it though) ...
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What type of mosquito repellent is most effective?
There are many different kinds of insect repellents and bug sprays on the market: sprays and lotions, chemical and natural, huge percentages of DEET and lower percentages, etc.
What type of mosquito ...
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Ear protection on long flights?
I have a pair of noise cancelling headphones which I love very much. Putting them on during a long haul flight and keeping them on most of the time leaves me significantly less tense and more relaxed ...
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Given the name of a US pharmaceutical drug, how can I know its equivalent in other countries?
To prepare for international travel, given the name of a US pharmaceutical drug, I sometimes need to know the name of its equivalent in other countries. How can I do so? E.g., is there any convenient ...
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Claustrophobic - travelling for the first time long RSA to USA
I am trying my best to prepare for my upcoming flight to the USA, the trip is all under control, its just the flight that I'm terrified of. I am very claustrophobic and do not even ride in elevators, ...
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How to make an international emergency call?
I don't want to know the emergency number in case I'm IN a different country. What I want to know is, if I am, say, in France, and I know someone in Sweden needs emergent services, how can I call, ...
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Travel insurance with a pre-existing condition
I have ulcerative collitis. It's not particularly bad. I'm trying to get travel insurance for two different holidays (one to the US and one to China/Japan). Unfortunately having ulcerative collitis ...
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Supplying your own needle for Blood test for a Kurdistan residency permit
For the blood test (if still required) (see Current blood test requirement for Kurdistan residency permit) can one supply one’s own needle?
Details of what is involved, in medical terms, would also ...
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Drinking tap water in India
I ordered SteriPEN before I started my India trip but unfortunately it didn't arrive in time. I'm only drinking bottled water here but am interested whether tap water in train stations and some ...
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How can I translate medicines?
I know that if I have stomach issues I can take an Enterogermina or an Imodium if things get severe. I know that if I have throat ache, I can take a Benagol. I know that if I have a strong headache a ...
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