Our son J. and girlfriend L. have been in Thailand for a few weeks now, and back in Bangkok from poverty. The intention was that they would stay here for another 4 months. L. is in a lot of pain and is overtired, they had her examined at the Bangkok hospital in Hua Hin. She appears to have too low vitamin D, on Monday that was 25 ng/ml and on Tuesday it had already dropped to 20 ng/ml.
Question to general practitioner Maarten: Medication use
My name is H. born 04-09-1948. In the Dijkzicht Hospital it has been diagnosed that I have a hereditary hypertrophic myocardiopathy. My son and daughter have not taken the test to see if they also suffer from this abnormality due to possible rejection with a mortgage application, etc. I have had surgery (open heart) and I am already home after 5 days!
Eating fish: Good for your brain!
Eating a healthy and varied diet is important, just as eating lots of fruit and vegetables is also part of a healthy diet. Because those who eat enough (fatty) fish stay healthy for longer. Do you also know why?
My age is 70 years and I have smoked 40 of them very heavily but fortunately I have since 16 years of it. Been living in this beautiful country for 10 years now, in Pattaya, but I have COPD from smoking, which shows on the x-ray of the right lung.
Question to GP Maarten: Hearing aid itching in my ear
I have a hearing aid but actually wear it too little, because I always get so much itching in my ear from this device. What can I do about this so that I can still use this rather expensive tool?
Question to general practitioner Maarten: Adjusting medication for Angina Pectoris?
I have been diagnosed with stable angina pectoris. I take bisoprolol 2.5 Mg every morning. Exercise regularly as it is said to promote the growth of collateral vessels. In an article I read that bisoprolol actually counteracts this growth and that the alternative drug ivabradine does not. Can I switch from bisoprolol to ivabradine?
Vitamin D is Supplement of the Year!
It was announced at the National Health Fair that vitamin D has become Supplement of the Year. With more than 20% of the votes, vitamin D is the most favorite dietary supplement according to the public.
The medicinal effect of garlic
Gringo has already written an interesting article about garlic in Thailand, garlic is widely used in Asian dishes. You also see a lot of garlic in shapes and sizes on the market in Thailand. In this article some background on the health-promoting properties of garlic.
Arguing and stress are disastrous for your health
Do you often have arguments with your (Thai) partner, which causes stress? Then it might be better to put an end to it. We knew that stress is bad for your body, but conflictual and stressful relationships are even deadly, according to a Danish study published in 2014 in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health.
'New vaccine against dengue (dengue fever) seems effective'
The new dengue vaccine Dengvaxia is effective, according to a study by Mahidol University. The risk of infection is reduced by 65 percent, the risk of hospitalization by 80 percent and complications by 73 percent.
American scientists draw the conclusion after years of research that those who eat 30 percent less than normal can live years longer.
'Just exercising occasionally already provides health benefits'
If you are not a sports enthusiast, there is good news for you. You don't have to sweat every day in the gym to stay fit. Exercising once or twice a week also has a beneficial effect on health.
No alcohol for a month, something for you?
Now that the holidays are over, it might be good to start thinking about your health again. A number of people take advantage of January to not drink a drop of alcohol for a month. Also something for you?
Over 50 and vitamins: How do you age with vitality?
If you are over fifty, a healthy diet is of course important. But as you get older, your metabolism slows down. As a result, less and less energy is required from the food. No wonder, then, that appetite often decreases with age. However, the need for vitamins and minerals is the same, sometimes even higher.
Samitivej hospital is going to vaccinate against dengue virus
The Samitivej hospital in Bangkok is the first hospital in Thailand to vaccinate against four strains of the dengue virus. In the past five years, the drug has been tested on 30.000 people.
New Year's resolutions: Lose weight by exercising? Forget it
Christmas is just around the corner, then there is usually plenty of food and drink again. When the scales are unrelentingly confrontational in the new year, the good intentions come around the corner again. If you decide to exercise (more) to lose weight, it can sometimes be disappointing.
On October 10, 2016, I arrived in Thailand with a large carrier bag from a Dutch pharmacy full of medicines prescribed by my former GP. I still have a supply for a month, but I am looking for the same medicines in Thailand because I will continue to need them for the time being.