Reader question: Do Thai ladies have a sore throat?

Frequent visits to a doctor have nothing to do with being Thai, it is not typical Thai. It is an individual and not a cultural phenomenon. On average, Thais do not go to a doctor more often than the Dutch. Unfortunately, they are prescribed too often and too many medicines. In my practice, 50 percent went out without medication.

In the Netherlands, people go to the general practitioner (who handles 4 percent of all complaints themselves) on average 95 times a year, depending on age and gender, 20-40 percent rarely or never go to a doctor.
Frequent visits to a doctor can be divided into two main groups, namely people with chronic conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular problems, and people with psychosocial problems. You could loosely describe the latter group as people who are not happy, experience a lot of stress and problems and therefore get all kinds of complaints. That's what a good GP and a good husband(-ote) should look out for and have a conversation about.

Happy people don't run to a doctor for every trifle.

Of course, a family history of frequent doctor visits, a certain pettiness, too little knowledge, and fear of serious illnesses sometimes also play a role, but this is the case everywhere.

I think

I think it's just "attention".

Hello Anton, just read this, it's a message from the Volkskrant,

Professor of pain management B. Crul, from the Catholic University of Nijmegen, is pleased with the outcome of the American study. He himself has long thought that differences in pain perception have both a psychological and a hereditary cause. Crul sees it as a sign for the health care sector to deal with pain complaints even more seriously. 'It shows a lack of empathy and stupidity to say that people in pain act like they are.' Dentist P. Baan from Haarlem is also convinced that pain perception is partly determined genetically. Baan thinks that the character of his clients also has a major influence on their behavior in his chair. He recently had a mother with four children come to his office. The father was too afraid to come and one of the four children absolutely did not want to be treated. 'That may be genetically determined, but children also adopt a lot of behavior from their parents.' According to W. Blom, teacher of groups 7 and 8 at the Freinetschool in Heiloo, parents also play an important role in their children's response to pain 'I think that children with a sore throat don't get enough attention from their parents. If they always say that it's not too bad, such a child can't get rid of his pain. 'According to Blom, children react very differently to pain. 'One holds on to a gaping wound, the other runs to me crying at the slightest cut. The influence of genes is new to him. 'Well, if that's the case, the parents may play a less important role than I think.' Athletics trainer H. Kraaijenhof is willing to assume that pain perception is genetically determined, but he also emphasizes that there is always a psychological component. the four hundred meters can always run a lap of honor, despite the enormous pain that the production of lactic acid causes when running. That pain is gone the moment he wins. The loser is in so much pain that he immediately falls to the ground. That is purely psychological.' Athletes learn to accept that pain is part of their profession, according to the trainer. 'A fisherman in the North Sea doesn't mind if he gets wet, either.' Professor of Christian Ethics J.-P. Wils from the University of Nijmegen sees many people in pain. He does pastoral work in the intensive care unit of a hospital. 'A genetic explanation for pain is nice, but it won't change the perception of the pain.' Still, the researchers' finding makes him think. 'I'll be even more careful with accusations about pettiness.' Pain perception can be trained, is the conviction of Thai boxing trainer T. Harinck. "I train boxers so that they can better withstand pain during a match." But those same boxers can cry like a child when they have a toothache. That has nothing to do with genes. How much pain you feel is mainly psychological.'

Yes Anton; I also had a good laugh at the article about the doctors in Thailand. I also have a friend who went to a clinic several times for the most silly complaints. Eye complaints caused by virus or bacteria were dismissed with a hypersensitivity to eggs and migraine. Again and again a visit to the same "doctor". Ecema caused by hypersensitivity to massage oil was treated several times and…………not resolved. The eczema was captured by a lady at the front desk of the clinic with a phone camera and the employee used the phone to call the "doctor" in a back room. Prescription: pills that don't work. Just laughable.
I believe that with my modest knowledge of Thailand I could run a thriving practice with guaranteed much better results.
What drives the Thai to consult the same person over and over again is not entirely clear to me…we will probably never find out.
Greetings and enjoy your girlfriend and Thailand.

JohnB.

Indeed Anton, I recognize that.
If there is no doctor nearby, they will go to a pharmacy for a cold.
I think it has to do with little knowledge about the body and even less about medicines and their effects. Usually they don't get instructions for use, because they don't read that anyway according to some doctors, whom I spoke to about it

Going to a doctor when you are sick is still seen as 'smart' there and not doing it or trying to do something about it yourself is considered 'stupid'.

I don't recognize it in my wife. WELL with my mother-in-law. Has been struggling for years with all kinds of ailments, of which the age counts the most.
Comes from abject poverty and now that it is financially possible, everything must also be the best.

Mother-in-law is 78 years old and has run out. Atrose has a bad shape and therefore a slightly curved back. (say a novice hunchback).
I think it's also because of always looking at the ground because she's literally always looking.
She also suffers from separation anxiety because my two brothers-in-law live in Bangkok with their families and businesses and we commute between the Netherlands, Jomtien and Utaradit.

Furthermore, mothers suffer from high blood pressure and I'm talking about 176 - 120 at 86 b / m.
But mom eats very healthy. A large bottle of maggi added to all her food during the week is quite normal.

But the doctors and the visits.
1. GP is bad because GP says I can't do it You should use less salt and the Atrose is age related. Charge 100 bath or so
2. Orthopedist in State Hospital in Uttaradit is very bad. Only gives 1 type of tablets and advice. Does not want to operate due to age. Taking into account medicines, blood tests, blood pressure measurement and ECG . bill 240 baht.
3. Private clinic in Uttaradit of a brother and sister who come from a very wealthy family and have a practice for the hobby and human orientation. ECG, Blood pressure, Blood test, Ultrasound, Roentgen, Explanation about what to eat and what NOT to eat (NO SALT). given a diet and prescribed support and pressure stockings. Bill something like 400 bath. So it was already better. So mothers don't follow the diet, Don't wear support stockings because they pinch, Just continue with the wrong lifestyle. So complaints remain and then go to another hospital.
4. Uttaradit military hospital. Same examinations, About the same advice as the orthopedist. But bill 300 bath. Must be a bad hospital?????
5. To a private hospital in Pitchanulok. Is 2 hours there, 2 hours back and 2 hours waiting.
Blood pressure measurement, ECG, Conversation, Medication (paracetamol) given and a new appointment. Cost 2200 baht. According to my wife VERY bad research.

According to mothers, this was the best hospital she had ever been to?????????

We my wife and I have given up. We have told mothers that if she does NOT listen to the orthopedist and the military hospital, she should do it herself.

But unfortunately the appointment has already been made so soon back to Pitchanulok. Oh not with us. So eldest son comes over from Bangkok especially to go to pitchanulok with mothers. We are now in Italy 🙂