Expatriate, retiree health & medical issues

Healthcare & Medical Tourism in Asia
In most Asian countries, unsurprisingly there is a general lack of western standard facilities for healthcare. Notable exceptions are Thailand and Singapore which both have world-class medical (and cosmetic surgery) facilities available. In fact more and more people from North America are combining holidays with medical, cosmetic and dental treatment, and many travel to Asia for this purpose. Operations and procedures cost between 30 and 80 per cent less than in the USA or parts of Europe.

It's expected that this year alone, more than half a million Americans will have travelled overseas for operations and treatment for multiple reasons.

Medical tourism, as this practice is now known, is rapidly becoming popular for those who face ongoing and increasingly expensive medical bills, or extended waiting times for operations under national health care programs. Already 60 million Americans are uninsured or 'under-insured' and this figure is likely to increase rapidly in the next few years and global medical tourism is expected to become a $40 billion-a-year industry by 2010.

In Southeast Asia, relatively low cost medical care is available in Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore and Malaysia.

Emergency Treatment
If you do suffer the misfortune of an accident or other severe medical crisis while travelling or living overseas, you need to be sure you will get good treatment and care, and if it's not available where you are at the time, that you can be treated where there are proper facilities and doctors.

  Travel and health insurance with emergency evacuation can be arranged with a reliable international expat health insurer like Goodhealth Worldwide, even if you're overseas already. You can get an instant quote online, and pay a lower premium than by going through a broker at home or abroad. You can also visit this site if you're looking for affordable health insurance.

Pharmaceuticals and Medicines
Drugs, medicines and treatment for less life-threatening ailments and conditions can often be obtained cheaply and OTC in many countries – both brand name and generic drugs. There is an increasing danger of fake drugs being supplied, but this is not confined to Asia by any means – they now reach Europe and probably the US too. At least in Asia they are cheap!

For itches and skin conditions like eczema while you're in Thailand or Laos, try ZEMA lotion (strong) or cream (milder). Available everywhere, it's very cheap and provides relief for many skin problems, from insect bites to psoriasis. But use the lotion sparingly otherwise your skin dries and peels. We know from experience!

One of the lesser joys of middle age and beyond are joint or back pain, gout and arthritis. Fortunately there are now various medical and natural remedies for these conditions, and many of them are very cheap. In Thailand and Lao, for example, you can buy allopurinol, diclofenac or chondroitin (effective ongoing treatment for many back and joint pain sufferers) for a few dollars for a month's supply of relief, and the writer can confirm it! Even in the US this need not be expensive.

Natural Remedies
There are also natural cures for relief from pain of arthritis, back pain, knee pain, sore joints, sore feet, stiffness, stress, insomnia, neck pain, shoulder pain, muscle pain, bone fractures, bursitis, carpal tunnel, constipation, diabetes, neuropathy, elbow pain, foot pain, gout, headaches, heart pain, haemorrhoids, jaw pain, joint pain, leg pain, menstrual cramps, migraines, muscle sprains, rheumatism, tendonitis, whiplash and wrist pain.

Learn about Native Remedies on our natural remedies page for dozens of ailments and conditions including psoriasis and arthritis. Plus we have pages devoted specifically to Arthritis and its many related conditions.

Weight Control, Middle-age Spread, Fitness and Diet
As we get older and approach retirement, we usually do less physical work and 'let our bodies go'. Men develop a 'beer belly' very easily in the tropics, as beer tastes so much better than plain water! Waist loss may seem a hopeless cause but managed the right way – not with fad diets, supplements, devices or crazy workouts – it is possible to get into those old 32" trousers once more! Learn more about reducing your waist line for both men and women here and turn a few six-packs of beer into six-pack abs instead.

Weight Loss Through Colon Cleansing
After struggling for years with increasing weight (and waist!) and a 'bloated' feeling after eating, I recently discovered Bowtrol which is an all natural herbal colon cleansing treatment that has changed hundreds of thousands of people's lives, and now mine, through its gentle, safe and effective 'whole body' internal cleansing. Bowtrol is formulated to maximize body waste elimination without causing loose stools or cramps. Bowtrol coaxes frequent healthy bowel movements, at the same time helping cleanse the body's vital organs including its digestive and lymphatic systems. Click on the banner to learn more about this great product.

Appetite suppression
A popular and effective way to lose weight is by eating less! Easier said than done of course, as all who have ever tried dieting know. Controlling your appetite and the urge to respond to hunger pangs by eating is made a lot easier by taking something that reduces appetite by making you feel as though you've eaten recently and are simply not hungry. If you know you are trying to lose weight, you won't snack indiscriminately as you did when the hunger pangs started.

In the past some of these appetite suppressants were dangerous prescription drugs and had undesirable side effects. Then along came the all-natural 'Hoodia', and although the advertisements are usually aimed at women, Hoodia works just as well for men too. After all, it originates from a plant extract that was (and is) used by the small but resilient native bushmen of the Kalahari Desert in Southern Africa to sustain them during times of hardship – when there's no water, there are few animals to be hunted for food. These little men sometimes spend 

Hoodia is organic and without any side effects, 'fools your brain' into thinking you are full. Eat less, lose weight! Learn more about Ultra Hoodia FB on this UK site:

Digestive Disorders
Do you know anyone who suffers from Acid Reflux Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Crohns Disease or other digestive system problem? Click here to read about a breakthrough that most MDs seem reluctant to tell you about.

Prostate Problems in the Male Population
At age 40 half of American men already have a swollen prostate gland. By the time they turn 50, three out of four American males have BPH, and one in three is likely to have potential for a life threatening situation. Typical symptoms include pain, erectile dysfunction, insomnia and frequent toilet visits, difficulty in urinating or blood in the urine.

Apart from medication, which may not always be easy to obtain, a natural method of preserving and improving prostate health and pain relief is available through hands-free massage. Learn about how the PRO-STATE and complementary products help to ensure prostate health and how sexual enjoyment can be enhanced, either with or without V....a and similar pills. There are plenty of testimonials from satisfied customers too:

Halitosis means bad breath!
While bad breath or halitosis may sometimes be caused by poor oral hygiene, there are other factors which contribute to bad breath and can be difficult to treat, despite all efforts to follow a healthy mouth and teeth-cleaning routine. Here is something we tried and it worked. It's a natural cure for bad breath – your own or someone close to you, perhaps?   

Hypnosis
The realities of hypnosis and ways of obtaining relief by using techniques correctly are often misunderstood. Hypnosis is actually one of the most natural and human forms of self-help. Visit our hypnosis pages to learn more about the many conditions it can alleviate.

Alcohol and Hangovers
It's easy to drink too much alcohol when you're on holiday or retired – especially in the Tropics. It's naturally 'thirsty weather'. There are ways to prevent the resulting hangover from ever happening! Read more about how you can eliminate the risk (and the pain!) of a bad hangover on our Alcohol page and get a Free Trial of NoHang Hangover Prevention Pills.

Tried and Failed to Quit Smoking? Stopping Smoking Sucks!
I must admit that until a few months month ago, I had a 'habit'. I was a smoker. Now, all smokers know that smoking isn’t exactly a nice habit, but it's ENJOYABLE and it’s ADDICTIVE. If we could achieve a similar feeling of relaxation doing anything else, I’m pretty sure we would. After all, who wants to smell like a chimney all day long – not to mention the health implications?

After years of trying to stop, I finally managed to quit the habit in just over three short weeks. And yes. NOT smoking feels fantastic! I managed it with the help of one person, Melvin Powers, who recently wrote: “Stop Smoking in 28 Days... Or Less!”.

Melvin sent me a copy of his guide when I told him about my “addiction”. He’s not the sort of guy that will tell you how BAD you are for smoking. He’s methodical and explains it all in pure English. He agrees – stopping smoking SUCKS. He teaches you the EXACT methods you need to quit smoking – without the pain, withdrawal symptoms and evil cravings usually associated with the process.

Plus he backs it all up with a 100% money-back guarantee too. So, if you are considered kicking the habit, do it like I did with Melvin's help.

Self hypnosis may work for you to help you quit smoking too. Hypnosis is another way that helps many people overcome their health problems and addictions. Scared to try? Learn more on our Hypnosis Pages.

Whichever method you choose, if you can quit smoking you'll enjoy a happier – and likely to be longer – healthier retirement.

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