Health in Thailand
Stay Healthy in Thailand

What about your health in Thailand?

Water Vending Machine in Pattaya
Commercial Water Vending Machine in Pattaya

Drinking Water - Potable Water

Buying and drinking bottled water seems to be the most convenient and 'logical' way.

However, there is a tremendous side effect and that is the environmental pollution caused by plastic bottles.

This is not a only huge problem limited to Thailand, but has become a problem all around the world.

Reverse Osmosis and Ultraviolet Filtration

You can buy water purified by reverse osmosis and ultraviolet filtration at vending machines here in Pattaya where you can fill your empty bottles (preferably glass bottles) for 1 baht a liter. Fill 1, 5, or 10 liter bottles at these machines.

Use glass containers whenever possible since the effect of the chemicals in plastic bottles on the human body is still a controversial scientific discussion. Scientific reports say, there's "some concern" about the potential negative health effects of BPA on infants and children and calls for more research to determine just what the risks of BPA exposure might be.

Canada is now considering banning baby bottles containing bisphenol A, a chemical widely used in consumer plastic products. If you would like to know more about this process of water purification
click here Reverse Osmosis and Here Water purification

The Thai Red Cross Society on Water

Most people probably won't do this, or they are staying in hotels and it is near impossible, but boiling tap water is the recommended method. Bringing water to a vigorous boil (1 minute boil) is efficient to make it safe for drinking. Boiled water may contain harmless sediment when cooling but this can be removed by decanting.

Protecting Yourself from the Sun

Sunburn is a very common problem in the tropics for foreigners, particularly for the blond and fair skinned foreigners, and is associated with fever, headaches, peeling of the skin, and great discomfort. Avoid exposing yourself to the sun for too long and limit your time sunbathing.

Use sunscreen with a high SPF (Sun Protection Factor) which is widely available in local stores nationwide. Start with a SPF of 15 and lower its rating as your skin gets more accustomed to the sun. Protect children and in particular babies with Hats, Sunscreen, and beach umbrellas.

Pepper Bottom

Pepper bottom is a condition caused by eating Spicy foods (some Thai people have this as well), dishes loaded with Chili pepper. The Chili oil irritates the digestive system and anal region, and can cause abdominal cramps, loose stool, and anal burning. This is a harmless condition but if symptoms persists you may want to consult a doctor.

Fresh Fruits
Health In Thailand Eat Fresh Fruits
Chilli Pepper
Chilli Bottom Through Chilli Pepper
Fresh Oranges
Stay Healthy in Thailand Eat Oranges

Keep Your Health in Thailand

One of the great things about Thailand is its healthy foods and fruits. Eat plenty of fresh fruits. Thai people are very healthy people and that is definitely not only because of the positive attitude Thai people have most of the time, but also because they have a very balanced and healthy diet. Food and fresh fruits are available just about anywhere in Thailand.

Health in Thailand, Food and Eating Out

Thai cuisine is delicious, exotic, and famous for its varied tastes. There are a few guidelines when eating out in Thailand.

Eat at restaurants and food stalls which are busy and frequented by Thai locals.
Eat food that is cooked freshly only. Freshly prepared, cooked, and served hot.
Eat raw salads in well established restaurants only.
Seafood should not be eaten raw or not completely cooked. Thorough cooking will destroy parasites in fish, shellfish, and all other seafoods.
When purchasing dairy products check the expiration date on the package.
Meat and Poultry should be eaten well done and hot.

Health in Thailand and Alcohol Consumption

Alcohol is less tolerated by the body in the tropics than it is in colder climates. Excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages causes dehydration, salt loss, and reduces ones tolerance to heat, physical activity and stress.

Air Conditioning

Air Conditioned hotel rooms and even the 7-eleven at the corner can seem to be an oasis in the tropics. I don't know about 7-eleven, banks and other public places but many hotels do not change the filters in their ductless air-conditioning systems in the hotel rooms.

Sometimes people complain about coughs and other cold-like symptoms after nights of sleeping in air-con rooms. Bring a little can of disinfection spray on your next trip, and spray and disinfect the air-con system, if you can not sleep with a fan only.

Sex Tourism and STD's In Thailand

Prostitution is oftentimes called the oldest trade in the world. South East Asia including Thailand, and in particular Thailand's tourist destinations, have seen a tremendous growth in prostitution since the Vietnam war.

Prostitution is not new to Thailand, it has just grown with world wide travel and tourism, and almost every town and city in Thailand has brothels in many guises, catering to a large Thai clientele. Read Extract from Cross-Cultural Complications of Prostitution in Thailand by Professor Bruno Mayer

Condom use during casual sex should be considered mandatory. Reduce the risk of getting a STD by using condoms (properly). Most STD's are preventable by using condoms and the use of common sense should be mandatory as well. Buy condoms in your Home country if you can, since Thai condoms (or condoms in Asia for that matter) may be shorter and of a smaller diameter.

Traffic Accidents in Thailand

Health in Thailand can not only be threatened by diseases. Driving and traffic in Thailand is a very real danger and threat, too. Traffic accidents are one of the leading causes of death in Thailand. According to an ADB-ASEAN report released in March 2004, the average economic cost of one traffic accident death is about 2.85 million baht.
Thai Health Promotion Foundation.