health
Stories
United States
TOP 5: Health Tips From Abroad
Fat. Exhausted. Stressed. It seems that no matter what the study, Americans aren’t very healthy. We have a lot of heart attacks. We’re always tired. We take a ... read more
by Glimpse Staff
19 Jan 2010
United States
TOP 5: Ways To Be A Respectful Vegetarian Abroad
Being a vegetarian abroad can be challenging. You’ll not only face practical concerns, like how to find good vegetarian meal options in some places, but also daunting cultural challenges ... read more
by Glimpse Staff
16 Nov 2009
Blog Posts
India
Drink a Coke and kill two goats… or don’t
Over the last month, I’ve figured out two things about Mussoorie, the hill station in northern India where I‘m currently staying. One: someone’s business is everybody’s business. The pastime of gossip here is as extensive and entrenched as the 94 viruses that were expelled from my laptop yesterday. Two: everyone ... read more
by Janna White
27 May 2010
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Insider Tips
United Kingdom
Forget the bill, it's free!
Because health care is publicly-funded in London, trips to the emergency room are free--as my friends & I so bittersweetly discovered the night we got caught up in a bar fight ... read more
by Ann Clark
06 Feb 2009
Chile
Be wary of the tap water
I didn't experience any health problems while I was in Chile. For prospective travelers, I recommend checking with locals before drinking tap water outside of major cities. For example ... read more
by Matthew Hintsa
06 Feb 2009
Norway
In case of emergency, break glass, use helicopter
Seeing so many ruddy cheeks exercising around town and walking into smokeless clubs whenever I went out, it is no surprise to me that Norwegians have one of the longest ... read more
by Patrick McCue
10 Feb 2009
Jordan
Going green
Though Amman is relatively clean compared to other smog-infested Middle Eastern capitals like Cairo or Damascus, littering is still part of the daily routine. In a developing country like Jordan ... read more
by Adam Lichtenheld
10 Feb 2009
Jordan
Health yourself
If you have the privilege of checking into a Jordanian hospital with a stomach ailment, they’ll either want to take out your appendix or (if you’re female) just ... read more
by Adam Lichtenheld
10 Feb 2009
Uganda
Better to be safe than sorry
Be wise. If you’re spending a lot of time in Internally Displaced Persons camps in northern Uganda, be vigilant. Odds are you’ll be fine but remember that there ... read more
by Pete Muller
10 Feb 2009
Ecuador
End that stomach pain without going to the doctor
When your intestines feel like they're going to explode because they're filled up with gas or you have nothing left inside of you after a long night of ... read more
by Emily Rusca
17 Feb 2009
Italy
How toilet seat covers are going to pay my way through college.
In Italy, for hygienic purposes, you must wear plastic gloves when touching fruit at the grocery store. There's also a change bowl to avoid hand-to-hand contact when exchanging cash ... read more
by Alessandra Roqueta
05 Mar 2009
Switzerland
The Big Desk
The best part about going to a doctor in Switzerland is the "Big Desk." While still in your street clothes, you will talk with the doctor at their desk and ... read more
by Chantal Panozzo
02 Apr 2009
Bangladesh
The rich seek help elsewhere
Most private hospitals in Bangladesh are crowded and short-staffed, and make American ERs look like a model of efficiency. Because of this, the upper-class, who can afford to go abroad ... read more
by Amy Adoyzie Lam
23 Apr 2009
Bangladesh
Over-the-counter everything
Bangladesh has a plethora of generic drugs that are easily available over-the-counter. In fact, it's easier for a civilian to legally buy morphine than it is for a hospital--the ... read more
by Amy Adoyzie Lam
21 Apr 2009
Syria
Don’t drink the water
Don’t drink the water in Damascus, but if you do and get sick, know that there are plenty of well-stocked pharmacies around the city. Many pharmacists also speak English ... read more
by Mimi Hanaoka
11 May 2009
India
A drop of water won't kill you
While traveling in India, it's easy to convince yourself that every bite of food potentially contains a strain of death. While it is smart to be cautious about tap ... read more
by Emily Strasser
23 May 2009
Swaziland
As long as you wear a condom...
Aside from having the highest prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the world, Swaziland is a good deal healthier than most of its Southern African neighbors. There’s little to no ... read more
by Mallory Primm
17 Jun 2009
Spain
Choosing between public and private care
While on study abroad, a friend of mine had an unfortunate skiing accident. He called in sick to school to go skiing with his host brother, but on his first ... read more
by Mike Mian
21 Jun 2009
Argentina
How to get vaccinated for free
Keep in mind that if you are in Argentina and want to travel to Bolivia, you'll need to get a vaccine against yellow fever. If you don't want ... read more
by Julie Turkewitz
28 Jun 2009
Laos
Got the sniffles? Your doctor's just a flight away.
The health care system in Laos leaves a lot to be desired. For example, the website of Luang Prabang's largest hospital lists abortion as one of the most common ... read more
by Gabriel Shaya
25 Sep 2009
Costa Rica
How to get healthcare when your country doesn't provide it for you
After living our entire lives in a country that doesn't provide adequate healthcare for all citizens, and where the healthcare system is devised to profit by rejecting sick people ... read more
by Matthew Amaral
30 Sep 2009
Peru
De-carb every once in a while
If there's one thing that can be hard to adjust to when it comes to Peruvian cuisine, it's the disproportionate amount of carbs. Rice, potatoes, bread, rice, empanadas ... read more
by Courtney Ng
15 Oct 2009
Mongolia
Avoid breathing the black cloud
Air pollution in Ulaanbaatar is like most major cities, but in the winter, things get ugly. UB has had an influx of families from the countryside in recent years and ... read more
by Lindsay Myron
13 Oct 2009
Serbia
LADIES: Future Offspring or Bare Feet? Your Call.
There are a number of commonly held beliefs in both Croatia and Serbia about things perilous to your lady parts. When my Serbian host mother catches me barefoot inside she ... read more
by danielle hayes
25 Oct 2009
Malawi
Carry your bathroom accoutrements with you
Sanitary conditions in Malawi leave much to be desired — particularly when nature calls. Though you can usually find a flush toilet in urban areas (in rural settings, expect to squat ... read more
by Rebecca Jacobson
09 Nov 2009
India
Watch where you purchase your medications
“It’s been an exciting week,” my friend exclaimed her second week in Delhi, “Not only did I sprain my ankle, I also visited the emergency room when the skin ... read more
by Valerie Hohman
29 Jan 2010
Italy
Don't let the bed bugs bite
Raise your hand if you thought bed bugs were just a make-believe creature some parent dreamed up to make for a sweet good-night tiding. If your hand is in the ... read more
by Amy Vaerewyck
10 Nov 2009
Egypt
The cats are like pigeons, but more disgusting
In Egypt, cats roam the streets. They are flea-bitten, diseased strays, so no matter how much you want to adopt or cuddle one, I would recommend against it! Worse are ... read more
by Delia Harrington
19 Nov 2009
Thailand
Consider medical tourism
Even though Thailand has seen a slump in its tourism since the United States issued a travel alert in late 2008, medical tourism seems to still draw many to the ... read more
by Anna Schwaber
20 Nov 2009
El Salvador
If it smells like burning, your shower is over
Hot water is a beautiful luxury. In El Salvador, your showerhead might have a giant heating unit attached to lots of wires. Instead of a hot water tank, the water ... read more
by Caitlin Quigley
03 Dec 2009
Peru
Purchase altitude medication to conquer the heights
Seeing the Andes was one of the reasons I chose to travel to Peru, but being at high altitudes also presents a lot of problems for those who, like myself ... read more
by Courtney Ng
19 Dec 2009
Cyprus
Watch the cheese
Cyprus is famous for halloumi cheese: It's white, slightly salty with a hint of mint, and firm enough to grill without melting. And it's served at every meal ... read more
by Madeline Blount
07 Jan 2010
Israel
Middle East diet
Israel can sometimes seem a bit backwards, but the country has advanced in technology and medicine in the last 15 years at an extraordinary rate. Medicine and pharmacies are easily ... read more
by Jonathan Amerikaner
07 Feb 2010
United Kingdom
The National Health Service
This winter I was able to take advantage of the UK’s National Health System first-hand, thanks to some bad oysters I had in Paris. (The corollary Insider Tip here ... read more
by Marshall Worsham
16 Mar 2010
Uganda
Malarial mosquitoes dig Uganda
In the past year, I've gotten malaria three times. Every few months I come down with that tight, back-of-the-head headache; I feel achy and feverish; I start shivering in ... read more
by Andrew Morgan
23 May 2010
Mongolia
A touch of plague with your marmot, sir?
Mongolia doesn't suffer from many of the endemic diseases of more tropical nations, and even HIV/AIDS is barely present. Be careful anyway, because other sexually transmitted diseases are ... read more
by Andrew Cullen
28 Jun 2010
Uganda
Stomachs Twist Here
No matter how hard I try, I can never stay healthy for long in Uganda. The thing that ails me most here is an upset stomach. I don't eat ... read more
by Andrew Morgan
03 Jul 2010
Kenya
The Littlest Snakes Pack the Biggest Punch
When walking around in a wild place, it’s generally important to watch your step, but more specifically important to know what you’re watching for. Besides thorns and the ... read more
by Cara Giaimo
20 Jul 2010
India
Mastering the art of heat
India’s heat is a force to be reckoned with that can wreak as much havoc on your body as any tainted water or undercooked food. It’s a time ... read more
