Article Category - Health

ROXANNE de Guzman has trained in many schools of yoga, principally Iyengar and Anusara, and understands that although a ‘teacher’, we always humble ourselves as students of any discipline. Roxanne has her own approach to yoga, including the relationship between breathing, mind control, and meditation. “Yoga is non-competitive. It’s not about being ‘holier-than-thou’ or judging yourself or anything else,” she said.

A REALLY good golf swing has to pass through five basic positions or reference points. Today I will be discussing a few of the basic reference points. In photo A, you can see how the shoulders, arms, hips, knees and feet are all lined up and parallel to where you’re trying to hit the ball. With all good players this never varies because if you are not set-up correctly, you will have little hope of hitting good consistent shots.

MOST golfers know that an effective exercise program can prevent injuries and lead to a better golf game. But not all trainers have a solid understanding of golf. For example, a tennis player wouldn’t dream of going to a football coach to get out of a hitting slump. A CHEK golf biomechanic focuses on improving function through corrective training.

THE Roseberry New Age Centre, near Surin Beach on the west coast of Phuket is something quite different, and dare I say it, very special. As you walk in the door, bells chime and you notice the aroma of highly concentrated essential oils. You will be entranced by the variety of nick-nacks, self-help books, crystals, angel cards and new age products including creams, oils and lotions.

TODAY’S modern woman is entering motherhood much later than ever before, and it is not uncommon to hear of women over 40 becoming pregnant. In medical terms ‘advanced maternal age’ refers to women over 35. It is important to remember that a woman’s supply of eggs (ovum) have been there since she was conceived, and that women don’t make ovum on demand in the same way that men make sperm.

MANY people visit a hypnotherapist to stop smoking, to lose weight, or to help them relax. And some go to take a trip back into a previous life for past life regression, or Past Life Therapy (PLT). Past Life Regression can sometimes resolve subconscious, survival-based issues which might be negatively affecting health, behaviours, or a client’s quality of life. Supporters of PLT claim it can allow for a more thorough resolution because it gives the mind permission to locate past life sources which can affect present day challenges or create obstacles.

Twinpalms Phuket is without doubt, one of the coolest places to dine and hang-out on the west coast. It has a great Spa & Wellness Centre, a good gym and a juice bar tucked away inside which are available to all guests and visitors. And it’s in a fantastic location on Surin beach road. Spa manager, Monpanee, has a wealth of experience, including a stint at the Banyan Tree, and she has created an amazing menu of spa treatments and products.

The heart is a hollow, muscular pump which lies in the middle of the chest, slightly to the left side. It is situated between the lungs and sits behind the sternum and in front of the vertebral column. The heart is surrounded by the pericardium, which allows free motion of the pumping heart. The pericardium forms a barrier that protects the heart from infections of the lung and the mediastinum and from external trauma to the chest wall. The heart has three layers. The epicardium, the outermost layer, covering the surface of the heart. The myocardium is the muscular portion of the heart and is responsible for pumping blood. The endocardium is the innermost layer, consisting of a thin, delicate sheet of tissue lining the inside of the cardiac chambers and covering the surface of the cardiac valves. The heart has four chambers, two on the left and two on the right. The right atrium lies laterally on the right side, and the right ventricle lies just beneath the sternum.

Many people might believe that alcohol impaired (AI) drivers are usually alcoholics. In fact, 80 percent of AI incidents are caused by binge drinkers. Binge drinkers are individuals who when they drink just drink to get drunk. A recent study conducted among college students has found that binge drinkers, even when legally intoxicated, nonetheless believed that they had adequate driving abilities. Binge drinkers are often young people drinking irresponsibly, but they’re not necessarily alcohol dependent. Binge drinking has a huge impact on health, economy and society. Thousands of alcohol-related deaths occur every year, mainly resulting from stroke, cancer, liver disease, accidental injury or suicide. Half of all violent crimes are associated with alcohol abuse. The harmful effects of binge drinking are not fully appreciated — and, just as important, so are the recommended daily units of alcohol (3-4 for men and 2-3 for women). Blood alcohol content (BAC) legal limit levels when operating machinery or driving differs in various parts of the world.

The Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort and Spa commands a beach front site at Karon, yet its location within the midst of 75 acres of rich tropical gardens provides a sense of seclusion and serenity. Walking over the wooden bridge that leads to the Spa, I was struck by how quiet and peaceful it was. There was hardly a soul around. All I could hear were the sounds of running water from the waterfalls and the river itself. Even the Spa, designed in the style of a traditional Thai village, is set beside a silent emerald lake sheltered by palm trees and rolling hills. Facilities at the spa include the Well Being Salon, herbal steam rooms, Tao Garden Juice Bar and the Spa Source retail outlet. There are a range of treatments on offer, including Thai and international massages, herbal body wraps, French facials and body scrubs. Recommended treatments include the Yin Yang Massage that uses lavender to soothe a tired soul, or the Collagen Velvet Facial by Thalgo for an intensive hydration. Try the Thai Fruit Wrap body treatment with its use of exotic fruit extracts to draw out impurities, or the Glowing Body Plus scrub to rejuvenate dull skin with its blend of sea salt, mineral salts and essential oils.

Down’s syndrome is a genetic disorder named after John Langdon Down, the doctor who first identified it. This genetic abnormality is caused by a defect of chromosome 21. During the 1950s, many people with this syndrome did not live past the age of 15. However, due to better understanding of this condition and medical advancement in treatment and care, today’s life expectancy of someone with Down’s syndrome is now between 60-65 years of age. Down’s Syndrome affects about one in every 1,000 babies, which means (in UK terms) that about 600 babies are born with Down’s syndrome each year in the UK. There is currently no cure for the condition. However, there are treatments which can help someone with the syndrome to lead a more active and independent life. The severity of symptoms varies from person to person, affecting in many different ways. The most obvious symptoms relate to physical appearance.

The workout room looks like an exercise room in any gym: a place for stretching, and aerobics and yoga classes. But white towels lay on the carpet, and it’s warm. After two minutes, you feel your body powering up, and you begin to sweat. The instructor begins the yoga workout, which begins with stretching exercises that require a fine sense of balance. After a while, your body feels like you have run 20 laps on the track at the park — even better, though, since the workout took no time at all, and you didn’t have to run. “Nowadays, many people are looking for a way to look good and feel better,” says Thanakorn Parnpeng. sales and marketing manager for Bikram Yoga. “Some people try to lose weight by running hard at the park, and some try to cut back on their food intake. Both are inefficient. Many people have found hot yoga, which is becoming very popular, provides benefits by stimulating all of the body, both internal and external systems, and allows you to work deep into your muscles, tendons and ligaments. You change your body from the inside out.”

Body piercing has been around for years. The Egyptian, Romans and Greeks did it well before the devoted and entranced maa song pierced their bodies at the annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival. Body piercing has historically been done for a variety of reasons, among them to show how important you are, or as a form of protection from evil, or for magical reasons. Piercing one’s body, irrespective of the area to be holed, will cause trauma, bleeding and swelling, and the body’s natural response to heal itself will commence immediately when the first cut or hole is made. Installing large objects through the skin, such knives or umbrellas, leaves a real risk of damaging nerves or other vital structures, possibly leading to some paralysis or numbness, and is not recommended, particularly if the area to be pierced has vital structures such as nerves, tendons and ligaments, etc.

Estimates from Bangkok Hospital suggest that medical tourism in Asia could account for as much as US$4 billion in economic activity in less than half a decade. Several years ago the government of Thailand, realizing that the nation already had excellent health care services available, began aggressively promoting medical tourism, designating Phuket as a health and wellness destination. And the tourists have come in steadily increasing number ever since. To understand the growing impact that medical tourism is having on Phuket, Phuket Post reporters talked to national and local officials, as well as to health care providers, to get an overview of Phuket’s progress as a health and wellness destination.

With the Olympics just finishing and my efforts to achieve a world record in being a couch potato also ending, my mind has been on fitness and sports in Phuket. But finding what is available for staying fit and healthy in Phuket can be a chore since the availability of facilities is seen as limited. Also, the prevailing heat when exercising outdoors is restrictive. With a little planning and awareness, however, it is possible to get the most out of life here — without damaging your health in the process. If doing exercise solo is your thing, lately there has been a large increase all over the island in the number of health and fitness gyms. Gyms are an excellent way of maintaining fitness, particularly for those who like air conditioned comfort and watching TV. There are too many gyms to mention here, so ask around for what’s available. Most offer daily, monthly or yearly memberships, and many have Thai, resident and tourist pricing policies.

Strictly speaking, Atmanjai Wellness Centre defines itself as a “tissue cleansing” centre, rather than a “detox” or “fasting” programme as such. It offers three distinct plans, and this writer — applying the up-to-your-butt-in-alligators principle of feature writing, wherein there’s nothing to write about if there’s no pain, and wishing to rid himself of any and all accumulated physical, mental and emotional toxins — opted for the “Master Cleanse”. Big claims — physical, mental and spiritual — are made for “detox”, an increasingly popular process also known as “cleansing”: everything from reduction or remission of addictions to alleviation of symptoms, if not actual cures, of ailments ranging from psoriasis to allergies, high blood pressure and flagging sexual energy. But are clients ever disappointed?

Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), more commonly known as acid reflux, affects many millions of people all over the world. In the US alone, 47 million people suffer this syndrome. Although medications and surgical options are available, many medical professionals look to the benefits of consuming a more alkaline diet in order to control acid reflux. For both immediate and long-term survival, the body must maintain a correct pH balance (between acid and alkaline). In fact, the link between dietary pH balance and various health issues has been recognized since the early 20th century. Why? Because the modern diet is vastly different than it was 100 years ago due to the wide availability of protein, soft drinks and fast foods. It produces an acid residue when food is metabolized and broken down. Chemicals and metallic residues are left behind that produce acid or alkaline pH potentials for the body.

The incidence of diabetes is on the rise, and health authorities are very concerned that it will have an increasing impact on healthcare costs and lives. During 2007, authorities estimated that around 247 million people had diabetes. If current trends continue, those affected are likely to number in excess of 380 million by 2025. If unchecked and uncontrolled, diabetes also has the potential to contribute to a range of other illnesses, including blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, stroke and even erectile dysfunction. When we eat, our body breaks down the food into different substances, importantly into glucose. Glucose is the simple sugar that our body uses as the main source of energy. However, our bodies cannot use glucose unless there is insulin also in our bodies to help the cells absorb and use the glucose. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas. Simply put, if our body is going to use the glucose that we eat, it must have insulin to modify it for use.

Of all the factors that make a health club great, a view of the environment outside the building surely wouldn’t rate high among many people’s concerns. During the past year, however, the pleasures of picturesque surroundings during an evening workout have become quite apparent to me. This notion rose to conscious thought one night during a June workout at the new RPM Health Club. As the name suggests, the club is located at the Royal Phuket Marina. It’s built into the top three floors of a building overlooking the town square and the marina beyond, the bamboo-lined entrance road, Phang Nga Bay and the hills along the western shores of the island. After a long day at the office, a workout on the brand-new resistance training machines on the top floor feels meditative: the dusky orange and red of the western horizon at sunset complementing the health club’s royal blue floor in an embrace of colour. It’s the second-best workout view I’ve experienced, only beat by the panorama from the spa atop a cruise ship departing Geirangerfjord, in Norway. (On second thought, let’s call it a draw. The floor of RPM Health Club doesn’t pitch up and down like a cruise ship, playing havoc with the resistance settings on machines.)

We live in a sea of toxins. That’s a sad but simple fact of life in our world today. Worldwide, exposure to chemical pollutants continues to increase, resulting in ever-greater contamination of air, water and food supplies. In the developed world, wise laws have been passed, and often even enforced, that have reduced air and water pollution by several known toxins. Yet, at the same time, thousands of new and untested “bio-active” chemicals are being introduced. Likewise, science continues to discover new health threats from existing chemicals.

Acne is widespread among teenagers, although a smaller percentage of adults are also known to suffer the affliction. Common acne is characterized by the presence of one or all of the following: whiteheads, blackheads, papules, pustule or pimples seen on the face, chest, back, shoulders and neck. Acne usually begins as a mild skin rash along with discomfort, itching and the appearance of pustules that develop into whiteheads of pus. Squeezing and touching will precipitate spots that are further worsened by various soaps/creams, often infecting the area.

The drive south from Phuket City to Ao Makham was cloudy and drizzly like many other days. As I drove up to Sri Panwa resort, I thought the Sai Spa there must be like all the others I've seen. As soon as I arrived, however, my mood changed. I was taken from my parking spot to the spa atop a hill by a tuk-tuk, and all the warm welcomes from the staff, including from Siriporn "Poupee" Kaewsawang, the human resources and spa manager at Sri Panwa, set a perfect tone for a relaxing treatment. The three-year-old Sai Spa is set for some upgrades in the near future, including space for yoga classes and a fitness center. But the existing space, built into a modified luxury villa, has a private and homey feel. That's all part of the plan, Khun Poupee tells me.

Living in the paradise of Phuket is one sure way of reducing stress. For those who have a stress-free lifestyle of soaking up rays and laying on the beach, all the best to you. For others, work or study-related stress can become a serious problem. Some people become so stressed that they burnout, both physically and emotionally. Some cannot get their stress under control and end it all, or are unable to break the cycle, leading to serious problems. Burnout is extended stress, and many on the island are suffering from it. I know of many people who nearly have a heart attack at minor problems, like traffic or losing their UBC signal in the rain. Burnout develops differently in each of us, and we also respond differently. However there are several common symptoms of burnout.

Childhood stress can be caused by any situation that involves adaptation or change. The situation often produces anxiety. Stress may also be caused by positive changes, such as starting a new activity, but it is most commonly linked with negative changes. Negative stress may simply be the result of mild to moderate changes, such as a vacation with the family, changes in schools or teachers, chronic parental fighting, illness of a close relative, or sibling birth. Severe to catastrophic stress affecting a child can be caused by any one of the following: death of a peer, parental divorce, hospitalization, persistent and harsh parental discipline, death of a parent or sibling, repeated physical or sexual abuse, or multiple family deaths.

Vaccines, a series of medical and scientific breakthroughs, have had a dramatic impact on the control of disease and illness. Although it's difficult in a brief article to adequately explain just how important vaccines have been to society, we can help educate the public regarding the vaccinations that nearly everyone on the planet has received, whether by injection or ingestion. Vaccines are weakened or dead bacteria or viruses that we put into our bodies to stimulate our immune system. There's more to it than that, but essentially, when we get vaccinated, we are tricking our immune system into believing that the real virus or bacteria is invading our body. Our immune system then fights the disease and, because the bacteria or virus is already dead, our immune system usually wins the fight, in doing so producing antibodies. The antibodies which remain in our system, sometimes for life, are always ready to fight again the next time that bacteria or virus invades our body. That is, we become vaccinated, or immune to the disease.

Male mid-life crisis is a controversial syndrome that some doctors and psychologists think affects many men between 35-55 years old. Some believe it is mainly psychological while others argue that it is related to hormonal changes. Other health professionals argue that there is no such condition. The term "mid-life crisis" conjures up images of a dissatisfied man in middle age who suddenly goes through a serious of sudden and violent changes of behaviour. Doctors and psychologists who believe the mid-life crisis is a genuine condition have identified a wide range of symptoms. The most frequently reported problems included irritability, loss of libido, erectile dysfunction, fatigue, and depression. Some men may also be affected by muscle and joint dysfunction, night sweats, dry skin, hair loss, and weight gain. Several of these symptoms, occurring together, might understandably provoke a sense of crisis.

Purification in the 21st Century is a transformational event on an individual and global stratum that can transform the health of humanity as we know it. More than a matter of personal healing and conversion, purification is a stepping stone to the future, incorporating within itself the transformational steps that open up an opportunity for optimum health and vitality to enter one's life, a possibility for each person to become a new being. Such is the power of purifying the body when it is combined with simple healthy dietary changes and exercise. Greater balance within one's life is possible. Many things that were previously thought to be impossible suddenly become possible. Today, we are at a point where education can be combined with intuition in a joining of mind, body and spirit -- one that will allow the human self to be infused with the power of our well-being.

Why is it that the eyes above all other facial features reveal so much about a person? The human eye is truly one of the great wonders of nature. In fact, nothing on earth can compete with the incredible precision of your eyes, which relay over 2 billion messages to and from your brain every second. Approximately 90% of everything we learn in our lifetime is learned through our eyes. Many years ago at Oxford University in England a group of male psychology students were shown two photos of the same woman and asked which of the two appeared more attractive. All but three independently made the same choice. Why? The two photos were virtually identical, the lecturer conducting the experiment explained. There was one subtle difference between these two photographs which the students were not consciously aware. This difference was significant, and virtually all men subconsciously respond to it. That difference lay in the pupils of the woman's eyes. Sex, love and romance are all revealed in the eyes. A passionate nature, a romantic personality and even a strong sex drive can be observed in the eyes. Psychologists and anthropologists have observed and demonstrated in controlled studies that, in matters of love, the eyes have a language of their own. Love and attraction are associated with the eyes from birth. When you were born, all you could see was the shape of mother's face and her eyes.

Regular readers of "Vital Signs" may be aware of my enthusiasm for getting the word out about how to save a life. In recent columns I have written about the new Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) guidelines and the use of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs). If you live in Phuket, the fact remains that it's highly unlikely that a person who has a sudden collapse and no signs of life will receive any CPR before arriving at a hospital. It's a fact. Most out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims in Phuket remain in cardiac arrest, and arrangements are made for a funeral. Doctors and emergency department personnel cannot save a life if no community CPR has been performed and the brain has died because of a lack of oxygen. This brain death occurs within 3-5 minutes, so performing CPR is essential if any hope of survival is to be hoped for. It is claimed by some experts that it is inaction that is killing people. Bystanders just do not want to do CPR because of the yuck factor. Let's face it, performing rescue breathing on an unconscious or dead person is not exactly romantic. Many potential rescuers claim that they just do not want to do it, and I do not blame them. They are scared, they cannot remember their training, and they do not want to be exposed to potentially dangerous body fluids. So they do what many would do and ignore it or stand around waiting for someone else to start. They don't act, and the person dies.

Summer is approaching and everyone wants to look their best in bikinis and swim wear. In the past I have on occasion shared information about body treatments with you. Now, I have some more news about these treatments: Thermage and laser lipolysis or Smartlipo. Until now, Thermage has been used successfully for treating facial and neck laxity. Body Thermage has produced phenomenal results for many patients using the ThermaTip STC treatment. But the new body shape procedure by Thermage, ThermaTip DC, can help tighten, firm and shape the body in a single go without surgery, injections and with little to no downtime.

Having just returned to Phuket from jet-setting around the Southern Hemisphere, spending long periods of time cramped in economy class seats I began thinking about economy class syndrome, known by the medical name deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Anyone can get economy class syndrome--you do not need to be in economy class at all. People in business and first class have developed it since it's related to low cabin pressure, low humidity and dehydration. Relative humidity is 20-25% in the Arabian Desert, while optimum comfort is around 50% humidity. In-flight cabin humidities gradually fall on long-distance flights. In many cases they can be as low as 1%. That's pretty dry, and it is also the reason why people do not urinate much on a long flight unless they drink plenty of fluids

Feeling sluggish or out-of-sync? Having skin problems, aches and pains, or digestive problems? Straying from your healthier habits lately? It might be time to change all that. Practiced for centuries in many cultures around the world, including Thai, Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine systems, purification is about resting, cleaning and nourishing the body from the inside out. By removing and eliminating toxins and then feeding your body with healthy nutrients, purification can help protect you from disease and renew your ability to maintain optimum health and vitality.

All psychologists will agree that communication begins with eye-contact. Researchers have found that we communicate with our eyes more than our mouths in a face-to-face social situation. The eyes reveal friendliness or animosity, interest or apathy, attraction or revulsion. In fact, the eyes in many ways tell you more about what a person is feeling than what is actually said. Words can be contrived, the tongue may deceive, but the subconscious language of the eyes never lies.

When the Banyan Tree Spa says it has launched a brand new series of complete top-to-toe Body Rejuvenation Experiences, in line with the award-winning spa brand's mission to set industry benchmarks, they really need say no more. Or do they? Here's what else they say, you decide:

The latest trend of surgery is the non-invasive, or minimally invasive form. Today, patients show that they prefer surgical procedures to be done as quickly as possible, as non-invasively as possible and requiring as short a recovery time as possible. Laser Vision Correction is among the most popular elective surgery this decade. The procedure involves the use of a special type of laser called the Excimer laser, originally developed in the early 1970s by IBM to etch computer chips and modified for ophthalmic use in the early 1980s. The Excimer laser creates a"cool" beam of ultraviolet light, meaning that most of the heat it generates dissipates quickly into the air. This makes the Excimer laser ideal for eye surgery because it can vaporize (ablate) corneal tissue without causing thermal damage to surrounding tissue.

If you have or do suffer from constipation, IBS, stomach pain, diverticulitis, severe gas and bloating, weight gain, chronic fatigue, acid reflux, parasites, hair and skin problems as well as other common difficult ailments which seem to plague our world today, then perhaps a change in lifestyle may help you to put an end to your suffering.

The dyslexic child has a normal or even high intelligence but has a specific reading disability. The child’s chronological age may be 11 yrs, mental age12yrs, and yet the reading age only 8yrs.

As we age, our faces begin to show the effects of gravity, sun exposure and years of facial muscle movement, such as smiling, frowning. The tissues that keep our skin looking youthful and plumped up begin to break down, often leaving laugh lines, smile lines, crow's feet or facial creases over the areas where this muscle movement occurs. Fillers can help fill in these lines and creases, temporarily restoring a smoother, more youthful-looking appearance.

With the onset of the tourist season and more people on the island, we will now unfortunately see an increase in the amount of accidents and illnesses occurring. These incidents, ranging from motorcycle accidents to heart attacks require an immediate response if lives are to be saved.

Everyone feels tired sometimes, but if fatigue is your constant companion it could be seen as your body telling you to take a closer look at your life lifestyle or that there is a deeper health issue that needs to be addressed. Fatigue is a symptom rather than a disease, even if it is chronic. Chronic fatigue may be defined as a significant drop in overall energy for at least three months.

BOTOX ® temporarily smoothes moderate to severe lines, helping you to regain a more youthful appearance. Its affordability, effectiveness, safety record and treatment comfort makes BOTOX ® a true winner compared to any other anti-wrinkle treatment.

Having recently read an article on the menopause written by a man…. I decided to research the subject to see if I could find ways that “we the women” could alleviate some of the symptoms that our bodies experience during this time of re-adjustment.

Just recently, a 60years old male patient consulted me complaining of low back pain. During the consultation the patient revealed his dietary and social habits, of which all focused on a very acidic life style, ie, two packs of cigarettes daily, 6-8 cups of coffee with sugar, red meat, fries, shell fish and alcohol, plus, this man did not like drinking water.

With the cold season now upon us in Phuket, there has been a resulting increase in the number of people catching the common cold. I know, because I have just recently recovered from a bad dose which I most likely picked up from a patient in my hospital. Of no satisfaction is the possibility that I have also passed it on to someone else.

Lipodissolve, Injection lipolysis, Lipostabil, Mesofat…these terms all refer to the same treatment. It is the procedure which helps dissolve or melt fat. It’s been around for at least 30 years and is widely used in Europe. Basically, it involves a series of micro-injections of chemicals which dissolves localized areas of fat deposits. Cold spray might be applied in order to reduce the discomfort caused by the 30G needle.

Hair removal has become one of the most popular skin treatments in recent times; for both men and women. Caucasians, who tend to have more hair than their Asian counterparts, are avidly seeking this treatment as smooth and hairless skin is a becoming more and more of a trend.

Understanding more about cholesterol and regularly checking you cholesterol levels can greatly assist in minimising your chances of heat attack and stroke. Cholesterol is a soft, waxy substance that is found with the fats in the bloodstream and in the cells. Our bodies need cholesterol for forming cell membranes; producing vitamin D and for many other functions.

Some of you may have perhaps heard about stem cell therapy (SCT). Used to treat diseases and certain debilitating conditions, the therapy might provide hope to those who need a new heart, a new lung, a new kidney and other organs and body parts. One organ – the largest in the body – that SCT can be used to help rejuvenate is the skin. The goal of healthy ageing is the motivation behind the work of researchers, scientists and physicians the world over.

There was hope and expectation that this disease, Tuberculosis, or TB as it is commonly called, would have been eradicated by the turn of the century. However this has not been the case and we still see cases of TB here in Phuket. TB causes a chronic or long term infection, usually in the lung and is spread from person to person through the air, usually by coughing, sneezes or living in close proximity to others.

Behold, the human female pelvis – and what a wonder it is. Its tissues are sufficiently elastic and bony arches large enough for the passage of a baby with a head 50% the size of an adult’s.

We're not, really. Death is not a subject that most people like to talk about, but certainly one where you should have your affairs in order before you depart. This is even more important when you are a foreigner living in a foreign county.

Some of us want to have fair skin, not only on the face but on the whole body. We see many whitening products in the market. One of the most well-known products is Glutathione; we mostly know it as an anti-oxidant. How does it help whiten your skin? Let’s find out!

Did you know, that learning how to deal with negative emotions and creating positive emotions may help you to avoid many health problems. Your emotions may originate in your brain, but they express themselves in your physical body, such as heart rate, respiratory system,blood pressure and many other physical functions.

With the influx of foreigners into Phuket and the resulting increases in trauma, accidents and hospital admissions, there is also an increasing need to get more supplies of the vital fluid of life – blood. Recent media announcements calling for urgent blood donations are not new to Phuket, and the hospitals and blood bank regularly ask for urgent donations. It’s just that as the number of foreigners on the island increase, blood supplies, and particularly those blood groups that are rare, dry up.

Two years on, it is worth looking back at how the island’s hospitals and emergency services dealt with the tragedy caused by the 26 December 2004 tsunami. Thailand’s healthcare emergency response drew international acclaim for the way it responded. As I was actively involved in this response, I am very proud and cannot express adequately enough my thanks to all the healthcare workers, volunteers

It’s Bali Belly, the Tokyo Trots or the Rangoon Runs. More commonly it is known as travellers’ diarrhoea. Or, if you’re in the medical profession, it’s gastroenteritis, literally meaning inflammation of the stomach and intestines – or, in short, gastro.

For many on the island, an important decision always seems to come up at sometime - if I or a family member gets sick, where should I go for treatment?

There are a few poisonous creatures in Phuket and the surrounding areas, but contrary to popular opinion, most of them will not kill you, and if you are bitten, none of them should be fatal, provided you adhere to some basic first aid advice and seek appropriate medical care.

Thai women, and less frequently Thai males, between the ages of around 15 and 40, will often have a scar on their upper left arm. This scar is either a small circular indentation, or a prominent shiny dome, often hard and thick, and always raised above the surrounding skin.

The medical profession and resuscitation experts now totally agree that the only chance a patient has of survival when their heart stops beating is for someone to perform effective Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) immediately.

If you ever need an operation, even a small one, there is one group of specialists that you will be pleased to meet in order to make your experience more pleasant and less painful – the anaesthetist.

One of the pleasures of living in Phuket is the freedom. It’s a relaxing, stressfree sort of place, with an abundance of opportunities to lie on the beach in peace. Pity the same cannot be said about doing the shopping.

For children, losing a baby tooth is not a problem as a permanent one will replace it. Losing a permanent tooth though – through disease, decay or trauma – can leave a gaping and unattractive space in your smile.

Men never used to talk about it; it was not something that went down well with a beer at the weekend barbeque. These days, however, it’s a topic of conversation. Well, why not. After all, we are talking about a gland that secretes the fluid that moves sperm forward during ejaculation.

Despite the setbacks experienced during 2005 because of the drop in tourist arrivals to the island, one area that has continued to blossom is health tourism. Growth in this sector is estimated at nearly 20% and rising.

Selecting your own doctor, rather than having one selected for you is something that many people do not give much thought to. But, with so much choice available, how can you make a more informed choice about who will treat you or your family?

As Phuket’s weather enters the hot season, so does the frequency of heat related illnesses.

Without medicines, treating patients would be difficult as they are needed to keep us healthy and prolong our life. Phuket has many pharmacies, either attached to hospitals or scattered throughout the community and these pharmacies stock an impressive range of medications.

It is obvious that the community is concerned about Bird Flu and with the recent increase in media exposure relating to this disease, interest and concern continues to grow. There are also some misleading rumors circulating Phuket on what the authorities are doing to control the disease, and what’s available in the form of vaccinations and treatment.

Occasionally in Phuket there are calls through the media and internet for people to give blood and these calls for assistance are generally very urgent. Often it is a foreigner who is the intended recipient for the reasons given below.

In a recent issue of Phuket Post Accounting Angel columnist, K. Sirirat stated that we cannot avoid death and taxation and she continued by explaining her top tips on taxation. Today I address the other certainty, death.

The most frequent question that people ask me is should I have health insurance? This is always difficult to answer as everyone has different needs and expectations. My initial advice is to seek a professional opinion from a licensed insurance broker and here in Phuket, we are fortunate to have the services of bilingual brokers such as Eric Dolan and Boon Pongchiboon. Eric is a licensed insurance broker who is fluent in Thai and English. K. Boon lived in the USA for 21 years and has a great understanding of expats