Best Medical Tourism Destinations Around The World

Each year, more than two million international citizens travel abroad - not as tourists, but as patients. The primary cause driving the growth of global medical tourism is the ever-rising cost of healthcare in developed countries.Medical procedures that make patients grab their passports most frequently include dental care, cosmetic, bariatric, orthopedic and cardiovascular surgery, and cancer diagnostic and treatment.Many countries are able to offer high-quality health care at a good price for those struggling to afford treatment in their home country. In recent years, thanks to the combination of low cost of labor and quality medical education, some parts of the world have become true medical tourism hotspots.Unsurprisingly, Thailand tops the list of best travel destinations for medical tourism. This country has been long known for its sex-change procedures; today, it offers some of the best and most affordable rehabilitation clinics in the world.In Thailand, a medical tourist can receive a wide range of health care services, all at a fraction of the cost he would pay elsewhere. That is probably the reason why, out of twenty million tourists visiting Thailand each year, almost two million of them came seeking some kind of medical service, cosmetic surgery being probably the most popular option.


For medical tourists from the USA, Mexico is a natural choice: it's close, and it's cheap. Most popular medical procedures performed in Mexico include dentistry, knee and hip replacement, and bariatric surgery.India has a large pool of doctors educated in the USA medical schools. It is especially popular among medical tourists from Africa. The Indian government made it easier for many foreigners to enter India in order to receive health services by removing the requirement for a visa. India specializes in affordable cardiac bypass surgery, bone marrow transplant, eye surgery, cancer diagnosis and treatment, and other high-end medical procedures.Singapore is quickly becoming a top travel destination for those medical tourists seeking the best cancer diagnosis and treatment available. Home to some of the best medical facilities in the world, Singapore continues to invest in health care, most notably in biotechnology.Medical tourists from all over the world are traveling to the USA to receive some highly specialized medical treatments and procedures, especially when it comes to the field of cosmetic surgery. Although extremely expensive, the USA health care facilities are arguably the best in the world, employing top-notch professionals in the medical field.

Toenails Infected With Fungus Need Proper Care

Toenail fungus infections are common and so is the habit among people to hide the infection without looking forward to treating it when first noticed. Just like any other part of the body toenails can get infected by dermatophytes. Once the infection takes hold people will find it extremely difficult to get rid of the same. They will have to visit physicians, try home remedies and even look out for over-the-counter medications, which can provide them some relief. Unfortunately, people prefer the easiest way out by trying to hide their feet with the belief that the infection will go away without treatment.When toenails are infected with fungus, it is extremely necessary for people to begin taking care of their feet. Exposing the feet to air is a good way of keeping them dry. The shoes that people wear along with the socks tend to get moist after a period of time. This only makes the feet more prone to the infection which can spread. Trying to remain barefoot in the home and using sandals whenever possible is also recommended. Wearing socks for more than a day is definitely not a habit which people should inculcate. They should rather be looking forward to changing them every single day.The footwear that people use also plays a role. Avoiding tight-fitting footwear is recommended because it allows the toes to move around. Tight fitting footwear brings the toes close to each other making them susceptible to the infection. People can try to find footwear that can help their feet breathe because it will lead to a certain amount of dryness and help to restrain the infection from spreading.


Thoroughly drying the feet after a shower or a visit to the swimming pool is also suggested. Swimming pools are breeding grounds for the fungus which causes infections like these. Drying the feet thoroughly after an activity like this will keep the infection from spreading to other nails on the feet. If people find it impossible to stay away from such places, they will do well to look out for methods, which can help keep their feet dry.Treating the condition is also an aspect which must not be forgotten. Leaving the condition untreated will lead to problems that will become difficult over a period of time. People can use the simple method of trying out toenail fungus infection remedies which have been made from 100% natural ingredients. If people begin following the regimen prescribed along with using natural remedies, they will soon see a recovery which will restore their nails to good condition.

Natural Kidney Stone Treatment That Really Works

It is a difficult task to select the best treatment for kidney stones. Nowadays, there are different treatments promised to help patients to be free from the condition. If you want to know the best treatment to get rid of it but do not know which options are ideal, you have to seek help from the expert. You can go to your doctor to know the best treatment that actually works.Doctors can recommend an all-natural treatment for the elimination of this condition and for you to regain your health. There are hundreds of remedies to fight off the signs but be sure to carefully select the best ones. It is tough to suffer from kidney stones, which is why knowing the most effective treatment about it must be considered. This article will help you know the treatment for this condition that can offer astonishing result.What You Should Know About The Treatment For Kidney Stones?One of the most basic methods to get rid of it is by drinking lots of water. Although it is basic, it is arguably the best method out there. Drinking at least eight glasses of water each day will help flush out the stones. In addition, you must drink cranberry juice. This juice will help in the maintenance of your urinary tract. It has natural acids and can also help in the optimization of your overall health. Likewise, getting rid of foods with high sugar contents is a must. Increased sugar intake can be associated with the risk of developing kidney stones.


Furthermore, make sure to get adequate sleep each day. You must always sleep for eight hours every day. Your body will greatly benefit from it and your immune system will not be compromised, helping you deal with the condition effectively. The benefits of having exercise are never-ending. Also, it can help you toward the eliminating the stones indirectly. Nowadays, you have to make sure to take advantage of knowing how to properly eliminate kidney stones to avoid any further complications.Stay Motivated And Eliminate Kidney Stone ProblemsTaking advantage of the best treatment will help get rid of the condition effectively. The tips mentioned here will help you to pass it naturally. However, if the problem becomes worse, you might want to consider help from the medical field. As long as you can contain the problem and eliminate it on your own, make sure to do so. This will help you save lots of cash that you will spend using medical interventions.

What Does Stress Have to Do With It?

Our brains respond to stress of any severity and form, from skipping a meal to a death in the family. A healthy stress response involves a message from the brain to the adrenal glands (located above your kidneys), followed by a release of cortisol and adrenaline throughout the body.In a healthy body, cortisol turns off the stress response and things go back to a relaxed mode. However, in our highly over-stimulated and stress-packed way of living, the stress response is triggered repeatedly and/or never turns off.If only there was a reset button, I often joke! Sometimes a lengthy vacation is enough to flip the switch, but, alas, returning to home, work and life quickly puts us back into overdrive.Cortisol is a high risk substance. While yes, it is normal and even healthy to have some cortisol produced in the body; that is what gets us up in the morning. The problem is that in high amounts and at the wrong time of day, cortisol negatively effects every system in the body. It turns off digestion (reflux, indigestion, bloating, constipation). It trips up the immune system (frequent infections, autoimmunity, cancer) and it brings hormones to a halt (low thyroid function, blood sugar issues and irregular menstrual cycles). Furthermore, Cortisol disrupts the messengers in the nervous system, the neurotransmitters, making anxiety, depression, sleep issues and eating disorders all the more likely.In other words, stress causes adrenal exhaustion, also known as General Adaptation Syndrome (first described by Dr. Hans Selye in the 1930s). At first the adrenals may respond to stress in an overly zealous manner (referred to as Phase 1 Adrenal Exhaustion). However, depending on genetics and a number of variables, over time the adrenals gradually run out of steam (Phase 2 and 3 Adrenal Exhaustion).


Cortisol in high amounts is common with both Phase 1 and Phase 2 Adrenal Exhaustion. Then, in Phase 3, the cortisol runs out, which in some ways may be a relief! But now, with very little cortisol to go around, a person is likely to feel quite fatigued all day, and low cortisol is one of the most common causes of a low mood.Adrenal Exhaustion is not a "conventional medical" diagnosis, but it is widely documented in the literature and I find it to be one of the major underlying causes of fatigue, anxiety/depression, weight gain/loss, sleep issues, eating disorders, menstrual issues, low thyroid function, frequent infections, cancer, autoimmunity and diabetes.There is no reason to overlook it (or to spend a lifetime suppressing the symptoms with medications). And there is a way to test for it! I look at cortisol in the saliva, and measure it throughout the day, so I can see the unique pattern of adrenal stress in your body. And I look at urinary levels of adrenaline and neurotransmitters to find out exactly how stress has impacted your body, and what we need to do to help you recover.Yes! Recovery is possible. All of these factors I have mentioned can be adjusted with nutrients and herbs (very well documented in research). All I need to know is what your levels are currently, and then I can tell you exactly what to do, in a step-wise fashion, to bring your adrenals back to life (so to speak) or push your reset button.

Become Happy Parents Through Scientific Means

This concept of donating eggs may seem alien and unconventional to many, raising quite a few conservative eyebrows. However if the cause is noble in helping a woman who cannot conceive it is considered good enough.There are certain legalities and formalities to be gone through for this process which we shall read about now. Not all women who wish to donate their eggs are eligible. Only a chosen few, who can meet the technical requirements give their eggs to a fertility centre. There is a lot of paperwork involved as most fertility clinics maintain a database of the patients and the donors.The formalities prior to and during the procedureThe people who are giving away their eggs need to appear for a number of interviews with the process coordinator in order to complete the formalities. Some consent forms also have to be signed in order to go ahead with the proceedings. The women who are donating the eggs have to be medically examined for gene testing. Keep in mind that the medical background should be absolutely clear and there should be no genetic disorders in your blood line. Mental counseling and stability is also a must in this aspect. If you feel that there has been any kind of psychological problems in your family, please don't opt for the donation.Now that the clinical and psychological reviews are through, the next stage commences for the process of ovulation. It means that the eggs need to be extracted from the patient's body. After the tenure of monitoring and medication is done with, the patients are admitted to have in vitro fertilization. Before this, the eggs are taken to keep ready for the recipients.


More updatesThe fertilization refers to the union of the patient's spouse's sperm with the egg in the scientific research centre or laboratory where the embryo development commences. If a great embryo is developed, the patient's egg is made to freeze to be used at later dates. These are some of the basic updates about the egg donors and the procedures through which they need to undergo. A woman has to be mentally prepared for this kind of lengthy procedure which involves giving up a child, knowing the baby originated in her own body. So unless you are absolutely sure you can take the consequences, don't opt for it. Else think a lot of times before you decide.Relevant detailsThe cause is noble enough if you are helping a childless couple experience the joys of parenthood. You can read the articles and blogs on the internet and health journals if you are either way involved in this procedure. However remember that there are a lot of medical complications involved and in case you don't get what you want, don't lose heart. There are lots of other fertility centers for you to try.

Prescription Discount Cards - What They Are, Why They Work

A prescription discount program is designed to help people save money on prescription medications by offering its members a prescription discount card used when paying for prescriptions. Pharmacies are willing to accept these discount cards from customers for a variety of reasons.The first of these is a matter of competition between pharmacies. Pharmaceuticals is a $500 billion industry, so competition is fierce. If one pharmacy does not accept the discount card, the pharmacy down the street can, thereby gaining the business of the cardholder. Remember when you started that lemonade stand when you were a kid, and then that pesky neighborhood boy copied your idea, but sold his lemonade for 5 cents less? Unless you could prove that your lemonade was worth 5 cents more than his, you had to lower your price as well. (And let's be honest--your moms were making the lemonade anyway.)Since medication from one pharmacy is identical to medicine from another, pharmacies are obliged to honor the discount card. Second, even in the absence of competition, pharmacies understand that some medication is helpful, but not essential (think antacids), so if the price is too high, some may choose not to fill their prescriptions at all. In other words, there is a whole market segment to be gained by accepting the discount card--the segment that, based on price, would have to decline to purchase their medication unless the price was lowered. Third, pharmacies understand that by accepting the discount card, they get a new customer through the door who may end up buying much more than just their medication. Ever wondered why Walgreens places their pharmacy (the main reason you're in the store) all the way in the back? As you walk back to the pharmacy, you pass thousands of products from groceries to batteries to stuffed animals to greeting cards to--the list goes on an on. So the more people they get through the door, the more money they make on items other than medication.


Prescription discount programs are created by pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) who work with pharmacies in a variety of ways. In the case of prescription discount programs, PBMs negotiate discounted prices for their cardholders, which pharmacies are willing to accept for the reasons mentioned above. But what's in it for the PBMs? When a prescription is filled using one of the PBMs discount cards, the PBM gets a small percentage of the revenue from that sale.In essence, everyone wins. Pharmacies get more business. Cardholders get their prescriptions filled at a lower price. And PBMs get a share of the profits. It's a classic win, win, win situation.

Is There Potential to Reduce Arthroplasty Infection Rates?

While there is much attention given to improving patient outcomes by developments in implant design and surgical approach, it is the risk of infection following total joint surgery that is often most concerning for both orthopaedic surgeons and hospital administration alike. The main issue with these sorts of infections is that symptoms can take days, weeks or possibly even months to manifest into noticeable problems. By this time a connection between the surgery and the infection might be so vague that it is unnatural to draw the conclusion that the surgery itself was in fact the cause if the infection. What is clear is that with the advancements of medical science and technology to aid surgeons, the likelihood of an infection taking place during, or after surgery, is minimal and can almost always be attributed to human error.The current infection rate following arthroplasty is about 1%. Revision procedures for these infections result in greater blood loss, longer operating times, more frequent complications along with increases in the total number of hospitalization and longer hospital stays.The University of Texas Health Science Centre have collaborated with Rice University and Shriners Hospital for Children in the USA to develop an application that may potentially reduce implant-associated bone infections. The researchers, led by Catherine Ambrose, Ph.D, an associate professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the UTHealth Medical found that porous metal implants that were coated with the microspheres prevented infection in 100% of the 11 specimens studied. In the tissue and bone surrounding the implants that were not coated with the antibiotic delivery system, infection occurred at a 64% rate.


The Universities' press release quoted Ambrose as saying that the microspheres would appear to overcome a number of obstacles health care teams currently face when treating osteomyelitis-bone infection. The microspheres could be administered directly at the surgical site, eliminating the need for systemic antibiotics that impact the entire body. Ambrose noted that, "because the antibiotic delivery system is microscopic in size, it does not appear to interfere with the healing after a total joint replacement. These findings demonstrate the potential of antibiotic microspheres and have recently been published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery.The Australian National Joint Replacement Registry reported 48,783 total knee replacements and 38,432 total hip replacements in 2013. With average bed costs exceeding $700 per day in Australia, even halving the infection rate will have a significant impact on our healthcare system. The development of antibiotic-coated implants may be the difference here.

Reasons Why Remedies for Nail Fungus Infections Do Not Deliver Instant Results

When talking about infections of any kind people often wonder why no remedy has still been found for nail fungus infections, which can deliver results instantly. Unlike infections on other parts of the body which react to medications instantly, nail fungus infections are harder to treat. The condition begins to imbibe itself into the nail bed where no remedy can reach instantly. The nail itself is hard and will not allow topical applications to penetrate it unless an attempt is made to soften the nail. This is the primary reason why such infections take a long time to heal.The nail plate grows at the rate of 0.15 mm a day. It must be understood that topical applications cannot penetrate the nail immediately upon being applied. The remedy has to pass through the nail and reach the nail bed before it can begin to act by killing the fungus and restoring the skin. It is only after this procedure is completed that the body will eliminate the affected nail and allows the growth of a healthy nail all over again.This is a fact which must be understood by every individual that is suffering from nail fungus infections either on the toenails or fingernails. There is no remedy in the world which can deliver instant results under these conditions and companies, which promised to do so, are just giving out fake information. These companies are aware of the demand for such products and are only looking forward to capitalizing on the same.


People with infections in their nails must be prepared to wait for at least two weeks before they begin to see some changes for the better. If the infection is severe, it can take more than a year before any results are visible. This is applicable even to the most potent nail fungus remedy that can be found in the market. Therefore, patience is a virtue that must be present within an individual that is affected.Another factor which must also be followed without a compromise is related to the treatment that has been chosen. It is extremely important to follow the instructions provided by the manufacturers to the last word. Caring for the nails only takes about 5 minutes on a single occasion. If people want to witness some results within two weeks, they must ensure that they spend at least 10 minutes a day to apply the remedy chosen regularly. They must do so after cleaning and drying the nails and then applying the remedy. Doing so regularly and twice a day will take people towards the results they want to see. It is extremely important to remain patient at all times because this is the only way people can see any improvements.

Naturopathic Medicine: How It Is Similar to and Different From Conventional Medicine

Naturopathic medicine is a form of alternative remedy that focuses more on the process of prevention or self-healing, rather than cure. The method of treating with naturopathic drugs involves certain natural therapies practiced by naturopathic doctors. The centuries old scientific theories and philosophy goes into creating this form of drug with magical abilities that cure without harming with side-effects. Modern researches have proved the efficiency of therapeutic use of age-old supplements created from natural substances.Naturopathic Medicine: What is It?Doctors practicing Naturopathy diagnose the patients with the aim to identify the root-cause of a particular disease. Naturopath has grown up and got mature with time with enough support from the different disciplines of medical science like, clinical nutrition, complementary drugs, conventional medicine, homeopathy, pharmacognosy, psychology, natural resources and also some journals dealing with medicine.It might sound quite odd, but the therapeutic usage of different elements of alternative medication like, clinical nutrition, physical maneuvering, homeopathy, botanical medicine actually work. Such therapeutic elements, integrated with conventional sources of therapeutic supplements wield magic on the root of disease and the patient.The practice of Naturopathy depends largely on 6 basic principles like,
Natural supplements do not harm a patient (primum non nocere)
Nature's power to heal (vis medicatrix naturae)
Find out the cause of disease and try to treat it, not the effect (tolle causam)
Treat the complete individual (tolle totum)
The Naturopath is a teacher (docere)
Prevention is more important than cure (praevenire)
Training and Practice of Naturopathic Physicians:All the physicians dealing with naturopath attend a four-year's academic course in medical schools dedicated to Naturopath. They need to train themselves with all aspects of health care like, geriatrics, pediatric care, etc. Most of the doctors dealing with natural medicines practice individually in their own private space. A number of them receive training on midwifery, Oriental medication or acupuncture, etc. Some train themselves for specializing in different disciplines in Natural medication.


Physicians practicing natural medicine believe in primary and complementary mode of medication and treatment. During the process of treatment, they cooperate with doctors practicing conventional medical treatment and refer patients from and to different disciplines of this form of science whenever they think that is required.Naturopathic Medicine Vs. Conventional Medicine:Both the conventional medical practitioners and naturopaths educate themselves with the same basic medical science courses. It is the western medical theories that form the base of diagnosis and treatment in the practice of medicine. Doctors practicing Naturopath pass the same rigorous professional exams of medical science that even practitioners of conventional medical science appear in. At least for a year or two, naturopathic physicians get training under close supervision of the licensed practitioners.The foundation of Naturopathy consists of holistic approaches to the practice of medical science that emphasize on the prevention of diseases rather than cure. Apart from the general medical curriculum, a naturopathic doctor needs to train himself in physical medicine, psychology, counseling, homeopathy, botanical medicine, clinical nutrition, etc.Naturopathic medicine sees a doctor of the same discipline as the physician who promotes healing through two major steps. The first one is identifying the barrier to good health and removal of it.

India's Medical Tourism Spreading Superbugs

Medical tourism in India involves people coming from all parts of the world, coming to India for treatment of medical complications and also to have a vacation and to relax. These people travel to India in large numbers to receive various treatments that include heart surgery, cosmetic surgery, dental implants, knee transplants and even infertility treatments. Approvals for these procedures can be tough to obtain from their respective countries' health regulators, so they need to seek them elsewhere. Besides, surgery procedures often have long lines of waiting patients in most Western countries.Besides the low costs, India's infrastructure (only the hospitals) and technology equipment's that is imported from the West can match those of the UK, US and European countries. This also contributed in making India popular as a medical tourism destination in the world. This image is being tarnished by continuing reports on super-bugs in Indian hospitals. The super-bug named NDM-1, which stands for New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase. This gene makes bacteria resistant to antibiotics.About a year or two ago, it was reported that super-bug cases were found in 40 countries, including the USA, UK and some countries in Asia too. With more and more people traveling to India to get more affordable medical care, this new superbug could further spread and become a global concern. This spread could be very quick and nothing had been found to control it. India's medical tourism was hit due to this super-bug. It is said that the sewers, drains and drinking water in India are affected by poor hygiene, so the lives of millions of people are put at risk in the form of infections brought by these drug defying virus.


The penicillin antibiotic was introduced in the 1940's and soon after this, studies have shown that bacteria was able to develop resistance to this antibiotic. This made the scientists to produce more powerful antibiotics. But these have been misused and overused, accelerating the rise of infections, caused by the drug-resistant superbugs. When you travel to India and avail treatment, there is therefore a high chance that you will bring with you NDM-1 virus and today there is no cure for it.The bacteria which produces NDM-1 has a strong resistance to even the most powerful antibiotics and even those that are used for emergency purposes. These super-bugs are mostly found in hospitals and clinics. As this is the case, patients are more prone to be infected with this virus. The NDM-1 bacteria gene makes treatment very difficult. These super-bugs are commonly discovered in the urine, blood and other specimens of patients.While the Indian medical facilities today are doing all the proper steps to prevent the spread of the super-bug, it is foreseen that the NDM-1 will continue to stay and cause danger to patients. This is as long as there are medical tourists visiting India for their medical procedures. Despite the news about the super-bugs, people continue to flock India's hospitals and clinics for treatment and hence this virus continues to spread.

Potential To Decrease Transfusion Rates Following Arthroplasty

Perioperative bleeding is always a major concern in orthopaedics, particularly in major joint replacement surgery. It not only poses major risks to the patients, but also leads to additional costs.Antifibrinolytics (agents that inhibit degradation of fibrin clots) have long been used to reduce perioperative bleeding in other areas such as cardiac and spine surgery. Early studies in orthopaedics did not produce solid conclusions about overall efficacy. A 2006 meta-analysis found that tranexamic acid (TXA)was associated with fewer postoperative transfusions and identified a dose-dependent effect. A recent retrospective study of more than 2,000 primary arthroplasty patients reported no increase in the rate of symptomatic thrombotic events when used for deep vein thrombosis (DVT).Tranexamic acid has been used extensively in total knee arthroplasty, both topically and intravenously. With respect to transfusion, a randomized, placebo-controlled trial pointed to reduced transfusion rates with higher doses but a larger study is required to produce a significant reduction.A paper recently presented at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting in New Orleans provided some promising data that may lead to a decrease in transfusion rates.Scott A. Wingerter, MD, PhD, presented these results at the recent meeting in March 2014 for patients undergoing either primary or revision hip or knee arthroplasty. They found that "Transexamic acid continues to support a decreased transfusion rate following both primary and revision hip and knee surgery without any increase in thromboembolic events.


Wingerter and colleagues at Washington University School of Medicine performed a database search of all primary and revision hip and knee replacement surgeries to compare transfusion rates. Overall the study included 1,320 hip cases and 886 knee cases. They found no significant difference in demographic data between pre-TXA and post-TXA groups. The investigators found the transfusion ate for all hip cases combined was 41.7% pre-TXA, which decreased to 13% after TXA. The rate from knee cases decreased from 25% to 7%.The conclusion was that for the rate of thromboembolic events (VTE's), there was no significant difference in the incidence of at 4 weeks to 6 weeks or at 6 months. However, there was an absolute lower percentage in the patient group that was receiving TXA.The interest in the importance of this type of therapy has certainly increased in recent years. Future well designed studies documenting reduced transfusions, costs and longer-term mortality data are needed to determine optimal administration regimes, but this is certainly encouraging data not only for patients undergoing joint replacement surgery, but also for healthcare professionals, orthopaedic distributors and administrators alike.