Health stories from BIMC.
Guidance on staying well in Bali, travel-health advice and updates from across the BIMC network — written by our medical teams.
783 articles
closeClear filtersQuit Smoking Today!
Smoking kills more than 440,000 people a year, making it more lethal than AIDS, automobile accidents, homicides, suicides, drug overdoses and fires combined. Think twice before you smoke that cigarette. Smoking may be even more dangerous now than 30 years ago, most likely because the lower tar and nicotine levels in most cigarette brands cause
Surfing Injuries
Surfing Injuries Although surfing is thought to be a relatively risk free sport, with an incidence between 3 – 4 injuries per 1000 days of surfing, we think it’s wise that you know what to expect and what to do before riding the waves. Surfing is an ancient sport originally from Hawaii. There is written
Sore throat
Sore Throat We might just call the sore throat a common sore, since it is as common as the common cold. It could happen to anyone, anywhere and anytime. It can be an early sign of many diseases, even some serious diseases. The key is “Pay attention, but don’t panic”. What are the dangers of
Athlete’s Foot
Don’t be fooled if you ever get this diagnosis. It doesn’t mean you’re eligible to compete for a gold medal. Here’s the real truth about athlete’s foot. The official medical term is tinea pedis. Tinea means infection from dermatophyte fungi and pedis means foot, so it clearly is a fungus infection of the foot. Although
What is swine flu?
Swine flu is a highly contagious acute respiratory disease of pigs caused by influenza A virus. It causes high levels of illness and low death rates in pigs. Swine influenza viruses may circulate amongst pigs throughout the year. Studies show 30-50% of commercial US swine have been infected with swine flu. The mortality rate is
Snoring and Sleep Apnea
More than 30% of adults snore, at least a few nights each week. Imagine how many people’s sleep are disrupted from one person’s loud snore and what is more a concern is when snoring causes health problems. Snoring happens when the muscles in the roof of your mouth (soft palate), tongue and throat vibrates in
Digital Imaging X-ray
The discovery of x-ray by Wilhem Roentgen in the late 1800s is one of the greatest contribution in medicine. From an X-ray we can know problems happening inside the human’s body. Further studies have developed the conventional X-ray to the more advanced diagnostic equipments, such as the CT-Scan, Ultrasound, etc. But the famous black and
Blocking the Sun
Ultraviolet rays in sun light can cause serious and often irreversible harm to the body. This can range from eye damage to the more extreme, skin cancer. Prevention must start from early age. For the skin, sun blocks or sunscreens have been proven effective. Bali is located just 8 degrees from the equator, so below
Motion Sickness
Why are people more likely to get car sick in the back seat than in the front? Why are drivers less likely to get car sick than front seat passengers? Why do some people get sick in the car only when they read? On a bumpy flight, why are children more likely than adults to
Traveling with babies
Traveling with babies can be a surprisingly delightful experience, as long as our fulfillment of their basic needs is kept pretty much on schedule… their schedule. Babies aren’t as fragile as parents sometimes fear. It’s most likely that your baby enjoys the trip. Babies aren’t as fragile as parents sometimes fear. It’s most likely that
Pre-Travel Vaccination for Adult Travelers to Bali
Pre-Travel Vaccination for Adult Travelers to Bali When and which vaccination to get before traveling to Bali. It is strongly recommended that you consult your doctor for traveling advice and proper immunization or prophylactic medication for all of your travel plans. The ideal time to see your doctor is 4-6 weeks prior to travel because
Dehydration
Dehydration due to a combination of heat and gastrointestinal problems is common among travelers. Make sure that there is adequate fluid intake, including some “sports drinks”. Babies and young children will dehydrate very quickly and should seek medical attention for gastro-intestinal problems sooner than adults (within 24 hrs).
Accident
Accidental death is still the largest cause of demise in travelers worldwide. Wear your seatbelt, helmet, and protective clothing because you need to, not because the law (or lack of it) says you have to. Surfing accidents too, have taken a remarkable toll on the Island each year.
Post Holiday Check up: Cholesterol
After a month full of parties and dinners, you should consider to have a cholesterol check up. You might need to decide a low cholesterol diet as your new year’s resolution. Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance made in the liver and found in certain foods, such as food from animals, like dairy products (whole
FLU, COLD, and ALLERGY
Know more about FLU, COLD, and ALLERGY The symptoms are similar, but one is more serious than the other, know which one. Know what to do from our symptom check list. What are the Differences? Allergy Symptoms usually strike quickly and can include runny nose, sneezing, wheezing, or watery and itchy eyes. You might experience