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.
229 articles
closeClear filtersLink Between Lack of Sleep and Alzheimer’s Discovered
Just one night of poor sleep is enough to trigger a spike in a brain chemical linked to Alzheimer’s disease, a new study has shown. Although scientists knew there was a link between dementia and lack of sleep, it was unclear whether the disease was driving insomnia or vice versa. Now researchers at Stanford University
Left Handed Health
In 1976, August 13 was designated International Left-Handers Day by Lefthanders International. As the name suggests, it is meant to promote awareness of the inconveniences faced by left-handers in a predominantly right-handed world. Left-handed people make up 10 percent of the human population on average yet chances are you know a southpaw. Why some
The age old question: how long will I live
This past May numerous local and international news outlets reported the death of a Central Javanese man who claimed to be 146 years old, the longest living human ever. He was taken to hospital on April 12 because of deteriorating health. Six days later he insisted on checking out to return home only to die
Top Four Healthiest Beans Found in Bali Markets
Diets that include more plant foods, especially beans, have been shown to lower the risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, cancer and provide a source of protein, fiber and healthy fats, along with a host of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytochemicals. Here are four… Lentils This small dried bean is part of the pulse family
Keep Fit the Indonesian Way: Pencak Silat
If Thailand has muay thai, then Indonesia has pencak silat, a full-body martial art involving strikes, grappling and throwing, even weaponry, and practiced for physical defense and optimal fitness offering visitors and residents an intense and accessible workout. At last month’s 2017 Pencak Silat Open held in Belgian, the Indonesian team won seven gold, one silver,
What Damage Will Your Next Cigarette Do?
Every year on May 31, WHO and partners mark “World No Tobacco Day” highlighting the health and additional risks associated with tobacco use, and advocating for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption. The theme for World No Tobacco Day 2017 is “Tobacco – a threat to development.” Campaigns will demonstrate the threats that the tobacco
Measure Your Waistline Not Just Your Body Fat
Medical research now points out that fat around the waist has more visceral fat, which is located deep inside the abdominal cavity that surrounds the internal organs and is associated with chronic diseases namely diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, atherosclerosis, heart disease — even hormone-fueled cancers like those of the breast, colon, and prostate.
Shifting Awareness to Bottled Water
Has the world awakened to the dangers of soda and canned fizzy drinks? In the USA, bottled water has now officially surpassed soda as the most-purchased beverage by volume — but is it time to shift our focus to the state of the water we drink? In Indonesia fizzy drink consumption remains a widespread health
March 9th World Kidney Day Theme: Kidney Disease & Obesity
According to the latest WHO data kidney disease deaths in Indonesia reached 41,042 at the same time evidence shows that obesity, which was previously a problem among high-income groups in the country, has spread across all income groups. Is there a relation? According to World Kidney Day website, obesity is a potent risk factor for
The Future of Health Care Data Analytics
With detailed information from electronic medical records increasingly available in the cloud, health care tasks are more and more found online. By detecting the early symptoms of a virus as an example, that great body of information will make it easy for doctors and their patients to prevent illness. While the technology is in its
Artificial Intelligence for Smart Eating
Even after all the warnings many people consume far too many foods high in calories, fats, free sugars or salt, and many do not eat enough fruit, vegetables and fiber. Are you one of them? Consider technology to help you better your health with every bite you take. A new wave of start-ups has taken
No Pain in Water Workouts
Pool workouts are growing in popularity providing better balance, agility and endurance, which is a great confidence boost for anyone who has shied away from exercise in the past. Pool exercises are great fat-burners, eating up a higher level of calories in a shorter time. The holiday island of Bali is an excellent place for
Swab Your Way to Better Health
While most people have heard of 23andMe, the direct-to-consumer genetic testing company that’s provided well over one million users with personalized information about their ancestry and genes linked to cystic fibrosis and other diseases, there’s today a more niche group of DNA tests designed to offer users genetic findings related to their health and fitness.
Cancer Spread Increased in High Fat Diet
Cancer is most lethal once it has begun to spread as successful treatment is much more difficult at an aggressive stage. Professor Benitah’s team found CD36 was present on metastatic cancer cells from patients with a range of different tumors including oral tumors, melanoma skin cancer, ovarian, bladder, lung and breast cancer. To confirm its
Shifting Resolutions
Setting a performance goal may help you stay more motivated compared to a weight-loss goal. Start with say 10 pull-ups or 20 push-ups or touch your toes 30 times throughout the day, adding more week after week, to create a healthy shift from focusing purely on aesthetics to performance. Bad habits and bad ideas go
Surviving the Excesses of December
The holiday season in Bali is upon us, a time to reevaluate 2016 and plan ahead with new health-related goals, yet Health-e suggests not to wait for Jan. 1 as the over indulgences of December can wreak havoc on your health. Besides spending lots of quality time with family and friends, there is no question
Revamp your sleep routine with meditation
There is probably nothing worse than a sleepless night and as we stay wired to more and more digital devices throughout the day and into the evening,we disconnect with our natural needed state of relaxation before bedtime. If you’ve ever lain awake thinking about commitments to work and school, about your family and friends, you
Managing Gastritis at the BIMC Specialist Clinic
If you feel pain in your abdomen or feel bloated after eating even a small amount of food you may be suffering from gastritis, inflammation of the stomach lining, that could last for a short period, called Acute Gastritis, or persist for months or even years, referred to as Chronic Gastritis. The condition needs to
The Value of Personal Trainers
A personal service that became popular in the 80s as an option for those with spare cash is today more of a common monthly expense for a wider audience because for many, having workout support effectively gets one out the door and into the gym or on the footpath. Be sure to spend time to
Eat Your Veggies and Reverse Heart Disease
Over decades of research one doctor has proven heart disease can be avoided but there’s a catch: to become completely immune to heart attacks and coronary heart disease you need to adopt an uncompromised plant-based diet; that’s without any meat, poultry, even fish, or dairy products, replaced by a wonderful variety of veggies, legumes, whole
Cuckoo for Coconuts: A Worldwide Health Craze Falls from the Trees
For the global health conscious, coconut oil isn’t just an ingredient in cooking, it’s a invaluable and perfectly natural tonic used to promote heart health, lose weight, control diabetes, fight candida and for general well being, and it comes from a resource that grows right above our heads here in Bali. At many roadside warung
To Vape or Not to Vape
The 67 percent of Indonesian males and five percent of females over 15 years old trying to wean themselves off smoking tobacco have been provided controversial assistance with the advent of the electronic cigarette, those handheld devices that vaporize a flavored liquid usually made of nicotine, propylene glycol, glycerin and other chemical concentrations. Invented in
Melanoma can be deadly. Are you at risk of skin cancer?
Prevention is better than misguided beliefs Skin cancer is responsible for 80% of new cancers diagnosed each year in Australia and the incidence and mortality rate of melanoma has increased significantly. Prevention is the best strategy. An attitude that understands that a tan is not a sign of good health and wellbeing is a great
Exercise matters: it will look after your body, wellbeing and mental health
Valuing physical activity for the positive effects it brings to your body and soul is the first step in creating a lifestyle that adds value to your well being, physical and mental health. Contributions to health and welfare come from several dimensions and include social and mental health, emotional and intellectual being and physical health.