Health

Safe Drinking Water in India

Submitted by Navin Pathak on Tue, 07/25/2017 - 11:59am.

NO to tap water in India at any cost.

Yes, it is a WARNING and must be taken seriously. Water of course is the number 1 cause of stomach infection in India.

For safe drinking water in India, bottled water is the only option I recommend.

Though every third shop in India sells bottled water, generally called by the name Mineral water and is mostly sold under the brand names of Bisleri, Kineley and Aquafina, but buying from a reputed shop is the best option. By reputed shop I mean the one that appeals visually from the perspective of cleanliness at least.

Cost of bottled water may wary from the size of the bottle and of course from where you buy.

Secondly, for cold water, I would prefer freezer cold rather than having ice for obvious reason.

Now in case bottled water is not available but you have to stay hydrated, I recommend 1) carrying Iodine Tablets with you and 2) boil water if you can.

Other option for filtering water is to keep pocket water filter with you. Katadyn Pocket Water Filter and LifeStraw Personal Water filter are 2 excellent products which you may buy depending on your budget.

Medicines for your India trip

Submitted by Navin Pathak on Thu, 07/30/2015 - 7:16pm.

Some of the medicines that are highly recommended on travel to India

Tylenol/Advil
Alka Seltzer
Immodium
Robitussin/NyQuil

Medicines that you can get over the counter at the Indian pharmacy/chemists shop:

Crosin (fever)
Combiflam (ibuprofen)
Norflox (diarrhea)
Volini (spray for muscle spasms)
Coldarin (cold and cough)
Benadryl (cough)

Take Precaution of Where You Eat Food in India

Submitted by Navin Pathak on Wed, 06/17/2015 - 1:10am.

Virtually every fourth shop in India sells food. There is ample variety for both, vegetarians and non-vegetarians and the price range can match to anyone’s pocket. You can get a dish from $.35 (Rs.21) upto $10 (Rs. 640).

There is no doubt that Indian food is a treat to the taste-buds but can be harsh on your digestive system.

Take precaution if you eat at road-side stalls or at low-end restaurants. Request the server to get your silverware rinsed in boiling water even if you have to pay extra. Milk and milk products, spices and water are known to upset stomach. Look at this recent report http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/delhi-street-food-test-restaurants-momos-contamination/1/440901.html.

Use bottled water only and that too from reputed shops. With poor outdoor air-quality in Delhi, especially from April to August, breathing-masks are advisable.

Some medicines you should carry to India are Tylenol/Advil, Alka Seltzer, Immodium, Robitussin/NyQuil with you. Medication that you can get over the counter at the Indian pharmacy/chemists shop: Indian Crosin (fever), Combiflam (ibuprofen), Norflox (diarrhea), Volini (spray for muscle spasms), Coldarin (cold and cough), Benadryl (cough).

It is also highly advisable to keep the items like hand sanitizer lotion, toilet rolls, and paper soap handy with you.

Preventive Health Checkup in Delhi

Submitted by Mahendra Pratap on Tue, 04/28/2015 - 10:34pm.

"Getting Screened" (looking for potential health problems before they occur) is one of the top five things you can do to sustain good health and longevity (Eating healthy, Exercise, Positive Thinking and Social Connectivity are the other four).

So why wait until obvious symptoms of a problem emerge or an emergency situation arises before seeing a doctor. One of the reaons may be the cost factor. The cost of individually-tailored wellness assessment of your current and future health can be high. While most insurance plans allow basic tests such as blood pressure, cholesterol level etc., they do not cover advanced procedures such as High Definition CT Lung and Full Body Scan, Colon Cancer Screening etc.

Fortunately, your visit to India provides an opportunity. The same screening programs with equal quality are available at affordable cost in India. Not only can you get advanced screening and wellness assessment done at an affordable price but can also enjoy a relaxing holiday at a culturally vibrant and historically rich place.

Here we list some of the top executive health check up service providers in Delhi and other cities in India. At these facilities, an inter-disciplinary team of physicians working together will assess your current and (near) future health & risk factors and design a program for your wellness, which includes diet, excercise, regular screening and follow-up.

Entry India highly recommends that you make use of the opportunity to get advanced screening at an affordable price when you visit India.

Preventive Health Checkup Service Providers:

Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre Limited
Okhla
New Delhi - 110025
+91-11-2682-5000

Max Devki Devi Heart & Vascular Institute
2 Press Enclave Road
Saket
New Delhi - 110017
+91-11-2651-5050

Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals
Sarita Vihar
Delhi Mathura Road
New Delhi - 110076
+91-11-2692-5858

Medical insurance for US based travelers to India

Submitted by Navin Pathak on Sun, 01/11/2015 - 1:17am.

You will have to check with your insurance provider to see if they cover unforseen medical expenses during your travel. U.S. medical insurance is generally not accepted outside the United States, nor do the Social Security Medicare and Medicaid programs provide coverage for hospital or medical costs outside the United States. If your insurance policy does not cover you abroad, it is a good idea to consider purchasing a short-term policy that does. There are health insurance policies designed specifically to cover travel. Many travel agents and private companies offer insurance plans that will cover health care expenses incurred overseas including emergency services such as medical evacuations.

Get ‘Preventive’ Health Checkup during your Travel to India

Submitted by Navin Pathak on Mon, 11/24/2014 - 10:19pm.

One of the best uses you can make of your travel to India is to get a preventive health check-up done at a very meager cost.

Preventive screening is often not covered under medical insurance plans in US and it is very expensive. While most insurance plans allow basic tests such as blood pressure, cholesterol level etc., they do not cover advanced procedures such as High Definition CT Lung scan, CT-scans of the heart to detect calcium buildup in arteries that can signal heart disease, Colon Cancer Screening, advanced Blood tests to detect early stages of disease, and Nutrition and Fitness assessments, etc. In US, the preventive physicals that are offered by clinics like Princeton Longevity Center, Canyon Ranch and the Mayo Clinic cost anywhere from $2,000 to $7,000.

Same quality health check-up can be done in India at very affordable 6-8th of the cost in US. Not only can you get advanced screening and wellness assessment done but can also enjoy a relaxing holiday at a culturally vibrant and historically rich place.

Here we list some of the top executive health check up service providers in Delhi. At these facilities, an inter-disciplinary team of physicians working together will assess your current and (near) future health & risk factors and design a program. It normally takes a day for the tests to be conducted. Once you are back to US, you can show the reports to your general physician and create your action plan.

We highly recommend that you make use of this opportunity during your visit to India. If you need help in planning, signing up with a service provider or with the follow-up program, please fill up the Contact Us form on the site.

Preventive Health Checkup Service Providers in Delhi:

Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre Limited – Okhla New Delhi – 110025 +91-11-2682-5000
Max Devki Devi Heart & Vascular Institute - 2 Press Enclave Road Saket New Delhi – 110017 +91-11-2651-5050
Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals - Sarita Vihar Delhi Mathura Road New Delhi – 110076 +91-11-2692-5858

How to stay healthy on your trip to India in summer?

Submitted by Shilpi Mahajan on Tue, 10/21/2014 - 10:52am.

Indian belly can ruin your trip if you let your taste buds run amok.Indiahas one of the best foods for your drooling palette and some basic steps ensure you stay safe, whilst you engage in self-indulgence. Here are three basic rules I can swear by. I have traveled toIndiamany times with my small daughter and I swear we never fall sick. Here is our mantra:

Drink and drink only bottled water. Go to any shop and ask for Bisleri, the first bottled water brand, it is now a generic term for bottled water. If you don’t have access to bottled water, you can have RO water (RO being reverse osmosis), a process to purify water. You can also boil water for about 20 minutes and then consume it within 2 days.
Avoid raw foods especially, salad. Most Indian dishes are served with vinegar onion (yum) or cucumber yoghurt. Control!!! Its a luxury you can’t afford. Avoid it at all cost. You can have anything that’s cooked and is still “warm”. Remember, India's a tropical country and it doesn’t take time for microbes to multiply. That is the reason you need to have hot, cooked food.
Avoid milk for the first week. Indians drink buffalo’s milk and cow’s milk is a rarity. Start with milk products like yogurt and then try and stick to toned milk. Indian yogurt is the best I have tasted so far. You can also have the ubiquitous Indian tea. Its boiled, healthy and if herbal, aids your digestion.
Stay odomoized to keep the mosquitoes at bay. Odomos is a local mosquito repellent brand. Don’t try and carry mosquito repellents from the west. Indian mosquitoes are thick skinned much like India itself .
It might be worth it to invest in soft Lucknowi cotton kurtis. They will keep you covered and safe. You can get them for as low as $3 from Chandni chowk. Whats better than a slice of the old world with some shopping indulgence?

Stick to these simple rules and you will have a fun and safe trip…