Health

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

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

1. Tylenol/Advil
2. Alka Seltzer
3. Immodium
4. Robitussin/NyQuil

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

1. Crosin (fever)
2. Combiflam (ibuprofen)
3. Norflox (diarrhea)
4. Volini (spray for muscle spasms)
5. Coldarin (cold and cough)
6. Benadryl (cough)

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.

Submitted by Navin Pathak on Tue, 05/12/2015 - 7:00pm.

Updated Aug 12, 2019

No doubt that Indian food is one of the top cuisines in the world.  Depending on what part of India you visit, the food variety may differ significantly. Every region has its own preference of vegetables, spices & spice level, and cooking style. Of course you would want to try out as much as you can but some precautions while consuming food and water would go a long way for making your stay in India fun and mem0rable.

To begin, if you really want to try food from road-side stalls or at low-end restaurants, then request the vendor to a) wash hands before serving, b) rinse the silverware boiling water in front of you, even if you have to pay extra, and c) have them wear gloves if possible. If you are sanitizing your hands properly, then using fingers to eat food is well accepted in India and it indeed is fun eating with hands.

If it is raining or it is rainy season during your visit to India, then do NOT succumb to any temptation of having anything to eat from road-side vendors.

In salads, I would resist from consuming vegetables like lettuce, tomatoes, broccoli, or any other which can't be peeled. I take this precaution with only exceptions of top rated restaurants, hotels and franchise chains like McDonalds, Dunkin Donuts, etc.

Bottom line here is: Have as much Cooked Food as possible.

Use bottled water only and that too from reputed shops, which most likely be visibly nice & clean. Even at top-rated restaurants, bottled water is the best option. Do ensure that the bottle is sealed and never opened before. If you have to visit anyone’s house, you most likely be served RO (reverse osmosis) water, which is equally safe.

Now, coming to air, there is no escape to pollution almost in whole of India with Himalayan regions the only exception. 14 of the most polluted cities in the world are in India with Delhi the sixth worst according to World Health Organization. With such poor outdoor air-quality, breathing-masks are advisable.

Of course the travel needs differ if you are a traveler with specific health needs, such as for pregnant, immune compromised or any other specific purpose.

Some useful items to carry: Hand Sanitizer lotion, Toilet rolls, and Paper soap

Some of the medicines which highly recommended that you should carry with you are for: Diarrhea (Imodium or Pepto-Bismol), Cough drops, Medicine for pain or fever (Tylenol), saline nose spray, decongestant and cough drops.

Though you may not be carrying every medicine with you, there are excellent over-the-counter medicines in India and that you can easily buy from chemists (pharmacy).

We have covered lots of other details for the travelers visiting India in our India business and travel guide 'ENTRY INDIA', which you can download for free here.

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

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.

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:

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