Health & Medical Service

 Who is not suggested to travel?

Health is inevitably one of the important things you should always bear in mind either in your life or traveling. You are suggested to have a physical examination to determine whether you have a good or proper health condition to begin your travel. For anyone who have not yet recovered from acute illness, have severe illnesses such as cerebral, vascular, liver, lung, kidney and other viscera's, or who are in the incubation period of any infectious diseases or inflammations or people who are in the recovery period after operations, it is not suggested you refrain from take international or long distance travel.

 Health Care in Traveling

There are in general four aspects that needed to be taken into consideration and are as follows:

Keep Warm: Traveling in China, especially in the transitional period of spring and autumn, you should protect yourself from sudden cold and rain or the remarkable difference in temperature between daytime and night periods. Elderly people are suggested to take additional outer wear or coat to protect them from cold winds. In the mountainous areas in north China, the severe winds and sudden temperature drops may cause colds and other respiratory illnesses.

Dietetic Care: Pay attention to both your hands and mouth. They are two sources of bacterial infection. Better to wash your hands after returning from the outside, before eating anything and after sneezing or coughing. All the food you eat is suggested to be well cooked or heated. The fruits you eat should be fresh and peeled. Be careful when you eat any raw food (especially meat), cold dishes and salads. Do not eat these at street food stalls. Hotels in China provide drinkable bottled mineral water. Do not drink any tap water!

Infectious Diseases: Learn about the infectious diseases in the destination regions. Nowadays, the hygiene condition has been greatly improved in China. There is little possibility of becoming infected in large cities. However, cases may vary in the remote areas far away from cities. The best way to avoid being infected is to have inoculations and avoid close contact with animals. Also keep the same regular eating habit as you do at home, otherwise engorgements may cause digestive problems.

Avoid Physical Exhaustion: Traveling in such a sizable country may involve many means of transportation from crowded trains to bumpy coaches. The packed itineraries, frequent transfers, exhausting mountain climbs, unfamiliar food and drink, all these could result in physical exhaustion, which may cause extra burden on the heart or the relapse of a previous illness. If any phenomenon such as light-headedness, headaches, abnormal heartbeat appears, it is better to rest or consult medical services.

Comfortable Accommodation: A comfortable accommodation is not always a five-star standard room, but a quiet, clear and safe place which enable you to relax from the daytime fatigue. Do not reside in any damp, shade or crowded rooms. Ensure at least six to eight hours of sleep every day. Have a foot bathing in hot waters to avoid foot edema.

Mountain Sickness: Generally altitude over 3,000 meters (9,843 feet) is defined as high altitude, which may cause Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), also called Altitude Sickness. Some sightseeing attractions in China's Tibet, Yunnan and Sichuan areas are situated at high altitudes. Make sure you take a physical examination before ascending to high plateau areas. Keep a gradual increase of your steps when walking in highland regions. Oxygen suppliers are available in most sightseeing areas. Make sure to take preventive medicines.

 Medicines to Be Taken

Medicines to be taken include antibiotic medicine, cold medicine, digestive medicine, anti-seasickness medicine, anti- allergic medicine, anti- AMS medicine and traumatic healers.

 Medical Service

Most hospitals in big cities provide a high standard of medical care in China. However, in some remote areas, the medical service may not be to such a standard. Ensure your physical condition is good prior traveling. Bring some medicines with you, such as aspirin, anti-histamines and so on. Dial 120 for an ambulance or call your tour guide or hotel staffs for help if you are not in good health. You can also phone the SOS International, 24-hr alarm center in Beijing (010-6542 9100) or in Shanghai (021-6295 0099) for advice on local medical services.