Japan (Lonely Planet, 11th Edition) - Chris Rowthorn [659]
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INTERNET RESOURCES
There is a wealth of travel-health advice on the internet. For further information, the Lonely Planet website, at www.lonelyplanet.com, is a good place to start. WHO publishes a superb book called International Travel and Health, which is revised annually and is available free online at www.who.int/ith/. Other websites of general interest are MD Travel Health at www.mdtravelhealth.com, which provides complete travel-health recommendations for every country; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which has a good site at www.cdc.gov; and Fit for Travel at www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk, which has up-to-date information about outbreaks and is very user-friendly.
It’s also a good idea to consult your government’s travel-health website before departure, if one is available.
Australia (www.dfat.gov.au/travel/)
Canada (www.travelhealth.gc.ca)
New Zealand (www.moh.govt.nz)
UK (www.dh.gov.uk)
USA (www.cdc.gov/travel/)
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FURTHER READING
For those spending an extended period of time in Japan, the best book is Japan Health Handbook by Meredith Maruyama, Louise Picon Shimizu and Nancy Smith Tsurumaki. It gives an excellent overview of the Japanese medical system for expats. Lonely Planet’s Healthy Travel Asia & India is a useful pocket-sized guide to travel health. Travel with Children from Lonely Planet is useful if you are taking children with you. Other recommended general travel-health references are Traveller’s Health by Dr Richard Dawood and Travelling Well by Dr Deborah Mills – check out the website www.travellingwell.com.au for other tips.
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IN TRANSIT
DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS (DVT)
Blood clots may form in the legs during plane flights, chiefly because of prolonged immobility. The longer the flight, the greater the risk. The chief symptom of DVT is swelling or pain of the foot, ankle or calf, usually but not always on just one side. If a blood clot travels to the lungs it may cause chest pain and breathing difficulties. Travellers with any of these symptoms should seek medical attention immediately.
To prevent the development of DVT on long flights you should walk around the cabin, contract the leg muscles while sitting, drink plenty of fluids and avoid alcohol. If you have previously had DVT, speak with your doctor about preventive medications (usually given in the form of an injection just prior to travel).
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JET LAG & MOTION SICKNESS
To avoid jet lag (common when crossing more than five time zones) try drinking plenty of nonalcoholic fluids and eating light meals. Upon arrival, get exposure to natural sunlight and readjust your schedule (for meals, sleep and so on) as soon as possible.
Antihistamines such as dimenhydrinate (Dramamine), prochlorperazine (Phenergan) and meclizine (Antivert, Bonine) are usually the first choice for treating motion sickness. The main side effect of these medications is drowsiness. A herbal alternative is ginger.
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IN JAPAN
AVAILABILITY & COST OF HEALTH CARE
The quality of medical care can vary from place to place, but, in many cases, it is significantly better in the major cities compared to rural areas. Outside urban areas it may be difficult to access English-speaking doctors, so try to take a Japanese speaker with you to any medical facility. Japan has a national health-insurance system, but this is only available to foreigners if they have long-term visas in Japan. Be aware that medical facilities will require full payment at the time of treatment, or proof that your travel insurance will pay for any treatment that you receive.
A few handy tips:
In general, it is better to seek care at university hospitals or other large hospitals, rather than at clinics.
Japanese doctors are sometimes reluctant to treat foreigners. Therefore, it’s important that you show proof of insurance or cash when seeking care. You have every right to insist on care.