Bulimia Is A Severe Eating Disorder

Bulimia is but one of a growing number of eating disorders recognized in our modern society. Depression, low self-esteem, and extreme perfectionism are common in people with these symptoms. Bulimia can also cause tension with family and friends, interrupting the lives of people with the disorder.

The eating behavior can look normal but after a short while, he or she feels disgusted with their eating and uses different methods of eliminating it. Many people, if not most, with bulimia will not admit that they have an eating disorder, but this understanding is crucial to their recovery. Anorexia is another growing eating disorder among young women where they starve themselves to become thin. Bulimia is also a popular eating disorder that commonly affects women who have an extreme fear of gaining weight.

A period of binge-eating is produces strong feelings of guilt. A person with anorexia has the obvious signs of emaciation but with a bulimia sufferer, it is really necessary to observe the binge eating. As binge eating is usually carried out secretively, this can create a problem in reaching an early diagnosis. A binge is an episode where an individual eats a much larger amount of food than most people would in a similar situation and it is not a response to intense hunger. The overeating is not caused by hunger, but by feelings of depression and stress. They often binge on comfort foods like potato chips, cakes and cookies.

With this disease there is a risk for damages that will become permanent. Bulimia can also be the reason why a person will get problems with the teeth. It is also likely that these persons have intense psychological problems. One reason is that they are often led to believe that diet and figure are of extreme importance.

The physical problems should be treated symptomatically and also include a diet regime that can control weight without the dangers that this obsession of bulimia can bring. The treatment should continue with counselling for quite some time after returning home from hospital. Any bulimia recovery requires the help of a psychiatrist who can recognize why a person is bulimic and how they can break their binge-and-purge cycle. The binge-eating episode is usually triggered by stress or depression and can happen a few times a week.

Bulimia nervosa is another term for this condition and it can give severe medical complications. On one hand, anorexia nervosa is a condition wherein the person suffering from it is constantly afraid of gaining weight. What triggers a person to suffer from bulimia nervosa cannot be pinpointed exactly as it is usually the result of a number of factors. But, the occurrence of bulimia nervosa can be prevented and in case you are already suffering from it, you can be cured.
By Louise Wasa

What is Cellulite - Treatment Tips

Cellulite is the problem, that encounters more than 90% of women at any age around the globe. Cellulite describes dimpling of skin, caused by the protrusion of subcutaneous. Cellulite is not fat, and thin people often struggle with cellulite. Cellulite is the lumpy substance resembling cottage cheese that is commonly found on the thighs, stomach, and butt.Cellulite may not be a serious problem to some people, millions of women would prefer to have smooth body contours, and not be stuck with orange peel, cottage cheese look-a-like skin. Cellulite is actually a fancy name for collections of fat that push against the connective tissue beneath a person's skin, which causes the surface of the skin to dimple or pucker and look lumpy. Cellulite is not simple fat, but a way in which your body reacts to a build-up of toxins in the connective tissue in the skin. This then manifests as a honeycomb web of waterlogged and toxin filled tissue. Between 85% and 98% of post-pubescent females display some degree of cellulite. There appears to be a hormonal component to its presentation. It is rarely seen in males. It is seen more commonly in males with androgen-deficient states such as Klinefelter's syndrome, hypogonadism, post-castration states and in those patients receiving estrogen therapy for prostate cancer.

Cellulite basic reasons are bad eating habits, lack of exercise, stress, and smoking. Cellulite is not a cosmetic issue. Cellulite" is not a medical term. Medical authorities agree that cellulite is simply ordinary fatty tissue. Strands of fibrous tissue connect the skin to deeper tissue layers and also separate compartments that contain fat cells. Cellulite becomes more severe as the androgen deficiency worsens in these males. Cellulite is not related to being overweight; average and underweight people also get cellulite. Some women have the smooth buttocks and thighs that everyone seems to want while others have less satisfactory, dimpled ones. Cellumend is the most effective treatment cream, proven to be effective in clinical studies, people should still be aware that certain lifestyle changes can help them to keep their body contours smooth and cellulite-free. Cellumend is one of the best topical treatments to get rid of and prevent cellulite and is manufactured by Dermaxime. As a change of lifestyle will help prevent cellulite and also remove existing cellulite, we have added these free information pages to this website to assist our clients.

Cellulite of Treatment Tips
1. Strengthen blood vessels/increase blood flow
2. Encourage the production of connective tissue
3. Stimulate the production of collagen and elastin
4. Attract water to the cells
5. Repair cell membranes
6. Reduce wasted water
7. Prevent free-radical damage
8. Reduce inflammation
9. Promote exfoliation
10. Liposuction removes the deposits of fat which lie trapped between the skin and muscle. It is a surgical procedure that is done under general anesthesia.
11. Lymphatic Drainage Massage increases the functioning of the lymphatic system, and helps to remove and filter waste, toxins and excess fluids from the body.
12. Patch contour deals with the application of patches which contain Celidium cartilagineum that converts fat into energy and eliminates unwanted toxins. Used like a sticking plaster, it has produced good results by reducing stubborn cellulite.
13. Gene therapy works on the principle of an inherited cellulite gene on the x chromosome.
By Juliet Cohen

Childhood Obesity: Physical Effects

Obesity can be a problem as early as kindergarten for some children. Children who suffer from obesity will most likely endure a lifelong struggle with physical and emotional consequences.
Physical effects of obesity in children include difficulty keeping up with physical activities, problems sleeping, and trouble with breathing. Not only are obese children more often affected by asthma, they also have problems with sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is being recognized with more frequency as the incidence of pediatric obesity rises. Clinically significant effects on learning and memory function have been documented in children with obstructive sleep apnea as a consequence of obesity. (Must, Aviva, Ph.D., ET AL, 2003 "Effects of Obesity on Morbidity in Children and Adolescents" Nutrition in Clinical Care, p. 8).

Childhood obesity clearly impacts the health of the growing child. Furthermore, it is considered an important disease because of its link to long-term health problems including type II diabetes, hypertension, some forms of cancer, lack of energy and asthma. The incidence of type II diabetes in children is expected to grow in parallel with the rise in obesity. Onset diabetes in childhood is a predictor of early onset of diabetes complications including cardiovascular disease, kidney failure and amputations (Must, p. 131). Approximately 60% of overweight five to ten year old children experience at least one associated biochemical or clinical cardiovascular risk factor, such as hyperlipidemia, elevated blood pressure, or increased insulin levels, and 25% have two or more (Koplan, JP, Deitz WH., "Calorie Imbalance and Public Health Policy" The
Journal of the American Medical Association, 1999. p 1579).

Children from lower income families are at a greater disadvantage because the majority of this population resides in neighborhoods with intimidating playgrounds. Concerned with street safety, children are often kept inside by parents and they tend to spend more time in front of the television or playing video games.

Playgrounds in lower income neighborhoods tend to be filthy, with broken bottles, trash and graffiti covering the park. Although the playground has basketball courts, swings and jungle gyms, they are generally not child friendly. The parks are usually populated with young adults hanging out, intimidating the younger children. This is not a safe environment for children to play in and not one in which children could safely play unsupervised.

Schools are contributing to childhood obesity by failing to make physical education an important part of the curriculum. Children don't get enough exercise at school. Time allotted for gym is inadequate and infrequent. Teachers can try to compensate by providing their classes with additional outside play time. The physical education program is extremely vital and deserving of more attention.

Implementation of after school programs that emphasize physical activities such as kickball and basketball should be a priority. There is a need for an after school athletic program at the elementary level to augment the physical education program and provide a safe, healthy environment for lower income children as well. This would be a benefit for children as well as parents, and an important factor in reducing obesity in children.
Copyright (c) 2007 Gurion Blattman

The Heaviest Man On Earth

Manuel Uribe, born in Monterrey, Mexico is not just any other ordinary man on the street. He holds the distinction of being the heaviest man on earth. He weights 560 kg (over 1200 pounds.)

To get a feel of exactly how heavy he is, you need imagine an adult male, and another, and another, and another (this can go on for a little while more)… He is almost as heavy as seven adult men.

Manuel Uribe, “I take one day at a time. The doctors told me I had a choice. To choose life or to choose death. I chose life.”

According to Duncan Kennedy, a BBC reporter, Manuel Uribe is surprisingly not depressed, rather he's happy,

“At his peak, he weighed 560kg, or 1234lb, or 88st. That's half a ton. Small Japanese cars come in lighter.

I got a shock when I first met Manuel. He'd agreed to meet us at his home in Monterrey, northern Mexico.

I had expected him to be closeted in an upstairs bedroom, out of sight. But no. These days you could not meet a more engaging, funny and contented man.
And the cause of his new found happiness? His weight loss. “
In the past year, Manuel has shed 180kg/400lbs off his body, that’s almost equivalent to two full grown man climbing out of his body!

Lack of Discipline or a Genetic Problem The question here boils down to this, is it even possible to eat till a state where you end up weighing 1200 pounds? This man here is not a kid like 400 Pounds Jessica, he's a grown man who is aware of his doings and even has a supportive mother who cooks his meals daily for this bed-ridden soul.

Doctors think that there might be a fault in his genes which triggered the inflammation of his molecular structure, therefore causing him to gain weight uncontrollably.

‘We Don’t Have an Explanation’ Dr. Jaime Gonzalez makes house calls to Uribe once a week. His goal: to help his patient lose 1,000 pounds. Uribe's legs and lower body are massaged daily to improve blood circulation. Amazingly, Manuel is perfect health despite his massive weight!
He has no high blood pressure, no high cholesterol, no triglycerides, and no diabetes. Simply put, he's a healthy man who is just, well, overweight.

The Zone Diet Everything Manuel eats now is calculated down to the last detail, literally. His nutritionist says that the diet focuses on controlling his hormones.

"It's about controlling his hormones," says Alejandra Garcia, one of Manuel's nutritionists.
A sample of Manuel’s meal right now includes a sumptuous bowl of fish soup, complete with large chunks of fish. Followed by this is a grapefruit, half an apple and ending it off with 18 peanuts. Yes, 18 peanuts.

‘I Choose Life’ Manuel Uribe, “I take one day at a time. The doctors told me I had a choice. To choose life or to choose death. I chose life.”

With his life getting back on track, Manuel now has a girlfriend and even wants to have children. He has his own website and has started a Foundation to spread the word that weigh loss for obese people is possible. He has also bought himself a giant massage machine to maintain the circulation in the legs as he can no longer close or move them.
Manuel says his aim is to get down to 120kg/264lbs.

Show your support to Manuel Uribe by dropping words of encouragement for him in our comments panel just below.

His battle to be normal has touched us and in time, we hope he will motivate you too!
By Darcy Dal

Eating Disorder Statistics

Living beings survive on food and it is an essential part of the daily need of the mankind. And yet many of us suffer from eating disorders. The worst part is that young people and adolescents are the victims of the phenomenon. Most statistics say that eating disorders are very common, especially among female adolescents.

Researchers estimate that about one percent (1%) of the female adolescents suffer from anorexia. This would mean that about one out of every one hundred young women between ten and twenty are suffering from Anorexia Nervosa. The reason for anorexia is because these young people are often eating less. This can some times lead to death. And it is now all the more common.

As per a research study about four percent (4%), or four out of one hundred, college-aged women have bulimia. 50% of the people who suffer from anorexia, develop bulimia or bulimic patterns. The statistics of such people who suffer from bulimia is difficult to ascertain because these people are secretive and do not reveal their problem. The same is the case for older people who suffer from bulimia. It is rare in case of children.

For the males with signs of eating disorder the statistics says that about 10% of those people suffer from anorexia and bulimia. The difference may be because the expectation for women in our society is different than for men. Women are expected to look slim and beautiful and this has led to many women falling prey to Anorexia and this may sometimes lead to Bulimia.
A
nother research study at Harvard University Medical School suggests that up to 25 percent of adults with eating disorders are male. The emergence of the new figures is very different from previous research. As per the new facts and figures, men are becoming more prone to eating disordered. It could be also that new technology has improved the diagnostic tools and are now catching people who would have escaped detection before. Also, it is now evident that men are now more concerned about their looks and give serious attention to their appearance and body image. The new study was based on information obtained from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication, a mental health survey of nearly 9,000 adults across the U.S.
By Max Suther

Depression Treatment - The Person You Love

In my last article “Free and Safe Depression Treatment for Teens and Adults,” I told you that the people who appear in your dreams are parts of your own personality and you shall interpret them according to the meaning they have for you. If you characterize them as being helpful, they signify your own helpfulness. If you think they are selfish, they signify your own selfishness. So, in your dream, the unconscious shows you your own behaviour reflected on other people, so that you can observe it better and accept the conclusions that you come to. It’s easier and better to observe other people’s mistakes than our own….

But seeing other people in your dreams can have another meaning, a very objective one, because your dreams are connected with reality and they try to help you overcome your problems. If you are in love with someone and this person brings you many problems, the unconscious gives you information about them in your dreams. In this case, you must interpret their appearance objectively and not with the symbolic meaning of parts of your own personality, even though they also bear this meaning, but the important point here is to understand that the dreams give you serious information about the reality you ignore in order to protect you from craziness.

A dearest friend who worked with me for a year used to see repeated dreams about the young man she loved, because he treated her very badly. Several dreams every day about the same person were giving her information about his character and about her own character. She was suffering very much in this relationship, but she could not see the reality as it was because she belonged to a psychological type based on feelings, and she was not able to think objectively about reality when it was in opposition to her feelings.

Another friend had a series of dreams about his wife, who abandoned him and their son, who was only 7 years old at the time. Everyday, he would see some dream or many dreams about his wife, how he met her, why they got married, everything related to her and her behaviour, as well as everything related to his own behaviour since he met her.

The unconscious is really a doctor that cures each one of us with the real knowledge about reality and about our own mistakes. Through dream interpretation, we can clearly see that we are the first ones we shall blame for our suffering because we make many mistakes by behaving according our psychological type. We don’t care about other points and other conceptions of reality. We don’t want to learn how other people interpret the same reality, and we never develop all the capacities we have with this negative attitude, because we have to accept to be different in order to learn a completely different conception of the same reality we are used to judge in our own way.

So, if you have a serious problem with someone, or if you are in love with someone and you don’t know how you shall behave, the wise and saintly unconscious will orient you through your own dreams. You only need to learn the symbolic language in order to interpret its messages. Remember though, that other people in your dreams are parts of your own personality, even though the unconscious gives you such clear information about the person you care the most. Bear in mind also that your dreams try to show you what is going to happen in the future a long time before any problem starts to appear in your life. You have to care about dream interpretation though, in order to avoid the mistakes you would make without this help.
The dream is always preparing the dreamer to deal with the problems of his daily life or the problems provoked by the invasion of craziness in his human conscience. So, the prevision is part of the dream’s structure. It has to show to the dreamer what is going to happen in the future if he won’t do anything to change his behaviour and will only repeat the mistakes of his psychological type. Each psychological type follows specific behavioural rules, according to the psychological function that is more developed in their psychic sphere.

The meaning of each premonition is always to avoid the bad result. Many people believe that we cannot change our destiny, even if we can predict it. This belief is very ancient and was part of the Greek mythology. However, in the Old Testament we have many examples of salvations that could be done thanks to dream messages that some talented creatures could interpret.
You’ll see in practice how you can change your life if you change your behaviour, thanks to the orientation given to you by the dreams’ messages. This way you’ll be able to avoid your suffering for repeating the same mistakes that everyone that belongs to your psychological type repeats for years and years, without understanding that they are only falling in the same old rut because they ddon’t care about learning who they really are.

During my studies, I came across Carl Jung’s method of deciphering dreams, which helped me and urged me to continue his research into the unknown regions of our psychical sphere. I set my poetry aside and began to compile my findings. I sought to prove that Jung had discovered the proper method of interpretation of dreams. This exercise actually taught me many things, and I continued to pursue Jung’s research into the analysis of dreams.
By Christina Sponias

How to Gain Weight and Build Muscle Fast

So you just finish watching Baywatch, what a show! And you are just sort of wondering if you to can get body like that. So now you can you can start the frantic search of the internet for information on how to gain weight and build muscle fast ... real fast.

Surprisingly gaining weight and building muscle are two really simple processes. To gain weight one simply has to eat more and to build muscle requires working out with weights. Well that’s not strictly true. You need to add a few guidelines around these simple processes.

In order to build muscle you need to get yourself down to the gym … yes that place we don’t really want to go. You need to get hold of some weights … well you need to be able to at least pick them up. Lifting weights will stress your muscles. By continuing to lift these weights will cause small micro tears in the muscle fibers. It is the repairing of these micro tear that builds muscle. The scientific name for this is “hypertrophy”.

So now it is time for a secret. Ready! Pick up the heaviest weights you can until you can no longer do a single repetition, even if there was a gun held to your head. Ideally this muscle failure should occur between 5 and 7 repetitions. This will ensure that the micro tears occur in the muscle.

The moment you leave the gym your body gets going on making sure you will survive. It starts repairing those damaged muscle fibers and makes them stronger than before. It does this so you can handle the same stress to your muscles that you just put them through. Little does you body know that you intend to increase the level of stress by increasing the weights next time you are in the gym.

Increasing muscle mass is starting to add weight to your body as well. However your body does need a little help from you as regards nutrition. In order for your body to repair the muscles properly it needs the right nutrients. You can give your body the right nutrients by eating proteins such as chicken, meat and fish as well as good complex carbohydrates and good fats. Make sure that you also eat more than your body requires if you want to continue to gain muscle mass. You cannot build muscle mass and lose weight at the same time.

So now you know how to gain weight and build muscle fast there is no excuse for have a Baywatch type body.
By Rich Powers

Why Are You So Obsessed With Cellulite?

That's assuming you are not a prodigy toddler reading this article, or a teenager, you may be in that "luckiest" part of the population that recognize the word: cellulite, but are yet to show any interest in how to get rid of it. Then there's you and me and everyone you know, or probably will ever meet. Most women who have that recognized on sight rough terrain, dimpled, dare I say: "cottage cheese" like skin who are hoping to find an answer for the targeted cellulite we keep trying to get rid of.
Mind you, as I see it, it's not fair. Of course, you haven't directly done anything to have inherited your cellulite accumulation, right? The reality is definitely a problem. You've realized your hips, "love handles", the nave of your back, upper leg, also spots of you from head to toe, that are not normally susceptible to cellulite, but as you already know, have indeed been weighing on your thoughts for some time, now and enough is enough, you want to take the necessary actions to get back in control.
Perhaps you are as slim as a rail, brag to anybody who will give you the time of day about the enormous quantity of food you normally eat without a care in the world, completely free of any thought that even one, discouraging pound to be gained as a result. Despite such advantages you are not out of the reach of cellulite. Perhaps you even exercise, have no signs of trouble right now, and follow a strict, good for you diet, and yet cellulite could care less, and it is almost inevitable it will be showing up like thunderstorms during a baseball game. Not welcome, of course. How to get rid of cellulite is a decades old riddle that thousands of people will wisely choose their words, and pull their teeth just to bribe you of the miracle in a box, package or toothpaste like tube that displays outrageous claims in its marketing, promising to eliminate your cellulite blemishes without any work.
Such things upset me.
Truth be told, cellulite, at least how you and I think of it, those fatty areas found on our body that we wish would disappear, hardly any of the "big promises" in stores and online are worth the real results, hidden in the fine print.
There are thousands of cellulite eliminating products being promoted currently. And those who tell you to avoid one, only to try another, often have a direct hand in your potential sale. That kind of information that is looking out for you.
You'd think they'd lighten up, but they keep pouring it on, saying that this is the way of getting rid of cellulite: anti-cellulite creams, cellulite exercises, cellulite treatments claiming to have all benefits of Botox - - but without the drawbacks or side effects, infrared cellulite therapy, wear anti cellulite shirts, cellulite removal via lasers that go deep within, alternative cellulite treatments certain to have you driving yourself batty with the weird stuff you're told to slather on your skin, has just one goal in mind: to get you to buy into what they're selling.
Perhaps you have fallen hook, line and sinker for an oh so compelling testimonial, newspaper article that appeared to look like a real story, before and after photograph as all the proof they think you will need that what they "ironically" are selling works - - And guess what? - - it sheds: fat, cellulite, cottage cheese, or "insert your favorite cellulite nickname here", or so they keep telling you and me.
Don't despair. Perhaps I can do some good, and cut out cellulite myths and the complete nonsense, before this cellulite conundrum gets the best of good intentioned people just looking for some facts. Stop being obsessed with cellulite.
Being a woman who once did not care about cellulite, she consumed what she wanted, but stayed healthy with routine, diet and a demanding workout routine that includes: jogging, weights and swimming. But those times have come and gone, today is what she focuses on. Paula saw that she had developed a bit of cellulite, started to investigate the truth and lies about cellulite with concentrated focus, obsessed with cellulite, some say. What she found was not just disappointing, but a complete let down in many cases. She is currently on a course, a mission sick and tired of these cellulite treatments offline and on out, about and everywhere.
By Paula Pen

Atkins Diet Food List

Though the Atkins diet is not as popular as it once was, there are still plenty of people who are on it, and plenty more who still want to try to do it. There are some specific things you have to do to follow this diet, and you will need to know the Atkins diet food list before you can begin. Unlike other diets, this one is extremely restrictive in the first phase, but broadens after just two weeks. Though it can be tough, there are many who claim it is very much worth a try.

When you first start, your Atkins diet food list will be very small. You will be restricted to some different types of meat, and a short list of vegetables. This induction phase has very little of any type of carbohydrates and is meant to kick your body into a different way of dealing with calories. It should start your body thinking it needs to burn its food stores. You should start to feel better within a few days, and you might be surprised at how much you lose in the first week.

After the first two weeks, you will be able to slowly introduce some limited carbs. You are probably still avoiding bread and other processed and complex carbohydrates. By now your weight loss should slow down a bit, but this is how it is supposed to go. Your body should be settled into a new way of processing your foods, and as long as you limit the carbs as you should be, you should be doing just fine. Many can’t follow this because they love bread so much, and many other favorites are not included on the Atkins diet food list.

When you go on this diet, there are a few things that are more important than the Atkins diet food list, however. You have to remember that you should still keep your portions down to a decent size, and that you should cut out fats. There are some who go on this diet thinking they can eat whatever they want as long as they are not having carbohydrates, and that is just not true. You should also talk to your doctor before you begin if you have ever had any type of heart or cholesterol problem in your past. Though this diet can be great to get your weight down, and to make you feel better, it can be hard on the heart if you have had problems.

Losing Weight Is Very Hard - I Am Giving Up!

Trying to lose weight and keeping up with a strict diet regime is really a challenge for most of us. Staying fit and healthy has its positive advantages. You will have a better quality of life, higher self-esteem, lower health risks and sometimes a better career path.

Recently, I made a promise to my family that I will cut my weight down by another 20% and will maintain a healthy BMI. I have been looking around for the best approach to losing weight. I then came across an interesting diet strategy that encourages people to take smaller meals several times a day.

I did a further research and was surprised to find out that even the Singapore Minister Mentor has been practising it for many years.

In fact, it has proven that by taking smaller meals several times a day, our metabolism will be higher and we will burn fat at a faster rate.

So to lose weight effectively, you must be determined to change your diet pattern:
- decide what you eat
- how you will eat
- your behaviour, and
- your activity level.

For a start, you shouldn’t set your target too high. Losing too much weight at a short time will do you more harm than good. You should set a small goal (e.g. 3 pounds; 5 percent of your current weight) that is attainable and easier to stay focus on.

To conclude, there is no magical pill or a quick solution for weight loss. It’s going to take a lot of discipline and hard work.
By Alan Ten

Medical Tourism - Most Popular Destinations

Medical tourism has been growing for more than a decade. It began with people choosing cosmetic surgery abroad in search for better prices and anonymity. Since then, it has moved inevitably into the non-cosmetic area. Patients from various regions of the world now travel for orthopedic and heart surgery, dentistry, hernias, cataracts and almost any kind of elective surgery.

One of the most popular destinations is India. What makes India an attractive medical tourist destination is low-cost treatment. It is estimated that treatment costs in India start at around a tenth of the price of analogous procedures in the United States or Britain. Many of the doctors were educated or practiced in the West, so their expertise is equally impeccable. In many countries, people have to wait a long period of time to undergo a surgery, so these countries have developed links with India for fast treatments for their nationals. The Indian government has created incentives such as a fast-track visa for foreign patients. However, India has competitors. Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore – all have government-backed medical tourism programs.

Thailand has long been a big draw for medical tourists. More and more hospitals are accredited by JCAHO (the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Health care Organizations), and the number of medical tourists is increasing. Over one million every year go there for medical procedures ranging from cosmetic surgery to heart treatment.

The Philippines also boast some of the best hospitals offering best expertise, highest level facilities, and warm hospitality. There are also some of the world’s best spa resorts and tour destinations in the region.

Singapore, another medical hub, is planned to be developed into a leading health care destination in Asia. Although there are no official figures yet, industry experts are guessing that more than 400,000 foreigners visited Singapore for medical care last year, maintaining a steady growth of an average of 20 percent over the past few years.

Latin American countries offer hospital-and-tourism packages to the US residents. In Central America, nations are marketing their plastic surgery, dentistry and certain surgical procedures, along with a “getaway” vacation.

Then there are Eastern European countries, which offer the lowest prices in Europe. For instance, cataract removal in Poland or Lithuania would cost £650, as compared to £2,350 in the UK.

Clinics are also popping up in transit zones: there is one at Munich international airport; Dubai is planning to open the Dubai Health care City by the end of the decade.

South Africa, Jordan, Tunisia, Turkey – all have entered the lucrative market or are trying to do so, and the list of countries is expanding every year.
By Donatas Svetaka