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MEDICAL
CARE
All Turkish cities have hospitals,
and towns have clinics, often with staff
who speak at least some English. Besides
government hospitals, Istanbul and
several other large cities have private
hospitals that are often of top
quality
and thoroughly up-to-date.
Some
specialize in "medical
tourism," that
is, travel to obtain elective
medical procedures that may
be less expensive in Turkey than in
your home country.
Your
country's consulate may
be able to help with references and
recommendations.
For free
referrals to medical facilities
in Turkey, click on these links:
PHARMACIES/CHEMISTS'
Every Turkish city and town
has pharmacies/chemists (eczane, EDJ-zah-NEH) where
you can buy medicines,
medical aids and equipment, including
such items as soaps, bandages, toothpaste
and condoms (prezervatif).
Although a doctor's prescription is
obviously best, it is often not
required.
In fact, pharmacists/chemists (usually
both male and female in
attendance) will often recommend specific
medicines for simple maladies if you
tell them your symptoms.
Prices for medicines
are government controlled, and therefore
usually low to moderate.
On Sundays and holidays, one or more eczane in
a city will open as nöbetçi
eczanesi (nur-BET-chee
edj-zah-neh-see, duty pharmacy/chemists')
because illness knows no holiday. Signs
in the windows of closed pharmacies/chemists'
give the addresses of the nöbetçi
ezcanesi's, but the open shops
may be quite a distance from where
you are, so you may need help finding
one.
IMMUNIZATIONS
Most travelers do not get additional
immunizations before a trip to Turkey,
but you may want to check
a reliable source of advice, such as
the US Government's Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention's CDC
Travelers' Health website.
If you plan to travel or live in Turkey
for more than a few weeks, to travel
in remote areas or to be close to or
handle animals and/or birds, you should
definitely check the CDC
Travelers' Health website and
perhaps also consult a doctor about
possible immunizations.
TAKE
IT EASY
To
stay healthy while you travel
in Turkey, don't overdo it.
Eat
and drink in moderation and
get plenty of rest. If you're
not feeling well, rest in your hotel
room rather than pushing onward.
(If you push onward and get sicker
you'll have to rest even longer and
you'll lose even more travel time.)
SUN & HEAT
In the warm months, use sunblock
lotion regularly
and wear a hat to avoid sunburn. Drink
liquids regularly (at least every
hour) in hot, dry weather—even
if you don't feel thirsty—to
avoid dehydration.
Surprisingly, mild dehydration can
bring on stomach upsets, dizziness
and diarrhea which are often mistaken
for food ailments. The cure is simple:
remember to drink a glass of water
or a soft drink every hour!
FOOD
Consult your doctor concerning Travelers
Diarrhea. Changes in food can disturb
digestion, so go easy on the spicy
food. (Most Turkish
food is not spicy.)
Be careful not to overeat. In fact,
you should "undereat," especially
early in your trip. Once your digestive
system becomes familiar with new intestinal
flora, you can try new foods.
DRINK
Drink bottled spring water,
available everywhere. Go easy on tea
and coffee, which can contribute to
dehydration and sleeplessness, and
can aggravate digestive problems. If
you use alcoholic beverages, do so
sparingly, if at all. Alcohol increases
the risk of dehydration and stomach
upset.
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