Is living in Thailand better health-wise than elsewhere?

[Lacessit]

28 minutes ago, Orinoco said:

Or Thailand will get you with the,  pesticides in the food.

hormones and heavy metals in the fish.

if that fails, they will murder you on the roads.

Now even more  amazing Thailand   

 

 

 

 

I do have to wonder how I have lived here for 12 years, and got to age 78, without growing two heads.

[Orinoco]

1 minute ago, Lacessit said:

I do have to wonder how I have lived here for 12 years, and got to age 78, without growing two heads.

Is this just your opinion 

[RocketDog]

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

Life expectancy is good if you stay off the roads.

Off or even near them.

Being within eyesight of any road /trail /path in the Kingdom can be hazardous to your health.

[Lacessit]

1 minute ago, Orinoco said:

Is this just your opinion 

I could send a photo, but I wouldn't like to upset you if you are having breakfast. Thanks for reminding me, I must check down below.

[RocketDog]

Physical health issues are debatable.

Mental health and emotional well-being are certainly more easily achievable here than in my home country. My only return plans there are to sell my house and then get out of Dodge.

The road carnage comprises the first ten things on my list of what I dislike about LOS. Number 11 is the rotten fish paste.

Color me content.

[TheFishman1]

Today in Chiang Mai the air quality I said the top three of the worst air in the world TiT

[Lacessit]

3 minutes ago, RocketDog said:

Off or even near them.

Being within eyesight of any road /trail /path in the Kingdom can be hazardous to your health.

The keys to surviving on Thailand's roads are defensive driving, and threat awareness. Just assume everyone else on the roads is trying to kill you.

After 2 years here, I got sick of tuk-tuks and songthaews. Been driving here for 10 years, scooter and car.

One accident, got shunted on the scooter by a woman who was profusely apologetic. No damage to myself or the scooter.

[cardinalblue]

Spending a month or so in thailand is not living in thailand….I could say the same when going to vacation in Hawaii Tahiti Guam or Fiji….

[BadSpottedDog]

I must say that since we have lived here, we haven't been sick in over 6 years. No cold, flu, covid, viruses, etc ... nothing. We hardly ever have sugar, and eat fairly healthy. (no 7 11 food ever).

The air quality in our town is great most of the time, but this year, we're being hit with smoke from the burning season. This is something that seriously need to be addressed. It has definitely affected our breathing this year. I can't imagine living in Bangkok or CM.

[TheFishman1]

[RocketDog]

Just now, Lacessit said:

The keys to surviving on Thailand's roads are defensive driving, and threat awareness. Just assume everyone else on the roads is trying to kill you.

After 2 years here, I got sick of tuk-tuks and songthaews. Been driving here for 10 years, scooter and car.

One accident, got shunted on the scooter by a woman who was profusely apologetic. No damage to myself or the scooter.

I've often cynically said the same thing. Consider all vehicles here to be kamikaze death machines aimed directly at you. 

 

I rode a Honda click for two years around Cha-am before I saw the error of my ways. Now I only venture out in my Z71 Chevy pickup, and that only rarely.

I'm saving my money to get heavy steel panels on the sides, bumper bars on each end, and steel mesh over bullet-proof glass for all the windows.

I'm still pondering defensive measures against the large trucks and overloaded sugarcane carriers careening down the major highways.

 

I'm seriously considering rocket launchers on the cab for them. Is that illegal here? Sorry, stupid question. Will I get a ticket for having /using them? If the fine is small I'll proceed with my plan.

[Andrew65]

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

It depends where you live. If you can find a smaller town or a rural area you like, it can be quite nice. 

 

For me it is alot less stressful and more joyful than living in the US. If I was wealthy, I would stay in Thailand 3 or 4 months a year, and divide my time at a few other countries. 

 

But for someone on a limited income the quality of life is good. I love alot of Thais and even those living in Bangkok, as I consider them to be the most well adjusted big metro people I have ever encountered. Most big cities of the world these days are populated by disenchanted, listless, occasionally hostile, unfriendly, relatively unhappy, heavy hearted, hurried, harried, and generally joyless souls. Not Bangkok. And generally not Thailand. They are lighthearted, reasonably friendly, helpful, fun, animated, and it feels as if they are leading lives that are somewhat fulfilling. Very unique for such a huge city anywhere.
 
Lastly, Bangkok has what I consider to be the highest concentration of beautiful women on the planet, by far. One only has to stand in one spot for a minute or two, to see an absolute stunner. Try that in KL. Or Jakarta. Or Tehran. Or Shanghai. Or Chicago. Or London. 
 
I do not live in Bangkok, but visit a lot. And I love every day I can spend in that great city. And I enjoy my life in Thailand, now that I have decided I can't afford to leave. LOL. 

I lived in Thailand for almost 20 years. I also visited the Philippines, which I would say rivals Thailand where beautiful women is concerned. (Another thing being, they're more likely to speak English to a reasonable standard, one thing that lets Thailand down. My impression was that amongst ordinary people, the standard of English speaking is better in Cambodia than in Thailand).

Edited April 13, 2022 by Andrew65

[jerrymahoney]

18 minutes ago, Andrew65 said:

I lived in Thailand for almost 20 years. I also visited the Philippines, which I would say rivals Thailand where beautiful women is concerned. (Another thing being, they're more likely to speak English to a reasonable standard, one thing that lets Thailand down.

Not if you can be bothered to learn to speak reasonable Thai which opens up to you the world of Thai women (and others) who do not speak English.

[crazykopite]

I live on the islands where most of the time the temperature is in the high 20s /30s that helps with what used to be aching bones when I lived in the U.K. I also find living in a good all year round hot climate is a good feel factor so yes I am a much healthier person for my living here rather than the U.K.

[shackleton]

Yes agree with the article plenty of expats retiring to Thailand 

As The Thai visa forum can confirm 

We all have our reasons plenty of places to stay in Thailand health weather  food people could go on 

You don't have to stay in Bangkok Pattaya. Ect 

[KhunLA]

To the title, healthwise ... yes & no

 

Yes ... I can get an affordable health check every year or so, which should catch anything early, that would usually kill me if not detected.

 

No ... air pollution is horrendous, especially if you were born here and live say, Hua Hin or north of, which we don't.  But it has to knock a few years off your life, if not direct cause of respiratory disease that would kill you.

 

Live south of Hua Hin, but we get our month or 2 of air pollution, bad vs good day:

 

Exercise wise, actually out & about more, when living in temperate zone USA. Change of seasons, and always something to do or see within 1 hr drive of Philly metro.  If not just knocking around downtown Philly.  Lovely small city, big metro to live near, within the area, or 1 to 2 hrs drive from to keep anyone entertained. 

 

Almost 30 yrs ago anyway, and very nice then.  Spent most of first 40 yrs of life there, Philly metro.  Last 5 yrs in Memphis TN area, before Thailand, so actually got a taste of brutal hot weather, half the year, before coming here.

 

Almost year round, sun & humidity here, can be oppressive, and keeps me in the AC most of the time.  Have hills & surf (not really swimmable), and not a lot going on.  Decent nature around, and Hua Hin is 1 hr north, though not really a fan of.

 

Usually head Southward for out & about, when more than a day trip.  Good for mental stimulation.

 

Half the article is about Climate Change, not a big believer in, so won't comment on that wasted space.

 

Non healthwise plus, lack of RE Taxes and cheap labor keeps living cost manageable, and accounts for a bit more monthly pocket money.

Edited April 13, 2022 by KhunLA

[2009]

44 minutes ago, Orinoco said:

I'm 100% sure Satan is female.

She masquerades as a wife for some years before revealing her true identity. 

 

 

 

 

Mate, I wonder just how many men this resonates with.

 

Admittedly, I can admit I know what you are talking about.

[Andrew65]

11 minutes ago, jerrymahoney said:

Not if you can be bothered to learn to speak reasonable Thai which opens up to you the world of Thai women (and others) who do not speak English.

I can speak a smattering of Thai, some useful phrases, numbers etc. I know someone who has spent 16 years living in Thailand and his entire vocabulary consists of sawadee khap. His attitude being, it's much easier for him if the Thais learn to speak English.

One thing being, especially in later years, I never hung-out with Thai people, also, I never worked in Thailand.

[2009]

35 minutes ago, Andrew65 said:

I lived in Thailand for almost 20 years. I also visited the Philippines, which I would say rivals Thailand where beautiful women is concerned. (Another thing being, they're more likely to speak English to a reasonable standard, one thing that lets Thailand down. My impression was that amongst ordinary people, the standard of English speaking is better in Cambodia than in Thailand).

I dunno, I think SE Asian women are well overrated. Or maybe I have just been here too long.

Edited April 13, 2022 by 2009

[Andrew65]

2 minutes ago, 2009 said:

I dunno, I think SE Asian women are well overrated. Or maybe I have just been here too long.

I've now been living for over 3 years in the UK, after 20 years in Thailand. One thing I'd say is that Thai women tend to have better figures than farang women

[2009]

1 minute ago, Andrew65 said:

His attitude being, it's much easier for him if the Thais learn to speak English.

Well, they do teach English here from 3 years old, so he has a point.

 

I have as much Thai as I really need and I have little interest in studying more.

 

My precious time could be used in a much more beneficial way: exercise, reading novels, making more money, spending more time with family, having a beer, going for a massage etc etc

 

I mean what are the odds of intellectual conversation in Thai anyway?

 

The average Thai mother only communicates a few words to her children anyway: eat, sleep, shower etc etc.

[2009]

2 minutes ago, Andrew65 said:

I've now been living for over 3 years in the UK, after 20 years in Thailand. One thing I'd say is that Thai women tend to have better figures than farang women

Agreed, but they don't do anything for free. Lol

[Enzian]

My official residence is Berkeley CA where 90% of the time the air one breathes just came off the Pacific ocean 30 minutes before, and the average daily high 10 months of the year is around 20 Celsius. So I'm here for the social life (in every sense), and for the times I can't be in Europe. I can take the heat, but don't like it. I can't smell the air, but I know the danger and just accept it.

[mikebell]

7 hours ago, garyk said:

If you don't mind chocking to death 6 months a year it is great.

Or being bitten by a rabid dog any day of the week.

Or being involved in an accident with a drunk driver any hour of the day.

[KhunLA]

11 minutes ago, 2009 said:

Well, they do teach English here from 3 years old, so he has a point.

Thais, especially under 30 ish yrs old, speak & understand English just fine, if you speak proper English and slow.  They just prefer not to use, and TBH, why would they.

 

It's not that they can't speak to foreigner, they simply don't want to, and who can blame them.

Edited April 13, 2022 by KhunLA

[oobar]

1 hour ago, Expat68 said:

The older you get you would eventually get sick of all the hassle of flying, for me it takes 24 hours door to door

For me, it's 40+ hours, door to door, which is why the last time I went back was in 1999.

[BritManToo]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

Thais now live 77.7 years on average. 

Yeah, but all the foreigners I knew living here died before age 70.

Emergency health care is very low quality, you'll probably die in the ambulance.

[BritManToo]

7 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

It's not that they can't speak to foreigner, they simply don't want to, and who can blame them.

And I don't want to talk with them either.

My Thai daughter speaks perfect conversational English, but has never admitted it to anyone.

[KannikaP]

1 hour ago, BadSpottedDog said:

I must say that since we have lived here, we haven't been sick in over 6 years. No cold, flu, covid, viruses, etc ... nothing. We hardly ever have sugar, and eat fairly healthy. (no 7 11 food ever).

The air quality in our town is great most of the time, but this year, we're being hit with smoke from the burning season. This is something that seriously need to be addressed. It has definitely affected our breathing this year. I can't imagine living in Bangkok or CM.

So where DO you live please?

[Robert Tyrrell]

2 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

Kings Cross once a red light district many moons ago, is now a trendy upmarket area, besides they have strict noise pollution rules in Sydney.

 

I suppose at the end of the day it's the luck of the draw, I chose the country life away from neighbours, only music, if any that I can hear is from a distance when there is a festival of sorts and it is not enough to bother me.

 

As for answering the topics question, the environment in Thailand is much harsher than the 4 seasons I was used to, that said, with a well insulated and comfortable home, it beats the hell out of working 5/7ths if not 6/7ths of your life and in an office environment for most who would also be stressed out from the work, not happy having to travel in the traffic and have very little time for themselves.

 

Retirement in the old country for most is not sustainable, just a couple of examples, rents shy high, your pension would just about cover your rent if you didn't own a property outright, then it would be to the local grocery store for tonight's dinner, canned dog food.

 

The cost of living is crazy, a kilo of chicken breast will set you back 250 baht vs 88 baht here and you can keep adding on from there.

 

The cost of living here is way cheaper than back home if you go easy on the imports where they stick it to you.

 

I mean what's a drivers licence cost here for 5 years, 300 odd baht, home country you would be lucky to see any change from 4,750 baht.

 

Living here, you have to take the good with the bad, it's not perfect, but perfect is what you make of every situation.

 

I'm good, just have to turn off when it's bad and wait for the good to come up again, that said, it's mostly good and relaxing living the life here in Thailand.

 

Whatever you do, don't talk health insurance costs because that is in the bad, but part of life ????

 

WR Life great Life and Health Insurance for Expats is Thailand !! I have both coverages very reasonable and good service ???? The cheapest I’ve found in Thailand:)