How'S Your Health?

[Dancealot]

I think i have it. I don't know in what situation (the OP) i should be in.... but If i was the OP i would post something i would not agree with myself to get feedback.

[tombkk]

OP claims to be "a prospective immigrant to Thailand". His "inescapable conclusion (from a distance) is, that Thailand is a totally unhealthy place to live". This obvious contradiction spells "troll" to me.

This ain't a village in Kansas. Bangkok is a big city with 12 (or 14?) million inhabitants, and of course the air is polluted. Name a city in the world (on any continent) of this size that is considered healthy.

But Thailand is not only Bangkok.The vast majority of the countryside of Thailand consists of places with clean air. If air pollution is the concern of this "prospective" immigrant, that is where he could stay. Or in a village in Kansas.

What exactly is the question?

[thomdixon]

Lets all be adults....the only question is: How much money does the OP have to spend each month. Poor is poor in any country and health is directly related to the amount of income one has to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Thailand is great, I love Thais but to be honest most of them grow old well before their time and this is because of income............................same in the Occidental world as well.

Stay out of the sun (like middle and upper income Thais do), eat hygienic quality food, intake enough protein (protein is expensive here but without it there is no possibility of a healthy body) regular visits to honest Dentists and Doctors and maintain a healthy lifestyle (exercise and not too much alcohol)).

Gee, the same as New York or London or Tokyo. If someone thinks they will remain healthy on 17,000 baht a month in Thailand they are dreaming.

[w11guy]

Bangkok is a big city with 12 (or 14?) million inhabitants, and of course the air is polluted. Name a city in the world (on any continent) of this size that is considered healthy.

London is much less polluted than Bangkok. They have stricter laws regarding vehicle emissions and the law is actually enforced. Burning of charcoal and cooking on the streets like they do in Bangkok is also illegal. Also, sewers are covered up and not open like they are in many parts of Bangkok. Bangkok has much worse pollution problems than many capital cities around the world. I have also spent time in New York and it is definitely much less polluted than Bangkok. Also, the street of Bangkok are mostly filthy.The streets in western cities tend to be much, much cleaner.

So, nothing wrong with the OP's question. He hasn't been here, so he's just checking. And who can blame him if he's been spending time listening to all the negative comments from those jaded expats who think they know it all.

So, yes Bangkok is polluted and it's much worse than places like London. All big cities will have some pollution, but the difference with Bangkok is that no-one seems to care. Buses belching out black smoke are allowed to carry on driving. In London they'd be taken off the road immediately and the owners would be heavily fined. They'd also lose their licence if they repeatedly flouted the law.

As someone else pointed out, Bangkok isn't Thailand. Different areas of Thailand have different levels of pollution. But I just read that they are planning to evacuate people from the north because the pollution is so bad. Once again, it's easy to stop it, but the authorities would rather evacuate people than prosecute those that are causing the pollution.

But if the OP is worried about pollution he shouldn't come here. Even I am thinking of leaving Bangkok, as it's so filthy.

[Nisa]

Bangkok is a big city with 12 (or 14?) million inhabitants, and of course the air is polluted. Name a city in the world (on any continent) of this size that is considered healthy.

London is much less polluted than Bangkok. They have stricter laws regarding vehicle emissions and the law is actually enforced. Burning of charcoal and cooking on the streets like they do in Bangkok is also illegal. Also, sewers are covered up and not open like they are in many parts of Bangkok. Bangkok has much worse pollution problems than many capital cities around the world. I have also spent time in New York and it is definitely much less polluted than Bangkok. Also, the street of Bangkok are mostly filthy.The streets in western cities tend to be much, much cleaner.

So, nothing wrong with the OP's question. He hasn't been here, so he's just checking. And who can blame him if he's been spending time listening to all the negative comments from those jaded expats who think they know it all.

So, yes Bangkok is polluted and it's much worse than places like London. All big cities will have some pollution, but the difference with Bangkok is that no-one seems to care. Buses belching out black smoke are allowed to carry on driving. In London they'd be taken off the road immediately and the owners would be heavily fined. They'd also lose their licence if they repeatedly flouted the law.

As someone else pointed out, Bangkok isn't Thailand. Different areas of Thailand have different levels of pollution. But I just read that they are planning to evacuate people from the north because the pollution is so bad. Once again, it's easy to stop it, but the authorities would rather evacuate people than prosecute those that are causing the pollution.

But if the OP is worried about pollution he shouldn't come here. Even I am thinking of leaving Bangkok, as it's so filthy.

You have so many misleading statements in your post that I wouldn't even know where to begin correcting you. But I did want to share a few links below and agree, there was nothing wrong with the OP's question.

Bangkok cleans up its air pollution, serving as green model for Asia

http://www.gluckman....kPollution.html

Bangkok’s air, on average, now (2007) falls within the limit set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency

http://www.nytimes.c...?pagewanted=all

Edited March 11, 2012 by Nisa

[Dancealot]

OP claims to be "a prospective immigrant to Thailand". His "inescapable conclusion (from a distance) is, that Thailand is a totally unhealthy place to live". This obvious contradiction spells "troll" to me.

This ain't a village in Kansas. Bangkok is a big city with 12 (or 14?) million inhabitants, and of course the air is polluted. Name a city in the world (on any continent) of this size that is considered healthy.

But Thailand is not only Bangkok.The vast majority of the countryside of Thailand consists of places with clean air. If air pollution is the concern of this "prospective" immigrant, that is where he could stay. Or in a village in Kansas.

What exactly is the question?

True, although the OP didn't state a question but i think he made a personal statement.

[septeen]

I am grateful that many of you immediately understood the thrust and relevance of my topic. Takes all kinds there's no doubt but some of the negative responses defy logic in my view. Someone asks, " what is the question? " . That the question posed is very clear is reflected by the number of responses. Seems like this very same concern is on the minds of many.

And Bendix accuses me of not taking risks. Wow! I left my mother 55 years ago and since then have lived in over 50 different addresses, and worked 25 different jobs in several different countries; Also I have immigrated 4 times in my life. I have been a risk-taker since day one.

As we age we approach ever-closer to the ' tipping-point '. That is, ill health is so much closer. Far better to become defensive then and at least do some research. Consult the people who know. The 'people' in this case are other expats who are already living the life which I may want to live. I am doing it and I thank all who have helped in this thread.- Septeen

[doggie888888]

While in Thailand, you may happen to live next to uneducated morons who burn plastic bags and other household refuse openly. Or end up near a noisy area which prevents you from getting adequate rest at night. You may need to drive regularly in the mother-of-all-traffic-jams that sends your blood pressure sky high. Or maybe you will go native and decide you don't need to wear a helmet whilst riding a motorcycle. You may even decide that you can take all sorts of risks such as not wearing seat belts, speeding, drink driving, staring at that big, tattooed, shaved, testosterone junkie, becoming a viagra junkie yourself, getting jilted whilst living in a high rise apartment etc etc etc.

Other than above, your health should be excellent.

[phuturatica]

I have found my health has deteriorated slightly here but I had a pre-existing condition anyways. My main problem here is my diet which I am trying to alter. However sometimes the language barrier (which I am trying to overcome by learning Thai) can be a problem when you want to question what's in the food or request the order to be altered how it is on the menu. That's not me being fussy, I am just trying to avoid certain foods due to my health etc.

However I am sucker for the sweet and salty foods here which doesn't help and a lot of the food is fried which isn't the healthiest of options.

As for cleanliness, my apartment is spotless and there are rats and roaches on the streets of Bangkok but they are everywhere. If you choose to live in a slum dirty area of Bangkok then that's going to happen, simple as.

As for air pollution - Every major city in the world has this problem.

I love living in the city as I've always been a city type of girl - however the countryside or the beach is not too far away if I want to get away. Simple as.

Also Bangkok is much more cheaper than living in the UK (where I was previously) and my salary whilst it is lower out here than it was in the UK, the cost of living is much cheaper than the UK so I am saving more money here than I was in the UK.

Probably best you stay where you are seeing as you have already judged it so negatively.