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This is half-question, half-gripe. My gf and I have been here for over months now, and we seem to be constantly afflicted with some annoying symptom or another. I've had colds, coughs, sore throats, feverish feelings, (possibly) a sinus infection, and a general feeling of weakness. I'll have a week or two where I'm fine, and then some symptom pops up.
I've heard from some people that they were just constantly sick for the first few months being here.
Anyone else have this problem? Any magical way to prevent this?
health symptoms (add tags) Why? Details of tags
answered about 13 months ago by Tamvong
Welcome to Hanoi! A lot of people are suffering (or have suffered)from the same thing - me included. There seem to be 3 main theories: a) an allergic reaction to the polution b)The change of seasons and c)the way locals sneeze(!). I'm not aware of any magical way to prevent it although I guess if it is the polution you could try a mask.
answered about 13 months ago by billyt
Yeah, my health declined during the first couple months before rebounding...There is a fair chance it's the polution if most of it is sinus/respiratory.... some other things to think about.... vegetables...buy and use the fresh vegetable washes that can be found at a good many major supermarkets...We have gotten less dilligent with this, but I think for your first few months it helps your system adjust rest?...sounds silly, but as this is my third country living abroad, it seems to be true in every one of them, for me at least...The excitement and nervousness and the whole newness of the situtaion messes up my rest patterns combined with probably pushing myself a little to hard at first...until you truly adjust, you really can't get to much rest Zinc and fresh squeezed orange juice are great for minimzing head cold severity personaly I find a good bender on scotch clears up most of my flu like symptoms...not sure why...
answered about 13 months ago by alpha
You've just got to wait for your antibodies to catch up. I've had this experience with just about every foreign, high-density population center I've moved to. Before moving to Asia, I very rarely even had a cold. But then again, I never lived in a place so packed with people. After a few months it slows down. If you're teaching, remember that you're in contact with large numbers of students who are in contact with large numbers of individuals as well. It's a fertile breeding ground for microbes, and you're going to be feeling it until your body has come into contact with most of the major variations of bugs out there. If it doesn't slow down after three or four months, then it may be allergic reactions to the pollution. That may require some allergy medication to keep the symptoms under control. Have you lived in any other cities with comparable pollution and dust levels? Did you have a similar reaction?
answered about 13 months ago by jestert79
I lived in a smaller city before - Bydgoszcz, Poland, which also had a fair amount of pollution levels. But probably not as bad as here. On the way to and from work I walk by a canal which is basically (and smells like) an open sewer.
Billyt is dead on about the rest. I've read several papers on "culture shock" which highlight the toll taken on your brain by being in a new and strange environment. Your brain is working overtime trying to cope with the different language, different buildings, different people, different food etc., etc., etc.and it gets worn out. Sometimes the symptoms you feel are your body's way of telling you to slow down.
answered about 13 months ago by de2facon
Has anyone experienced the health issues described in the foregoing posts upon return to their home country? My time in high-density population Asian cities has ranged from a few days to several weeks. Yet, I don't experience the cold-like symptoms complained of *until* I'm home. And it seems that my hometown problems surface with increasing regularity with every trip I take; I sneeze, cough and run a fever within a few short hours of arriving at the home port.The problems arise despite a daily dose of all sorts of vitamins, proper immunity shots, and sort of a built-in adaptability to new environments. Indeed, all the precautions...go figure!
That may be more to do with the condition of the air on the plane on which your travelled. I know the airlines have cut down on the cycling of fresh air to save fuel and I often get the same thing after a long flight.
answered about 13 months ago by Sean504
Tim, Vietnam is testing your constitution. I didn't have a solid shit for my first 3-6 months here, and when I laid down in my bed I'd get all dizzy because the ceilings are so damn high. That which does not trigger the medical evacuation policy on your insurance makes you stronger.
answered about 13 months ago by KandA
antidote? bia hoi beer and tucker.
answered about 13 months ago by paka
My suggestion: Do exercise regularly. My allergy is in a different condition.. I have had urticaria for 2 months during my 5 months stay!! I needed to take pills everyday otherwise I would have red bumbs all over me! Doctor here said it's probably caused by the weather. I have been doing exercise everyday since then and now... the symtomp has gone. After sometimes, your body should be able to adjust to Hanoi .. good luck :)
answered about 12 months ago by DaveM
I'd second the above answers about your body adjusting, building up the natural resistance etc., and obviously the self-health care that's sensible wherever you are. I had some wicked colds my first year or two here but nothing out of the ordinary since.
