Thursday, December 29, 2011

Guard your health abroad by visiting one of many travel clinic located in New York

Going abroad? Before taking off ask yourself these questions to see if you’ve taken the right steps to guard your health from disease and infection while in another country.
Have you made an appointment to visit a travel clinic?
Everyone living in the tri-state area that is traveling overseas should visit one of the many travel clinics in New York before leaving to get accurate, up-to-date information on the health risks you take by visiting a particular country. You should meet with a travel physician 4 to 6 weeks before traveling to guarantee enough time for certain medications to take effect, especially for some vaccines that are distributed in a series, with days and sometimes weeks lapsing between each shot.

Do you know what vaccinations you need?
A trained travel doctor will tell you what immunizations you need, but it’s helpful to do some research about the country you to plan to visit and see what the Center for Disease Control recommends for Americans traveling there.  The CDC breaks down travel vaccines into three categories: those that should be routine, those that are recommended, and those that are required.
Routine Vaccinations
Routine travel vaccinations protect from diseases that, while uncommon in the United States, are oftentimes endemic in other parts of the World. Every adult planning to travel should update his or her immunizations. Adults should get one dose of the influenza vaccine every year, a tetanus booster every ten years, 1 or 2 dozes of the measles/mumps/rubella vaccine before age 50, and all women should get the 3 doses of the Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine before age 28, to name a few. Check with your travel physician to see what routine vaccinations you are in need of.
Recommended Vaccinations
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the CDC organize and inform us of the recommend vaccinations for U.S. travelers. They are based on the country they wish to travel to but can also depend on how rural the area, the season you’ll be traveling in, how long you’ll be there, how old you are, your current health concerns, and whether you’ve had any previous immunizations.
Required Vaccines
Currently there are only two vaccines that are required by law for travel into certain countries. The first is the yellow fever vaccination for travel to tropical parts of South America and parts of sub-Saharan Africa. The second is the meningococcal vaccination required for entry into Saudi Arabia. You will need to visit a certified travel clinic to receive an authorized travel immunization certificate to get clearance for these vaccinations.
Are you traveling with children?
There are different recommendations and vaccination procedures for children traveling abroad that adults need to take special care with before traveling with them. Children are especially susceptible to infectious diseases overseas, especially infants; for example nearly one million children under the age of 6 die every year from malaria. If you are traveling with children it is especially important you visit a travel clinic to access their needs.

If you’re looking for travel vaccination clinic New York visit this travel clinic located in Midtown. It’s located in between 39th and 40th street, two blocks from the Grand Central and Bryant Park transit locations. This travel clinic in Manhattan staff is incredibly personably yet professional, and can answer all your concerns about how to maintain your health while you’re abroad. To make an appointment you call 212-696-5900 or visit TravelClinicNY.com.

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Every child needs a tetanus vaccination, and I know the right clinic for it in NYC


If you have a child that will be entering kindergarten or preschool soon, chances are he or she needs to get a tetanus vaccination nyc shot very soon.  You may not remember getting one, but if you were born in the United States within the last 60 years you more than likely received one as part of the routine child immunization schedule for all US residents.  Today, there are almost no elementary schools in the country that do not require proof of immunization boosters for children seeking admittance into their program. But don’t feel annoyed by this, as tetanus is a serious, lethal infection and a vaccine is the most effective way to prevent it.
Tetanus is caused by the bacteria Clostridium tetani found in contaminated soil, dust and animal feces. If your child is playing outside and cuts his or herself and then comes into contact with the bacteria it may enter directly into their blood stream. Once infected, tetanus toxins will attack the motor neurons, the nerves in the body that help control muscle movements. Your child will then experience muscle stiffness and spasms in the jaw and neck muscles, a condition commonly expressed as “lockjaw.” Following symptoms include difficultly in swallowing, stiff abdominal muscles, overall painful body spasms, which all can interfere with their ability to breathe and inevitably threaten their life. The tetanus vaccine lowers their risk to this infection substantially.
If you are unfamiliar with travel shots, you should know that their introduction into modern medicine was like a miracle for the human species. In the past millions of people used die from bad cuts or injuries that become contaminated. Now, vaccines prevent this by strengthening our immune system, whose job is to protect our bodies from infection and illness. When foreign viruses and bacteria enter our body our immune system responds by producing antibodies, acting like little soldiers in our body that fight infection and disease for us.
More importantly, once our body makes these antibodies it will be more prepared for the next invasion, understanding the bacteria better. This is why people who have had chickenpox almost never get it again as adults, even if in close contact with this contagious disease again. Vaccines stimulate the antibody process. The Tdap vaccine in nyc  introduces this process without getting the individual sick.  A small amount of the bacteria is inserted into the individual in order to promote antibody growth in the immune system. If you need to explain this to your child, it’s sort of like training your troupes for battle. When the enemy does arrive, your body will be strong and familiar enough with it to defeat it.
Many parents have expressed concerned over vaccines, but they have a long record of being safe and incredibly effective in preventing disease. The risk of a vaccine harming your child is nothing compared to the risk you put them in by not preparing them against tetanus.
You can get your child their tetanus shot safely and quickly at this conveniently located travel clinic in new york.  When you come in you’ll meet with a board certified doctor, not a nurse practitioner like with most clinics. Their general staff is incredibly professional and respectful of your time, with waiting times rarely exceeding thirty minutes for walk-ins. As a travel clinic, they specialize in vaccinations, so you can feel certain your child will interact with an incredibly proficient and experienced doctor.
Call them today at (212) 696 5900 or log onto travel clinic new york to start your child’s tetanus vaccine.

Friday, December 16, 2011

Don’t forget your immunization for yellow fever before leaving NYC

Traveling to a South America soon? If so, take note that it’s about to experience its rainy season, which brings with it increased risk for mosquito borne diseases such as yellow fever. You can avoid this catastrophe by visiting a travel clinic for a yellow fever immunization nyc before journeying south. 

Yellow fever is a virus that affects human and nonhuman primates in mostly tropical parts of the world. An infected female mosquito bites the host, forcing about 1000 to 100,000 virus particles into the human bloodstream. The virus typically immediately starts replicating within the skin cells at the site of injection before spreading to nearby lymph nodes. The virus tends to favor the lymphoid cells for primary replication, and utilizes its channels and the bloodstream to infect other organs. Once in the liver and spleen very large amounts of the virus starts replicating and gets released tenfold into the bloodstream.

About three to six days after infection the virus may be transmitted to a mosquito that in turn can infect another person. There are three possible modes of transmission depending on the area where incubation occurs all the more reason to get a travel vacciantion.

Jungle (sylvatic):   Primate-insect-human
If you are journeying into a tropical forest in South America this is the most likely mode of transmission. Because yellow fever affects human and nonhuman primates, the transmission cycle in jungle areas typically moves from primate to mosquito to a human exploring the area.

Savannah (intermediate):    Human-insect-primate-insect-human
If you are traveling to Africa and more rural parts of S. America this is the most typical mode of transmission you’ll experience. The Aedes spp. mosquito that carries the virus breeds well in tree holes in these areas. And considering that humans often work and live near these jungle borders, the cycle is just as likely to start with humans as it is with monkeys.

Urban:   Human-insect-human
Cities nearby jungle and savannah areas experience this mode of transmission, where mosquitos transmit the virus from human to human. During the rainy season, local cities are considered to be at high risk for a yellow fever endemic due to this possible mode of transmission within large groups of humans.
Roughly three to six days after infection the host begins feeling symptoms from the virus. People typically suffer from fever, headache, chills backache, muscle pains and vomiting. These symptoms characterize organ dysfunction, especially in the liver and kidneys. If the illness persists for two week patients have two outcomes: rapid recovery or death. About 20 to 50 percent of people who reach this period do not survive.  

A preventive strategy is the best way to treat yellow fever, as there is currently no anti-viral medication available for it. A yellow fever immunization shot offers the highest level of protection against the disease, with nearly 100 percent effectiveness for people who receive the shot 3-4 weeks before traveling to endemic areas. 

If you are in need of a yellow fever vaccination, or any vaccine for that matter, visit this travel clinic in NYC to get all of your health needs taken care for travel. It’s fully certified to distribute the yellow fever shot, which not all doctor’s offices can claim. Your doctor is also incredibly experienced in international travel and can tell you everything you need to know for wherever you wish to go. Just easily set up an appointment by visiting their website at NYC travel clinic or calling their office at 212-696-5900.

Traveling to interesting, tropical parts of the world doesn’t have to be dangerous if you know the proper preventative health procedures. Be sure to get all the needed immunizations before taking off.

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Travel Clinics in NYC Protecting Oneself Completely

International travel can be a mind-expanding literal trip into the inner workings of other cultures. When overseas you tend to stare at even the most mundane of things—such as mail boxes—with wonder. Every set of people bring their own flare. Some ornate and princely, others are rigid and proletarian; it’s truly a great way to enter into the psyche of any society or civilization. Travel has so much to offer regarding the understanding of others that it boggles the mind. Yet with all the wonder, excitement and deep intuitive mental exercise that comes with travel, there is also the faint hint of danger. That is where travel clinics come into play—and anyone travelling from the great NYC should pay one a visit before journeying off into the great unknown.

Travel clinics exist all over places like NYC for a good reason. Travel can be more than just a good time. There are responsibilities that enter into any long journey. As human beings, we need to do what it is we can to protect ourselves from all nature of foreign danger. There are the big things, like con artists out to take a stranger’s valuables. We see this even in NYC, our fair city. One most enter into these situations aware of the potential problems that may arise. You might, for instance, purchase a money belt, to keep your cash close to your body. Or you may decide to carry only traveler’s checks, that way if robbed of them you do not lose the cash value. These are all great ways to protect yourself.

Then there are the small things—and by small we refer only to size, not damage incurred. The world is filled with dangerous bacteria and viruses just waiting for fresh flesh to begin their destructive cycle. Protection must be paid to this potentially devastating occurrence. Certified travel clinics in NYC can help you gain this protection through the administering of travel inoculations. Travel clinics and the doctors who run them are up to date on all diseases that are a danger to travelers.

Before heading off on that long-awaited journey, visit a travel clinic so that the doctor can professionally peruse your travel itinerary and recommend what protection you will need in the specific areas of the world you will find yourself in. As someone from NYC, it is not outside your realm of thinking to know that all the help you can get up-front will pay off on the back-end. You do not want to search the listings for travel clinics when you get back because you caught a potentially deadly disease while supposedly having fun with your friends and family. No, protection first and foremost makes the most sense. It makes sense practically—and financially. The amount of money you will have to spend fighting off a disease that you have become infected with is way higher than receiving the inoculation in the first place. Way, way higher.

Travel clinics know what diseases need to be protected against as soon as your itinerary is presented to them. Doctors at travel clinics can give you a polio vaccine as well as vaccines for hepatitis A & B, typhoid, tetanus, meningitis, rabies, Japanese encephalitis, measles, mumps, and rubella. Some countries actually demand that you receive a yellow fever vaccination before you can even enter. Do you know which countries these are? Travel clinics do.

Travel vaccination in NYC are like bullet proof vests. They protect you from danger. Living in NYC you have tons of clinic choices to choose from. Why not begin your process by logging onto Travel Clinic in NYC. They are easily accessible by bus and train because of how close they are to Grand Central Station, and they are respected, clean and discreet. Call 1-212-696-5900 for more info or to book an appointment at your convenience. Remember protection is key!

Friday, November 18, 2011

Keep Repeating, “It’s just a pin prick. It’s just a…” Why & Where to Get a Yellow Fever Shot in NYC

Getting shot in NYC may not sound like something you’d wish for, but if your plans include an overseas journey and the shot is an inoculation for yellow fever all of a sudden it starts to sound pretty smart. It all boils down to that protection-thing again, and as anyone who has ever crossed the Atlantic or Pacific for work, holiday or vacation knows—a vaccination first could save a lot of money and misery later on.

Yellow fever still runs rampant in large areas of the world. If planning a trip to any country in Africa or to countries in Central or South America, a yellow fever shot should be administered to protect against acquiring this disease. We live isolated, in a pretty healthy part of the world—with NYC one of the best cities in the country when it comes to medical care. With all the fuss about health care these days, it’s sometimes easy to forget just how safe we are in the western world when it comes to diseases like yellow fever.

On large swaths of globe yellow fever is still a dangerous potentiality —and according to the World Health Organization—it infects almost a quarter of a million people a year. Out of this number a shocking 30,000 will die. The proper protection—via a yellow fever inoculation—can only be had at a certified travel clinic. In fact, many countries will not even allow entry until they see proof of this shot. In NYC you have many choices as to where to receive this potentially life-saving shot.

What is yellow fever and why is still dangerous in some parts of the world? Yellow fever is a serious disease caused by a virus and spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. (In NYC we have our fair share of mosquitoes but they are safe as they are not infected with the virus that causes yellow fever.) It is not possible to catch yellow fever from another person. It can only be caught if you are bitten by an infected insect. Monkeys also carry the disease and a bite from one of them can also transfer the infection, but since not too many people are being bitten by monkeys these days (even on the wildest of vacations!) we’ll stick to the mosquito mode of transmission in this article.

The “yellow” in the name yellow fever refers to the jaundice-like symptoms that affect some sufferers. Jaundice is the yellowing of the skin caused by a breakdown of liver function. Other symptoms of yellow fever include fever and flu, vomiting blood, liver, kidney, respiratory and other organ failure that can lead to death if the travel vaccination is not administered.

Throughout history yellow fever has caused some devastating epidemics resulting in catastrophic causalities. One such deadly outbreak occurred in 1802 when the disease struck French soldiers fighting in Haiti. Statistics reveal that up to half the entire French army was killed by this frightening disease. A little closer to home (but thankfully not NYC), over 5,000 people in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania were infected by yellow fever when political refugees from the Caribbean arrived and spread the virus

 Being a proud citizen of America, and NYC in particular, you can choose one of many certified travel clinics to administer your yellow fever vaccination in nyc. Log onto Travel Clinic NYC for more information on a great neighborhood facility located just blocks from Grand Central Station. Travel Clinic in NYC is run by a board-certified medical doctor whose specialty is inoculations and vaccines for all manner of travelers. Call 1-212-696-5900 to arrange an appointment today!

Monday, October 31, 2011

Putting an Old Wives Tale to Rest & Where to Receive a Tetanus Vaccination in NYC

NYC is not the first place you think of when you think about tetanus. If you’re anything like me you think about moss-covered wooden shacks and rusty nails jutting out from old decrepit floorboards. Since not many people think like me (I’m an American original, you see…) you probably have a better idea than I do regarding the possibility of tetanus infection. And what causes it. I just learned there was a vaccination for it, so that proves I know next to nothing. Well I DID know next to nothing, but I did my research for this article. Travel with me, if you will, through a non-fictitious landscape where tetanus abounds!

Enough with the corny poetry-esque sentences, let’s discuss tetanus vaccination NYC, What It Is, Its Symptoms and Its Vaccination, shall we? We shall. As previously stated, I whole-heartedly once believed that tetanus was caused by stepping on a rusted nail. At least that’s what I had heard throughout my long (-ish) life, attending summer camps and being a generally inquisitive-type brat. I am sure I am not the only kid from NYC who believed that tetanus was caught by stepping on a rusted nail. (After briefly questioning a few friends, it would seem my belief in this old wives tale has been confirmed.)

Let’s take a look at why this old wives tale has flourished. Tetanus is a bacterial disease that affects the nervous system. Anyone can catch it, whether from NYC or a small town in Oklahoma. Before this disease ravages the entire body it begins in the facial muscles, thus it has long been referred to as Lockjaw. Tetanus is only spread through an already existing wound where the bacteria can enter the bloodstream. The bacteria are found primarily in agricultural areas such as dirt, soil and animal manure. Herein lays the reason for the rusted nail myth…

Wherever there is dirt, soil and animal manure there’s probably going to be a few rusted nails poking up out of a few boards! The rusted nail does not cause the disease, rather it is the texture of the rusted nail which may harbor the bacteria that already exists in the surrounding dirt (soil and manure). It is recommended that anyone who spends a great deal of time outdoors—whether for fun or employment—should receive a tetanus vaccination. That includes anyone who works outdoors in NYC. Unfortunately, our fellow Americans know not the abundance of the green spaces in NYC. (It really is a shame. We have such lovely parks.)

The travel vaccination for tetanus is different from many other vaccinations in that it is a multi-step process. Most people receive the vaccination when they are children as a step toward entering school. However, travel shots are highly recommended if in a high risk group. Anyone who spends a large amount of time working in or around soil outdoors should contact a certified travel clinic and discuss with a doctor the risks associated with their lifestyle.

Untreated tetanus can cause spasms of the vocal chords and respiratory muscles, fractures of bones, hypertension, coma and even death. Vaccination is the best bet when attempting to safeguard your good health. There are many certified travel clinic in NYC ready and able to administer the vaccination for tetanus.

In fact, if one currently resides in NYC and are in need of a travel clinic for any reason—including a tetanus vaccination—look no further than TravelClinicNY.com. This highly respected medical facility is located in the heart of midtown Manhattan and is easily accessible by both train and bus. Call 1-212-696-5900 to arrange an appointment today. And like mother always said, “Don’t play in the dirt!”

Friday, October 28, 2011

Vacation Vaccination NYC, Yellow Fever and the Need for Protection

NYC is a cement jungle, towering skyscrapers and granite gardens. NYC is also dangerous; there are pickpockets, burglars and bank robbers all lying in wait for the next big score. Yes, danger abounds in this modern metropolis. Yet when one leaves the comfortable concrete arms of Mother Manhattan other dangers lurk. Yellow fever still haunts this globe like a bacteria boogie man—and it is only from a certified travel clinic NYC that one can receive the proper vaccination to protect you from this age-old disease.

A yellow fever vaccination will come in handy if you or any of your loved ones decide to travel abroad to any of the following areas: Asia, Central and South America or Africa. To this day, yellow fever still plagues the indigenous inhabitants of these areas and also the travelers attempting to enjoy the natural wonders of these regions. When one thinks of vacation they hardly think of danger, but facts are facts. Let us take a look at the origins of yellow fever, its diagnosis and treatment.

As inhabitants of NYC, it is sometimes hard to understand the natural threat that exists elsewhere. Yellow fever is a very serious disease caused by the bite of an infected mosquito. This deadly disease is also spread by a gnarly chomp from an infected monkey. This mode of transmission will be left to the circus owners, as very few Americans find themselves gnawed by primates while on vacation (and you thought the signs: “Don’t Feed The Pigeons” were constraining!).

Thankfully there is a vaccination that can protect you from the ravages of this awful illness. Remember, that yellow fever cannot be spread from person-to-person, but only from the bite of an already infected mosquito (or monkey…). If infected, the symptoms of yellow fever will include chills, high fever, coughing and vomiting. After this initial burst of suffering, the symptoms may fade away. This is the tricky part. Once the symptoms disappear, many people assume the worst is over. This is not true at all.

Next up is the worst part of the yellow fever infection. Severe kidney and liver damage can occur causing a yellowing of the skin known as jaundice. This is where yellow fever gets its name and why a vaccination is so very important for those traveling overseas. It is the same yellowing of the skin that occurs with other liver diseases such as hepatitis. Whenever one notices their skin turning yellowish—or their eyes turning yellowish—it is time to get medical help and further testing.

In many countries, the authorities will not allow you to enter without a certificate proving to them that you have received a yellow fever vaccination in NYC before you set out on your trip. The information regarding which countries abide by these laws is readily available at the travel clinic of your choice.

Everyone who does not fall into the below-mentioned categories must receive a yellow fever shot.

·       Children under nine months

·       Pregnant women

·       People who are allergic to eggs

·       People with already weakened immune systems due to other medical issues such as leukemia or HIV infection

For those of us in the NYC area planning on traveling overseas to anywhere in Asia, Central and South America or Africa, a visit to Travel Clinic of NYC is highly recommended. Log onto TravelClinicNY.com for more info, or simply call 1-212-696-5900 to learn more. This certified travel clinic is located just blocks from Grand Central Station and is highly respected in their community. Do not allow an age-old disease to infect you or your loved ones.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Top Three Reasons to Visit a NYC Travel Clinic— From Shots to Shutter Speeds

NYC may be a great place to vacation if, well…you’re not from NYC! For the lucky ones amongst us that do live here, we tend to head to a more exotic locale. While many people in middle America tend to visit over-commercialized vacation spots such as Disney Land or Williamsburg, Virginia, we New Yorkers go hiking through a rain forest or mountain climbing in the Himalayas. (All right, not all of us do such exciting things on vacation, but some of us do.) Whenever you journey past than the tip of Florida, it is a good idea to protect yourself by receiving a travel shot.

Travel shots are vaccinations for diseases that one can catch when they visit a foreign land. Although sometimes it seems that travel shots are needed to take the J train in NYC, the fact is we’re pretty darn safe in this country from diseases that still plague a large portion of the world. Unless you are headed to a safe all-inclusive resort, travel clinic NYC should definitely be on your vacation preparation list.

There are plenty of things to do before you head off on vacation. Making a vacation preparation list is the first thing! It is easy to get caught up in the excitement of leaving NYC for a few days or weeks. In this rush of excitement, things are often times forgotten. Here are the top three things you should do before you head out of NYC and on your exotic journey…

Travel Shots
Your body may be strong enough to stave off a killer hangover, but don’t think it’s going to stave off a cholera infection if you drink water from a tainted well in a small town in Guatemala! Cholera is a water-borne disease that is still prevalent in much of the emerging world. Cholera vaccine will protect you from this disease and many more like it. Visiting a certified travel clinic before you head off is one way to get the information you will need regarding which diseases you need to protect against.

Film
Being from NYC—the media capital of the world—may be the reason why so many people from NYC forget to pack extra film when they go on vacation. Aside from getting those travel shots, film is probably the most important thing you can pack. If you buy it overseas it will cost you an arm and a leg. Although many people shun “documentation” in favor of the memories, we are of a different mindset. Reliving your great trip via photos is the next best thing to being there—plus you get to show all your friends and brag about how cool you are for strolling through a monkey-infested rain forest!

Prescriptions
Although it sounds crazy, many people forget to load up on whatever medicine they are taking before they jet off. Don’t be one of these knuckleheads. A certified travel clinic can also help you with your medicines, making sure you have enough to last your entire trip—and then some. The rest of the world isn’t like NYC—you cannot pick up the drugs you want on the next street corner!

If in search of a certified travel clinic in NYC for travel shots or any other reason, log onto Travel Vaccination NYC for more information on one of the city’s most highly respected facilities. They are quick, caring and affordable and will see you in a moment’s notice if need be. Please call 1-212-696-5900 to book a convenient appointment. Stay safe.