Welcome to the Prow's Edge's Ship's Doctor pages
Advice for cruise passengers on fighting jet lag, sunbathing sensibly without feeling like a poached egg, remedies like ginger root to counteract seasickness, some ideas of what to pack in your traveling medicine chest, and common sense health guidelines to make your cruise an even happier experience.
SEASICKNESS
What is seasickness exactly? Well, let's find out.
Seasickness is a form of motion sickness that is due to erratic stimulation to the brain from sensory receptors. Sounds too complicated? Stay with me ...click here for the ship's doctor's view on seasickness
NORWALK VIRUS
We have all heard about the norwalk virus (or norovirus) and how it likes to take a cruise vacation along with the rest of us. Alarming stories of hundreds of people falling sick on cruise ships have excited the media and panicked the rest of us.click here for the ship's doctor's view on norwalk virus
IN THE TROPICS
The first thing you need to remember is that food and water-borne diseases are the number one cause of illness in travellers, especially those traveling to the tropics – so the best way to enjoy a healthy vacation is to make sure your food and drinking water are safe. click here for the ship's doctor's view on in the tropics
FOOD POISONING
Travelers these days are becoming much more aware of food borne illness and how to avoid it. We all know about Salmonella, but a less known bacteria, Listeria monocytogenes, is getting more headlines of late. Which is a good thing. The more we know, the safer we can be.click here for the ship's doctor's view on food poisoning
BEATING THE COLD
Taking a cruise to Antarctica - or a fall cruise to Alaska?The most obvious thing to watch out for is hypothermia – a decrease in the core body temperature to a level at which normal muscular and cerebral functions are impaired.
click here for the ship's doctor's view on beating the cold
JET LAG
Travelling great distances to begin a vacation can effect most people with the well known anomaly of jet lag. While most have experienced this, my guess is few have mastered the recovery. I would enjoy hearing from anyone with their own fix for this.
click here for the ship's doctor's view on jet lag
MEDICINE CHEST
What would I take If I were to enjoy a cruise at sea? Well, my own black bag, of course! Seriously though, do you have any conditions which you are currently under care for with medication?click here for the ship's doctor's view on medicine chest
CABIN FEVER
Thanks for your letter about your wife and your concerns about claustrophobia – a very valid concern which gives us a chance this month to talk about the mental aspect of health at sea rather than the usual physical problems.click here for the ship's doctor's view on cabin fever
MAINTENANCE
I receive many questions about specific medical conditions and how to cope with them on a cruise. While I obviously cannot comment on each individual case (your own personal physician would be best qualified to help you) here are some general, "common sense" guidelines that might help...click here for the ship's doctor's view on maintenance
SUN SENSE
Simply put - it's all about common sense. Baking for hours on end under a hot tropical sun is not a good idea for anyone. But if you enjoy the sun and insist on going out in it, the best advice is to know your limitations. The rules don't change because you're on vacation.
click here for the ship's doctor's view on sun sense