Top 5 Hospitals in Bangkok

by BKKFamilies
Fitness/Health

Choosing a top-of-the-line hospital for your family doesn’t have to be incredibly difficult when you move to Bangkok, Thailand.

With its remarkable beauty, the world’s most visited city keeps attracting people from all walks and ages, including doctors and nurses.

In this article, we feature the top five hospitals with the up-to-the-minute, state of the art facilities and equipment, the widest range of services and the most reliable health care providers.

We hope and pray no one in the family gets sick – not even your pet. But if it happens, rest assured Bangkok has got what it takes to save the day.

Here’s our list.

Bangkok Pediatrician

1) Bumrungrad International Hospital

Dubbed as one of the biggest hospitals in Thailand and Southeast Asia, the facility is home to over 5,000 health care providers including over 1,200 highly trained physicians and 900 nurses.

It boasts of 47 “specialty centers/clinics,” such as the cancer center, pediatric center, orthopedic center and digestive center to name a few. Each center is weaponized with the so-called Da Vinci Surgical System that performs robot-assisted surgery for cancer and kidney patients.

At Bumrungrad, medical tests are done rapidly in its in-house lab testing so patients can get results within an hour.

With its top-of-the-line services, Bumrungrad became the very first health center outside the US to have achieved the Global Healthcare Accreditation (GHA).

For these reasons, it is favored by more and more foreigners with more than half a million patients outside Thailand coming to Bumrungrad annually to be treated for various ailments.

Here’s more. It has an International Patient Services Center that offers interpreters, concierge services, embassy assistance, among others.

It is located at 33 Soi Sukhumvit 3, Khlong Toei, Watthana, Bangkok 10110, and can be reached by phone through +66 (0)2 066 8888.

Samitivej Hospital Review

2)  Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital

When you come to Samitivej, take note that you’re entering Thailand’s first hospital to receive the Mother and Baby-Friendly Hospital status from the UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO).

It has the latest in equipment and facilities such as the 64-Slice CT Scan and digital imaging, the works, allowing it to provide quality health services from cosmetic to tertiary.

The hospital has more than 1,200 health care providers, 270 beds, 87 examination suites.

It is located at 133 Klang Alley, Sukhumvit 49, Khlong Tan, Watthana, Bangkok 10110. You can also reach it now through +66 (0)2 022 2222.

3) Bangkok Hospital

While Bumrungrad and Samitivej are seen as the best of the best among Bangkok’s hospitals by many foreigners and locals, there are those who believe that Bangkok Hospital can perform just as well.

Bangkok Hospital takes pride in the accuracy of its diagnoses that have been confirmed by its numerous national and international citations. Its long list of awards include the Joint Commission International (JCI) certification, a Temos award and the Asian Hospital Management Award (AHMA).

It is called a “multi-specialty medical institution” for having over 30 special departments on top of its 20 specialized centers. It is dubbed as a leader in the field of heart care, having performed at least 40,000 successful treatments at its Heart Center.

Bangkok Hospital’s innovative technologies include a 3D laparoscopic surgical video system, an O-arm imaging system, Stealth navigation equipment, NIMS Eclipse intraoperative neuromonitoring equipment, BIPLANE IMAGING (EOS) and many more.

It is located at 2 Soi Soonvijai 7, New Petchburi Rd., Bangkok.  You can also call 1719 or visit https://www.bangkokhospital.com/…/…/computer-vision-syndrome for further information.

4) Siriraj Hospital

Largest, oldest and with an excellent reputation to boot.

This 2,000-bedroom public facility caters to more than three million patients yearly, making it the busiest hospital in Thailand.

Because of its long and unblemished reputation in the field for healing and betterment, the tertiary care unit of Siriraj serves as referral center for all the other hospitals in Thailand.

It is also a training ground for around 250 medical students including 100 postgraduates undergoing residency training each year.

Siriraj rests on Chao Phraya River’s west bank. The location is near Thammasart University’s Tha Phrachan campus.

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 5) Chulalongkorn Hospital

King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital or simply Chulalongkorn isn’t among the most expensive hospital in Bangkok for nothing.

It offers up-to-the-minute life-saving, life-changing services you won’t regret.

A public facility run by the Thai Red Cross Society, it has the essential specialized departments available in the other hospitals.

For instance, it has a medicine department, surgery department, biochemistry department, microbiology department, pediatrics department and a preventive and social medicine department as well.

It has at least 1,250 beds, more than  1,600 physicians plust over 2,100 nurses all mandated by the institution to provide curative and preventive medical services that meet quality standards in a pleasant and safe environment.

It is located along 873 Rama IV Rd, Pathum Wan, Pathum Wan District, Bangkok 10330. 

Staying Fit in Bangkok: Easier than you think!

by BKKFamilies
Fitness/Health

Crowded, hot, congested, and overwhelming….have you ever heard these words used to describe Bangkok? With everything it has to offer, this city can present some major challenges in the wellness and outdoors space. But with proper preparation, knowledge, and some flexibility in your schedule, you and your family can stay active, healthy, and happy! 

Below are some key strategies you can use to prepare awesome fitness-oriented activities for people of all ages: 

1) Research your area of town. 

While this may be obvious, you may surprise yourself on exactly how many places there are to explore! Having lived here for two years, Bangkok is a city that continues to “open up” in terms of wellness events, places, and outdoor areas. 

Family fitness Bangkok

Spend some time getting familiar with nearby gyms, studios, and green spaces. Join several of the many Facebook groups and Meetups that occur on a daily basis all over the city. Transportation to and from these places is always one of the biggest barriers. Traffic can be a major headache so knowing the fasting routes and best times of day to go are crucial! 

2) Scheduling Matters. 

Just as you would with work, try creating a family fitness or activity schedule based on your research. As previously stated, getting to and from places can be a major deterrent in staying active. Unlike smaller cities Bangkok does not cater to spontaneity quite as much, as some parks or fitness centers may close early.  Synchronizing you and your family’s schedules to allow for “movement time” is very important! Check in with schedules at various gyms, studios, and see what, if any, classes are offered for children or young adults. 

3) Park Time! 

You may be familiar with the major parks in Bangkok—Chatuchak, Benjakitti, and Lumphini. But how about some of the parks a little further out of town? Suan Luang Rama IX is one of my personal favorites. It offers sprawling green spaces, outdoor workout equipment, beautiful scenery, and surrounding food areas. While there is no direct BTS or MRT, spending an afternoon there with your family is well worth the trip! Another personal favorite is Bang Krachao, also known as the “Green Lunge” of Bangkok. Located just across the river by boat, this area offers wonderful roads to bike, run, and has its own lovely park to explore. There are also open aired markets in the morning, creating a perfect combination of movement and food. 

4) Bring the activity close to home. 

If you are very pressed for time or your schedule does not allow for much exploration, consider what options are available at your own condo gym. Many facilities are well equipped with treadmills, free weights, bikes, and various exercise equipment to keep you fit and in shape.  If you are looking for help, there are many personal trainers in and around Bangkok that can come to train you, your spouse, or whole family as part of their services.  

Still wondering how to stay in shape in Bangkok? Curious about personal training? Feel free to contact me here or at gabetheck@gmail.com with questions and I am happy to try to help! 

Gabe Heck is a certified personal trainer, nutritionist, and Spartan Race/endurance coach and athlete living in Bangkok, Thailand since 2018. He is originally from the United States, with a background working in the start-up health tech industry in Singapore. 

Top Reasons Your Dental Health Matters

by BKKFamilies
Fitness/Health


Bangkok, Thailand, is home to dozens of hospitals giving top-of-the-line dental services.

Here you can easily say goodbye to worries about tooth decay and tooth pain which, to many kids and parents, is a primary concern.

Before we give you some of the best known Bangkok hospitals and clinics in the area of dentistry, let us talk for a while about some of the top reasons for making dental health your priority.

HEALTHY TEETH MEANS HEALTHY HEART

Who would have thought early on that the heart can be at risk for failing to brush longer or more often?

In a presentation at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions, Dr. Shogo Matsui revealed his team’s major research find that involved 682 research subjects: “poor oral health” is linked with “poorer heart health.”

Dr. Matsui, a Japanese researcher at the Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences, said that better oral hygiene such as longer tooth brushing can lessen the risk of dying from or having a stroke, heart failure or heart attack.

In an article from the Mayo Clinic, it was claimed that the connection between oral health and heart health is still “not fully understood” though.

But it added nonetheless that oral bacteria can cause infections and inflammations which are linked to heart diseases.

Dentist in Thailand

TAKE CARE OF YOUR TEETH FOR YOUR KIDNEYS’ SAKE!

In an article released by the kidney.org, the National Kidney Foundation spoke about what it calls the kidney disease-dental connection.

Considered a lifeline for people with kidney problems and a pioneer in scientific research, the foundation asserted that oral problems like gum infections may spread all over the body and thereby affecting kidney health.

It said that a “minor infection” could put a kidney patient in a serious condition. This is why “good dental health is important,” it said.

YOUR ORAL HEALTH CAN BE AN INDICATOR OF YOUR LUNGS’ HEALTH

One could also develop or worsen an existing pneumonia because of poor oral habits, according to an article from the Mayo Clinic. It said that there are certain bacteria in the mouth which could be “pulled into your lungs.” This could cause pneumonia along with other respiratory diseases.

Ensuring oral health for our kids means more than avoiding toothaches. It can have an impact on their overall health. So make sure they follow the dos and don’ts of dental care like regular tooth brushing, flossing and avoiding or cutting down on sweets.

However, there are oral health issues that simple brushing and flossing cannot address. Here is where our top dentists in Bangkok, Thailand, can come in handy.

Our dentists can help you with serious issues like …

*Gum disease. This is a leading cause of tooth loss. It is caused by plaque and calculus that regular brushing cannot do away with.

* Crooked misaligned teeth.

* Malformation of jaws

If you want to learn more, you may call the experts below….

1) Thonglor Dental Hospital: http://thonglordentalhospital.com/en/

2) Tooth Therapy. Dr Terawith: https://www.tooth-therapy.com/

3) Samitivej Hospital Dental clinic. Dr Puckpring: https://www.samitivejhospitals.com/en/centers/dental-clinic/

4) Bangkok dental hospital, Dr Thantrira: http://www.bangkokdentalhospital.com

5) Bangkok Dental Center: https://bangkokdentalcenter.com/

6) Bumrungrad Hospital Dental clinic. Dr. Porntipa: https://bumrungrad.com/en/treatments-centers/dental-center-bangkok-thailand

7) Asavanant dental clinic. Dr Ann or Dr Pranee: http://asavanant.com/