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As Cannabis Users Age, Health Risks Appear to Grow

The AHA! Team — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 05:57:54 +0000

KFF Health News via News-Medical – “If you view cannabis as a medicine, you should be open to the idea that there are groups who probably shouldn’t use it and that there are potential adverse effects from it,” – “Because that is true of all medicines.” A cautionary tale Benjamin Han, a geriatrician and addiction medicine specialist at the University of California-San Diego, tells his students a cautionary tale about a 76-year-old patient who, like many older people, struggled with insomnia. “She had problems falling asleep, and she’d wake up in the middle of the night,” he said. “So her daughter brought her some sleep gummies” — edible cannabis candies. “She tried a gummy after dinner and waited half an hour,” Han said. Feeling no effects, she took another gummy, then one more — a total of four over several hours. Han advises patients who are trying cannabis to “start low; go slow,” beginning with products that contain just 1 or 2.5 milligrams of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the psychoactive ingredient that many cannabis products contain. Each of the four gummies this patient took, however, contained 10 milligrams. The woman started experiencing intense anxiety and heart palpitations. A young person might have shrugged off such symptoms, but this patient had high blood pressure and atrial fibrillation, a heart arrhythmia. Frightened, she went to an emergency room. Lab tests and a cardiac work-up determined the woman wasn’t having a heart attack, and the staff sent her home. Her only lingering symptom was embarrassment, Han said. But what if she’d grown dizzy or lightheaded and was hurt in a fall? He said he has had patients injured in falls or while driving after using cannabis. What if the cannabis had interacted with the prescription drugs she took? “As a geriatrician, it gives me pause,” Han said. “Our brains are more sensitive to psychoactive substances as we age.” Thirty-nine states and the District of Columbia now allow cannabis use for medical reasons, and in 24 of those states, as well as the district, recreational use is also legal. As older adults’ use climbs, “the benefits are still unclear,” Han said. “But we’re seeing more evidence of potential harms.” A wave of recent research points to reasons for concern for older users, with cannabis-related emergency room visits and hospitalizations rising, and a Canadian study finding an association between such acute care and subsequent dementia. Older people are more apt than younger ones to try cannabis for therapeutic reasons: to relieve chronic pain, insomnia, or mental health issues, though evidence of its effectiveness in addressing those conditions remains thin, experts said. In an analysis of national survey data published June 2 in the medical journal JAMA, Han and his colleagues reported that “current” cannabis use (defined as use within the previous month) had jumped among adults age 65 or older to 7% of respondents in 2023, from 4.8% in 2021. In 2005, he pointed out, fewer than 1% of older adults reported using cannabis in the previous year. What’s driving the increase? Experts cite the steady march of state legalization — use by older people is highest in those states — while surveys show that the perceived risk of cannabis use has declined. One national survey found that a growing proportion of American adults — 44% in 2021 — erroneously thought it safer to smoke cannabis daily than cigarettes. The authors of the study, in JAMA Network Open, noted that “these views do not reflect the existing science on cannabis and tobacco smoke.” The cannabis industry also markets its products to older adults. The Trulieve chain gives a 10% discount, both in stores and online, to those it calls “wisdom” customers, 55 or older. Rise Dispensaries ran a yearlong cannabis education and empowerment program for two senior centers in Paterson, New Jersey, including field trips to its dispensary. The industry has many satisfied older customers. Liz Logan, 67, a freelance writer in Bronxville, New York, had grappled with sleep problems and anxiety for years, but the conditions grew particularly debilitating two years ago, as her husband was dying of Parkinson’s disease. “I’d frequently be awake until 5 or 6 in the morning,” she said. “It makes you crazy.” Looking online for edible cannabis products, Logan found that gummies containing cannabidiol, known as CBD, alone didn’t help, but those with 10 milligrams of THC did the trick without noticeable side effects. “I don’t worry about sleep anymore,” she said. “I’ve solved a lifelong problem.” But studies in the United States and Canada, which legalized nonmedical cannabis use for adults nationally in 2018, show climbing rates of cannabis-related health care use among older people, both in outpatient settings and in hospitals. California In California, for instance, cannabis-related emergency room visits by those 65 or older rose, to 395 per 100,000 visits in 2019 from about 21 in 2005. In Ontario, acute care (meaning emergency visits or hospital admissions) resulting from cannabis use increased fivefold in middle-aged adults from 2008 to 2021, and more than 26 times among those 65 and up. “It’s not reflective of everyone who’s using cannabis,” cautioned Daniel Myran, an investigator at the Bruyère Health Research Institute in Ottawa and lead author of the Ontario study. “It’s capturing people with more severe patterns.” But since other studies have shown increased cardiac risk among some cannabis users with heart disease or diabetes, “there’s a number of warning signals,” he said. Cannabis use disorder For example, a disturbing proportion of older veterans who currently use cannabis screen positive for cannabis use disorder, a recent JAMA Network Open study found. As with other substance use disorders, such patients “can tolerate high amounts,” said the lead author, Vira Pravosud, a cannabis researcher at the Northern California Institute for Research and Education. “They continue using even if it interferes with their social or work or family obligations” and may experience withdrawal if they stop. Among 4,500 older veterans (with an average age of 73) seeking care at Department of Veterans Affairs health facilities, researchers found that more than 10% had reported cannabis use within the previous 30 days. Of those, 36% fit the criteria for mild, moderate, or severe cannabis use disorder, as established in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. VA patients differ from the general population, Pravosud noted. They are much more likely to report substance misuse and have “higher rates of chronic diseases and disabilities, and mental health conditions like PTSD” that could lead to self-medication, she said. Current VA policies don’t require clinicians to ask patients about cannabis use. Pravosud thinks that they should. Moreover, “there’s increasing evidence of a potential effect on memory and cognition,” said Myran, citing his team’s study of Ontario patients with cannabis-related conditions going to emergency departments or being admitted to hospitals. Comparisons Compared with others of the same age and sex who were seeking care for other reasons, research shows these patients (ages 45 to 105) had 1.5 times the risk of a dementia diagnosis within five years, and 3.9 times the risk of that for the general population. Even after adjusting for chronic health conditions and sociodemographic factors, those seeking acute care resulting from cannabis use had a 23% higher dementia risk than patients with noncannabis-related ailments, and a 72% higher risk than the general population. None of these studies were randomized clinical trials, the researchers pointed out; they were observational and could not ascertain causality. Some cannabis research doesn’t specify whether users are smoking, vaping, ingesting or rubbing topical cannabis on aching joints; other studies lack relevant demographic information. Safer modes of consumption “It’s very frustrating that we’re not able to provide more individual guidance on safer modes of consumption, and on amounts of use that seem lower-risk,” Myran said. “It just highlights that the rapid expansion of regular cannabis use in North America is outpacing our knowledge.” Still, given the health vulnerabilities of older people, and the far greater potency of current cannabis products compared with the weed of their youth, he and other researchers urge caution. “If you view cannabis as a medicine, you should be open to the idea that there are groups who probably shouldn’t use it and that there are potential adverse effects from it,” he said. “Because that is true of all medicines.” Source: KFF Health News To read the original article click here.

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Knee Arthroscopic Surgery for Meniscus Tears

The AHA! Team — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 05:36:09 +0000

Georgia M. Beasley, MD, MHSc, via Duke Health – The knee is one of the most commonly injured parts of the body, and meniscus tears are often the cause of knee pain and knee injury. The meniscus is the tough, rubbery cartilage that absorbs shock between the shin bone and thigh bone and distributes weight across the knee joint. When this cartilage tears, it can cause pain and instability in the knee joint. Meniscus tears can result from a twisting injury in sporting activities, such as football or soccer, or even something as simple as turning to put the dishes away. Symptoms of Meniscus Tears People of all ages can suffer from meniscus injuries, but each age has different types of tears and different ways to treat the tears. Almost all tears have similar symptoms, including: Pain Swelling Tenderness Giving way Mechanical symptoms, such as locking, popping, and catching Diagnosing a Meniscus Tear When you experience these symptoms, it is important to see an orthopaedic surgeon so your knee can be examined and an accurate diagnosis made. Occasionally, the diagnosis is obvious based upon a description of the injury and an examination of the patient. However, X-rays and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are frequently used to help identify any other associated injuries. Most common findings The most common findings on exam include tenderness over the joint line where the meniscus is torn, swelling, and sometimes loss of motion. The most important to report is whether you have mechanical symptoms such as episodes of feeling like your knee is caught or stuck. Once the diagnosis of a meniscus tear is made, you should discuss your treatment plan with your orthopaedic surgeon. For most people who have a symptomatic meniscus tear with mechanical symptoms, arthroscopic surgery is selected to remove or repair the torn tissue. However, if you have arthritis, you may benefit from injection and physical therapy without surgery. Arthroscopy has revolutionized how knee surgery is performed. In the past, a torn meniscus required a three- to four-inch incision and an overnight stay (or two) in the hospital. Now, the meniscus tear can be repaired with the arthroscope through two tiny (less than a half-inch) incisions. The surgery can be performed on an outpatient basis in less than an hour. Typically, the surgery can be performed under regional anesthesia with sedation, so there’s minimal anesthesia risk. Occasionally, small stitches can be placed into the torn meniscus to sew it back together; this technique can successfully treat large tears in younger people. If the tear is small, it may be removed. Quick Recovery Time Recovery from arthroscopic meniscus tear surgery is relatively quick, and most people can resume normal activities within a few weeks depending on the size of the tear and the repair involved. The pain relief is dramatic, and the postoperative incision pain is quite minimal. Physical therapy is often necessary in the recovery process. As with any surgery, there are risks, including the risk of infection or blood clots. Additionally, there are risks associated with anesthesia used during the surgical procedure. While meniscus tears are common, painful, and activity-limiting, these injuries can be quickly, easily, and successfully identified and treated. To read the original article click here.

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Americans Borrowed $74 Billion Last Year to Cover Healthcare Costs

The AHA! Team — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 05:28:31 +0000

West Health Institute via EurekAlert! – West Health-Gallup survey finds millions worried about medical debt – About 6 in 10 adults who borrowed money for healthcare borrowed $500 or more. March 5, 2025 More than 31 million Americans (12%) report needing to borrow about $74 billion last year to pay for healthcare despite most having some form of health insurance, according to a new survey from West Health and Gallup. Nearly one-third (28%) report being “very concerned” that a major health event could throw them into debt. The survey found almost 20% of Americans aged 49 and under needed to borrow money to cover medical costs compared with just 9% of those 50 to 64. Women between the ages of 50 and 64 were twice as likely as men in the same age group to say they had to borrow (12% vs. 6%). Two percent of Medicare-eligible adults (those over the age of 65) reported having to borrow. Need of policy reform “Too many Americans are racking up medical debt whether they have health insurance or not,” said Tim Lash, President, West Health Policy Center, part of West Health, a family of nonprofit organizations focused on healthcare and aging. “A high-priced healthcare system that requires Americans to take out loans or make painful tradeoffs just to stay healthy is in desperate need of policy reform or things will get even worse.” Black (23%) and Hispanic adults (16%) were significantly more likely to report having borrowed money than White (9%) adults. The biggest disparities were found among adults under the age of 50. Black adults aged 18-49 (29%) were the biggest borrowers followed by Hispanic adults (19%) and White adults (14%) in the same age range. Americans with children under the age of 18 were twice as likely to report borrowing compared to households with no children (19% vs. 8%). Breakdown of Borrowing Americans collectively borrowed about $74 billion to pay for healthcare last year, with more than half (58%) borrowing $500 or more and 41% borrowing $1,000 or more. Fourteen percent borrowed $5,000 or more. Concerns Over Medical Debt Across Age, Race and Income Most Americans (58%) report being at least somewhat concerned that a major health event could land them in debt, including 28% who say they are “very concerned.” Concerns span income levels, with more than six in 10 households with annual incomes under $120,000 worried. Fewer higher earners were concerned, but 40% of households making over $180,000 report they too have concerns. Even with Medicare eligibility, more than half (52%) of people aged 65 or older say they are at least somewhat concerned they could go into medical debt if they suffered a major health event. Concerns also run high among Black adults (62%), Hispanic adults (63%) and women (62%). Only 14% of respondents say they are not concerned at all. “It is clear that high healthcare costs continue to burden the American people, and financial insecurity around care is not limited to any one demographic,” said Dan Witters, director of wellbeing research at Gallup. “These findings underscore the need for solutions that make healthcare more affordable for all Americans.” Methodology The West Health-Gallup Survey was conducted via web Nov. 11-18, 2024, with a nationally representative sample of 3,583 U.S. adults aged 18 and older. The margin of sampling error is ±2.1 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. About West Health Solely funded by philanthropists Gary and Mary West, West Health is a family of nonprofit and nonpartisan organizations that include the Gary and Mary West Foundation and Gary and Mary West Health Institute in San Diego and the Gary and Mary West Health Policy Center in Washington, D.C. West Health is dedicated to lowering healthcare costs to enable seniors to successfully age in place with access to high-quality and affordable health and support services that preserve and protect their dignity, quality of life and independence. Learn more at westhealth.org. About Gallup Gallup delivers analytics and advice to help leaders and organizations solve their most pressing problems. Combining more than 80 years of experience with its global reach, Gallup knows more about the attitudes and behaviors of employees, customers, students and citizens than any other organization in the world. Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system. To read the original article click here.

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Who Gives Better Health Advice – ChatGPT or Google?

The AHA! Team — Mon, 19 May 2025 05:09:42 +0000

Dr. Chinta Sidharthan via News-Medical – Can AI chatbots like ChatGPT give better medical answers than Google? A new study shows they can — but only if you ask them the right way. How reliable are search engines and artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots when it comes to answering health-related questions? In a recent study published in NPJ Digital Medicine, Spanish researchers investigated the performance of four major search engines and seven large language models (LLMs), including ChatGPT and GPT-4, in answering 150 medical questions. The findings revealed interesting patterns in accuracy, prompt sensitivity, and retrieval-augmented model effectiveness. Large language models Some of the biggest failures by AI chatbots involved confidently giving answers that went against medical consensus, making these mistakes particularly dangerous in health settings. The internet has now become a primary source of health information The internet has now become a primary source of health information, with millions relying on search engines to find medical advice. However, search engines often return results that may be incomplete, misleading, or inaccurate. Large language models Large language models (LLMs) have emerged as alternatives to regular search engines and are capable of generating coherent answers based on vast training data. However, while recent studies have examined the performance of LLMs in specialized medical domains, such as fertility and genetics, most evaluations have focused on a single model. Additionally, there is little research comparing LLMs with traditional search engines in health-related contexts, and few studies explore how LLM performance changes under different prompting strategies or when combined with retrieved evidence. The accuracy of search engines and LLMs also depends on factors such as input phrasing, retrieval bias, and model reasoning capabilities. Moreover, despite their promise, LLMs sometimes generate misinformation, raising concerns about their reliability. Investigating LLM accuracy The present study aimed to assess the accuracy and performance of search engines and LLMs by evaluating their effectiveness in answering health-related questions and the impact of retrieval-augmented approaches. The researchers tested four major search engines The researchers tested four major search engines — Yahoo!, Bing, Google, and DuckDuckGo — and seven LLMs, including GPT-4, ChatGPT, Llama3, MedLlama3, and Flan-T5. Among these, GPT-4, ChatGPT, Llama3, and MedLlama3 generally performed best, while Flan-T5 underperformed. The evaluation involved 150 health-related binary (yes or no) questions sourced from the Text Retrieval Conference Health Misinformation Track and covered diverse medical topics. Search engines often returned top results that didn’t answer the question directly, but when they did, those answers were usually correct — highlighting a precision problem rather than accuracy. Search engines For search engines, the top 20 ranked results were analyzed. A passage extraction model was employed to identify relevant snippets, and a reading comprehension model determined whether each snippet provided a definitive answer. Additionally, user behaviors were simulated using two models: a “lazy” user who stops at the first yes or no answer and a “diligent” user who cross-references three sources before deciding. Interestingly, the study found that ‘lazy’ users achieved similar accuracy to ‘diligent’ users and, in some cases, even performed better, suggesting that top-ranked search engine results may often suffice—though this raises concerns when incorrect information ranks highly. For LLMs For LLMs, the questions were tested under different prompting conditions: no-context (just the question), non-expert (prompts were framed in the language used by laypeople), and expert (prompts were framed for guiding responses toward reputable sources). The study also tested few-shot prompts—adding a few example questions and answers to guide the model—which improved performance for some models but had limited effect on the best-performing LLMs. The study also explored retrieval-augmented generation, where LLMs were fed search engine results before generating responses. Performance Performance was assessed based on accuracy in correctly answering the questions, sensitivity to input phrasing, and improvements gained through retrieval augmentation. The researchers also used statistical significance tests to determine meaningful performance differences between models. Although some LLMs outperformed others, statistical tests showed that in many cases, performance differences between leading models were not significant, indicating that top LLMs performed comparably in many instances. Furthermore, the researchers categorized common LLM errors, such as misinterpretation, ambiguity, and contradictions with medical consensus. The study also noted that while the “expert” prompt generally guided LLMs toward more accurate responses, it sometimes increased the ambiguity of their answers. Key findings COVID-19 questions proved easier for both LLMs and search engines, likely because pandemic-related data dominated their training and indexing periods. The study found that LLMs generally outperformed search engines in answering health-related questions. While search engines correctly answered 50–70% of queries, LLMs achieved approximately 80% accuracy. However, LLM performance was highly sensitive to input phrasing, with different prompts yielding significantly varied results. The “expert” prompt, which guided LLMs toward medical consensus, was found to perform the best, although it sometimes led to less definitive answers. Among the search engines, Bing provided the most reliable results, but it was not significantly better than Google, Yahoo!, or DuckDuckGo. Moreover, many search engine results contained non-responsive or off-topic information, contributing to lower precision. However, when focusing only on responses that addressed the question, search engine precision rose to 80–90%, though about 10–15% of these still contained incorrect answers. ‘Lazy’ users Furthermore, contrary to common assumptions, the study found that ‘lazy’ users sometimes achieved similar or better accuracy with less effort, highlighting both the efficiency and the risk of trusting initial search results. Additionally, the researchers observed that retrieval-augmented methods improved LLM performance, especially for smaller models. By integrating top-ranked search engine snippets, even lightweight models such as text-davinci-002 performed similarly to GPT-4. However, the study noted that retrieval augmentation sometimes decreased performance, especially when low-quality or irrelevant search results were fed into LLMs—emphasizing the critical role of retrieval quality. For some datasets, like COVID-19-related questions from 2020, adding search engine evidence even worsened LLM performance, possibly because these questions were already well-covered in LLM training data. Feeding AI chatbots search results didn’t always help; in some cases, irrelevant or low-quality snippets actually made chatbot answers worse, showing that more information isn’t always better. Error analysis The error analysis also revealed three major failure modes for LLMs, including incorrect medical consensus understanding, misinterpretation of questions, and ambiguous answers. Notably, some health-related questions were inherently difficult, and both LLMs and search engines struggled to provide correct answers to these questions. The study also found that performance varied depending on the dataset: questions from 2020, largely focused on COVID-19, were easier for both LLMs and search engines, while the 2021 dataset presented more challenging medical questions. Overall, while LLMs demonstrated superior accuracy, their propensity to prompt variations and misinformation highlighted the need for caution in medical decision-making based on LLM answers. The study also suggested combining LLMs with search engines through retrieval augmentation could yield more reliable health answers, but only when the retrieved evidence is accurate and relevant. Conclusions In summary, the study highlighted search engines’ and LLMs’ strengths and weaknesses in answering health-related questions. While LLMs generally outperformed search engines, their accuracy was found to be highly dependent on input prompts and retrieval augmentation. Although advanced models like GPT-4 and ChatGPT performed well, other models such as Llama3 and MedLlama3 sometimes matched or even outperformed them, depending on the dataset and prompting strategy. Moreover, while combining both technologies appears promising, ensuring the reliability of retrieved information remains a challenge. The researchers emphasized that smaller LLMs when supported with high-quality search evidence, can perform on par with much larger models—raising questions about the need for ever-larger AI models when retrieval augmentation could be a viable alternative. These results suggested that future research should explore methods to enhance LLM trustworthiness and mitigate misinformation in health-related AI applications. Journal reference: Fernández-Pichel, M., Pichel, J.C. & Losada, D.E. (2025). Evaluating search engines and large language models for answering health questions. NPJ Digital Medicine. 8, 153. DOI:10.1038/s41746-025-01546-w, https://www.nature.com/articles/s41746-025-01546-w To read the original article click here.

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Patients Beyond Borders Announces Top 10 Cities for Medical Tourists in 2020

AHA Publisher — Fri, 31 Jan 2020 08:00:48 +0000

Patients Beyond Borders via Newswise – America’s rising healthcare costs, in tandem with 82 million uninsured or underinsured medical consumers, have given rise to a startling trend of medical refugees. In 2020, more than two million American patients will travel to another country in search of more affordable medical treatment, up nearly tenfold from around 250,000 medical travelers just a decade ago. Newswise — Patients Beyond Borders has teamed up with Medical Departures (with nearly 100,000 medical tourism bookings to date) revealing that more than 85% of all medical travel is to a handful of safe, popular metropolitan centers around the globe. This is good news for people who think medical travel is only to far-flung, little-known destinations. Getting in and out of these large metro destinations is usually easy and inexpensive: ultra-modern airports and rail, with wide-ranging options for lodging (from luxury to budget), dining and sightseeing. Turns out these are some of the most fascinating cities on the planet. Why not return from a procedure having recuperated or vacationed in a vibrant urban setting? #10 Barcelona (Spain): Ranked the world’s 7th best healthcare nation by the World Health Organization, Spain’s medical schools and facilities are among the finest in Europe. Barcelona is home to more than a dozen internationally-accredited medical centers and clinics, serving English-speaking patients from the US, Canada, UK and Australia. Specialty patients take advantage of Barcelona’s ultra-modern facilities and skilled practitioner, while vacationers goose their budget with an afternoon of savings on light medical or dental work. Specialties: Ophthalmology, Dentistry, Cosmetic Surgery, Orthopedics, Fertility,IVF, Pediatrics Savings: 40-75% #9 Istanbul (Turkey): For travelers seeking remedies to hair loss, Turkey is best-known for affordable hair transplantation. With more than 600 registered clinics in Istanbul alone, patients from the immediate region and beyond undergo the latest treatments and technologies toward regaining a full head of hair. One of Europe’s largest vision centers (Dunyagoz) serves patients worldwide for evaluations, eyeglass prescriptions, cataracts, glaucoma and more.Specialties: Vision, Dentistry, Hair Transplant Savings: 50-70% #8 Bali (Indonesia): As one of Asia’s most popular destinations for chill vacation travel, it’s no wonder Bali’s leading medical centers look more like health spas than specialty hospitals. Savvy holiday-makers take an afternoon for a teeth whitening, MRI or Botox treatment before heading into the night. Specialties: Dentistry, Health check-ups, Screenings Savings: 50-85% #7 Seoul (South Korea): Seoul is the heart of the world’s highest per-capita rate of cosmetic treatment. The posh Gangnam District alone boasts some 500 cosmetic and aesthetic centers, offering surgical procedures of all descriptions. South Korea also leads in non-invasive strategies–from Botox to dermal fillers to laser hair removal to dental veneers–increasingly popular for people who want to improve their looks without going under the knife. Specialties: Cosmetic surgery, Aesthetic treatments Savings: 30-50% #6 Mumbai (India): One of India’s most progressive urban centers, Mumbai offers exceptional medical care at eye-popping discounts. With nearly one in seven US surgeons of Indian descent, Americans are catching on that a trip to one of Mumbai’s finest can put real money in the pocket without compromising quality of care. Some of the world’s top orthopedic and heart specialists practice in Mumbai. Specialties: Orthopedics, Cardiology Savings: 55-90% #5 Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia): While most Asia-bound health travel is to India or Thailand, Malaysia is now firmly on the medical travel charts. In 2019, more than one million medical travelers will seek treatment in Malaysia, from cosmetic and dental care to complex orthopedic, spine and cardiovascular procedures. Malaysia is one of the world’s leading medical value destinations, where patients can realize up to 80% savings on a wide range of procedures and treatments in first-class hospitals and clinics. Big on preventive care, health check-ups and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) are popular among patients seeking alternative treatments for common as well as complex conditions. Specialties: Orthopedics, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Savings: 45-80% #4 Escazú (Costa Rica): This vibrant, ultra-Americanized suburb of San Jose attracts dental and medical tourists from all over the world–some 65,000 every year. Clinics are known for complex restorative and cosmetic dentistry (such as implants), saving patients tens of thousands over fees at shelled out at home. Two internationally accredited full-service medical centers perform weight loss procedures, along with orthopedics and heart work. Specialties: Dentistry, cosmetic surgery, bariatrics Savings: 40-60% Escazu, Costa Rica #3 Cancun (Mexico): This resort town welcomes tens of thousands of “incidental” medical travelers annually: people taking in a light, money-saving medical or dental treatment as part of their vacation. Cosmetic surgeries and non-invasive aesthetic treatments are big here as well. While there, you can pick up quality pharmaceuticals for any valid prescription written in the United States, at deep discounts. Specialties: Dentistry, cosmetic surgery, weight loss surgery, pharma travel Savings: 40-70% #2 Budapest (Hungary): No stranger to medical tourism, Hungary’s capital and its thermal waters have been welcoming international travelers since ancient Grecian times. Budapest and its sister cities to the north (Mosonmagyaróvár and Györ) boast the highest per-capita dental clinics in the world. Europeans (and increasingly North Americans) flock there in search of low-cost care and a hydrothermal soak. Specialties: Dentistry Savings: 40-60% #1 Bangkok (Thailand): No longer just for sex change surgeries, Bangkok has become the world’s epicenter of medical tourism, welcoming more than two million cross-border patients every year. What’s not to like about recovering from a medical procedure in a world-class Thai resort hotel or spa–at unbeatable prices. Bangkok’s venerated, internationally accredited Bumrungrad International Hospital (featured on 60 Minutes and CNN’s Inside Man), welcomes tens of thousands of North American and European patients every year. Specialties: Cosmetic surgery, restorative dentistry Savings: 50-75% To read the original article click here.

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