Holidaymakers warned to check travel advice on medicines

Holidaymakers are being warned to check the rules on carrying medicines abroad to avoid falling foul of local laws.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said some commonly-prescribed medicines were "controlled drugs" in certain countries.

In Japan, some cold remedies are banned while some sleeping pills require a licence in Singapore.

Travellers could risk a fine or even imprisonment if they break the rules, the FCO said.

The Foreign Office said it was becoming more popular to travel to countries further afield.

But according to a survey of 2,000 adults in the UK, only 33% of them would seek advice on medication rules before they travel.

Nearly half the population of the UK is on prescribed medication, meaning that around 21 million people could be risking difficulties.

Banned in Japan

Medication containing pseudoephedrine - found in over-the-counter medicines like Sudafed and Vicks - is banned in Japan.

And in Qatar, over-the-counter medicines such as cold and cough remedies are controlled substances and must be accompanied by a prescription.

Diazepam, Tramadol, codeine and a number of other commonly-prescribed medicines count as "controlled drugs" so the advice is to check the regulations in the country you wish to visit.

Failing to comply may result in arrest, a fine or imprisonment in many countries, including Greece and the UAE.

Other notable restrictions include:

• sleeping pills, anti-anxiety pills and strong painkillers require a licence in Singapore
• Costa Rica and China require visitors to bring a doctor's note with their prescribed medication
• in Costa Rica, you should only take enough medication for the length of your stay, with a doctor's note to confirm that this is the right amount
• in Indonesia, many prescription medicines such as codeine, sleeping pills and treatments for ADHD are illegal
• tourists should always carry a doctor's note with any personal medicine when visiting China

The FCO said anyone travelling this summer should visit their GP at least four to six weeks before their holiday to check if any of their prescribed medication contained "controlled drugs" such as codeine.

They recommend travellers check the Foreign Office website's travel advice pages for destination countries or the TravelHealthPro website which was set up by the Department of Health.

Countries such as India, Pakistan and Turkey have a list of medicines they will not allow into the country.

The FCO recommends contacting the embassy, high commission or consulate in the UK of the country you're travelling to for advice on the legal status of specific medications.

The gov.uk website has a full list of foreign embassies in the UK

Cardiovascular System

Functions Nervous System

Lung Diseases Affecting the Interstitium

• Interstitial lung disease (ILD): A broad collection of lung conditions affecting the interstitium. Sarcoidosis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and autoimmune disease are among the many types of ILD.
• Pneumonias and pulmonary edemas can also affect the interstitium.

Lung Diseases Affecting the Air Sacs (Alveoli)

• Pneumonia: An infection of the alveoli, usually by bacteria.
• Tuberculosis: A slowly progressive pneumonia caused by the bacteriaMycobacterium tuberculosis.
• Emphysema results from damage to the fragile connections between alveoli. Smoking is the usual cause. (Emphysema also limits airflow, affecting the airways as well.)
• Pulmonary edema: Fluid leaks out of the small blood vessels of the lung into the air sacs and the surrounding area. One form is caused by heart failure and back pressure in the lungs' blood vessels; in another form, direct injury to the lung causes the leak of fluid.
• Lung cancer has many forms, and may develop in any part of the lungs. Most often this is in the main part of the lung, in or near the air sacs. The type, location, and spread of lung cancer determines the treatment options.




• Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS): Severe, sudden injury to the lungs caused by a serious illness. Life support with mechanical ventilation is usually needed to survive until the lungs recover.
• Pneumoconiosis: A category of conditions caused by the inhalation of a substance that injures the lungs. Examples include black lung disease from inhaled coal dust and asbestosis from inhaled asbestos dust.

Asthma

• triggered by airborne irritants such as chemical fumes and cigarette smoke
• airborne particles to which the patient isallergic.

The Diaphragm's Role in Breathing

Clearing the Air

The Diaphragm's Role in Breathing

What is the Respiratory System?

Parts of the Upper Respiratory Tract

• Mouth, nose & nasal cavity: The function of this part of the system is to warm, filter and moisten the incoming air
• Pharynx: Here the throat divides into the trachea (wind pipe) and oesophagus (food pipe). There is also a small flap of cartilage called the epiglottis which prevents food from entering the trachea
• Larynx: This is also known as the voice box as it is where sound is generated. It also helps protect the trachea by producing a strong cough reflex if any solid objects pass the epiglottis

Parts of the Lower Respiratory Tract :

• Trachea: Also known as the windpipe this is the tube which carries air from the throat into the lungs. It ranges from 20-25mm in diameter and 10-16cm in length. The inner membrane of the trachea is covered in tiny hairs called cilia, which catch particles of dust which we can then remove through coughing. The trachea is surrounded by 15-20 C-shaped rings of cartilage at the front and side which help protect the trachea and keep it open. They are not complete circles due to the position of the oesophagus immediately behind the trachea and the need for the trachea to partially collapse to allow the expansion of the oesophagus when swallowing large pieces of food.


• Bronchioles: Tertiary bronchi continue to divide and become bronchioles, very narrow tubes, less than 1 millimeter in diameter. There is no cartilage within the bronchioles and they lead to alveolar sacs.
• Alveoli: Individual hollow cavities contained within alveolar sacs (or ducts). Alveoli have very thin walls which permit the exchange of gases Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide. They are surrounded by a network of capillaries, into which the inspired gases pass. There are approximately 3 million alveoli within an average adult lung.
• Diaphragm: The diaphragm is a broad band of muscle which sits underneath the lungs, attaching to the lower ribs, sternum and lumbar spine and forming the base of the thoracic cavity.
• Bronchi: The trachea divides into two tubes called bronchi, one entering the left and one entering the right lung. The left bronchi is narrower, longer and more horizontal than the right. Irregular rings of cartilage surround the bronchi, whose walls also consist of smooth muscle. Once inside the lung the bronchi split several ways, forming tertiary bronchi.

The pathway

• Air enters the nostrils
• passes through the nasopharynx,
• the oral pharynx
• through the glottis
• into the trachea
• into the right and left bronchi, which branches and rebranches into
• bronchioles, each of which terminates in a cluster of

Braething

• abdominal cavity, which contains the viscera (e.g., stomach and intestines) and the
• thoracic cavity, which contains the heart and lungs.

Central Control Of Breathing

Local Control Of Breathing