By Carlos Ramírez The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the importance of having solid and comprehensive health insurance. Now more than ever, people are seeking options that provide adequate coverage to protect them in case of any medical emergency at a moderate cost and with excellent coverage. That's why Bluebox Asesores, in partnership with the prepaid medical company Humana, is pleased to introduce its new health product. This new plan is designed to offer broad coverag

By Roosevelt Rojas Nowadays, it's common for people to have grown up in large cities and towns that were built for business and industry, for traffic, or for daily commuting. Many people have been worn down by this reality, and their bodies have started to feel sick and exhausted. In order to recuperate or, at the very least, live the best life possible for the remainder of their days, a lot of people need to transition to a much healthier atmosphere. If there is any country

By GERONTO As the years go by our bodies begin to change and some of the essential functions of our body start diminishing. We can slow these changes and keep our bodies healthy if we choose to make healthier decisions by using the tools our body needs. One of the most valuable tools we have for our body is physical exercise, which we should do some form of everyday! The World Health Organization recommends 150 minutes of physical exercise per week to keep fit and healthy, wh

By Adolfo Andrade 1. Stem cell research has come a long way and now we are talking about state-of-the-art techniques for stem cell...

By Dr. Craig Penny What is the connection between the spinal column and nervous system? The nervous system and spinal column provide a connection to every organ in the human body. The spinal cord, a crucial component of the central nervous system, is located within the spinal column (CNS). According to Grey's Anatomy, "the nervous system controls and coordinates all organs and structures of the human body." This includes things like heart rate, blood vessel activity, gland ac

By Dr. Adolfo Andrade English/Spanish HiExpat: Thank you very much Doctor Andrade for your collaboration with the seventh edition of HiExpat magazine. We are very excited to share with our readers about the medical developments you have been working on here in Ecuador. How long ago did they discover that our own body could generate cells that help heal or improve our quality of life? Dr. Andrade: Stem cells were discovered in 1952. They are created by taking bone marrow from

By Dr. Cristhian Vallejo Zambrano. Mr. Ney Moreira Briones. Medical Student The World Health Organization (WHO) is on alert, as diabetes is one of the most prevalent diseases worldwide. It is one of the main causes of dialysis, heart attacks, strokes, sexual dysfunction, blindness and other complications. As physicians think about the best way to combat this disease, we have agreed that the first step is explaining the risks, complications, and causes to the public. In this a

By Dr. Victor Carreño In the January issue of HiExpat magazine, I wrote about a few of the factors that have brought about the transformation of the medical landscape in Ecuador, and the growing opportunities for modern, excellent quality healthcare here. However, patients still report a wide range of experiences in our healthcare system, and as a newcomer to Ecuador, it is important to do some research to make sure you are receiving a level of care that meets your expectati

By Dr. Cristhian Vallejo Cardiovascular disease ranks first in mortality and morbidity around the world. Older patients are more susceptible to developing cardiovascular diseases because age plays a key role in the functionality of the body. Older people are defined as a person aged 65 years or older. In 2019, a study from the American Heart Association reported that 78% of patients aged 60 to 80 years old were affected by cardiovascular diseases. The most frequent risk fact

By Diana Fernandez de Cordoba India and Ecuador have in common the fact that they are both located on the equator. “Ecuador” even gets its name from its location in the equatorial zone. But in addition to this coincidence, despite being thousands of kilometers away, its biodiversity, its colorful landscapes, and its people, are also elements of similar encounter. In 2015 I was preparing to travel to Rishikesh, India after planning my second yoga teacher training. After three

As we ring in the new year in 2022, more expats than ever have their eye on Ecuador as a potential country for retirement. As a native Ecuadorian, I feel great pride that my country has topped so many “best retirement destination” lists in the past several years. But many potential expats often share the same question: What is the quality of medical and dental care in Ecuador? To answer that question, let’s look at how health care in Ecuador has evolved in the past several ye