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Before visit to Tibet, get as fit and healthy as possible, both physically and psychologically. Visitors having record of heart, lungs and other organ problems or anemia should consult their doctor before making the decision to visit Tibet.
Make sure you're healthy before you start travelling. If you wear glasses or contact lenses take a spare pair and your prescription. If you require a particular medication take an adequate supply, as it may not be available locally. Take the prescription or, better still, part of the packaging showing the generic rather than the brand name (which may not be locally available), as it will make getting replacements easier. It's wise to have a legible prescription or a letter from your doctor with you to prove that you legally use the medication to avoid any problems.
Travel Alerts

 You should reconsider a travel to Tibet if you suffer from heart or any cardiacas well as respiratory problems, in any case get advice from you doctor at home!

Most foreigners, as well as most Chinese, which arrive in Lhasa, suffer from high altitude sickness symptoms immediately! You might get disturbed with a slight to even strong headache, maybe lying on bed for one/two days! So be aware to consider AMS (Altitude Mountain Sickness) seriously.

However, usually you suffer a slight headache and some sleeplessness the first night, as you do usually not trek or exercise strengthenous sports. It's advisable to use the first night a mild medicine for headache and avoid drinking of any alcoholic drinks. By drinking excess water you help enormously you body to acclimatize, resulting in a relaxed travel. Do not be surprised if the first nights headache occurs.

The following precautions may help to keep AMS away from you:

Since fluid loss usually accompanies the acclimatization process, drink plenty of fluids (3-4 liters daily at least) and eat carbohydrate food to maintain properly hydrated?

Do not over exert and maintain light activity right after your arrival?

Stay way from smoking and alcohol and other depressants such as tranquilizers and sleeping pills, which will depress the respiratory drive and oxygen intake.?

Never go higher with symptoms of AMS?

It is significant that you report any symptoms of AMS immediately to other group members in the trip
Follow the simple Rules

 The harsh climate and the high altitude aren't a favorable environment for bacteria and viruses, so you don't need worry too much about getting disease while you travel in Tibet.

The possibility to catch this diseases is quite low in Tibet, easily avoidable by following simple rules: ?

wash hands before each meal (preferably with soap)?

consider all water to be infected, only boiled, bottled or sterilized water is safe!?

immediately disinfect any wounds?

all food should be cooked well, avoid re-heated food?

fruits and vegetables should be peeled before eaten?

try to eat off clean utensils, consider to carry your own utensils?

drink plenty tea or other boiled/canned liquids?

Since boiling temperature is somewhat lower in Tibet, it is better to boil water for longer period of time.
Medical kit

It is sensible to carry a small, straightforward medical kit.

A kit should include:Aspirin or paracetamol (acetaminophen in the US) - for pain or fever.Antihistamine (such as Benadryl) -useful as a decongestant for colds and allergies, to ease the itch from insect bites or stings and to help prevent motion sickness.

There are several antihis tamines on the market, all with different pros and cons (e.g. a tendency to cause drowsiness), so it's worth discussing your requirements with a pharmacist or doctor.

Antihistamines may cause sedation and interact with alcohol so care should be taken when using them.

ntibiotics - useful if you're travelling well off the beaten track, but they must be prescribed and you should carry the prescription with you.

operamide (e.g. Imodium) or Lomotil for diarrhoea; prochlor perazine (e.g. Stemetil) or metaclopramide (eg Maxalon) for nausea and vomiting.

Rehydration mixture - for treatment of severe diarrhoea; this is particularly important if travelling with children.

Antiseptic such as povidone-iodine (eg Betadine) for cuts and grazes.

Multivitamins - especially for long trips when dietary vitamin intake may be inadequate.

Calamine lotion or aluminium sulphate spray (e.g. Stingose spray) to ease irritation from bites and stings.

Bandages and Band-aids - for minor injuries.

Scissors, tweezers and a thermometer (note that mercury thermometers are prohibited by airlines).

Insect repellent, sunscreen, chap stick and water purification tablets.

Cold and flu tablets and throat lozenges. Pseudoephedrine hydrochloride (Sudafed) may be useful if flying with a cold to avoid ear damage.

A couple of syringes and needles, in case you need injections in a country with medical hygiene problems. Ask your doctor for a note explaining why they have been prescribed.
Immunizations

 For some countries no immunizations are necessary, but the further off the beaten track you go the more necessary it is to take precautions.

Leave plenty of time to get your vaccinations before you set off: some of them require an initial shot followed by a booster, and some vaccinations should not be given together. It is recommended you seek medical advice at least six weeks prior to travel.

Record all vaccinations on an International Health Certificate, which is available from your physician or government health department.

Discuss your requirements with your doctor, vaccinations which may be required include:

Cholera - Despite its poor protection, in some situations it may be wise to have the cholera vaccine e.g. for the trans-Africa traveller. Very occasionally travellers are asked by immigration officials to present a certificate, even though all countries and the WHO have dropped a cholera immunization as a health requirement. You might be able to get a certificate without having the injection from a doctor or health centre sympathetic to the vagaries of travel in Africa.

Hepatitis A - The most common travel-acquired illness after diarrhoea which can put you out of action for weeks. Havrix is a vaccination which provides long term immunity (possibly more than 10 years) after an initial injection and a booster at six to 12 months. Gamma globulin is not a vaccination but is ready-made antibody collected from blood donations. It should be given close to departure because, depending on the dose, it only protects for two to six months.

Hepatitis B - This disease is spread by blood or by sexual activity. Travellers who should consider a hepatitis B vaccination include those visiting countries where there are known to be many carriers, where blood transfusions may not be adequately screened or where sexual contact is a possibility. It involves three injections, the quickest course being over three weeks with a booster at 12 months.

Japanese B Encephalitis - This mosquito-borne disease is not of great risk to travellers. It occurs in Asia. Consider the vaccination if spending a month or longer in a high risk area, making repeated trips to a risk area or visiting during an epidemic. It involves three injections over 30 days. The vaccine is expensive and has been associated with serious allergic reactions so the decision to have it should be balanced against the risk of contracting the illness.

Meninogococcal Meningitis - Healthy people carry this disease; it is transmitted like a cold and you can die from it within a few hours. There are many carriers and vaccination is recommended for travellers to certain parts of Asia, India, Africa and South America. It is also required of all Haj pilgrims entering Saudi Arabia. A single injection will give good protection for three years. The vaccine is not recommended for children under two years because they do not develop satisfactory immunity from it.

Polio - Polio is a serious, easily transmitted disease, still prevalent in many developing countries. Everyone should keep up to date with this vaccination. A booster every 10 years maintains immunity.

Rabies - Vaccination should be considered by those who will spend a month or longer in a country where rabies is common, especially if they are cycling, handling animals, caving, travelling to remote areas, or for children (who may not report a bite). Pretravel rabies vaccination involves having three injections over 21 to 28 days. If someone who has been vaccinated is bitten or scratched by an animal they will require two booster injections of vaccine, those not vaccinated require more.

Tetanus & Diphtheria - Tetanus can be a fatal wound infection and diphtheria can be a fatal throat infection Everyone should have these vaccinations. After an initial course of three injections, boosters are necessary every 10 years.

Tuberculosis - TB risk to travellers is usually very low. For those who will be living with or closely associated with local people in high risk areas such as Asia, Africa and some parts of the Americas and Pacific, there may be some risk. As most healthy adults do not develop symptoms, a skin test before and after travel to determine whether exposure has occurred may be considered. A vaccination is recommended
A word of
warning

 A word of warning:It is not uncommon to feel breathless, suffer from headaches and sleep poorly if you fly straight into Lhasa. TAKE THINGHS EASY FOR THE FIRST FEW DAYS AND TRY TO DRINK LOTS OF FLUIDS.

Vaccinations can be taken to assure a healthy and enjoyable tour. Medicine can be obtained from pharmacies, most of them on Yuthok Lu in Lhasa.