Vitamins Philippines

Secrets to Living Stronger Longer

2012-02-08T11:10:00.003+08:00

Protect Your DNA

As we age, the ends of our chromosomes -- called telomeres -- become shorter. This makes people more vulnerable to disease. You might think there's nothing you can do, but new research suggests otherwise. In a pilot study, lifestyle changes boosted an enzyme that increases telomere length. Other studies also find diet and exercise can protect telomeres. So healthy habits may slow aging at the cellular level.

Be Conscientious

An 80-year study found one of the best predictors of a long life is a conscientious personality. Researchers measured attributes like attention to detail and persistence. They found that conscientious people do more things to protect their health and make choices that lead to stronger relationships and better careers.

Make Friends

Science has given you one more reason to be grateful for your friends – they might help you live longer. Australian researchers found elderly social butterflies were less likely to die over a 10-year period compared to people with the fewest friends. Another analysis of results from 148 studies supports the link between plentiful social connections and longevity.

Choose Your Friends Wisely

Your friends’ habits rub off on you, so look for companions with healthy lifestyles. Studies indicate obesity is socially “contagious" – your chance of becoming obese increases by 57% if you have a friend who becomes obese. Smoking is another habit that spreads through social ties, but the good news is that quitting is also contagious.

Embrace the Siesta

A siesta is standard in many parts of the world, and now there's scientific evidence that napping may help you live longer. A recent study with 24,000 participants suggests that regular nappers are 37% less likely to die from heart disease than occasional nappers. Researchers think naps might help your heart by keeping stress hormones down.

Follow a Mediterranean Diet

The Mediterranean diet is high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, olive oil, and fish. An analysis of 50 studies involving more than half a million people shows the impressive benefits of this diet. The findings show it significantly lowers the risk of metabolic syndrome – a combination of obesity, elevated blood sugar, increased blood pressure, and other factors that raise your risk of heart disease and diabetes.

Eat Like an Okinawan

The people of Okinawa, Japan once had the longest life expectancy in the world. Researchers attribute this to the region's traditional diet, which is high in green and yellow vegetables and low in calories. Some Okinawans make a habit of eating only 80% of the food on their plate. As younger generations have veered from these traditions, life expectancy in Okinawa has fallen.

Get Married

Several studies show that married people tend to outlive their single counterparts. Many researchers attribute the difference to the social and economic support marriage provides. While a current marriage offers the greatest benefit, people who are divorced or widowed have lower mortality rates than those who have never been married.

Lose Weight

If you're overweight, slimming down can protect against diabetes, heart disease, and other life-shortening conditions. Belly fat appears to be particularly harmful, so focus on deflating that spare tire. A 5-year study of Hispanics and African-Americans suggests eating more fiber and exercising regularly are effective ways to reduce belly fat.

Keep Moving

The evidence is overwhelming – people who exercise live longer on average than those who don't. According to dozens of studies, regular physical activity reduces the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, some forms of cancer, and depression. Exercise may even help you stay mentally sharp in your old age. Ten-minute spurts of activity are fine, as long as they add up to about 2.5 hours of moderate exercise per week.

Drink in Moderation

Heart disease is less common in moderate drinkers than in people who don't drink at all. But keep in mind that too much alcohol pads the belly, boosts blood pressure, and can cause a host of other health problems. The American Heart Association recommends that if you drink alcohol, the limit should be one drink a day for women and one or two for men. But if you don't drink, don't start. There are many other ways of protecting your heart.

Get Spiritual

Research suggests people who attend religious services tend to live longer than people who never attend. In a 12-year study of people over age 65, those who attended services more than once a week had higher levels of a key immune system protein than their peers who attended no services. They were also significantly less likely to die during the study period. The strong social network that develops among people who worship together may contribute to their overall health.

Forgive

Letting go of grudges has surprising physical health benefits. Chronic anger is linked to decreased lung function, heart disease, stroke, and other ailments. Forgiveness will reduce anxiety, lower your blood pressure, and help you to breathe more easily. These benefits tend to increase as you get older.

Use Safety Gear

Accidents are the fifth most common cause of death in the U.S., and the top cause of death for people ages 1 to 24. Wearing safety gear is a simple way to boost your odds of a long life. In the event of a motor vehicle crash, seatbelts reduce the risk of death or serious injury by 50%. In bike accidents, most deaths are caused by head injuries, so always wear your helmet.

Make Sleep a Priority

Getting enough good quality sleep can lower the risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and mood disorders. Sufficient sleep will also help you recover from illness faster. Burning the midnight oil, on the other hand, carries serious health risks. Sleeping less than 5 hours per night boosts the risk of premature death, so make sleep a priority.

Manage Stress

Dean Ornish, MD, has published research suggesting that lifestyle changes including stress management not only help prevent heart disease, but may actually reverse it. Although avoiding stress is not a viable option for most people, there are effective ways to control it. Try yoga, meditation, or deep breathing. Even a few minutes a day can make a difference.

Maintain a Sense of Purpose

Finding hobbies and activities that have meaning for you may contribute to a long life. Japanese researchers found men with a strong sense of purpose were less likely to die from stroke, heart disease, or other causes over a 13-year period compared to those with a low sense of purpose. Another study at Rush University Medical Center indicates that having a greater sense of purpose is linked to a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

Supplement Your Diet with Nutrients Your Body May Be Missing

Click the right column Nutrilite Vitamin Supplement links to review and order organics nutrients for your body to help you live longer and stronger. Double X below is the the most potent daily multi-vitamin available.

Click here to review and order online Nutrilite Double X Super-Potent Mega-Daily Multi-Vitamins for more energy all day and DNA immune system protection from sickness and disease.

A New Year for Your Health & Wellness

2012-01-10T08:19:00.011+08:00

Happy Healthy New Year 2012 and Beyond!

New Year's brings with it new ideas, new opportunities and new chances to live a better life. It's a time to celebrate a new chance to be healthy -- quit smoking, exercise more, eat better, spend more time with family, and plenty of other healthy resolutions. It could also be a time of post-holiday depression or travel stress. Click the links on the right column to review healthy tips, safe travel, mood boosters, hangover helpers, Nutrilite organic vitamins supplements, and much more.

One Man, Carl F. Rehnborg

Prior to 1934, there were no known multivitamin/multimineral supplements. People found it difficult to know if they were getting enough nutrients in their daily diets.

Then, Carl Rehnborg, founder of the NUTRILITE brand, created his first nutrition product and became a pioneer in the history of nutrition.

His Dream

While living in China in the early 1920s, Carl Rehnborg noticed, amid unforgettable malnutrition and disease, an important connection between the foods people ate and their overall health.

Fruits and vegetables for Nutrilite vitamin mineral supplements

In farming communities, where fresh fruits and vegetables were plentiful, people were much healthier overall.

In the cities, where diets included far more sugar, salt, and fat, Carl noted that there were many more instances of critical diseases, such as scurvy and beriberi.

During political unrest in Shanghai, Carl was isolated in a protected enclave. There, he conceived the idea of using nutritional elements missing from the typical diet as a way to improve overall health.

Carl supplemented his meager diet with soups from what was available: local herbs, grasses, and vegetables, along with rusty nails (for iron), and lime stone and ground-up animal bones (for calcium).

He shared his broth with a few friends, although the flavor was far from palatable.

Months later, Carl and his friends who ate the nutrient-rich broth emerged from their enclave much healthier than those who had eaten only army rations.

Returning to the United States, Carl set up a small laboratory on California's Balboa Island, where, over the next six years, he conducted experiments using different plant varieties.

He developed a way to dry these plants while still preserving their important nutrients.

He created a formulation of alfalfa, watercress, and parsley, which became the basis of his first product.

Ultimately, Carl Rehnborg created the first multivitamin/multimineral supplement sold in North America.

Our Legacy

Since 1934, when the first NUTRILITE product was introduced, the company has become a leader in nutrition research, development, and innovation.

Today, under the leadership of Carl's son, Dr. Sam Rehnborg, the next generation of scientists, researchers, and technicians is preserving the rich Nutrilite heritage by continuing to produce high quality, innovative supplements.

Because they are made from whole plant concentrates, many NUTRILITE supplements contain a wide array of phytonutrients.

Throughout his life, Carl Rehnborg believed this was the optimum way to achieve good nutrition the way nature intended.

Manufacturing operations in Buena Park, California, and Guangzhou, China, produce up to 10 billion NUTRILITE tablets, capsules and softgel capsules annually.

All of us at Nutrilite and Vitamin Philippines wish you and your loved ones the best of health and success in 2012 and beyond.

Click the Nutrilite Vitamins Supplement links on the right column to review and order online.

Click here to review and order online Nutrilite Double X Super-Potent Mega-Daily Multi-Vitamins for more energy all day and DNA immune system protection from sickness and disease.

Merry Christmas from Vitamins Philippines

2011-12-06T07:51:00.005+08:00

Healthy Habits to be Healthier Today

2011-11-08T11:22:00.005+08:00

Click Here to Review Nutrilite Double X for Immune System Protection and More Energy All Day

6:30 a.m. Fuel Up First Thing

If you're just waking up, you probably haven't eaten in at least 10 hours. Don't head out before fueling up! A healthy breakfast can give you and your kids a sharper mind, more energy, and better total nutrition for the day. A balanced breakfast includes protein, carbs, and fiber. Try spreading peanut butter or melted low-fat cheese on a whole-wheat English muffin.

7 a.m. Get Moving

Before heading out for the day, take a brisk 30-minute walk around your neighborhood. You'll feel invigorated, and you'll chip away at the 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity that we need every week. Morning exercise may help you lower your blood pressure and daily levels of triglycerides (unhealthy fats) in your system. As a bonus, you may sleep better at night, too.

7:30 a.m. Protect Your Skin

Don't leave home without it -- sunscreen, that is. Sunscreen isn't just for the beach and the summer. Even in winter -- and even when it's cloudy -- UV rays can penetrate and sear your skin, particularly exposed areas like faces, ears, and the backs of the hands. Those are the areas dermatologists treat most for skin cancer.

7:45 a.m. Travel Light

Overloaded backpacks and purses can strain or injure muscles in the neck, shoulders, and back. Backpacks shouldn't contain more than 10% to 15% of the wearer's weight. Look for one with wide padded straps. Wear it on both shoulders to distribute weight evenly. Look for lightweight purses, briefcases, and totes, and pack only what you need. Alternate shoulders or the hand you carry it in. You can also try a wheeled bag and roll it on the ground.

8 a.m. Get More from Your Commute

Do you live within a couple of miles of work or school? Then ditch the car and try a walking commute. You'll save on gas, keep the environment cleaner, and start your day with a healthy glow. Be sure to wear supportive walking shoes. If you have to use a car, drivers and passengers -- even kids in school buses -- should buckle up, no matter how short the trip.

10:30 a.m. Snack Smart

Dump the doughnut tray before your next office meeting! Instead, serve healthier options like fresh fruit platters, mini muffins, whole-grain bagels, or yogurt. Maybe you don't need to serve food at your meeting at all. Maybe you can motivate your colleagues to attend by another method.

12:30 p.m. Try a Homemade Lunch

Borrow some ideas from kids' school lunches, especially if you eat at your desk. Bringing lunch from home lets you control calories and portion sizes. Kids and adults may like lunch fare that combines veggies with whole grains and protein. A fast, tasty, portable option: Spread hummus on a whole-wheat wrap. Layer on lean turkey breast and spinach leaves. Roll up and enjoy. Take (or send) fruit, yogurt, or whole-grain crackers for dessert or snacks.

2 p.m. Prevent Back Pain

Back pain is one of the top reasons people under age 45 stay home from work. Good posture is key to preventing back pain. If you work at a desk, as many of us do, put a foot rest under your chair and adjust your computer monitor so it's right in front of you. Get up and stretch several times a day.

3 p.m. Create a Good Study Space

Most children need supervision after school, whether it's at home or at an after-school facility. Promote good study habits by providing a quiet space and enough time to do homework. Television and Internet use should be limited, if not ruled out. But it's OK to occasionally close the books to prevent eye and neck fatigue. Healthy snacks like fruit, cereal, or whole-grain pretzels can feed youngsters without spoiling dinner appetites.

4 p.m. De-stress

Do deadlines, difficult relationships, and overscheduling leave your family stressed out? Stress can affect people of any age. Learn to spot the signs of stress and choose healthy ways to deal with it. Getting enough exercise and enough rest can help reduce stress. Spending time on favorite activities does, too. Adults and children may benefit from talking to trusted friends or family members about stressful situations.

5:30 p.m. Don't Overdo Happy Hour

There's nothing wrong with meeting colleagues for a drink after work. But always drink in moderation. What is "moderation"? Only one drink a day for women -- that's one 12-ounce bottle of beer or a 5-ounce glass of wine -- and two for men. Moderate or no alcohol use lowers your risk for high blood pressure and heart disease, and possibly reduces the risk of diabetes.

6:30 p.m. Make Dinner a Family Affair

Research shows that kids benefit when families eat meals together frequently. They get better grades and enjoy improved nutrition. And the risks of depression and drug use decrease. Try to schedule family dinners as often as possible. If that's tough during the week, pack in as many meals together as you can on the weekend.

7:30 p.m. Turn Off the TV

If you reduce your screen time, you'll find a lot of extra time to engage in healthy family activities, like taking the dog for a walk, going for a bike ride, or playing a game. More TV time is linked with increased weight in children and adults. Limit TV watching and other types of screen time to an hour or less a day. Be sure to replace it with activities that get you and your family moving.

8:30 p.m. Sweeten Your Sleep Space

Set the stage for a peaceful night's sleep by keeping your bedroom calm, dark, and cool. Get a firm, supportive mattress to rest on. Use white noise -- radio static or nature sound CDs, for example -- to block out unwanted sounds like traffic and barking dogs. Keep distractions such as work projects, TV, and laptops out of the bedroom.

9 p.m. Obey Regular Bedtimes

Preschoolers need 11 to 13 hours of sleep a day, including naps. Once they drop naps, around age 5, school-age children still need 10 to 11 hours of sleep every night to promote good health. Keep kids' bedtime routines consistent. Don't push bedtimes back on weekends. To avoid sleep problems, have kids avoid caffeinated beverages. Keep noisy distractions like TVs and video games out of their bedrooms.

Healthy Ideas and Habits

While you cannot change your genetic makeup, you can modify your lifestyle in your quest for optimal health.

Adopt a healthier diet.

Quit smoking.

Increase your exercise.

Maintain a proper weight.

See your health care professional regularly.

Nutrition and the pursuit of optimal health are at the heart of the NUTRILITE™ brand.

Click the Nutrilite Vitamin Supplement links on the right column to review and purchase the natural organic nutrients your body needs to stay stronger and healthier.

Nutrilite DoubleX for Adults
Super Potent Organic Daily Multi-Vitamins
Immune System Protection
More Energy All Day
Organic PhytoNutrients

What to Expect From an Ob-Gyn Visit

2011-10-18T10:36:00.004+08:00

A gynecologist is a doctor who specializes in women's reproductive health. Obstetricians care for women during their pregnancy and just after the baby is born. They also deliver babies. An ob-gyn is trained to do all of these things.

Your ob-gyn will deal with some of the most important health issues in your life, including birth control, childbirth, and menopause. An ob-gyn can also screen for cancer, treat infections, and perform surgery for pelvic organ or urinary tract problems.

Because ob-gyns deal with such personal and sensitive health issues, the thought of seeing one, especially for the first time, may be troubling to some women. You might be nervous or embarrassed at having a doctor see the most private parts of your body. Or you may be reluctant to discuss your most intimate issues with an ob-gyn.

To take the dread out of your annual appointments, here are some tips on finding an ob-gyn you feel comfortable with and a preview of what to expect at your checkups.
Finding an Ob-Gyn You Trust

You wouldn't want to trust just anyone with the most sensitive parts of your body. That's why you need to think carefully about your choice of an ob-gyn.

Don't just randomly pull a doctor's name off your health insurance list. Get a referral from a friend, family member, or your primary care provider.

As you're making a decision, consider whether you would prefer a male or female gynecologist. Some women are more comfortable going to a woman because they will have to undress completely during the exam.

Meet with the ob-gyn before making a decision. Ask about the their medical experience, certification, and attitude about important reproductive issues, like birth control.

Your questions might include:

Do you accept my health insurance?

At which hospital do you have admitting privileges?

What are your office hours?

If you are not available when I need to see you, who will cover for you?

Make sure you're completely comfortable before becoming a patient.
What to Expect During Ob-Gyn Visits

When should you start seeing an ob-gyn? The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends that girls have their first ob-gyn visit when they're 13 to 15 years old or they become sexually active, whichever comes first. The first visit for teens may just include a talk with the doctor and no exam.

Try to avoid having sex or douching within 24 hours of your appointment. Sexual activity could irritate the tissue of the vagina and affect your Pap test results.

Your appointment will usually start with a general health check. The nurse will weigh you and take your blood pressure. You may have blood and urine tests done, too.

Then it's time for the physical exam. The nurse will take you into the exam room and ask you to undress completely. You will be given a gown that opens to the front, and a sheet to cover your lap.

Your ob-gyn will probably start by asking you some general questions about your personal and family health history. A nurse or other health professional might stay in the room with you and the ob-gyn for the pelvic exam.

The doctor will first examine the outside of your vagina, which includes the vulva area and vaginal opening, for abnormalities. The doctor will then examine your reproductive organs from the inside. While your knees are bent and your feet are in stirrups to keep them apart, the gynecologist will use a speculum -- a device that holds the vagina open -- to view the inside of your vagina and cervix (the opening to your uterus). You might feel some pressure during this exam, but it shouldn't be painful. Your ob-gyn will also examine the walls of the vagina and cervix.

A Pap test is often done during the pelvic exam. Your ob-gyn will remove a sample of cells from your cervix using a small brush. Those cells will be sent to a lab and checked for cervical cancer and other abnormalities.

If you are sexually active, the doctor might also test you for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) like gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, and HIV. To test for STDs, the ob-gyn will take a swab of tissue during the pelvic exam and/or check blood tests.

Then, the ob-gyn will do an internal bimanual exam by placing one or two gloved fingers in your vagina and the other hand on top of the lower part of your abdomen, to feel your cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries from outside your body. Your doctor may also do a rectovaginal exam.

Your ob-gyn should also do a breast exam to check for any lumps or other abnormalities.

Talking to Your Ob-Gyn

Use your annual ob-gyn appointment as an opportunity to ask questions. Even if your questions seem intimate or embarrassing, you can be sure that your doctor has heard them before. It's OK to ask about your periods, sex, or whatever you want to know about your reproductive health.

Your ob-gyn should also ask you a lot of questions. These questions might get very personal, but your doctor needs to know the answers to care for you properly.

Questions can deal with:

Your period and any problems with it, such as missed or heavy periods.

Vaginal discharge

Whether you're sexually active and how active you are.

Sexual issues or problems

Any sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) you've had or think you might have

Birth control methods

Vaccine history

Remember that your ob-gyn is your partner in reproductive health. Carry on that partnership by making and keeping your annual appointments. In between visits, let your doctor know if you have any new problems.

Nutrilite Vitamins Supplements to Help Mother Have a Healthy New Born Baby

Daily Multi-Vitamins

Iron Folic Acid

Vitamin-B Complex

Vitamin "Acerola" C

Vitamin E

Calcium Magnesium D

Click here to review more information on pregnancy.

Vitamins May Lower Risk of Birth Complications

2011-10-04T15:05:00.007+08:00

Studies Show Daily Multivitamin May Cut Risk of Preterm Births, Low Birth Weight, Neural Tube Birth Defects

Women who take a multivitamin every day around the time of conception appear to have a reduced risk for delivering low-birth-weight babies, a new study shows.

Daily multivitamin use was also associated with a lower preterm birth risk among normal-weight, but not overweight, women.

Since about half of pregnancies are unplanned, taking a multivitamin every day could prove to be an important intervention for improving birth outcomes, especially among women who are not actively trying to conceive a child, study leader Janet M. Catov, PhD, of the University of Pittsburgh, tells WebMD.

“Just like folic acid supplementation, multivitamin use immediately before and after conception may be a simple strategy for lowering pregnancy risk,” she says.

Vitamins and Birth Risk

In earlier research, Catov and colleagues found that taking a multivitamin in the months before and after conception decreased the risk for developing the pregnancy-related condition preeclampsia, which can lead to stroke and even death.

That study and the newly published one included close to 36,000 Danish women enrolled in a national birth registry who were asked about their use of multivitamins in the weeks before and after conception.

About 60% of the women reported taking multivitamins during this period.

After adjusting for risk factors for preterm birth -- including smoking, obesity, and age -- normal-weight and underweight women who took multivitamins had a 16% reduction in preterm delivery risk compared to women who did not take the supplements.

Catov says it is not clear why a similar association was not seen in overweight women.

Multivitamin use in the weeks before conception was associated with a 10% to 20% reduction in low birth weight, regardless of the weight of the mother-to-be. Taking multivitamins regularly in the weeks after conception was associated with a 33% reduction in risk.

The study, which appears online today, will be published in the September issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

More Than Just Folic Acid

The benefits of taking the vitamin-B supplement and folic acid around the time of conception and eating folate-rich foods are well established. These vitamin are known to reduce the risk for preterm births, low birth weight, and neural tube birth defects.

Most multivitamins contain folic acid, but the researcher says other nutrients in the vitamins -- including zinc, and vitamin C and vitamin E -- may also contribute to better birth outcomes.

Ob-gyn Jennifer Wu, MD, of Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, already recommends multivitamins that contain calcium to her patients when they tell her they are trying to conceive.

“Taking a multivitamin is a good habit to get into because many women have nutritional deficiencies that we want to correct, ideally before conception,” she tells WebMD. “It is not just about pregnancy. Many younger women don’t get enough calcium and these women are missing out on bone building that will help protect them in their 60s and 70s.”

If your pregnant, consult your doctor about taking Nutrilite organic vitamins and supplements to have the healthiest baby possible.

If your a doctor, contact us at mail@vitamins-ph.com on how we can help you and your expecting mothers stay healthy and have a healthy newborn using Nutrilite organic vitamins and supplements.

Your Optimal Health Revolution

2011-09-22T09:58:00.006+08:00

Optimal Health Revolution Book to Live Stronger and Healthier

The Optimal Health Revolution Book is Available at P1,200 which includes free Philippines nationwide shipping. Learn to stay strong and healthy so you don't have to go to the doctor and or hospital so much and spend even more money.

Email us at mail@vitamins-ph.com to order.

Your Healthy Lifestyle

Feeling Well Begins with Living Well with Nutrilite

The Nutrilite Health Institute recognizes the importance of optimal health – aiming for the very best health and wellness we can expect to achieve throughout our lives.

Research has shown that a healthy lifestyle and good nutrition are two important factors to achieving optimal health.

Research also tells us that almost everyone can benefit from supplementation – because you may still lack optimal amounts of vitamins and minerals, as well as important plant compounds.

Nutrilite and Optimal Health

Optimal health does not mean perfect health. Optimal health means adapting known inherited health risks and your current lifestyle to make the personal choices necessary to live your life as healthy as possible.

Nutrition & Supplementation

Do you eat a balanced diet, including whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins? Do you know which supplements are recommended for your type of diet?

Lifestyle

Have you adopted healthy lifestyle habits, such as exercising? Do you smoke?

Rest & Relaxation

Do you get sufficient sleep on a regular basis? Do you run to the nearest sweet shop when you are stressed? Or, have you learned relaxation techniques?

Genetics

Does high blood pressure or cancer run in your family?

Healthy Ideas and Habits

While you cannot change your genetic makeup, you can modify your lifestyle in your quest for optimal health.

Adopt a healthier diet.

Quit smoking.

Increase your exercise.

Maintain a proper weight.

See your health care professional regularly.

Nutrition and the pursuit of optimal health are at the heart of the NUTRILITE™ brand.

Click the Nutrilite Vitamin Supplement links on the right column to review and purchase the natural organic nutrients your body needs to stay stronger and healthier.

Nutrilite DoubleX for Adults
Super Potent Organic Daily Multi-Vitamins
Immune System Protection
More Energy All Day
Organic PhytoNutrients

Is Stress Making You Sick?

2011-09-14T14:43:00.005+08:00

10 Health Problems Related to Stress That You Can Fix

Need another thing to get stressed out about? Your stress itself could be making you sick.

"Stress doesn't only make us feel awful emotionally," says Jay Winner MD, author of Take the Stress Out of Your Life and director of the Stress Management Program for Sansum Clinic in Santa Barbara, Calif. "It can also exacerbate just about any health condition you can think of."

Studies have found many health problems related to stress. Stress seems to worsen or increase the risk of conditions like obesity, heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, depression, gastrointestinal problems, and asthma.

Before you get too stressed out about being stressed out, there is some good news. Following some simple stress relief tips could both lower your stress and lower your health risks.

10 Health Problems Related to Stress

What are some of the most significant health problems related to stress? Here's a sampling.

Heart disease. Researchers have long suspected that the stressed-out, type A personality has a higher risk of high blood pressure and heart problems. We don't know why, exactly. Stress might have a direct effect on the heart and blood vessels. It's also possible that stress is related to other problems -- an increased likelihood of smoking or obesity -- that indirectly increase the heart risks.

Doctors do know that sudden emotional stress can be a trigger for serious cardiac problems, including heart attacks. People who have chronic heart problems need to avoid acute stress as much as they can.

Asthma. Many studies have shown that stress can worsen asthma. Some evidence suggests that a parent's chronic stress might even increase the risk of developing asthma in their children. One study looked at how parental stress affected the asthma rates of young children who were also exposed to air pollution or whose mothers smoked during pregnancy. The kids with stressed out parents had a substantially higher risk of developing asthma.

Obesity. Excess fat in the belly seems to pose greater health risks than fat on the legs or hips -- and unfortunately, that's just where people with high stress seem to store it. "Stress causes higher levels of the hormone cortisol," says Winner, "and that seems to increase the amount of fat that's deposited in the abdomen."

Diabetes. Stress can worsen diabetes in two ways. First, it increases the likelihood of bad behaviors, such as unhealthy eating and excessive drinking. Second, stress seems to raise the glucose levels of people with type 2 diabetes directly.

Headaches. Stress is considered one of the most common triggers for headaches -- not just tension headaches, but migraines as well.

Depression and anxiety. It's probably no surprise that chronic stress is connected with higher rates of depression and anxiety. One survey of recent studies found that people who had stress related to their jobs -- like demanding work with few rewards -- had an 80% higher risk of developing depression within a few years than people with lower stress.

Gastrointestinal problems. Here's one thing that stress doesn't do -- it doesn't cause ulcers. However, it can make them worse. Stress is also a common factor in many other GI conditions, such as chronic heartburn (GERD) and IBS, Winner says.

Alzheimer's disease. One animal study found that stress might worsen Alzheimer's disease, causing its brain lesions to form more quickly. Some researchers speculate that reducing stress has the potential to slow down the progression of the disease.

Accelerated aging. There's actually evidence that stress can affect how you age. One study compared the DNA of mothers who were under high stress -- they were caring for a chronically ill child -- with women who were not. Researchers found that a particular region of the chromosomes showed the effects of accelerated aging. Stress seemed to accelerate aging about 9 to 17 additional years.

Premature death. A study looked at the health effects of stress by studying elderly caregivers looking after their spouses -- people who are naturally under a great deal of stress. It found that caregivers had a 63% higher rate of death than people their age who were not caregivers.

Still, you might be wondering why. Why would stress make us sick? Why would an emotional feeling wreck havoc on our bodies?

Stress isn't only a feeling. "Stress isn't just in your head," Winner says. It's a built-in physiologic response to a threat. When you're stressed, your body responds. Your blood vessels constrict. Your blood pressure and pulse rise. You breathe faster. Your bloodstream is flooded with hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline.

"When you're chronically stressed, those physiologic changes, over time, can lead to health problems," Winner tells WebMD.

Stress Management Works

While the number of health problems related to stress might be alarming, don't despair. Studies suggest that stress management techniques will not only make you feel better, but they might have concrete health benefits.

For instance, one study of heart attack survivors found that taking a stress management class slashed their risks of a second cardiac event by 74%. There's even some evidence that stress management will improve immunity.

Still, many of us remain skeptical about stress management. After all, our lives are just plain stressful. We have busy jobs, families to raise, tight finances, and no time to spare. Stress management might seem like a nice idea, but completely impossible.

It's true that you might not be able to remove all the stressful things from your life. But you can change how you respond to them, Winner says. That's what stress management is all about. Learning some basic stress relief techniques isn't hard either.

4 Ways to Fight Back Against Stress -- and Improve Your Health

The next time you feel stressed, here are four stress relief tips you can try.

Breathe deeply. Just a few minutes of deep breathing can calm you and tame the physiologic stress response, Winner says. While building in a specific time to relax each day is a good idea, one advantage to deep breathing for stress relief is that you can do it anywhere -- at your desk or in your (parked) car, for instance.

Winner recommends that as you breathe out, you relax a specific muscle group. Start with the muscles in your jaw. On the next breath out, relax your shoulders. Move through the different areas of your body until you're feeling calm.

Focus on the moment. When you're stressed, you're probably living in the future or the past. You're worried about what to do next or regretful about something you've already done. To get some stress relief, instead try focusing on what you're doing right now.

"You can calm yourself by bringing yourself back to the present moment," says Winner. "If you're walking, feel the sensation of your legs moving. If you're eating, focus on the taste and the sensation of the food."

Reframe the situation. So you're already running late and then find yourself stuck in terrible traffic. Getting worked up is a natural reaction, but it won't help you at all.

Rather than swearing and pounding the steering wheel, get a different perspective. Look at that time as an opportunity -- a few minutes to yourself where you don't have any other obligations.

Keep your problems in perspective. It might seem Pollyannaish, but the next time you're feeling stressed out, think about the things for which you're grateful.

"We get stressed when we focus so much on a specific problem that we lose perspective," says Winner. "You need to remind yourself of the basic ways in which you're lucky -- that you have family and friends, that you can see, that you can walk." It can be a surprisingly effective method for stress relief.

While these stress management techniques can help in the moment, you can also make a few larger changes to your way of life. Regular exercise is key to long-term stress management, says Winner. People who exercise tend to have better moods and more energy than people who don't. What's more, regular exercise will independently lower your risks for many health problems.

Learning some relaxation techniques, meditation, or yoga will help with stress management, too. Getting good at any of these approaches will take a little time and practice, but the payoff -- for your short-term mood and long-term health -- could be substantial.

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Pros and Cons of a Vegetarian Food Diet

2011-08-30T08:51:00.006+08:00

Vegetarian Diet: A Healthy Choice

The vegetarian diet is a healthy lifestyle followed by more than 4 million Americans. Compared to the general population, the typical vegetarian diet is lower in cholesterol and total and saturated fats, which helps reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease. Sound promising?

Vegetarian Diet: Getting Started

There are many types of vegetarian diets. By definition, vegetarians do not eat meat, poultry, or fish. Some vegetarians eat eggs and milk products. Others eat dairy, but skip the eggs. Finally, vegans eat only plant foods. They do not eat anything derived from animals, including milk, eggs, and honey. Whichever path you choose, you'll want to make protein, iron, calcium, zinc, and vitamin B-12 a priority.

Pick Your Proteins

Meat protein contains all the essential amino acids the body needs, but vegetarian sources often don't. Protein needs can easily be met by eating a variety of plant-based foods. To get the full range of proteins, vegetarians must eat a wide variety of nuts, seeds, legumes, and grains. For example, beans are high in an amino acid called lysine, but low in sulfur-rich amino acids. The opposite is true of grains. So eating a meal of black beans and rice is one way to get a balanced set of proteins.

Substitute With Soy

Soy products are a versatile source of protein. They work well as a meat substitute. Try making tofu kebabs the next time your meat-eating friends fire up the grill. Even if tofu leaves you cold, there are plenty of other soy foods on the market today. Soy is the prime ingredient in most meatless hot dogs, chicken nuggets, and breakfast sausages.

Tweak Your Favorite Recipes

One of the easiest ways to transition to a vegetarian diet is to create meatless versions of your favorite recipes. For example, make vegetarian lasagna with spinach and/or tofu instead of ground beef. Keep clicking for more meatless favorites.

Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers

Stuff bell peppers with a blend of rice and veggies. Instead of ground beef, add beans or meatless sausage crumbles. Season as usual.

Veggie Omelet

Eggs in a vegetarian diet provide a reliable and convenient source of protein. It's easy to whip up a veggie omelet instead of the standard ham-and-cheese. Try carrots, mushrooms and spinach for a colorful and nutritious alternative.

Eggplant Parmesan

Here's a tasty replacement for chicken parmesan – where your recipe calls for chicken, use thin slices of eggplant instead. If you decide to exclude dairy, you can use a soy-based cheese substitute instead of real parmesan.

Vegetarian Chili

When you're craving a warm, spicy bowl of chili, simply replace the ground beef with ground tofu. With ample seasoning, you may not even notice the difference.

Portabella Burger

It's not quite a cheeseburger in paradise, but a grilled portabella mushroom on a whole-wheat bun comes close. Top with lettuce, tomato or cheese, just as you would a hamburger.

Veggie Burger

If you're looking for something closer to the texture of a real hamburger, try a veggie burger. Most supermarkets now have several brands of frozen veggie burgers to choose from. These are often made with a blend of vegetables, soy, and grains, providing a well-balanced source of protein.

Vegetarian Diet Perks

Vegetarian diets tend to be lower in or free of animal products, and lower in total and saturated fat and cholesterol. Many studies have shown that vegetarians have a reduced risk of developing certain diseases. A vegetarian diet also boosts your intake of phytochemicals. These are compounds found in colorful fruits and vegetables, such as the lutein in broccoli and the lycopene in tomatoes. Phytochemicals are powerful antioxidants and may help protect against cancer.

Calcium & Vitamin D

If you eat milk, cheese, or yogurt, you probably get enough calcium to keep your bones strong. But if you go the vegan route, you'll need alternate sources of calcium. These include fortified soy milk and orange juice, seeds, nuts, and some green vegetables. People who avoid dairy products also miss out on vitamin D. The body can make this vitamin in response to sunlight, but vegans who don't get enough sun exposure may need a supplement.

Zinc

Although zinc is found in many vegetarian foods, it is not as well absorbed as meat-based zinc. Eating plenty of zinc-rich foods can help you maximize the amount your body absorbs. Good sources include milk, cheese, whole-grain breads, nuts, soy foods, and legumes, such as chickpeas. Hummus on a whole-grain pita is one tasty snack that does the trick.

Iron

Red meat may be the most obvious source of iron, but this vital mineral is plentiful in leafy green vegetables, cooked dry beans, and fortified cereals or grains. Like zinc, plant-based iron is not as well absorbed as iron from meat. The solution is to eat iron-rich foods regularly and in combination with foods that contain vitamin C. Vitamin C improves the absorption of iron.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 fatty acids are good fats that lower blood pressure and contribute to heart health. They are found mainly in fatty fish, as well as eggs. If you don't eat either of these foods, you need to include other sources of omega-3 fatty acids in your diet. Pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, walnuts, and soybean oil are all good options.

Vitamin B-12

Low levels of vitamin B-12 can cause muscle weakness and fatigue. This vitamin is found only in foods derived from animals and some fortified foods, including meats, eggs, and milk products. So vegans either need to eat foods fortified with vitamin B-12 or take supplements.

Vegetarian Kids

Some parents wonder whether a vegetarian diet is safe for their kids or teenagers. Experts say it is not only safe, but probably beneficial. In a study of 5,000 children, researchers concluded that the typical vegetarian diet is significantly healthier than the typical non-vegetarian diet. Just be sure kids get enough fats to meet their needs -- nuts, peanut butter, avocado, milk products, and eggs are all good sources.

Part-Time Vegetarian

You don't need to be a vegetarian seven days a week to reap some of the benefits. Going meatless one or two days a week can reduce your intake of saturated fats and cholesterol, while giving your body plenty of beneficial plant-based nutrients. Eating satisfying, meatless meals is getting easier and more convenient. Many restaurants and supermarkets now offer items specifically for vegetarians.

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Red Cross Needs Blood for Dengue Cases

2011-08-16T13:48:00.005+08:00

Click here to boost your child's immune system to help fight off Dengue fever.

As dengue spreads, Red Cross warns of blood shortage.

Amid the rising number of dengue cases in the country, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) urged the public to donate blood for patients suffering from the mosquito-borne disease.

PRC secretary-general Gwendolyn Pang said blood is most needed in the National Capital Region (NCR), where dengue cases in the past months are 40 percent higher than in the same period last year.

Department of Health (DOH) data show that out of almost 40,000 dengue cases nationwide recorded between January and July this year, over 9,000 patients (or 23 percent) are from Metro Manila.

Pang estimates that two out of five dengue patients need blood transfusions.

She said there is no blood shortage at the moment. However, if the number of dengue cases continues to rise and the demand for blood goes up, there may not be supplies for patients who need immediate blood transfusions.

"Dengue is our most immediate need right now," she told GMA News Online. "That's why we are encouraging people to donate blood right now, when there's no shortage yet. Ayaw naman natin na kung kailan may shortage ay doon lang magdo-donate ng dugo."

Not all dengue patients need blood transfusions but those who do will need at least three units of blood, and patients with severe dengue cases will need at least 10 to 16 bags of blood, she said.

950,000 Bags of Blood

The DOH said the country needs about 950,000 bags of blood a year for patients who need about five bags of blood at a time.

However, only around 600,000 bags of blood were collected in 2010, according to the DOH.

"Given that data, about 70,000 patients last year ang hindi nasalinan ng dugo nung nangailangan sila. If people are actively donating blood, this wouldn't happen," Pang said.

She added that if at least 900,000 healthy Filipinos (or about one percent of the population) regularly donate blood, there won't be any blood shortage in the country.

No 'Forced' Donors

Meanwhile, Pang said the Red Cross accepts donations only from volunteer blood donors and not from those they call "patient-derived donors."

"These (patient-derived) donors are often forced to donate, just because a patient is in dire need of blood," she said. "Usually relatives or neighbors who are asked to donate blood for a sick patient."

Pang said the Red Cross discourages these kinds of donors because the donors often do not have a clean bill of health.

She added that voluntary donation is also a good way for donors to have their own health checked, as donors are screened right before donating blood.

According to the Red Cross guidelines on donating blood, anybody aged 18 to 65 who weighs at least 110 lbs can donate blood. It only takes 10 minutes for a person to donate 450 cc of blood.

Donors are also advised to thoroughly and honestly fill out a blood donation questionnaire form, which includes direct questions about behaviors known to carry a higher risk of blood-borne infections, like prostitution and other sexual activities or intravenous drug use.

Pregnant women and persons who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol cannot donate blood. Those who have had tattoos or body piercings done in the last year are also not advised to donate blood until after one year.

Those who suffer from anemia, high or low blood pressure and low hemoglobin are temporarily not allowed to give blood until they regain their good health.

Blood Transfusion

Pang said a healthy person can donate three to four times a year, which equates to about three or four bags of blood annually. "By doing so, every year you can save four lives," she said.

However, she said donors can opt to go through an aphaeresis procedure, a medical process where the donor's blood goes through an apparatus that can separate the components of the blood.

Technicians can then pick out only the needed components from the blood, such as platelets or plasma.

To help dengue patients, Pang said donors can go through the aphaeresis method and donate platelets, a component of the blood that drastically drops in dengue patients.

Through aphaeresis, a donor can give up to eight units of platelets at a time, and can come back to donate every two weeks.

"Importante 'yung laging may blood donors, hindi lang 'pag nandyan na 'yung pangangailangan. It takes four hours for blood to be screened, after which you may find out na hindi pala pasado 'yung dugo dahil may sakit 'yung donor. Your patient may be dead by then," she said.

By GMA News

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NBA Philippines Fit & Miami Heat Coach Erik Spoelstra

2011-08-02T10:15:00.007+08:00

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Coach Spo: Practice What You Preach

When Erik Spoelstra flew in via Philippine Airlines from Los Angeles—with a one-night stopover in Hong Kong—the Miami Heat coach had quite a few things in mind.

In his third trip back to the Philippines since taking a high-profile coaching job with the Heat, every trip back to his mother’s homeland has had all the makings of a homecoming.

“There are the relatives I rarely see,” he thought. “And a several hundred thousand others who have opened their arms to me.”

“He’s become a symbol of the capabilities of Filipinos all around the world,” noted NBA Asia’s Senior Director of Business Development Ed Winkle of Spoelstra.

And there was NBA Fit, the program that he has committed his life to. “It’s not just a commitment,” he cleared. “It’s a life that you commit to.”

It was a warm thought. But Spoelstra also had to brace himself with a slew of questions about the previous campaign of the Heat that ended in defeat to the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals.

In perhaps the most high-profile coaching job in the NBA now that Phil Jackson retired from the Los Angeles Lakers, Spoelstra, in Manila for a week for the second year of the NBA Fit program, related that there are a lot of key learnings in the pro league.

“I think it’s just as important that one practices what he preaches. In a stressful and demanding world, you have to make the right decisions in what you eat and drink. It’s so easy and tempting to reach out for junk food but it doesn’t help you. That helps you become mentally and physically sharper and focused to deal with the NBA grind.”

Spoelstra, a fitness buff, joins the Miami Heat workouts, something that assistant David Fizdale recounted during their visit last year, “resonates well with the players. He can back up the talk.”

The third year head coach of the Heat underscored that the previous campaign of the Heat where superstars Chris Bosh and LeBron James joined resident star Dwyane Wade in Miami, was simply the beginning of a journey.

“There are things you learn during the season—how to block out the ‘noise’ from the outside, how to deal with adversity, how to motivate people… and that goes for myself and the coaching staff. Not just the players. But it’s going into a season with a clear goal of what you want. Once everyone commits to that then everything else follows. But the journey isn’t over. It’s just beginning.”

The NBA Fit is the league’s global health and wellness program that encourages physical activity and healthy living for children and families. It is fully endorsed by the Department of Health.

“We had such a great response to last year’s program,” added Winkle of NBA Fit. “People like the program and it helps that we have an excellent role model in Erik at the forefront of the program.”

NBA Fit will hold a development camp and celebrity challenge at the Araneta Coliseum on August 5, a clinic at the Mall of Asia on August 6 and Fun Run at the Bonifacio Global City on August 7.

By Business Mirror

Being Fit For Your Best Life

Being fit for life starts with dumping the junk food, and eating healthy food, getting enough exercise and sleep, having a positive mental attitude no matter how bad things get, and supplementing your diet with Nutrilite organic food supplements. Click the vitamin supplement links on the right column to review and order individual Nutrilite organic vitamins. Click the link below for an all encompassing cancer killing vitamin called DoubleX

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Breast Lumps: 7 Myths and Facts

2011-07-19T09:23:00.004+08:00

Breast lumps are common. Can you separate myth from fact?

About 40% of women will discover a breast lump at some point in their lives. Although a lump doesn't necessarily mean cancer, what women do immediately after that discovery can mean the difference between survival or not.

So what do you need to know if you find a breast lump? Four experts interviewed by WebMD help separate myths from facts.

1. A Breast Lump Is Almost Always Cancer

This is a myth, thankfully, but a widespread one, says Stephen Sener, MD, past president of the American Cancer Society and professor of surgery at the University of Southern California's Keck School of Medicine in Los Angeles.

"Every woman [with a breast lump] thinks it's cancer until proven otherwise," Sener says. "The older a woman is, the more petrified she is that she is the one in seven or eight to get breast cancer," says Sener, referring to a woman's lifetime risk of the cancer.

But some women shift to denial, says Laura Kruper, MD, a breast cancer surgeon at the City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center in Duarte, Calif. They will think cancer can't possibly be happening to them, she says. "Or they will think they are too young."

The lump is more likely to be cancerous in older women who have gone through menopause than in younger women, says Susan Love, MD, president of the Susan Love Foundation, clinical professor of surgery at the University of California Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine, and author of Dr. Susan Love'sBreast Book.

When a lump turns out not to be cancer, what else might it be? It could be a cyst (a fluid-filled sac that can be drained), an abnormal noncancerous growth such as a fibroadenoma or, much less often, a blood clot that causes lumpiness. It could also be a "pseudo lump," caused by hormonal changes that isn't a lump at all, says Love.

Whatever the cause, it's important to get any lump evaluated. Sener recommends a physical examination, a mammogram, and perhaps an ultrasound. "Most of the time you have a reasonable idea what is happening after that," he says. Some women will need to get a biopsy.

2. Breast Cancer Is Always Accompanied by a Lump You Can Feel

Not necessarily, says Jennifer Eng-Wong, MD, a medical oncologist at Georgetown University's Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center in Washington, D.C.

"Sometimes you pick up a cancer on a mammogram before you can feel [the lump] she says. That's the norm. "Most cancers are picked up on screening mammograms."

3. A Cancerous Lump Feels Different From a Benign Lump

Not always, says Eng-Wong. Cancerous lumps and noncancerous, or benign, lumps, can overlap. When a lump is cancer, she says, women often assume it will be a single lesion that feels hard and doesn't move around. That could be, she says, but a cancerous breast lump could also feel smooth and be mobile, she says.

"You can't always tell by how it feels," says Love. "Cysts, if they are deep, will feel scary. If they are near the surface, they often feel round and smooth. But if they are deep, they can push the breast tissue forward. Something that feels fairly benign and smooth and movable can be a cancer. Something that feels very scary can be benign."

The best advice? "Anything that feels different to you should get checked out," Love says.

These days, Love says, checking out breast lumps is easier for several reasons. Breast surgeons and breast clinics are common and ultrasound is often available right in the office.

4. A Small Lump Is Typically Nothing to Worry About

This is definitely not so, says Kruper. "Cancer can be very small when it first presents," she says. "Size is never a good way to decide whether a lump is something to worry about."

Kruper says she has seen women whose breast lumps have ranged in size from a pea to a grapefruit. The lumps found on mammograms, she says, can be extremely small. "When women actually feel a mass, it's usually less than an inch in diameter, the size of a small cherry," she says.

5. It's OK to Watch a Lump and Call the Doctor Later

It's not OK, and the older you are, the more this advice applies, doctors say. "You should always be evaluated by a health care practitioner," Eng-Wong says. "Sometimes they will recommend watching it for a couple months in women who are still menstruating," she says. "You can have cysts [that feel like lumps], and they can change with the menses."

Older women who have gone through menopause aren't likely to have lumps change from hormonal influence, so watchful waiting isn't typically considered an option.

Bottom line for older and younger women: "Get evaluated," Eng-Wong says.

How soon should you seek medical help? Doctors vary somewhat in their answers. Eng-Wong advises: "Take care of it within two to four weeks,'' whatever your age.

Sener prefers a faster timeline. "Call a physician within a day or two of identifying the lump and get advice about what to do," he says. A doctor may decide watchful waiting is acceptable, but a woman should not decide that on her own, Sener says.

The worst approach? To go into denial and wish away the lump. "I still see women who have had a lump for two, three months," Sener says. "They think that because physicians tell patients that cysts come and go,'' it may go away on its own. "If it turns out to be a cancer, two or three months can make a difference, especially in a younger person."

6. A Lump Can Be Cancer Even in a Woman With No Family History

Absolutely, says Love. "Only 5% or 10% of breast cancer is hereditary. The majority of women who get breast cancer have no risk factors."

But women often believe otherwise, Kruper says. They tell her: "If I don't have a family history of cancer, a lump is not likely to be cancer."

7. A Lump Can't Be Cancer in Women with a History of Cysts

Not so, but some women are lulled into this false sense of security. Women who have been told for years they have cysts often assume a new lump is nothing to worry about, Kruper says.

She tells women: "Whenever something new appears, we [physicians] need to know about it." She cautions them not to assume that just because previous lumps turned out to be cysts -- or nothing at all to worry about -- that the new lump is the same story.

Cancer Prevention

Any amount of health prevention is worth any amount of doctor and hospital visits when it comes to cancer. Health prevention starts with dumping the junk food, and eating healthy food, getting enough exercise and sleep, having a positive mental attitude no matter how bad things get, and supplementing your diet with Nutrilite organic food supplements. Click the vitamin supplement links on the right column to review and order individual Nutrilite organic vitamins. Click the link below for an all encompassing cancer killing vitamin called DoubleX

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Commonly Abused Prescription and OTC Drugs

2011-07-12T14:27:00.004+08:00

Prescription Drug Abuse

Drug abuse isn't just about illicit drugs like marijuana or cocaine. Legal medicines with legitimate uses can be abused -- meaning they're taken by someone other than the patient or in a manner or dose other than what's recommended. Here you'll find pictures of commonly abused prescription drugs (depressants, pain relievers, and stimulants) and some nonprescription (over-the-counter) drugs. Because drugs come in many forms, not all pills and tablets are shown; drug pictures are not to scale.

Barbiturates

Prescribed to ease anxiety or promote sleep, depressants slow the brain's function. Barbiturates are a type of depressant. Phenobarbital is a barbiturate; others are Mebaral, Seconal, and Nembutal. Though helpful when used as prescribed, barbiturates can be addictive. If taken with certain drugs, including alcohol, the heart and breathing can slow, which can lead to death. Slang for barbituates includes "barbs," "reds," red birds," "phennies," "tooies," "yellows," and "yellow jackets."

Benzodiazepines: Valium, Xanax

Valium and Xanax are examples of benzodiazepines, another type of depressant. They may be prescribed to treat anxiety, acute stress reactions, panic attacks, convulsions, and sleep disorders (typically for short-term use). Like other depressants, they have reasonable uses but may be abused. Withdrawal from benzodiazepines "can be problematic" but is rarely life-threatening, notes the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).

Sleep Medicines

Sleep medicines are depressants. The sleep drugs Ambien, Sonata, and Lunesta are newer sleep medicines called nonbenzodiazepines. These drugs "may have less potential for addiction" than other depressants, states the web site of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).

Codeine and Morphine

Pain relievers are another group of prescription drugs that are commonly abused. They include codeine and morphine. Brands of morphine include Avinza, Kadian, MS Contin, Oramorph, and Roxanol. Morphine is typically prescribed for severe pain; codeine, for milder pain. Street names for codeine include "Captain Cody" and "Cody." Slang for morphine includes "M" and "Miss Emma."

OxyContin, Percocet

OxyContin, Percocet, Percodan, and Roxicodone share an active ingredient, oxycodone, which is an opioid pain reliever. These drugs aren't identical; Percocet also contains acetaminophen, while Percodan also contains aspirin. These drugs should only be taken under medical supervision. Street names include "oxy," "O.C.," and "oxycotton" for OxyContin and "percs" for Percocet or Percodan.

Vicodin, Lortab, Lorcet

Vicodin, Lortab, and Lorcet contain the opioid hydrocodone and acetaminophen. Opioids can cause drowsiness, constipation, and may depress breathing, depending upon the amount taken, the NIDA notes. Vicodin's street names include "vike" and "Watson-387," states the web site of the nonprofit Partnership for a Drug-Free America. Vicodin, or any other prescription drug, shouldn't be shared; they're only for the patient with the prescription.

Amphetamines

Stimulants increase alertness, attention, and energy. They're prescribed for narcolepsy, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and depression that doesn't respond to other treatments. The ADHD drugs Dexedrine and Adderall, are stimulants called amphetamines, which may be abused by people seeking a sense of euphoria. Risks include fast or irregular heartbeat, reduced appetite, heart failure, nervousness, insomnia, and addiction. Nicknames for amphetamines include "bennies," "black beauties," and "speed."

Methylphenidate

Methylphenidate is a stimulant found in the ADHD drugs Ritalin, Concerta, Metadate, and Methylin. Its nicknames include "MPH," R-ball," "Skippy," "the smart drug," and "vitamin R." NIDA notes that taking high doses of a stimulant may result in dangerously high body temperature, an irregular heartbeat, and the potential for cardiovascular failure or lethal seizures.

Dextromethorphan (DXM)

Dextromethorphan (DXM) is the active ingredient in many nonprescription cough and cold medicines. Those products are safe when taken as recommended, but very large doses can produce euphoria and impaired judgment -- as well as nausea and vomiting, loss of coordination, and increased heart rate, NIDA says. DXM's street names include "Orange Crush," "Triple Cs," "Dex," "Robo," and "Skittles."

Pseudoephedrine

Pseudoephedrine is commonly found in nonprescription cold medicines. It's sought as an ingredient for making the illegal drug methamphetamine ("meth"). That's why there are laws limiting the amount of pseudoephedrine-containing drug products that can be purchased at a time.

Identifying a Suspicious Pill

Found a random pill and want to know what it is? WebMD's Pill Identifier may help. But since there are hundreds of drugs and thousands of pills and tablets of all shapes, colors, and sizes, a good strategy is to take the pill to a pharmacist and ask them for their help in identifying what it is.

Drug Abuse: What to Do

If you suspect that someone you know is abusing drugs, including prescription or over-the-counter medicines, the NIDA suggests calling your local drug abuse treatment center. If you're a parent who suspects your child is using, the Partnership for a Drug-Free America provides these tips:

Come right out and ask.

Look for signs and symptoms of drug use.

Learn the risk factors for drug use, like a family history of addiction or having friends who drink or use drugs.

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What Your Skin Says About Your Health

2011-06-22T15:08:00.006+08:00

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Your Skin: A Window to Your Health

Your skin can be a window to your underlying health, says Wake Forest's Joseph Jorizzo, MD, one of the experts who literally wrote the book on skin signs of internal disease. Many underlying health conditions — some very serious — first appear as skin problems.

Butterfly Rash

A butterfly rash across the face is often the first sign of lupus erythematosis. But don't jump to conclusions. "It could be rosacea, it could be contact dermatitis. Unfortunately, sometimes it is a sign of lupus," says University of Miami dermatologist Paolo Romanelli, MD. Only further tests can tell if it's really lupus.

Velvet Plaques

Velvety plaques around the neck and/or armpit suggest diabetes. This condition — acanthosis nigricans — could be benign, or just from being obese. But it is very often a sign of diabetes, and may indicate an internal malignant cancer.

Leg Plaque: Red on Edge, Gold in Center

Doctors call it necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum. As the name suggests, it's a distinctive sign of diabetes. And not a good sign. This skin condition suggests the underlying diabetes may have damaged eyes and kidneys.

Itchy, Violet Bumps on Wrist

Lichen planus is a rash made up of reddish-purple, flat-topped bumps that may itch like crazy. It usually appears on the wrists or ankles, but may be on the lower back, neck, legs, and genitals. The cause isn't known — but if you have it, you'll need to get liver tests. It could be a sign of hepatitis C.

Flesh Colored, Orange-Peel Patches on Back

Shagreen patches are flesh-colored lesions on the lower back that have the texture of an orange peel. They often occur with other skin signs: red or brown acne-like bumps spreading across the cheeks and nose; and ash-leaf spots of under-pigmented skin, most often on the trunk, that are oval at one end and pointy at the other. These are signs of a rare genetic disease called tuberous sclerosis that causes benign tumors to grow in the brain and other vital organs.

Tripe Palms

Tripe palms describes a skin condition in which the skin of the palm becomes thick and velvety-white with pronounced folds in the lines of the hand. The skin resembles boiled tripe. It's a sign of cancer. If only the palms are involved, it's most likely lung cancer. If tripe palms is accompanied by acanthosis nigricans, it's most likely gastric cancer.

Hardening of Skin in Extremities, "Wooden" Hands and Feet

First described in 1997, nephrogenic systemic fibrosis starts as a brown discoloration and indentation of the lower arms and legs. Very soon, the hands and feet become brown and like wood. Sometimes there's also a small yellow spot in the eye. Researchers only recently found that the gadolinium contrast agent used during MRI exams triggers this condition in some patients with kidney failure.

Scaly Rash on Buttocks, Red Tongue

Fortunately, necrolytic migratory erythema is pretty rare. It's a red, scaly rash, sometimes with small erosions of the skin, usually seen in elderly patients. It tends to start in the fold of the buttocks or palms but can be elsewhere on the body. A bright red, painful tongue is common. The condition usually signals a pancreatic tumor, usually a glucogenoma.

Not All Skin Conditions Scary

Many skin conditions do not indicate that anything else is wrong with you. For example, granuloma annulare is raised, reddish or flesh-colored bumps forming ring patterns on the hands and feet. They usually go away within two years, and don't mean anything is wrong with you.

Optimal Health Starts with Healthy Living

Live stronger longer by eating the right food, getting a little daily exercise, having a positive mental mindset, getting enough sleep, and supplementing your diet with organic vitamins supplements. Click the Nutrilite vitamin supplement links on the right column to review and order each product.

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Approval of Reproductive Health Bill Urged

2011-06-14T09:42:00.005+08:00

Various health groups have banded together under the Reproductive Health Practitioners

Health groups urge lawmakers to finally approve RH Bill

The Reproductive Health Practitioners of the Philippines (RHPP) is calling on lawmakers to finally approve the controversial Reproductive Health (RH) Bill.

The RHPP is a network of health practitioners from all over the country.

Various groups including the Integrated Midwife Association of the Philippines Inc. (IMAP Inc.), Philippine League of Government and Private Midwifes Inc.,(PLGPMI), the Department of Health (DoH) and the Alliance of Young Nurse Leaders & Advocates (AYNLA) said that once pushed, the RH Bill will have implications on the universal healthcare of the primary stakeholders.

Former Health secretary Alberto Romualdez, a supporter of the RH Bill, said the bill “will not solve all our problems but we have to look at the RH Bill as just one aspect of starting true universal healthcare.”

Romualdez said the groups are determined to have the RH Bill actualized given the “terrible” financial health care expenditures that many patients suffer from.

He said about 56 percent of the total healthcare expenditure comes directly from the “patient's pockets,” and that the government should rectify such flaws in the budget system for the provision of health care.

East Avenue Medical Center chief Dr. Ricardo Gonzales cited that some hospitals, like the Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital, often conduct an average 120 births a day. As a result, some patients are turned down and referred from one hospital to another due to lack of equipment and human resource.

“The RH Bill can help correct this recurring problem. We have great hope that our legislators from the Senate and Congress will find a way to provide for us enough resources need to repel this prevalent problems,” Gonzales said.

He added that the RH Bill goes beyond family planning but also equal access to quality health care assistance.

Romualdez added that the bill can encourage sustainable health care programs and infrastructure, which will lessen the rate of maternal mortality in the country.

“There are two million babies born every year and 30 percent of those were unplanned, unwanted or mistimed. If they are given access to family planning methods ideal for their situations then for sure more women will be saved from turning to unsafe methods of abortion,” he said.

IMAP Inc.'s Patricia Gomez said that the RH Bill also includes breastfeeding and the teaching of health practitioners of the various options couples, especially for wives open to family planning methods.

“Most of the people who complain about the RH Bill don't have to go through the sacrificial act of giving birth and caring for the child. It should be the women's choice,” she said.

The bill once passed should also aid youth groups like AYNLA in helping underserved groups in the community like teenage mothers.

Romualdez reiterated that the RHPP does not intend to stop childbirths in the country but to promote a client-centered care and medical eligibility criteria due to all Filipinos.

The RHPP is also set to release a unified statement of support for the RH Bill at Congress as well as a dialogue with legislators in the Senate and House of Representatives.

“We seek for the legislation of the RH Bill because otherwise, this will eventually die just like other programs which were not supported,” Romualdez said.

By Loqal

Start with Sickness Illness Prevention

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Doctors Suggest P-Noy Quit Smoking

2011-06-07T10:35:00.001+08:00

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Doctors to P-Noy: Stop Smoking and Lead the Philippines in Becoming Tobacco-Free

Participants of the Tobacco Control Summit 2011 appealed to President Noynoy Aquino to stop smoking and lead the Philippines in becoming tobacco-free, reports ABS-CBN News. The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance Philippines (FCAP) and the Philippine College of Chest Physicians (PCCP) organized the summit.

FCAP board member Bobby del Rosario and World Health Organization technical officer Dr. Rlorante Trinidad said that if P-Noy is struggling over his smoking habit, then he could at least declare that smoking is bad for one's health and support anti-smoking policies.

During his presidential campaign in 2009, P-Noy announced that he was not ready to give up his vice, and reasoned that his job is highly pressurized that quitting might affect the way he makes decisions.

However, FCAP is still asking the President to enact anti-smoking laws that would rid the public of second-hand smoke. Currently, 17.3 million Filipinos now smoke despite tobacco control regulations. Trinidad explains that this increasing percentage of smokers is common in developing countries where anti-smoking laws are not strictly implemented.

Almost two-thirds of adults and children are exposed to second-hand tobacco smoke, according to the report. Tobacco, said Trinindad, kills 87,600 Filipino per year and 240 deaths are recorded everyday. A third of that, he added, comprises men in the most productive age of their lives.

By ABS-CBN News

Smoker or Non-Smoker?

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Understanding Birth Control

2011-05-31T08:43:00.005+08:00

Your Birth Control Options

Birth Control: How to Decide

With so many options, choosing a form of birth control can be daunting. Begin with a few questions: Do you need to protect against STDs? How important are convenience and cost? What about effectiveness? Only abstinence is 100% effective, but other methods come close -- as our effectiveness chart shows in a glance. Review this slideshow, then ask your doctor which options are best for you.

Fertility Awareness

Also called natural family planning, fertility awareness means avoiding sex when the woman is most fertile. The most reliable way to do this is to watch for changes in cervical mucus and body temperature. To use this method correctly, it’s best to get training from a health care professional.

Pros: No drugs or devices, inexpensive.

Cons: Limits spontaneous sex, 25% of typical users get pregnant.

Spermicide

Spermicide contains a chemical that kills sperm. It comes in the form of foam, jelly, cream, or film that is placed inside the vagina before sex. Some types must be put in place 30 minutes ahead of time. Frequent use may cause tissue irritation, increasing the risk of infections and STDs. Spermicides are most often used along with other birth control methods.

Pros: Easy to use, inexpensive (P50 per use).

Cons: May increase the risk of STDs, 29% get pregnant.

Male Condom

The latex condom is the classic barrier method. It prevents sperm from entering the woman’s body, protecting against pregnancy and STDs. Of couples who rely only on male condoms, 15% get pregnant in a year.

Pros: Widely available, protects against STDs, inexpensive (under P50 each).

Cons: Only effective if used correctly every time. Can’t be reused.

Female Condom

The female condom is a thin plastic pouch that lines the vagina and can be put in place up to 8 hours before sex. Users grasp a flexible, plastic ring at the closed end to guide it into position. It's somewhat less effective than the male condom.

Pros: Widely available, some protection against STDs, conducts body heat better than a male condom.

Cons: Can be noisy, 21% of users get pregnant, not reusable. Should not be used with a male condom, to avoid breakage.

Diaphragm

The diaphragm is a rubber dome that is placed over the cervix before sex. It is used with a spermicide. Effectiveness compares to the male condom – 16% of average users get pregnant, including those who don’t use the device correctly every time.

Pros: Inexpensive (a P750 to P3500. device lasts two years.)

Cons: Must be fitted by a doctor, no STD protection. Can’t be used during your period due to a risk of toxic shock syndrome.

Cervical Cap

A cervical cap is similar to a diaphragm, but smaller. The FemCap slips into place over the cervix, blocking entry into the uterus. It is used with spermicide. The failure rate for the cervical cap is 15% for women who have never had children and 30% for those who have.

Pros: Can stay in place for 48 hours, inexpensive.

Cons: Must be fitted by a doctor, no protection against STDs. Can’t be used during your period.

Birth Control Sponge

The birth control sponge, sold as the Today Sponge, is made of foam and contains spermicide. It is placed against the cervix up to 24 hours before sex. The sponge is about as effective as the cervical cap. But unlike the diaphragm or cervical cap, no fitting by a doctor is required.

Pros: No prescription, effective immediately.

Cons: Difficult to insert correctly, no STD protection. Can’t be used during your period.

Birth Control Pill

The most common type of birth control pill uses the hormones estrogen and progestin to prevent ovulation. When taken on schedule, the pill is highly effective. About 8% of typical users get pregnant, including those who miss doses. Like all hormonal contraceptives, the pill requires a prescription.

Pros: More regular, lighter periods, or no periods, depending on the type of pill. Less cramping.

Cons: Cost (P750 to P2500 per month), no STD protection. May cause side effects, including breast tenderness, spotting, serious blood clots, and raised blood pressure. Some women should not use birth control pills.

Birth Control Patch

Women who have trouble remembering a daily pill may want to consider the birth control patch. The Ortho Evra patch is worn on the skin and changed only once a week for three weeks with a fourth week that is patch-free. The patch releases the same types of hormones as the birth control pill and is just as effective.

Pros: More regular, lighter periods with less cramping, no need to remember a daily pill.

Cons: Cost (P750 to P2500 per month), may cause skin irritation or other side effects similar to birth control pills. Doesn’t protect against STDs.

Vaginal Ring

The NuvaRing is a soft plastic ring that is worn inside the vagina. The ring releases the same hormones as the pill and patch and is just as effective. But it only needs to be replaced once a month.

Pros: Lighter, more regular periods, only replaced once per month.

Cons: Cost (P1500 to P3000 per month), may cause vaginal irritation or other side effects similar to pills and the patch. Doesn’t protect against STDs.

Birth Control Shot

The birth control shot, known as Depo-Provera, is a hormonal injection that protects against pregnancy for three months. For the typical couple, it is more effective than the birth control pill -- only 3% of users get pregnant in a year.

Pros: Only injected four times per year, highly effective.

Cons: Cost (about P10,000 per year), may cause spotting and other side effects. Doesn’t protect against STDs.

Birth Control Implant

The birth control implant (Implanon) is a matchstick-sized rod that is placed under the skin of the upper arm. It releases the same hormone that’s in the birth control shot, but the implant protects against pregnancy for 3 years. The failure rate is less than 1%.

Pros: Lasts three years, highly effective.

Cons: More expensive upfront (P20,000 to P40,000 for exam, implant, and insertion), may cause side effects, including irregular bleeding. Doesn’t protect against STDs.

UD

IUD stands for intrauterine device, a T-shaped piece of plastic that is placed inside the uterus by a doctor. The copper IUD, ParaGard, works for as long as 12 years. The hormonal IUD, Mirena, must be replaced after 5 years. Both types make it more difficult for sperm to fertilize the egg. Fewer than eight in 1,000 women get pregnant.

Pros: Long-lasting, low-maintenance.

Cons: Irregular or heavier periods. More expensive upfront, may slip out, may cause side effects.

Tubal Ligation

If you’re sure you won’t want biological children in the future, you may be ready for permanent birth control. The traditional method for women is called tubal ligation or “having your tubes tied.” A surgeon closes off the fallopian tubes, preventing eggs from making their journey out of the ovaries. (The banding method is shown here.)

Pros: Permanent, nearly 100% effective.

Cons: Requires surgery, may not be reversible, expensive. Doesn’t protect against STDs.

Tubal Implants

A newer procedure makes it possible to block the fallopian tubes without surgery. Small implants of metal or silicone are placed inside each tube. Scar tissue eventually grows around the implants and blocks the tubes. Once an X-ray confirms the tubes are blocked, no other form of birth control is needed.

Pros: Permanent, no surgery, almost 100% effective.

Cons: Takes a few months to become effective. May raise the risk of pelvic infections, irreversible, expensive.

Vasectomy

Besides condoms, a vasectomy is the only birth control option available to men. It involves surgically closing the vas deferens – the tubes that carry sperm from the testes, through the reproductive system. This prevents the release of sperm but doesn’t interfere with ejaculation.

Pros: Permanent, cheaper than tubal ligation, almost 100% effective.

Cons: Requires surgery, not effective immediately, may not be reversible.

Emergency Contraception

Emergency contraception works after sex to help avoid pregnancy. This is an option if no birth control was used or if a woman suspects her usual method failed. Plan B, Plan B One-Step, and a generic version of Plan B called Next Choice all contain a high dose of a hormone found in many birth control pills. No prescription is needed for women aged 17 and older. These types must be used within 72 hours. Ella uses a non-hormonal drug and requires a doctor's prescription. It can be taken up to five days after sex.

Options for Older Women

Age and lifestyle are important factors in choosing a form of birth control. If you’re over age 35 and smoke or are obese, the combination birth control pill, patch, and ring are not recommended. It’s best to consult your doctor about safe alternatives. If you’re approaching the age of menopause, the birth control shot has an added benefit: It may relieve some of the symptoms of perimenopause.

Withdrawal

Nearly six in 10 American women report that a partner has used "pulling out," the age-old method that relies on the man withdrawing his penis from the vagina before ejaculation. Newer reviews show that when it's done correctly every time, about 4% of users get pregnant in a year. With more typical use, about 18% get pregnant.

Pros: Free, no need for devices or hormones.

Cons: May be hard to do correctly. No protection against STDs.

Least Effective Methods

Without using any form of birth control, 85% of sexually active couples will get pregnant within a year. Even the least effective birth control options reduce that number considerably.

Most Effective Methods

Although barrier methods, such as the condom or diaphragm, are moderately effective with typical patterns of use, hormonal contraceptives have a better track record for effectiveness. There are also several options for couples that prefer the lowest possible odds of getting pregnant. Two of these are reversible – the IUD and hormonal implant. Of course, the only birth control method that is 100% effective is abstinence.

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Prevent From Getting Sick and Diseased

2011-05-23T08:14:00.004+08:00

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Tips to Strengthen Your Immune System To Fight Off Sickness and Disease

Reduce Your Stress

Some stress can be a good thing. It's your body's way of preparing for a challenge, such as giving a presentation. But a steady stream of stress can be bad for your health. Studies show it can even weaken your immune system -- your body's system for fighting off disease and illness. Reduce your stress by avoiding whatever stressors you can. Take the time to relax and do things you enjoy.

Enjoy Regular Sex

It turns out that sex doesn't just make you feel good -- it's good for you, too. Studies have shown that a good sex life can be a boost to health. One study looked at the connection between sexual activity and health in people middle-aged and older. The researchers found that those who had frequent sex were in better overall health than those who had sex less often.

Get a Pet

There's a reason dogs are called "man's best friend." Dogs and other pets can offer us companionship, exercise, and even good health. Studies have found that having a pet can help reduce blood pressure, lower cholesterol levels, and improve heart health. One study showed that having a dog can help improve immune system development and may reduce the risks of allergies in children.

Build a Strong Social Network

We all know friends are important, but strong social ties can also have a big effect on your health. A recent study found that people with strong relationships were 50% more likely to survive than those with poor social ties. To broaden your social network, try volunteering, taking a class, or joining a group that interests you. And be sure to nurture the bonds you already have.

Keep a Positive Attitude

Positive thoughts can give your immune system a healthy boost. One study of law students found that when they were feeling more optimistic, their immune system was stronger. To increase your optimism, take time to savor the things you enjoy, look for the silver lining in difficult situations, and try not to dwell on negative thoughts.

Have a Laugh

A good belly laugh might be good for you. While there's some evidence that laughter may help boost our immune system, overall research results have been mixed. A group of researchers who looked at several studies about laughter and immune function found that people who laughed out loud at funny videos had higher immune function after watching the video. But more studies are needed to prove whether laughter actually helps prevent or minimize illness.

Eat Your Antioxidants

Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables can help you get a healthy dose of antioxidants. These substances in foods can help protect your cells from free radicals, molecules that can damage cells. To get a wide range of antioxidants, choose fruits and vegetables of different colors, such as oranges, green peppers, broccoli, kiwi, strawberries, carrots, watermelon, papaya, leafy greens, and cantaloupe.

Take Your Vitamins

If you have a feeling your diet is lacking, consider taking a multivitamin. A daily multivitamin will help ensure that your body is getting all of the building blocks for a healthy immune system. Some nutrients that may be especially important for immune system health include selenium, vitamins A, C, D, and E, zinc, and magnesium. Click the Nutrilite vitamin supplement links on the right column to review and online order.

Avoid Empty Calories

Processed foods such as fast foods, snack foods, candy, and soda don't provide much in the way of vitamins, fiber, or other nutrients. And they often contain other additives and chemicals that may not be good for your body. When you choose these foods over more nutrient-rich foods such as vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, you risk depleting your body of essential nutrients.

Consider Herbs and Supplements

Many people take herbs or supplements to improve their overall health. Some supplements have been shown to affect the immune system. But more well-designed studies are needed to learn their beneficial effects on humans. These include garlic, ginseng, milk thistle, astragalus, and probiotics such as lactobacillus and bifidobacterium.

Keep Your Body Moving

One simple way to strengthen your immune system is by exercising. Getting regular exercise can also reduce stress and help lower your risk of osteoporosis, heart disease, and certain types of cancer. You get the most benefit when you exercise at a moderate level a few times a week. Any type of movement is helpful, including bicycling, walking, yoga, swimming, or playing golf.

Get a Good Night's Sleep

Without enough sleep, your immune system may not have the resources it needs to fight off illness. Most adults need about seven to nine hours of sleep each night. You can help yourself to a more restful sleep by keeping a regular schedule, getting exercise, avoiding caffeine and alcohol close to bedtime, relaxing before bedtime, and keeping your bedroom at a comfortable temperature.

Limit Alcohol

Drinking alcohol is part of our culture. Many people drink at meals and at parties as a way to socialize and celebrate. But drinking too much alcohol can weaken your immune system and cause you to get sick more often. To minimize risk, men should have no more than two drinks per day. Women should not have more than one drink per day.

Kick the Nicotine Habit

Here's another reason to give up smoking -- it weakens your immune system. Even if you're just an occasional smoker, you're still at risk. According to the U.S. surgeon general, even low levels of exposure to tobacco can cause health problems, including heart attack, stroke, and asthma. If you need help quitting, talk with your doctor.

Wash Your Hands

One of the easiest ways to help your immune system fight illness is to wash your hands regularly. It's also one of the best ways to keep yourself and others healthy. Be sure to use soap and clean, running water, and wash for at least 20 seconds. If you don't have access to soap and water, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that has at least 60% alcohol.

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Are You Protected From Deadly Diseases?

2011-05-17T07:57:00.004+08:00

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Tetanus Vaccine: Not Just for Kids

The bacteria that cause tetanus enter the body through wounds or cuts. Tetanus can lead to severe muscle spasms, stiffness, and lockjaw -- the inability to open your mouth or swallow. A one-time Tdap (tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis) vaccine and a Td (tetanus-diphtheria) booster every 10 years are all it takes to prevent it.

Stay Ahead of Chickenpox

If you've avoided chickenpox (varicella) so far, don't push your luck. You can still get it by being in a room with someone who has it. Adults with chickenpox have a higher risk of complications, hospitalization, and death. For example, varicella pneumonia may be more severe in pregnant women and is a medical emergency. Untreated, almost half of pregnant women with varicella pneumonia die. Since chickenpox puts you at risk for shingles, chickenpox vaccine may offer some protection against shingles, too. It also reduces risk of infection in the community, especially among those who are susceptible but can't be vaccinated, such as pregnant women. Two doses of the vaccine are administered four to eight weeks apart to people 13 and older.

Shingles Vaccine: Important After 60

The virus that gave you chickenpox as a child can strike again as shingles or "herpes zoster" when you're an adult. Most common after age 60, the painful, blistering shingles rash can damage your eyes and cause long-term pain called postherpetic neuralgia. If you get this rash, you can also infect others with chickenpox. If you're 60 or older, a one-dose vaccine is recommended to prevent shingles.

HPV Vaccine for Some Men and Women

HPV vaccines protect against some strains of human papilloma virus that cause most cervical cancers in women. One of the available HPV vaccines also protects against most genital warts in men and women. HPV is spread by sexual contact. The vaccine can be given to children as early as age 9, but young adults, especially those who have not had sexual activity, can receive the vaccine, too. It's available for men and women through age 26.

Protect Against Meningitis

Young adults who live in military barracks or college dorms, travelers to certain areas, and some people with weakened immune systems are among those who should be vaccinated against meningococcal disease, a leading cause of bacterial meningitis. Each year in the United States, about 1 in 10 people who get meningococcal disease die. Many others suffer brain damage or hearing loss. Ask your doctor about your risk.

Don't Flirt With Hepatitis

You can get one of the hepatitis viruses without knowing it. Risk factors for hepatitis A transmission include consuming contaminated food or water, injecting street drugs, or men having sex with other men. Hepatitis B can spread by contact with blood or body fluids of an infected person, such as during unprotected sex or use of others' personal items, such as razors. Sharing needles with an infected person when injecting drugs can also spread hep B. Hepatitis A and B can lead to serious liver damage and even death. Ask your doctor if you should get a hepatitis A or B vaccine.

Vaccines for Foreign Travel

Travel vaccines aren't just a good idea. Some are required to enter certain countries. Keep current on your routine vaccinations. The CDC also recommends or requires other vaccinations depending on your destination. Plan on getting them 4 to 6 weeks before you leave. See the doctor even if your trip is closer than 4 weeks away. You may still benefit from vaccines or medication. Your doctor can tell you which vaccines can help you stay healthy.

Get a Flu Shot While You Shop

The CDC and flu experts recommend that just about everyone get a flu vaccination every year. Why? Each year's vaccine is based on the three strains of influenza virus that are expected to be widespread that season. Short on time? No problem. Flu shots are available at supermarkets, pharmacies, schools, and churches, as well as doctors' offices. And you can get one anytime during flu season. How easy is that?

Pneumococcus: Protect Yourself

Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV) protects against almost all pneumococcal bacteria that can cause pneumonia, bloodstream infections, and meningitis. Pneumococcal pneumonia can be severe and deadly, killing 50,000 adults every year. Bloodstream infections occur in 1 in 4 of those with pneumonia and cause about one-third of bacterial meningitis cases in the United States. Ask your doctor about PPSV. It's recommended if you're over 65, or if you're 2-64 and smoke or have asthma, a chronic illness, or a weakened immune system.

Measles/Mumps/Rubella: 3 Vaccines in 1

The "Big 3" childhood diseases -- measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) -- can hit harder when you're an adult. One MMR vaccine protects against all three. Most American adults have either had the measles or been vaccinated against it. If you haven't, you're still at risk for this highly infectious virus. Even worse, you may be at risk of serious complications such as pneumonia and encephalitis.

Mumps and Its Complications

Mumps vaccine is included in MMR. Mumps is contagious and is marked by swollen salivary glands. In adults, mumps can often have complications like meningitis and painful swelling of the testicles and ovaries. Anyone born after 1956 should get the MMR vaccine, unless you have evidence of prior infection of MMR diseases or medical reasons not to be vaccinated.

Don't Risk Rubella

Rubella vaccine is also part of MMR. Spread through the air, rubella is especially serious for pregnant women. It can cause miscarriage, premature delivery, and congenital rubella syndrome -- a group of severe birth defects. Most women of childbearing age should already be vaccinated for MMR. If you are not vaccinated but are thinking about getting pregnant, wait until 4 weeks after vaccination before getting pregnant. If you're already pregnant and not vaccinated against rubella, get the vaccine after you have given birth.

Supplement Your Diet with Organic Nutrients

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Men Spot the Red Flags of Prostate Cancer

2011-05-11T07:41:00.004+08:00

Click Here To Maintain A Healthy Prostate

What Is Prostate Cancer?

Prostate cancer develops in a man's prostate, the walnut-sized gland just below the bladder that produces some of the fluid in semen. It's the most common cancer in men after skin cancer. Prostate cancer often grows very slowly and may not cause significant harm. But some types are more aggressive and can spread quickly without treatment.

Symptoms of Prostate Cancer

In the early stages, men may have no symptoms. Later, symptoms can include:

Frequent urination, especially at night

Difficulty starting or stopping urination

Weak or interrupted urinary stream

Painful or burning sensation during urination or ejaculation

Blood in urine or semen

Advanced cancer can cause deep pain in the lower back, hips, or upper thighs.

Enlarged Prostate or Prostate Cancer?

The prostate can grow larger as men age, sometimes pressing on the bladder or urethra and causing symptoms similar to prostate cancer. This is called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). It's not cancer and can be treated if symptoms become bothersome. A third problem that can cause urinary symptoms is prostatitis. This inflammation or infection may also cause a fever and in many cases is treated with medicine.

Risk Factors You Can't Control

Growing older is the greatest risk factor for prostate cancer, particularly after age 50. After 70, studies suggest that most men have some form of prostate cancer, though there may be no outward symptoms. Family history increases a man's risk: having a father or brother with prostate cancer doubles the risk. African-Americans are at high risk and have the highest rate of prostate cancer in the world.

Risk Factors You Can Control

Diet seems to play a role in the development of prostate cancer, which is much more common in countries where meat and high-fat dairy are mainstays. The reason for this link is unclear. Dietary fat, particularly animal fat from red meat, may boost male hormone levels. And this may fuel the growth of cancerous prostate cells. A diet too low in fruits and vegetables may also play a role.

Myths About Prostate Cancer

Here are some things that will not cause prostate cancer: Too much sex, a vasectomy, and masturbation. If you have an enlarged prostate (BPH), that does not mean you are at greater risk of developing prostate cancer. Researchers are still studying whether alcohol use, STDs, or prostatitis play a role in the development of prostate cancer.

Can Prostate Cancer Be Found Early?

The American Cancer Society advises men to talk with a doctor about the pros and cons of screening tests, beginning at:

50 for average-risk men who expect to live at least 10 more years.

45 for men at high risk. This includes African-Americans.

40 for men with a strong family history.

The American Urological Association recommends a first-time PSA blood test at age 40, with follow-ups per doctor's orders. It's important to note that screening may detect cancers that are so slow-growing that treatment would offer no benefit. The treatments themselves can have serious side effects.

Screening: DRE and PSA

Your doctor may initially do a digital rectal exam (DRE) to feel for bumps or hard spots on the prostate. A blood test will measure prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a protein produced by prostate cells. An elevated level may indicate a higher chance that you have cancer, but you can have a high level and still be cancer-free. It is also possible to have a normal PSA and have prostate cancer.

PSA Test Results

A normal PSA level is considered to be under 4 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) of blood, while a PSA above 10 suggests a high risk of cancer. But there are many exceptions:

Men can have prostate cancer with a PSA less than 4.

A prostate that is inflamed (prostatitis) or enlarged (BPH) can boost PSA levels, yet further testing may show no evidence of cancer.

Some BPH drugs can lower PSA levels, despite the presence of prostate cancer, called a false negative.

If either your PSA or DRE are abnormal, your doctor will order other tests.

Prostate Cancer Biopsy

If a physical exam or PSA test suggests a problem, your doctor may recommend a biopsy. A needle is inserted either through the rectum wall or the skin between the rectum and scrotum. Multiple small tissue samples are removed and examined under a microscope. A biopsy is the best way to detect cancer and predict whether it is slow-growing or aggressive.

Biopsy and Gleason Score

A pathologist looks for cell abnormalities and “grades” the tissue sample from 1 to 5. The sum of 2 Gleason grades is the Gleason score. These scores help determine the chances of the cancer spreading. They range from 2, less aggressive, to 10, a very aggressive cancer. Gleason scores helps guide the type of treatment your doctor will recommend.

Prostate Cancer Imaging

Some men may need additional tests to see if the cancer has spread beyond the prostate. These can include ultrasound, a CT scan, or an MRI scan (seen here). A radionuclide bone scan traces an injection of low-level radioactive material to help detect cancer that has spread to the bone.

Prostate Cancer Staging

Staging is used to describe how far prostate cancer has spread (metastasized) and to help determine the best treatment.

Stage I: Cancer is small and still within the prostate.

Stage II: Cancer is more advanced, but still confined to the prostate.

Stage III: Cancer has spread to the outer part of the prostate and nearby seminal vesicles.

Stage IV: Cancer has spread to lymph nodes, nearby organs or tissues such as bladder or rectum, or distant organs such as bones or lungs.

Prostate Cancer Survival Rates

The good news about prostate cancer is that it usually grows slowly. And 9 out of 10 cases are found in the early stages. Overall, the 5-year relative survival rate is 100% for men with disease confined to the prostate or nearby tissues, and many men live much longer. When the disease has spread to distant areas, that figure drops to 31%. But these numbers are based on men diagnosed at least 5 years ago. The outlook may be better for men diagnosed and treated today.

Treatment: Watchful Waiting

With low-risk cancer, one option is to watch and wait. This is determined by your biopsy, PSA test, and Gleason scores. Your doctor will order periodic testing. Other treatments – with the risk of sexual or urinary problems – may not be necessary. Some men who are older or have serious health conditions may not need treatment. However, more aggressive treatment is usually recommended for younger men or those with more aggressive disease.

Treatment: Radiation Therapy

External beam radiation to kill cancer cells can be used as a first treatment or after prostate cancer surgery. It can also help relieve bone pain from the spread of cancer. In brachytherapy, tiny radioactive pellets about the size of a grain of rice are inserted into the prostate. Both methods can impair erectile function. Fatigue, urinary problems, and diarrhea are other possible side effects.

Treatment: Surgery

Removing the prostate, or radical prostatectomy, is used to eliminate the cancer when it is confined to the prostate. New techniques use smaller incisions and seek to avoid damaging nearby nerves. If lymph nodes are also cancerous, prostatectomy may not be the best option. Surgery may impair urinary and sexual function, but both can improve over time.

Treatment: Hormone Therapy

Hormone therapy may shrink or slow the growth of your cancer, but unless it is used with another therapy it will not eliminate the cancer. Drugs or hormones block or stop the production of testosterone and other male hormones, called androgens. Side effects can include hot flashes, growth of breast tissue, weight gain, and impotence.

Treatment: Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy kills cancer cells throughout the body, including those outside the prostate, so it is used to treat more advanced cancer and cancer that did not respond to hormone therapy. Treatment is usually intravenous and is given in cycles lasting 3-6 months. Because the chemotherapy kills other fast-growing cells in the body, you may have hair loss and mouth sores. Other side effects include nausea, vomiting, and fatigue.

Treatment: Cryotherapy

Cryotherapy freezes and kills cancerous cells within the prostate (like the highly magnified cells shown here.) It is not as widely used because little is known about its long-term effectiveness. It's less invasive than surgery, with a shorter recovery time. Because the freezing damages nerves, as many as 80% of men become impotent after cryosurgery. There can be temporary pain and burning sensations in the bladder and bowel.

Treatment: Prostate Cancer Vaccine

This vaccine is designed to treat, not prevent, prostate cancer by spurring your body’s immune system to attack prostate cancer cells. Immune cells are removed from your blood, activated to fight cancer, and infused back into your blood. Three cycles occur in one month. It's used for advanced prostate cancer that no longer responds to hormone therapy. Mild side-effects can occur such as fatigue, nausea, and fever.

Hope for Advanced Cancer

Your doctor will continue to monitor your PSA levels and may perform other tests after treatment for prostate cancer. If it recurs or spreads to other parts of the body, additional treatment may be recommended. Lifestyle choices may matter, too. One study found that prostate cancer survivors who exercised regularly had a lower risk of dying.

Coping With Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction is a common side effect of prostate cancer treatments. Generally, erectile function improves within two years after surgery. Improvement may be better for younger men than for those over 70. You also may benefit from ED medications. Other treatments, such as injection therapy and vacuum devices, may help.

Food for Health

A cancer-conscious diet may be the best choice for survivors who want to bolster their health and those hoping to lower their risk. That means:

Five or more fruits and veggies a day

Whole grains instead of white flour or white rice

Limit high-fat meat

Limit or eliminate processed meat (hot dogs, cold cuts, bacon)

Limit alcohol to 1-2 drinks per day (if you drink)

Foods high in folate may have some action against prostate cancer (spinach, orange juice, lentils). Studies found mixed results on lycopene, an antioxidant found in tomatoes.

Click Here To Maintain A Healthy Prostate

Top 5 Reasons People Go to the Hospital

2011-05-02T09:17:00.005+08:00

What Lands You in a Hospital Today?

The five most common reasons are pregnancy/childbirth, pneumonia, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, and osteoarthritis. While some reasons for hospital care remain fairly constant, hospitals are using technology to improve the patient experience.

Medical Records Go Digital

Hospitals are gradually shifting from paper to electronic medical records to minimize errors, comply with regulations, and enable scattered care providers to share data. Record systems can vary widely. They commonly allow doctors to write prescriptions online, access test results, and view medical images. However, many hospital systems are not yet fully integrated with physician offices.

Robotic Surgery

Robots will never replace actual human surgeons. But these devices can move with great precision and hold instruments steady for long periods. Surgeons guide the robotic "hands" from the same room or from a remote location. Surgeries using the help of robotic systems include hip replacement, reversal of tubal ligations, removal of prostate, gallbladder, or kidney, kidney transplant, and many gastrointestinal procedures.

Smart Design Matters

The hospital environment itself can affect patient outcomes. Some designs are intended to incorporate new technology. Better air filtration and strategically located sinks help reduce infection risk. Noise control improves sleep and recovery, especially for children. Music, access to sunlight, and views of nature can also enhance the stay of some patients. Such improvements lead to more staff satisfaction as well.

Welcoming Families

Some hospitals are moving away from semi-private rooms and strict limits on visitors in favor of family-friendly designs and policies. New designs might include more private rooms to encourage family members to stay overnight.

The Rise of 'Rooming In'

A generation ago, newborns were whisked away to nurseries while moms recovered elsewhere. Later, hospitals sent families home with bottles of formula. Now, labor, delivery, and recovery often occur in the same space, with mothers and infants staying together and benefiting from skin-to-skin contact. Breast milk is best for babies, unless the mother has a specific medical reason not to breastfeed. Experts say "rooming in" encourages this natural process.

Preventing Medication Errors

Hospitals can employ several methods to make sure the right medicine reaches the right patient. These include computerized medication orders rather than handwritten notes, "smart" IV pumps that alert nurses to unsafe dose levels, and computer-controlled storage cabinets that use barcode scanning and other safety features.

Safety Awareness

When performing complex procedures, even experienced hospital staffs can miss a step. However, some hospitals are adapting methods used in aviation and the military to improve patient safety. "Situation awareness" training -- knowing what's going on with patients at all times -- is helping staff avoid complications and reduce infection rates. Growing use of checklists and time-outs for final verification before the start of surgery reduces errors, too.

Fighting Infections

Hospitals are places of healing. Yet about 99,000 patients are estimated to die each year from dangerous infections picked up during their stays. These include infections of the bloodstream, urinary tract, and surgical sites. The good news: Some hospital-acquired infection rates are dropping, like methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which declined 28% from 2005 to 2008. The reasons for the drop include increased vigilance, improved hand-washing hygiene, and other MRSA-prevention steps.

Battling Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)

At least 50,000 patients a year die from pulmonary embolism, a dangerous condition where blood clots, most often in the legs, travel to the lungs, where they cut off blood flow. Risk factors for DVT include recent surgery and bed rest, common for hospital patients. Hospitals are reducing this complication through faster treatment and anti-clot medications before surgery, and by urging patients to move around after surgery. Screening tools, compression stockings, and other devices also help.

Specialty Hospitals Offer Options

By concentrating on a single field, such as heart or spine surgery, specialty hospitals often feature the very latest resources for their work. More focused care also can mean quality care at lower costs.

Hospital Food Gets Healthier

Traditional hospital menus can be laden with high-fat comfort foods. Some medical centers have even invited fast-food franchises to set up shop on hospital premises. Today's hospitals are better positioned as models of healthy eating for patients and employees. Heart-healthy, diabetes-friendly, and vegetarian selections are increasingly common. Some hospitals also promote organic, fair-trade, and locally produced foods.

Patient Advocates Can Help

Consumer groups often say your hospital stay will be smoother and safer if another person is there to watch out for you and ask questions on your behalf. Some families designate relatives or close friends to serve as patient advocates.

Strengths of a Patient Advocate

Advocates should be able to help you manage your care, ask questions, express concerns on your behalf, and research and keep track of your treatment options and medicines. Advocates are most helpful when they raise concerns with a healthy dose of kindness and respect. Some families hire professional patient advocates. Sometimes hospitals have patient advocates on staff.

Hospital Quality Goes Public

Some organizations make hospital information public so you can check out the hospitals' quality. You can find hospital information in several ways, including The Joint Commission's "Quality Check" program, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' "Hospital Compare" tool, and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Some states also offer hospital quality web sites.

Sickness Illness Disease Prevention

Have optimal health by eating a good diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables. Get plenty of rest and try to keep your stress levels low. Get a least a small amount of exercise everyday. Have a positive mental mindset. And take vitamin supplements to get the nutrients your body needs everyday that you're not getting from the food you eat.

Nutrilite Organic Vitamins Supplements

Click the links on the right column to review Nutrilite vitamin supplements that will help you have Optimal Health.

Nutrilite DoubleX for Adults
Super Potent Daily Multi-Vitamins
Immune System Protection
More Energy All Day
Organic PhytoNutrients

Sexually Transmitted Diseases Symptoms Prevention

2011-04-26T08:39:00.007+08:00

Everything You Need to Know About STDs

Genital Warts (HPV)

You don’t have to have sex to get an STD. Skin-to-skin contact is enough to spread HPV, the virus family that causes genital warts. Some types cause warts and are usually harmless, but others may lead to cervical or anal cancer. Vaccines can protect against some of the most dangerous types.

Signs: Pink or flesh-colored warts that are raised, flat, or shaped like cauliflower. Often there are no symptoms.

Crabs (Pubic Lice)

"Crabs" is the common term for lice that set up shop in pubic hair. The term comes from the shape of the tiny parasites, which look very different from head or body lice. The creatures crawl from one person to another during close contact. Pubic lice can be killed with over-the-counter lice-killing lotions.

Symptoms: Intense itching, tiny eggs attached to pubic hair, or crawling lice.

Scabies

Scabies is an itchy infestation caused by a tiny mite that burrows into human skin to lay eggs. It is not always an STD, as it can spread through any skin-to-skin contact. But among young adults, the mites are often acquired during sex. Scabies is treated with prescription mite-killing creams.

Symptoms: Intense itching especially at night and a pimple-like rash. It may take 2-6 weeks for symptoms to appear.

The Clap (Gonorrhea)

Gonorrhea spreads easily and can lead to infertility in both men and women, if untreated. Antibiotics stop the infection.

Symptoms: Common symptoms are burning during urination and discharge, but often there are no early symptoms. Later, the infection may cause skin rashes or spread to the joints and blood.

In Men: Discharge from the penis, swollen testicles.

In Women: Vaginal discharge, pelvic pain, spotting. Symptoms may be mild and are easily confused with a urinary tract or vaginal infection.

Syphilis

Most people don't notice the early symptoms of syphilis. Without treatment, it can lead to paralysis, blindness, and death. Syphilis can be cured with antibiotics.

Signs and Symptoms: The first sign is usually a firm, round, painless sore on the genitals or anus. The disease spreads through direct contact with this sore. Later there may be a rash on the soles, palms, or other parts of the body (seen here), as well as swollen glands, fever, hair loss, or fatigue. In the late stage, symptoms come from damage to organs such as the heart, brain, liver, nerves, and eyes.

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is a common STD that can lead to infertility if left untreated. It clears up quickly with antibiotics. But it often goes unnoticed because symptoms are vague or absent. Chlamydia can also infect the rectum and throat.

Symptoms in Men: Burning and itching at the tip of the penis, discharge, painful urination.

Symptoms in Women: Vaginal itching, discharge that may have an odor, pain during sex, painful urination.

Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1

That painful cold sore you get on your lip every now and then? It’s probably caused by a type of herpes virus called HSV-1. This virus is usually not an STD; it spreads easily among household members or through kissing. But it can be spread to the genitals through oral or genital contact with an infected person. Though there is no cure, drugs can shorten or prevent outbreaks.

Signs and Symptoms: Occasional cold sores or “fever blisters” on the lips. Small blister or sores on the genitals are also possible.

Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2

Most cases of genital herpes are caused by a virus called HSV-2. It’s highly contagious and can spread through intercourse or direct contact with a herpes sore. As with HSV-1, there is no cure. But antiviral drugs can make outbreaks less frequent and help clear up symptoms more quickly.

Symptoms: Fluid-filled blisters that form painful, crusted sores on the genitals, anus, thighs, or buttocks. Can spread to the lips through oral contact.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a stealthy virus that can cause severe liver damage. It spreads through contact with blood and other body fluids. People can be infected through sex, needle sharing, and at birth, as well as by sharing razors and toothbrushes. There is no cure, but drugs can keep the virus in check. There’s also an effective vaccine to prevent hepatitis B.

Symptoms: People may develop nausea, belly pain, dark urine, fatigue, and a yellowing of the skin or eyes with acute infection. Chronic infection can lead to liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. Many people have no symptoms for years.

HIV/AIDS

The HIV virus weakens the body’s defense against infections. HIV spreads through unprotected sex, needle sharing, or being born to an infected mother. It may cause no symptoms for years, so a blood test is the best way to learn your status. Timely treatment is important to help prevent serious illnesses.

Early symptoms of HIV Infection: Many have no symptoms, but some people get temporary flu-like symptoms 1-2 months after infection: swollen glands (seen here), a fever, headaches, and fatigue. Canker sores in the mouth can occur, too.

HIV/AIDS Tests

Reliable HIV tests can be done in a clinic or at home with the FDA-approved Home Access brand test kit. Anonymous tests use only a number to identify you. One limitation is the "window period" of up to 6 months after exposure to HIV when these antibody tests sometimes do not find the virus. You can pass HIV to others during that time.

If You Suspect HIV/AIDS: If you've been exposed to HIV, starting medications immediately can prevent infection. If you have the virus, treatments can help prevent HIV from turning into AIDS.

HIV/AIDS Treatment Options

While there is no cure for HIV, there are medications that can suppress the amount of virus multiplying inside the body. People take a combination of antiviral drugs in hopes of preventing the infection from advancing to AIDS. Additional treatments can help prevent or fight off serious infections, if the immune system has weakened.

Trichomoniasis

Trichomoniasis is caused by a parasite that spreads during sexual contact. It can be cured with prescription drugs.

Signs and Symptoms in Men: Most men have no obvious symptoms. Some develop a mild discharge or slight burning during urination.

Signs and Symptoms in Women: Women may develop a yellow-green discharge with a strong odor, vaginal itching, or pain during sex or urination. Symptoms usually begin 5 to 28 days after acquiring the parasite.

Chancroid

Chanchroid is a bacterial STD that is common in Africa and Asia but rare in the U.S. It causes genital sores that can spread the bacteria from one person to another. Antibiotics can cure the infection.

Symptoms in Men: Painful bumps on the penis that may develop into pus-filled open sores, pain in the genitals and groin.

Symptoms in Women: Painful, bumps in the genital area that can develop into open sores, swollen lymph nodes in the groin.

LGV (Lymphogranuloma Venereum)

LGV is caused by a type of chlamydia that is usually rare in the U.S. But it’s becoming more common in men who have sex with men. Like other forms of chlamydia, it can be cured with antibiotics.

Symptoms: Open sores on the genitals or anus, headache, fever, fatigue, and swollen lymph glands in the groin (seen here). If acquired through anal sex, LGV may cause rectal bleeding or discharge.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Not an STD itself, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a serious complication of untreated STDs, especially chlamydia and gonorrhea. It happens when bacteria spread to infect the uterus and other female reproductive organs. Prompt treatment is essential to prevent damage to a woman’s fertility.

Signs and Symptoms: Lower abdominal pain, fever, unusual discharge, painful intercourse, painful urination, and spotting. There are often no warning signs.

Who’s at Risk for STDs?

Anyone who is sexually active is at risk for an STD, regardless of gender, race, social class, or sexual orientation. That said, teenagers and young adults acquire STDs more easily than older people. By age 25, half of sexually active adults get an STD. Having multiple sex partners also raises your risk. The CDC has noted that some STDs are on the rise in men who have sex with men, including syphilis and LGV.

Can Virgins Get STDs?

Yes, they can. Many STDs spread through any type of sexual activity, including skin-to-skin contact and oral sex. This is especially true of STDs that produce genital lesions or sores.

Preventing STDs

The best ways to avoid getting an STD are to abstain from any sexual contact and be in a monogamous, long-term relationship with an uninfected partner. To reduce your odds of getting STDs:

* Ask your partner if he or she has an STD.

* Ask partners to be tested before sexual activity.

* Use condoms.

* Avoid sexual activity if your partner has signs of an STD.

* Be aware of symptoms and get regular checkups with your health care provider.

The Limits of Condoms

While condoms are effective in preventing the spread of some STDs, they are not perfect. Condoms are better at protecting against gonorrhea, chlamydia, HIV, and trichomoniasis. But they offer less protection against herpes, syphilis, and genital warts. These infections can spread through contact with skin lesions that are not covered by a condom. Finally, condoms offer virtually no protection against crabs and scabies.

How to Tell Your Partner

If you think you have an STD, tell your partner(s) as soon as possible. You may be able to spread the infection even if you have already begun treatment or are using condoms. With some STDs, doctors recommend treating both partners at the same time. This may be a difficult conversation. Some people find it helpful to write a script ahead of time. Be sure to let your partner ask questions and express his or her feelings.

STDs and Pregnancy

It is important for pregnant women to be checked for STDs. They can cause women to go into labor too early and may complicate delivery. Many STDs can be passed from mother to baby during pregnancy, childbirth, or after the baby is born. STDs effects on babies can include stillbirth, low birth weight, neurologic problems, blindness, liver disease, and serious infection. But there are treatments to minimize these risks. Treatment during pregnancy can cure some STDs and lower the risk of passing the infection to your baby.

Can STDs Come Back?

Most STD treatments do not protect you from getting the same infection again. A course of drugs may cure gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia or trichomoniasis, but a new exposure can start a new infection. If your partner is not treated, you can continue to pass infections back and forth. And if you're not taking the right precautions to protect yourself, you can be re-infected quickly or even pick up a second STD.

No vitamin supplement can cure STD's. Good health is about sickness illness disease prevention before you get sick and have to see the doctor and or go into the hospital. Click the Nutrilite vitamin supplement links on the right column to help yourself be healthier longer.

Nutrilite DoubleX for Adults
Super Potent Daily Multi-Vitamins
Immune System Protection
More Energy All Day
Organic PhytoNutrients

Last Supper Paintings Showing Larger Portions

2011-04-19T11:59:00.004+08:00

Newer Last Supper Paintings Point to Ungodly Portions

Newer Last Supper Paintings Reveal That Plate, Portion Sizes Gradually Grew in the Past Millennium

Paintings of the Last Supper over the past millennium show that plate and food serving sizes have gotten larger throughout history, possibly foretelling today’s supersized portions, according to a new study.

The findings suggest that the phenomenon of serving bigger portions on bigger plates, which pushes people to overeat, has occurred gradually over the past 1,000 years, says co-author Brian Wansink, PhD, a marketing and economics professor at Cornell University and an expert on eating habits.

“We took the 52 most famous paintings of the Last Supper and analyzed the size of the entrees, bread, and plates, relative to the average size of the average head in the painting,” he says in a news release.

Wansink and his brother and co-author, Craig Wansink, professor of religious studies at Virginia Wesleyan College, used computer-aided design technology that allowed items in 52 paintings to be scanned, rotated, and calculated, regardless of the orientation of the objects in the artwork. “To account for the varying dimensions of the paintings, the average sizes of these items were indexed based on the average size of the heads depicted in the paintings,” the authors write.

The main discernable dishes depicted in the paintings included fish or eel (18%), lamb (14%), and pork (7%), and 46% of the paintings had no discernable main dish.

'Last Supper' Portions Growing

The study, published in the April 2010 issue of the International Journal of Obesity, finds that the size of the entrees in Last Supper paintings has progressively increased 66%, plate size 66%, and bread size 23% in the past 1,000 years.

“The last thousand years have witnessed dramatic increases in the production, availability, safety, abundance, and affordability of food,” says Brian Wansink, author of Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think.

“We think that as art imitates life, these changes have been reflected in paintings of history’s most famous dinner,” he says.

The researchers used 52 paintings depicting the Last Supper that were featured in the 2000 book Last Supper by Phaidon Press.

Craig Wansink tells WebMD in an email that “the use of the head in measuring the size of the bread was simply to focus on proportionality between the paintings.”

In short, the scholars say the trend of larger plates and portion sizes detected in recent years and linked to obesity is a phenomenon that started hundreds or even more than 1,000 years ago.

They examined 10 paintings of the Last Supper completed between 1000-1300, five done between 1300 and 1400, 15 between 1400 and 1500, 13 between 1500 ad 1600, and nine between 1600 and the year 2000.

“Perhaps the increasing portion sizes and food availability we have recently noticed is rooted in a general trend that has been artistically depicted for more than a millennium,” the authors write.

Click the links on the right column to review the nutrients your body needs that you may not be getting in the food you eat. Good Holy Week to you and your loved one's.

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Top 11 Medical Health Expenses

2011-04-13T15:43:00.007+08:00

A Gram of Health Prevention Now is Worth a Kilo of Doctor Hospital Expenses Later

Below are the Top 11 Medical Expenses in the USA. The Philippines and the rest of the world have the same health ailment issues to deal with which are considerable expenses in any country. Nutrilite organic vitamins and supplements help prevent your body from getting sickness, illness, and infections to begin with, helping you live longer stronger without having to go to the doctor and hospital so much to be patched up. Click the Nutrilite product links on the right column to help your body from getting sick and ill so much.

Heart Conditions: $95.6 Billion

More than 80 million Americans have cardiovascular disease, which claims more than 860,000 lives a year. Heart disease is the most expensive U.S. health condition, according to the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. To reduce your risk of heart disease complications, maintain a healthy weight by eating right and getting regular exercise. Don't smoke. Be sure to follow your doctor's recommendations to control other risk factors, like high blood pressure and diabetes.

Trauma: $74.3 Billion

Americans make 30 million to 40 million emergency hospital visits annually for injuries. Traffic crashes are the most common form of serious trauma, causing 33,308 fatalities in 2009. However, thanks to better road design, air bags, seat belt laws, and anti-drunk-driving laws, traffic fatalities in 2009 reached their lowest total since 1950. You can save lives by driving safely and wearing your seat belt.

Cancer: $72.2 Billion

More than 11.7 million Americans have some form of invasive cancer, and more than 560,000 die each year, making cancer the nation's second leading cause of death. It's also the third most expensive U.S. health condition, after heart disease and trauma, according to the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The good news: Overall, cancer rates have been falling since 1999. Experts say environmental causes, including poor lifestyle choices, cause up to two-thirds of cancer cases in the U.S. Reduce your risk by eating healthy, exercising, taking recommended screening tests, and not smoking.

Mental Disorders: $72.1 Billion

Demand for mental health care is rising in America. More than 36 million people sought treatment in 2006, up from 19 million in 1996. Overall, about 26% of adults suffer from mental disorders, including depression, in a given year. To help a loved one, know when to consult a professional. You can learn to recognize warning signs from advocacy groups like Mental Health America.

Joint Disorders: $57 Billion

Non-traumatic joint disorders including osteoarthritis (OA), the most common form of arthritis, affect more than 50 million Americans. OA risks increase with age and represent the leading cause of knee and hip replacements. Weight loss can help reduce the risk of knee OA, particularly for women. Water exercises, such as swimming, are especially helpful in maintaining joint function.

COPD and Asthma: $53.7 Billion

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) includes the lung diseases emphysema and chronic bronchitis. COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S. More than 85% of COPD is due to smoking. Quit smoking now to reduce your risk. One in 15 Americans has asthma, more than 20 million people. Genetics and environmental exposures are important factors in the development of asthma.

Hypertension: $47.4 Billion

More than 74.5 million adults have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, a leading cause of heart disease. The good news: More people are taking care of it. Hypertension control has improved from 27% in 1988-1994 to 50% in 2007-2008. Minimize your risks by keeping a healthy weight, reducing salt intake, and limiting alcohol. Eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and high-fiber foods.

Diabetes: $45.9 Billion

Nearly 26 million Americans have diabetes. Nearly 27% are 65 and older. Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death and the eighth most expensive U.S. health condition, according to the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Diabetes can lead to heart and kidney disease, blindness, amputations, and many other complications. Maintaining a healthy weight with a well-balanced diet and exercise can reduce your diabetes risk. For people with diabetes, monitor your blood sugar and take your meds.

Hyperlipidemia: $38.6 Billion

Lipids are fatty substances such as cholesterol and triglycerides that build up in the bloodstream. Your body makes cholesterol, and it's also found in some foods. But more than 102 million adults have too much cholesterol. High cholesterol can lead to narrowing of the arteries and contributes to heart disease and stroke. To help control cholesterol, choose foods with little or no saturated fats, such as produce, low-fat dairy, and lean meats, and exercise regularly. Talk to your doctor if you need other ways to control cholesterol.

Back Problems: $35 Billion

Nearly everyone has low back pain sometime, most often between ages 30 and 50. Many cases are the result of injury or trauma. Some cases reflect degenerative conditions such as arthritis or disc disease. Other risk factors include obesity, smoking, stress, and improper body mechanics during work or exercise. To maintain back health, don't smoke, lose weight, and learn safe techniques for heavy lifting.

Normal Childbirth: $35 Billion

Childbirth is the No. 1 reason for hospitalization in the U.S., with more than 4.1 million babies born each year. Uncomplicated pregnancy and birth cost about $7,600 each. However, an estimated $2.5 billion a year is spent on unnecessary C-sections. C-sections shouldn't take place before 39 weeks, unless there's a clinical reason. Late preterm births (34 to 36 weeks) face higher risks of medical problems, including death.

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Nutrilite Sports Nutrition

2011-04-04T09:39:00.008+08:00

The Worlds Best Athletes Take Nutrilite

It's summer time in the Philippines and time for fun and sports. Perform the best you can with Nutrilite sports nutrition products and the many organic vitamins and supplements available.

Click the Nutrilite products links on the right column to review more information and online ordering. Free shipping nationwide.

Click the links below for the Nutrilite Sports Nutrition products to become the best you can be and win.

Double X Super-Potent Mega-Daily Multi-Vitamins

Protein Drink

Rhodiola Sports Tablets

FitH20 Drink Mix with Antioxidants

Strive+ Isotonic Drink Mix

Healthy Living Lifestyles

Feeling Well Begins with Living Well with Nutrilite

The Nutrilite Health Institute recognizes the importance of optimal health – aiming for the very best health and wellness we can expect to achieve throughout our lives.

* Research has shown that a healthy lifestyle and good nutrition are two important factors to achieving optimal health.

* Research also tells us that almost everyone can benefit from supplementation – because you may still lack optimal amounts of vitamins and minerals, as well as important plant compounds.

Nutrilite and Optimal Health

Optimal health does not mean perfect health. Optimal health means adapting known inherited health risks and your current lifestyle to make the personal choices necessary to live your life as healthy as possible.

* Nutrition & Supplementation – Do you eat a balanced diet, including whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins? Do you know which supplements are recommended for your type of diet?

* Lifestyle – Have you adopted healthy lifestyle habits, such as exercising? Do you smoke?

* Rest & Relaxation – Do you get sufficient sleep on a regular basis? Do you run to the nearest sweet shop when you are stressed? Or, have you learned relaxation techniques?

* Genetics – Does high blood pressure or cancer run in your family?

While you cannot change your genetic makeup, you can modify your lifestyle in your quest for optimal health.

* Adopt a healthier diet.

* Quit smoking.

* Increase your exercise.

* Maintain a proper weight.

* See your health care professional regularly.

Nutrition and the pursuit of optimal health are at the heart of the NUTRILITE™ brand.

The Optimal Health Revolution

2011-03-28T08:41:00.009+08:00

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The Optimal Health Revolution Book

According to the World Health Organization, heart disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes, obesity and other chronic diseases are rising so fast globally that some are considered to be of epidemic proportions. Healthcare methods all over the world are failing miserably at stopping or even slowing these devastating causes of early death and only a revolutionary approach to these conditions will work.

Utilizing nearly 900 references from the most respected scientific journals in the world including the latest genetic research and ground-breaking information brought through the newest science ― nutrigenomics ― this book carefully demonstrates, in layman’s terms, that chronic over-stimulation of the immune system ― referred to as inflammation ― is the underlying cause to this disease explosion globally.

From his unique perspective as a global medical expert with patients in over 30 countries, Dr. Duke Johnson M.D. boldly breaks from the healthcare norm to protect you from these diseases. This book is not based on fads. To the contrary, Dr Johnson evaluates many current popular health trends and reveals how scientifically unfounded they are in sections entitled the “Fad Buster”.

The book is built upon eight foundational principals referred to as The Pillars of Optimal Health. It carefully explains how you can reduce the risk factors associated with the four major killers and concludes by reducing all the information provided down into 25 practical lifestyle steps to follow so that you can potentially save tremendous healthcare costs and achieve the best health you are capable of having ― optimal health.

To have a chance of resisting these horrific epidemics, everyone absolutely must have the preventive medicine knowledge in this book. There is no other viable healthcare option. Everyone must radically break away from current thinking and join the Optimal Health Revolution ― the pathway to optimal health.
Table of Contents

The Optimal Health Revolution Preface

Part I: The Time for an Optimal Health Revolution Is Now!

* Chapter 1: What is the Optimal Health Revolution and Why Is It Essential?

Part II: Consistent Underlying Theme for All Chronic Disease

* Chapter 2: The Danger that Lies Beneath it All

* Chapter 3: Inflammation – Life Under the Volcano

* Chapter 4: Nutrigenetics and Nutrigenomics: The New Health Sciences

Part III: Pathway to Optimal Health

* Chapter 5: Eastern versus Western Medicine: Where the Twain Shall Meet

* Chapter 6: The Eight Pillars of Optimal Health

* Chapter 7: Experiencing Optimal Health in a World of Stress

* Chapter 8: Dietary Supplementation: The Role It Plays in the Reduction of Inflammation

Part IV: Risk Factors of Major Chronic Diseases

* Chapter 9: Defeating Heart Disease, Your Toughest Opponent

* Chapter 10: Checkmating Cancer

* Chapter 11: Deflating the Balloon of Obesity

* Chapter 12: Sweet and Lethal – The Worldwide Epidemic of Insulin Resistance and Type 2 Diabetes

Part V: 25 Easy Steps and Conclusion – Two Great Examples of Optimal Health

* Chapter 13: The 25 Easy and Manageable Steps to Optimal Health

* Chapter 14: Conclusion: Two People Who Have Achieved Optimal Health

Appendices

Ordering Info

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Healthcare Insurance for Your Children

2011-03-14T07:12:00.007+08:00

Nutrilite Childrens Daily Multi-Vitamins

Help your children have a strong immune system and get their daily nutritional requirements to prevent sickness and disease.

Nutrilite Childrens Concentrated Fruits Vegetables

Help your children have a strong immune system and get enough fruit and vegetable nutrients to prevent sickness and disease.

Healthcare Coverage for Kids Eyed

Senators on Monday proposed tapping the P110-billion reserve funds of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation to bankroll a health insurance program for children.

Senator Loren Legarda said that the proposal will cover regular medical check-ups, immunization laboratory tests and dental care for children.

Based on the latest government survey, about 3.37 million or 31% of children below 5 years of age are underweight and 33% or 3.57 million are stunted and another 780,000 are classified thin.

Legarda said the government should consider public spending in this sector because the survey findings are alarming.

Senator Ralph Recto for his part said he would file a bill to enable PhilHealth to allot a certain percentage of its funds to several healthcare projects of the Health department.

Recto proposed to earmark one-half percent of PhilHealth’s retained earnings or reserve funds to the government’s Health Facilities Enhancement Program.

PhilHealth Senior Treasury Manager Evangeline Racelis told a previous Senate hearing that the agency would practically burn to the ground if these proposals are enacted into law.

As of June 2010, PhilHealth has a total of 21.65 million registered members, with 7.41 million coming from the private sector.

Philhealth contributions range from P50 to P375 for each member. Rey Salita

By The Manila Standard

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Healthy Body Healthy Mind

2011-02-28T07:54:00.005+08:00

9 Lifestyle Tips to Help Protect Against Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease

People are living longer than ever before. And healthy seniors can look forward to many years of active life, thanks to the ability to repair or replace damaged joints, remove cataracts, treat heart problems, and other advances.

But there’s a downside. Because we are living longer, we’re more likely to suffer from age-related memory loss and dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease. For many seniors, dementia is the worst fear of old age.

Research shows that the risk of some cognitive problems is inherited. But there’s also evidence that a healthy lifestyle and good medical care may help keep the mind, like the body, active and vital well into old age. WebMD went to the experts to get the latest advice. Here are eight ways to keep your mind as sharp as possible.

1. Stay Physically Active

By keeping your heart, lungs, and blood vessels healthy, exercise helps ensure that all parts of the body, including brain cells, receive the oxygen and nutrients they need.

“A healthy brain really depends on a healthy body,” says Aron Troen, PhD, a neuroscientist at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University. “If blood supply is impaired to the brain because of vascular damage, it’s clear that it won’t function as well. Physical activity is crucial.”

In fact, a healthy circulatory system may be particularly important for a healthy mind. Although the brain represents only about 2% percent of body weight, it uses about 25% of the energy we consume. So maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system to deliver that energy is critically important. Keeping muscles fit also matters. In a 2009 study of 900 seniors, researchers at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago reported that those who maintained muscle strength were significantly less likely to go on to develop memory impairment or Alzheimer’s disease.

2. Challenge Your Mind

The old saying “use it or lose it” applies to our brain and muscles alike. “Many new lines of research show that the human brain has much more plasticity than previously thought,” says Troen.

In many ways, it’s like a muscle. Challenging the brain to learn new things -- by reading, taking up a language, doing crossword puzzles, or playing a musical instrument, for example -- can help keep the brain and informational processing in top form and may even reshape brain circuitry.

3. Eat a Diet Abundant in Fruits and Vegetables

Researchers are only beginning to understand the many healthful components in plant-based foods that help protect against chronic diseases. For a healthy brain, antioxidants such as vitamin C, E, and A may be especially important. Dozens of studies have shown that foods high in antioxidants, such as blueberries and walnuts, slow age-related decline of brain function in laboratory animals.

“Antioxidants clearly prevent or delay oxidative damage,” says Troen. “Again, that may be especially important for brain health. Since the brain is the most metabolically active organ in the body, it is exposed to the most oxidative stress. The brain also contains high levels of lipids, or fats, which are especially prone to oxidative damage.”

4. Control Blood Pressure

Over time, chronic high blood pressure, or hypertension, damages blood vessels, particularly small capillaries -- including the tiny vessels that deliver nutrients and oxygen to the brain. New studies suggest that chronic hypertension is associated with increased risk of age-related cognitive decline. A 2009 study of 104 adults conducted by researchers at the Institute of Gerontology at Wayne State University in Detroit, for example, found that people with high blood pressure had slower memories and were less able to process information they see around them. Women take note: Studies show that older women are much more likely than older men to have high blood pressure and less likely to be under treatment to keep it under control.

5. Maintain Normal Blood Sugar Levels

An epidemic of type 2 diabetes is under way in the U.S. and much of the developed world, driven largely by rising rates of obesity. Diabetes occurs when the body is no longer able to breakdown sugar normally, causing levels of glucose in the blood to soar. These high blood sugar levels result in damage to the lining of blood vessels. In a 2009 study, researchers at the Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience in the Netherlands compared a range of cardiovascular risk factors, including high cholesterol, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes. They found a strong association between diabetes and declines in mental flexibility, memory, and the speed of brain processing.

6. Keep Cholesterol in Check

Elevated blood levels of cholesterol can clog arteries, raising the risk of a heart attack. But even before damage to the heart shows up, abnormally high cholesterol levels may cause damage to brain cells. Several studies have shown higher risk of cognitive decline among people with elevated cholesterol. Preliminary evidence also suggests that efforts to lower cholesterol levels, both through a healthy diet and cholesterol-lowering medications, may protect against age-related memory loss and dementia.

7. Take Depression Seriously

Along with its short-term consequences, chronic depression may permanently alter the brain, increasing the danger of cognitive problems later in life. A lifetime history of major depression is considered a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.

Some researchers now believe that chronic depression can cause inflammation in areas of the brain, which in turn may increase the risk of age-related dementia. There’s no solid evidence yet that antidepressant medications will protect the brain. Still, researchers say the long-term risk of cognitive decline is one more reason to take depression seriously and seek help.

8. Stay Connected With Friends and Family

Living alone and being socially isolated is a risk factor for many healthy problems, including memory loss and mental decline. A 2007 study by researchers at University College London studied 2641 people 65 years of age and older. Those living alone, the study found, were more likely to report poor health, poor vision, and memory problems.

Some seniors have no choice but to live alone, of course. “Clearly for such people, it’s extremely important to take advantage of senior community centers, senior companions, and neighbors and friends to stay connected,” says Kathleen Niedert, director of clinical nutrition and dining services for Western Home Communities in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

9. Supplement for a Healthy Body and Healthy Mind

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President Aquino Urged to Back Anti-Smoking Campaign

2011-02-21T08:29:00.003+08:00

President Aquino Urged to Spearhead Anti-Smoking Drive

Despite being known as a heavy smoker, President Benigno Aquino III was chosen as the unofficial "poster boy" of the Smoke-Free Philippines campaign of the Philippine Medical Association (PMA).

PMA president Dr. Oscar Tinio said it would be best if Aquino would be the "driving force" behind the effective implementation in the country of the World Health Organization-Framework Convention for Tobacco Control (WHO-FCTC).

"The President of the Republic, as the father of this nation, has the duty to safeguard the health and wellness of Filipinos, most especially the youth," he Tinio.

Smoking, he added, has been medically proven to be a threat to one's health and should thus be ridded by the government in pursuit of its mandate as protector of the people.

"Smoking is a major crime against a person's body and therefore a clear and present danger to the health of our people," said Tinio.

To recall, Aquino had been asked by different groups to quit his smoking habit and instead spearhead the campaign against tobacco.

Aquino, though, had spurned the idea, saying he is not yet ready to quit smoking as it is one of the remaining "freedom" he still possesses since becoming president.

The PMA noted that there is a need to strongly enforce the provisions of the WHO-FCTC since the Philippines was among the 172 countries that signed the treaty in 2005.

The organization said it is will initiate a nationwide, city-to-city Smoke-Free Crime-Free Philippines motorcades and fun runs.

The first leg, said Tinio, is set to kick-off Monday morning from the PMA auditorium in North Avenue, Quezon City to the Mandaluyong City Hall.

By SunStar

Smoking: The Silent Killer

Smoking kills you slowly. You don't know your sick until its too late. Take steps now to help yourself survive years of previous smoking by first quitting or at least trying to quit, second eating a healthy diet, third getting a little exercise everyday, fourth getting enough rest sleep per day, and fifth click the Nutrilite vitamin supplement links on the right column to review organic nutrients that will help your body fight off sickness and disease.

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Happy Healthy Valentines Heart

2011-02-14T16:12:00.006+08:00

Happy Healthy Valentines Today Tomorrow To You and Your Loved One!

Valentines Day is about your heart, your loved one's heart, and how you feel about each other. Having a healthy heart helps you feel better to live and love longer. Help youself and your loved one have a healthy heart with Nutrilite vitamins and supplements that you may not getting from your diet.

Review the Nutrilite Health Institute Heart Health Clinical Trial

The Nutrilite Health Institute clinical trial shows that the IL-1 Heart Health dietary supplement helps balance IL-1 gene expression in people who test positive for the IL-1 gene.

Heart Health Study at a Glance

Goal: To test the effect of consuming the recommended daily serving of IL-1 Heart Health.

Results: In those who tested positive for the IL-1 gene, supplementation with IL-1 Heart Health led to a:

* 60% reduction in IL-1 gene expression

* 40% reduction in IL-1 production

* 20% reduction in CRP (C-Reactive Protein)in 45 % of the individuals

Conclusion: This study demonstrates that the Nutrilite Heart Health dietary supplement helps balance gene expression for people who over express IL-1 as determined by the Gensona Heart Health Genetic Test. This supplement also helps maintain normal CRP for those already in the normal range.

For more information, click here to refer to the Heart Health clinical research summary.

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The Cleanest Philippine Hospitals

2011-02-07T08:48:00.003+08:00

Philippines DOH names 16 hospitals as Malinis and Mabango

Enrique Ona, Secretary of Health announced 16 hospitals that have been recognized by the Department of Health as having clean and fragrant environment, facilities and equipment following a six-month campaign to boost their image before the public.

The Philippine Inquirer reports that the following 16 hospitals were chosen based on their polished floors, dust-free walls, clean linens, well-kept kitchen utensils, food conveyor, food warmer and office equipment, and clean parking spaces. The DoH also checked the hospitals' odor, proper waste segregation, lighting, ventilation, and water supply.

The Cleanest Philippine Hospitals

1. Philippine Heart Center

2. National Children's Hospital

3. Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center

4. East Avenue Medical Center

5. Lung Center of the Philippines

6. Rizal Medical Center

7. San Lorenzo Ruiz Women's Hospital

8. Las Piñas General & Satellite Trauma Center

9. Philippine Children's Medical Center

10. San Lazaro Hospital

11. National Center for Mental Health

12. Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital

13. Tondo General Hospital and Medical Center

14. Dr. Fabella Memorial Hospital

15. Dr. Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center

16. Philippine Orthopedic Center

The campaign was put in place to eliminate complaints from the public that the government hospitals had dirty bathrooms and general untidy premises

By Examiner

Doctors Patients

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Partying Your Way to Health & Wellness

2011-01-31T08:22:00.006+08:00

Optimal Health & Wellness

The World Health Organization defines mental wellness as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease."

With this definition, we may realize that inner wellness is not just sticking to a gym routine or a vegetable salad diet. Well-being is different for different people. You cannot expect a call center agent to jog after a graveyard shift. But if you are one who does that, and you don’t have a fit afterwards, then you know it works for you, right? So, in the end, it’s all about what works for you --- what makes you happy and healthy, inside and out.

If you want to parteeh, and you feel good after (not zonked out, mind you), then go for it. It helps. You can even lace that salad diet of yours with chocolate once in a while, and it’ll be our little deep, dark chocolatey secret.

In the previous serving of this topic, Sensei Ernie Talag underscored the importance of unifying body and mind through techniques like aikido and yoga which he practices. Other resource persons gave insights and testimonials on the benefits of cleansing the body (and by extension the mind) through fasting and a healthy diet.

In this concluding piece, an expert (a psychiatrist) shares his views and experiences on keeping the mind free from disturbances even as two friends in their prime disclose how they keep fit inside and out by leading fast-paced, fun-filled but still balanced and fulfilling lives.

A psychiatrist's view

For Tristan J. Hilario, MD, a psychiatrist at Unciano Medical Center who graduated from UERMMC, mental well being is paramount to being a totally healthy individual. He gives depression as a prime example of what to avoid. The immune system is affected by depression, therefore, the ability of the body to ward off infection is also affected. Thus depressed folks are more prone to and tend to recover from sickner more slowly.

What is a nervous breakdown? How does one get it? Are Pinoys prone to it?

“Nervous breakdown” connotes a very big subject. It can range from a simple mood problem to psychosis. The real cause of these disorders are still unknown but mental stress, genetics, substance or drug intake, medical condition, head trauma, and environmental factors may sometimes be involved.

Has there been a rise in the number of emotionally disturbed Pinoys?

Unfortunately there are no available updated data on mental illness among Filipinos. But a study was done on depressed individuals by Dr. Maria Imelda B. Batar under the Unilab-Medichem project called "Joy to the world." The research aims to determine the prevalence rate of depression among the medically ill out- patient population in various regions of the Philippines. The study, which was sponsored by UNILAB, shows that the prevalence rate among medically ill individuals ranges from 17 to 32 percent. Highest is stroke followed by chronic pain, heart disease and diabetes.

Is it possible for a person to emotionally detach from worries just like the Buddhists seem to be able to? What are the benefits of detachment?

We must have very strong will power to completely detach ourselves from daily worries but we can practice wearing different hats so that some aspect of our lives would have minimal effect on the others. Therefore we could perform better to achieve our goals. Buddhist monks practice meditation regularly and I remember reading that 30 minutes of meditation daily has a great impact on a person’s happiness level.

How powerful is the mind when it comes to healing the body? How about reaching goals?

Again the brain or the mind is the master of the body. There are studies that show depressed individuals who had illnesses like diabetes, cardiac conditions, stroke and many more, recovered more quickly when their depression was treated. But it would be hard to prove that sheer will power can overcome illness as as this should be backed up by base studies.

What are the requirements for a holistically healthy individual?

I will again quote the WHO’s definition of heath which is "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease.”

Being healthy does not only mean we are physically well. It is multi-faceted and these (facets) are interconnected with each other.

If you have been a person who gets angry or disappointed easily all your life, is it still possible to change that? How?

I have encountered individuals who have little patience or are too emotional and easily gets disappointed over just about anything. This condition is alarming if chronic since it may be a symptom of mental disorders like depression, schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder, and anxiety, to name a few. Better to have these troubled people evaluated as they may be suffering from a mental condition which can be treated by medication and psychotherapy.

How does the close-knit community of Pinoys help them gain inner wellness?

The Filipino close-knit community both has advantages and disadvantages. It is good because it gives us a strong support group that could help us during stressful situations. On the other hand, overdependence -- emotionally and financially - on family and other people may retard one's personal growth.

Any last thoughts on how to quickly attain inner wellness?

I always tell my patients that we have our entire lives to study and build our careers but we only have one life to take care of. So we must give equal attention to our physical and mental well being.

Inner wellness for an independent woman.

Business Systems Analyst, Auie Bautista's gives her thoughts on inner wellness through loving oneself, being fulfilled with one's career, and basically being comfortable with oneself. She is currently residing in Santa Monica, California.

What do you do to keep your body fit and sexy? Don’t tell me “fitrum.”

Thanks for the complement! The secret is to wear impossibly high-heeled shoes! They maximize calf and leg toning while allowing one to look fabulous.

But seriously, I try to eat healthy. I cut down on fastfood and softdrinks.

I enjoy yoga. I need to have my yoga fix almost everyday. But I am not hard core, I just like to de-stress after a long day at work.

Can you tell us about your recent setbacks and how you were able to get past them?

I made a big decision to move to the States last year. I made a lot of adjustments and it was tough starting over. But I was fortunate to have the support of my family and friends. I believe that everything happens for a reason and whatever trials and tribulations you are experiencing will pass and you will come out a better person. I don’t say that it is easy. I am just grateful that I have overcome the difficulties and I couldn’t be any happier.

From what I can remember, you and your brother were left here in the Philippines when you were still studying and your parents were in the States. How did you feel about that? How did you and your brother cope?

I was studying in Los Banos so I already experienced being away from my family. I remembered being happy because I could do whatever I wanted. I had my share of silly misadventures growing up but I believe I learned from my mistakes and I think I turned out fine.

I feel bad for my younger brother who was just 16 years old then. He had to grow up fast to take care of his immature brat of a sister. That’s why I think, he’s now making up for his lost childhood.

Being with my family again after a long time is like learning Trigonometry all over again. You know how much you love it when you were in high school but it’s tough trying to remember all your trigonometric functions after a while. I am now just remembering how it was like to be around with your own family. It was tough! Now, I remembered why I was happy then when they left.

After a heart-wrenching, gut tearing breakup, what do you do?

What breakup? I tend not deal with it. I am a serial monogamous (although some people will beg to disagree). I stay in a relationship even though I know it’s not working anymore. Then one day someone will just call it quits and you say okay.

This is always tough but I have to always remind myself that I love myself more and I can’t let anything or anyone hurt me. And of course, major Retail Therapy always works.

Do you think that there is a difference between a liberated person and a religious one in terms of bouncing back from depression?

I am not much of a religious person but I have my faith. Like I said in my answer about setbacks, I believe in things happening for a reason and I think both types (liberated and religious) would be able to handle it well when they believe that they will come out of it as better, wiser persons. You don’t need to be religious to know that.

A religious person typically does not become as deeply depressed since he/she has set and defined core values and principles acting as a foundation in life, which helps to buffer the severity of depression. I didn’t google that answer. I asked somebody to answer this question for me.

Do you read self-help books? Tell us about some of them.

I do, but not so much lately. A friend gave me “Why Men Love Bitches” a couple of years back. Does that count? It’s a good read but I prefer something with a good story to read during my pasttime.

What do you do everyday to keep yourself in the zone?

I try to be a good human being and enjoy life everyday. I say a little prayer, every now and then, to ask guidance and thank God for all the blessings.

What are the things you do that make you feel most alive? I know one. Shopping.

Is there really anything else? Well, I make every day eventful. I feel most alive in the company of good people. I am an extrovert so anything I do with my family and friends are definitely an exhilarating experience for me.

Do you thrive well under stress?

Yes. I love to be busy with something I enjoy doing. My work can be stressful sometimes but I love what I do so I don’t mind the stress. I could always take a break and I know that everything will still be done so there’s no need to fret.

Once you feel that you have done a great job, how do you reward yourself?

I like to travel.

Inner wellness for the self-made man.

Now, let's hear it from Vincent Monreal, a geodetic engineer currently based in the States.

How do you unwind?

Just by chilling out with friends after a long week's work. having a good and sensible conversation with friends, brothers and brethren over a couple of bottles of beer or more but still leaving enough to get me home.

How does drinking loosen your nerves?

It’s not the drinking that loosens the nerves, actually. It’s what we do while drinking. i.e., discussing topics of current value, sharing aspirations and best practices on life in general or criticizing things around us.

You are a very sociable person. As a Pinoy in the States, how did it help you adapt/get accepted into your new environment?

Drinking or partying opened up venues to meet new friends, contacts, etc. but what happens after the party is what solidifies it. Meeting new friends in a party opens up new doors to socialize. My favorite is helping out in the community of Filipinos. For example, by keeping the "bayanihan" spirit burning alive in times when others are in need.

Love and women, I mean, woman. How does your girlfriend help you maintain inner wellness?

The lady keeps the passion and inspiration burning!

Do you think that expensive parties are more relaxing? What parties did you love the most here in the Philippines and there in the States?

It’s not how much money you spend. it's not even the number of parties you go to; it's in the quality of time you spend with the people you enjoy the company of.

Was there a time when you partied straight for a week and had only a wink's sleep? Would you consider that as contributing to inner wellness?

In the hectic scheme of things, this is almost impossible, but if ever I had the chance, I don't think it helps in one's inner wellness but on the contrary, it helps in one's deterioration.

Compared to how you partied five years ago, do you still party that hard?

As much as I want to, no.

Does a jolly mindset mean inner wellness?

Being sociable does help in keeping an optimistic outlook and a healthy mind. I’ve never seen a pessimistic party dude so far.

Compared to other folks there in New York, would you say that Filipinos, particularly the sociable Pinoys, have more inner wellness?

It’ll depend on who you are with and how deep you know that person. In general, Filipinos always try to look for a reason to get together, whereas, New Yorkers wait to be invited.

Any last words on how socializing helps us have inner wellness?

Inner wellness is not generally obtained from being sociable but, it does help. What is more important is to maintain the fortitude and temperance towards the challenges of life.

By Philippine Online Chronicles

Optimal Health

Optimal Health is about have good mental health, eating a healthy food diet, getting at least a small amount of exercise each day or week, getting enough rest sleep, and taking vitamins supplements for the nutrients you don't get through your food diet.

Click the links on the right column for organic vitamins supplements that will help you have optimal health.

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Super Potent Daily Multi-Vitamins
Immune System Protection
More Energy All Day
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Doctors Urged to Partner with LGUs to Treat Poor

2011-01-24T08:11:00.005+08:00

Doctor Urges Doctors to Partner with LGUs to Treat the Poor

The Federation of the Medical Mission Group (MMG) composed of private medical doctors have vowed to initiate a public-private partnership to respond to the call of President Benigno S. Aquino III in providing quality and accessible health care for the poor.

Dr. Jose Tiongco, who founded the MMG, a cooperative of a group of medical doctors in Davao, made the call during the inauguration of the MMG health facility as part of their 20th year anniversary celebration here on Monday.
The MMG cooperative is one of the successful cooperatives in the country given recognition by the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA).

“We may even have reached billions of net worth and for some it is already considered a success. However, when I visited MMG cooperative hospitals in Sorsogon, Cebu, and Quezon provinces, I still considered that doctors need to do more of their duty to provide quality health care among the poor people,” Tiongco said.

When MMG was established 20 years ago, Tiongco said at least 62 percent of poor Filipinos do not have access to quality health care. Right now, Tiongco said the percentage has increased to 68 percent.

“The very purpose of the MMG is to provide quality health care to the poor. MMG facilities all around the country have been trying to accomplish this endeavor. The criteria is if an ordinary cigarette vendor could already afford the services of the MMG then it is the time that we may have attained our original objective,” said Tiongco.

Tiongco called on private medical doctors here to “make their hands” dirty by reaching out to the poor and provide them the necessary health care.

“A doctor who is only staying at his clinic and waits for his patients to come and pay is not a doctor at all. He should be considered as a technician. Our countrymen needs the services of doctors because health is a basic human right,” said Tiongco, adding that many people die of illnesses because they could not afford proper medical care.

He, however, laments that many Filipino people nowadays spend more on luxury than investing on their health needs.

To accomplish the task, he called on private medical doctors to initiate partnership with the local governments to effectively serve the poor people in the community.

For his part, Dr. Oscar Hilario, vice president of the MMG-Aklan, said the aggressive move of President Aquino in further strengthening the Philippine Health Insurance (Philhealth) is one of the concrete ways of helping the poor gain access to quality health.

By US News Las Vegas

Vitamins Philippines Health Partnerships

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Optimal Health for all Filipinos

2011-01-17T09:43:00.006+08:00

Optimal Health for all Filipinos is Feasible

The decreasing budget for health services highlights once again the need to pursue a reform agenda to provide all Filipinos access to quality but affordable health services. This is an imperative for social equity in which people who have less in life should have more in basic government services, especially for health.

The proposed 2011 budget of P33.3 billion for the Department of Health (DOH) is meager by all measures. It represents about 2 percent of the proposed 2011 national budget of P1.64 trillion. In their candid but exasperating manner, lawmakers have said that the devolution of health services to local government units (LGUs) is the primary reason for the low DOH budget.

They have reasoned out that the national government does not have to duplicate what the LGUs are now providing. Otherwise, it would violate Republic Act No. 7160, or the Local Government Code of 1991.

But improved health services presuppose realistic and meaningful devolution. It is highly suspect if ever those LGUs have been effectively delivering health services to the people. What is highly perceptible is the progressive deterioration of health services, whether in primary, secondary or even tertiary level.

All told, the low DOH budget could mean only one thing: the deterioration in the delivery of health services to more than 90 million Filipinos, many of whom depend on the public healthcare system.

Without seeing doctor

If we wish to avoid the perception that ours is a soft state, this nation cannot and should not allow the current deplorable situation in which about 20 percent of all Filipinos have almost no access to health services and nearly 10 percent die without seeing doctors in their lifetime.

If the Philippines were to become a respectable member in the community of nations, it has to provide health services to its people. A healthy population is the foundation of a progressive nation.

Universal access

The 1987 Constitution provides that all Filipinos should have access to health services. This policy finds full expression in Section 15, Article 2, which says: “The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them.”

In strengthening this mandate, Section 11, Article 13, says: “The State shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development, which shall endeavor to make essential goods, health and other social services available to all the people at affordable cost. There shall be priority for the needs of the underprivileged, sick, elderly, disabled, women and children. The State shall endeavor to provide free medical care to paupers.”

Accessible, affordable

Given this constitutional mandate, the health department is implementing a reform agenda to promote social equity and stop the deteriorating national healthcare delivery system. The reform agenda for universal healthcare is anchored on the provision of comprehensive but accessible and affordable health services to all Filipinos.

To make health services available, accessible and affordable, the reform agenda seeks to resuscitate the largely moribund health industry, promote government-private sector partnership in healthcare, mobilize resources for maximum use, and promote efficiency, economy of scale and effectiveness in health-service delivery.

The reform agenda hinges on these basic points: (1) Expansion of coverage of the national health insurance system to include all Filipinos within the next three years, and (2) Provision of effective and affordable health services that shall be accessible to all Filipinos in private and government hospitals.

Financial support

Like any government program, the reform agenda will depend mainly on the successful mobilization of funds for universal healthcare and services for citizens. Funding support is the linchpin of a successful national health-delivery program.

The full implementation of Republic Act No. 7875, or the National Health Insurance Act of 1995, on the compulsory health insurance coverage for all Filipinos is a major step to generate funds and, ergo, pump-prime the health sector.

PhilHealth

The full implementation of RA 7875 could mean beefing up the multibillion-peso National Health Insurance Fund, enabling PhilHealth to meet the myriad requirements for universal but compulsory coverage of all Filipinos.

Its full implementation could mean that hospitals, whether private or public, could expect that a big or sizable part of their income could come from PhilHealth. It could also mean instilling fiscal discipline in the use and disposal of its huge funds. The nation cannot afford any mismanagement or misuse of its huge investible health insurance funds. Otherwise, the goal of universal healthcare for all Filipinos will fail.

Hence, PhilHealth’s aggressive drive for complete health-insurance coverage should be pursued with the professionalization of its management to make it competitive and on equal footing with the world’s major health-insurance state firms.

Difficult to believe

The first reform could probably be the cleansing of its current list of members. PhilHealth’s claim that it had 17.8 million members by end-2009 covering 77.4 million Filipinos, or 82 percent of the population, is difficult to believe. A head count to reflect a more realistic profile and database could be most helpful in making policies, plans and programs.

This initiative could be pursued by the depoliticization of PhilHealth. It has been perceived that its list of members has been bloated, as political candidates used PhilHealth membership to entice voters to support them in the past elections. Its current management should look for ways to get rid of those political indigents and stop this practice without sacrificing the immediate goal of universal coverage.

Granting that PhilHealth has attained the 82 percent coverage, it bewilders us why PhilHealth has not reached the universal coverage since its inception in 1995. The backlog of almost 20 percent is an anomaly that has to be addressed. PhilHealth has to craft a remedial three-year program to fulfill the mandate of full coverage.

PhilHealth has no choice but to set a deadline; completing it in three years is reasonable. The entire bureaucracy, particularly the barangays and various frontline agencies providing social services, would have to be mobilized to perform this three-year initiative, which has to be pursued religiously and without politics.

Cash transfers

An unsolicited advice: Let a part of the proposed P21 billion for conditional cash transfers, which the Department of Social Welfare and Development is to undertake, be used for the compulsory health-insurance coverage at the barangay level. The network of barangays could be used for census taking to identify households that would have to be covered. They could also be used for monitoring the progress and effectiveness of healthcare delivery.

The barangays could help to achieve full coverage.

The second reform could be the rationalization of the set of benefits a PhilHealth member could receive. Increasing it to a level to minimize the patient’s out-of-pocket payments is a major step to realize the constitutional mandate of quality health services at affordable rates. This is an extremely ticklish issue since this would involve careful investment decisions by the PhilHealth management.

Transparency

For reasons of transparency and professionalism, the current management could look into the possibility of drawing its own guidelines on making investment decisions. At the same time, it could also look into making these guidelines public.

The nationwide restructuring of the more than 700 state hospitals—and even 1,000 privately owned ones—through mergers and the integration of their health services would help to save on cost and promote operational efficiency. But to simply merge them would not mean better medical services at the least cost without undertaking reforms to provide them with the financial flexibility.

Mergers, restructuring

Hospital restructuring through mergers and integration of health services would be realistic when the merged state hospitals have the financial flexibility of government-owned and -controlled corporations. Hence, their mergers should lead to their conversion into GOCCs (or “to corporatize”) to make them effective, financially self-sufficient and sustainable.

The restructuring through mergers and “corporatization” should be taken as an effective way to integrate health services to make them more accessible and affordable to all. This is not to be confused with their privatization, which is a totally different and separate issue. The entry of private capital in various ways as minority equity is best left for Congress to study and decide.

Five QC hospitals

Initially, the five government hospitals in Quezon City located in one locality—East Avenue Medical Center, Lung Center of the Philippines, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Philippine Children’s Medical Center and Philippine Heart Center—could be merged into one system of hospitals to serve as the prototype of future mergers.

Since the five hospitals are in a contiguous area in the Diliman district, their merger makes sense. This could lead to accessible, affordable, comprehensive and sustainable health services to all, particularly those working in the bureaucracy and in the private sector, and the poor.

PGH, Singapore model

The integration of their separate medical, nursing, administrative, managerial and operational staff and services, and their training and research facilities into a single hospital system could mean tremendous savings, allowing the government to maximize the use of its limited resources for health services.

Models for such integrated system of hospitals are the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) and the Singapore General Hospital. With almost the same number of hospital beds and outpatient services and similar outputs in training and research, PGH has a budget significantly smaller (almost 60 percent) than the budget of the five Quezon City hospitals.

Since investible private funds are available, the entry of private capital in government hospitals is worth exploring. The merged five state hospitals with minority private capital is something that could make sense. This could mean more operating funds and two auditing groups (COA and private auditors).

Streamlining

On a theoretical level, mergers of hospitals would certainly work because this initiative could lead to the streamlining of their operations, where medical supplies, equipment and facilities are handled properly and competently by professional hospital administrators and managers.

But this initiative should not be limited to mergers of state hospitals. The Aquino administration should look into the possibility of state hospitals merging with private hospitals. Or it could encourage even private hospitals to start merging themselves for economies of scale and better quality of health services.

Moreover, future mergers could also lead to the deployment of medical specialists to other regions, especially the economically disadvantaged. As commercial viability of these merged hospitals is achieved, medical specialists would be encouraged to go to underserved regions. Patients who need their services will not have to go to Manila or Cebu City to obtain their services.

Congress needs to enact the appropriate laws for the merger of hospitals, be they government hospitals and/or private hospitals.

The twin moves to put all Filipinos under compulsory health insurance coverage and to restructure the state hospitals through mergers and integration of their health services, training and research would be incomplete without changing the mindset of hospitals, where preventive medicine is not given the emphasis it deserves.

Centers of wellness

The health department should not limit itself in monitoring and regulating all hospitals in the country. It should also lead in transforming part of outpatient services of state hospitals into centers of wellness that will emphasize preventive medicine, which is, by all means, easier and less expensive to pursue.

By giving them (the merged and/or corporatized government hospitals) the financial flexibility to allow them to use their respective income to become more effective, self-sufficient and sustaining, the restructured state hospitals could go beyond their main mandate to diagnose and treat diseases. They can also promote preventive medicine.

TB, hepa vaccination

As an example, if all citizens are vaccinated against tuberculosis, this dreaded disease will be fully controlled within a few years. Likewise, hepatitis vaccination could now lead to virtual eradication of liver cancer a generation from now.

By making them centers of wellness, the restructured hospitals could make a giant leap in providing Filipinos the healthcare and services they truly deserve.

The Aquino administration has no choice but to take the bull by its horns. Beset by increasing requirements to hasten nation-building, it has to exercise imagination, adaptation and the will to survive by taking bold steps to promote universal healthcare for Filipinos.

Yes, health for all Filipinos is feasible ... very soon.

By Philippine Daily Inquirer

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The Truth About Omega-3 the Good Fat

2011-01-10T14:01:00.007+08:00

Omega-3: The Good Fat

Doctors may tell you to cut the fat, but not all fats are unhealthy. Omega-3 fatty acids may have far-reaching health benefits. Studies suggest they help lower the risk of heart disease, the nation’s top killer. They may also protect against symptoms of depression, dementia, cancer, and arthritis. Omega-3s are found in salmon, nuts, leafy greens, and more – but the health benefits can differ greatly from one source to another.

The Omega-3 Alphabet

Omega-3 fatty acids come in more than one form. The types found in fish, called DHA and EPA, appear to have the strongest health benefits. Another form known as ALA is found in vegetable oils, flaxseed, walnuts, and dark leafy vegetables such as spinach. The body converts a small amount of ALA into EPA and DHA, and ALA also has some health benefits of its own.

How Omega-3 Fights Disease

Omega-3 fatty acids are believed to help fight disease by reducing inflammation in the blood vessels, joints, and elsewhere in the body. They also decrease the risk for an abnormal heart rhythm, reduce levels of unhealthy fats in the bloodstream, and slow the rate of plaque build-up in the blood vessels. Our bodies can’t make omega-3s, so we must get them from our diet.

Omega-3 and Heart Deaths

If you’ve had a previous heart attack, omega-3 fatty acids may help lower the risk of death from heart disease. Studies show a reduction in heart attacks and sudden death among heart attack survivors who boost their levels of omega-3s. This includes people who take fish oil supplements and those who regularly eat fatty fish, such as salmon or lake trout.

Omega-3 and Arrhythmias

Omega-3s seem to have a stabilizing effect on the heart. They can lower heart rate and reduce the risk of life-threatening arrhythmias or abnormal heart rhythms. Several common sources of omega-3s are shown here: fish, walnuts, broccoli, and edamame, green soy beans that are often steamed and served in the pod.

Omega-3 and Triglycerides

Omega-3s can lower your level of triglycerides, a type of blood fat that’s linked to heart disease. Triglycerides collect in the bloodstream and in the body's fat cells (seen here). Unfortunately, omega-3s increase cholesterol – both the “good” (HDL) and “bad” (LDL) kind. People with high triglycerides should consult with their doctors before taking omega-3. Eating more omega-3-rich fish is generally safe.

Omega-3 and High Blood Pressure

There’s strong evidence that omega-3s lower blood pressure. The effect is small, though. If you have high blood pressure, eating fish could be helpful along with other dietary changes and medications, as recommended by your doctor. One strategy is to replace red meat with fish during some meals. But it’s best to avoid salty fish, such as smoked salmon.

Omega-3 and Stroke

The evidence is mixed on whether omega-3 can help prevent strokes. It curbs plaque build-up inside blood vessels and has anti-clotting effects, so it may help prevent ischemic strokes, the type caused by clots or a blockage in the arteries. At very high doses, omega-3 supplements might increase the risk of hemorrhagic strokes, the less common type that involves bleeding in the brain.

Omega-3 and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Studies suggest omega-3s can reduce symptoms such as joint pain and stiffness in people with rheumatoid arthritis. A diet high in omega-3s may also boost the effectiveness of anti-inflammatory drugs.

Omega-3 and Depression

Omega-3 fatty acids may help smooth out mood disorders and make antidepressants more effective. However, results of studies have been mixed so far. Countries with higher levels of omega-3 in the typical diet have lower levels of depression. Although more studies are needed, the evidence so far is promising.

Omega-3 and ADHD

Some studies suggest omega-3 supplements may ease the symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). We know omega-3 fatty acids are important in brain development and function. Although evidence isn’t conclusive and a diet supplement can’t offer a cure-all for ADHD, omega-3s may provide some added benefits to traditional treatment.

Omega-3 and Dementia

The jury is still out, but there’s some evidence that omega-3s may protect against dementia and improve mental function. In one study, older people with a diet high in omega-3 fatty acids had a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. More research is necessary to confirm the link.

Omega-3 and Cancer

Omega-3s may help reduce the risk of colon cancer, breast cancer, and advanced prostate cancer, but more research is needed. The American Cancer Society recommends a diet that includes fish, but the organization stops short of endorsing omega-3 supplements for cancer prevention.

Omega-3 and Children

Be wary of promises that omega-3s have “brain-boosting” powers for children. The Federal Trade Commission asked supplement companies to stop that claim unless they can prove it scientifically. The American Academy of Pediatrics does recommend that kids eat more fish, as long as it’s not breaded and fried. Pediatricians also caution against types of fish that are high in mercury, such as shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish.

Omega-3: Catch of the Day

The best source of omega-3 fatty acids is fish, though some varieties deliver a higher dose than others. Top choices are salmon, mackerel, herring, lake trout, sardines, anchovies, and tuna. The American Heart Association recommends at least two servings a week of fish, which is 3.5 ounces of cooked fish or ¾ cup of flaked fish.

Omega-3 and Tuna

Tuna is an old-school staple in many people's pantries that can be a good source of omega-3. Albacore tuna (often labeled "white") has more omega-3 than canned light tuna, but it also has a higher concentration of mercury contamination. The amount of omega-3 in a fresh tuna steak varies, depending on the species.

Dangers of Contaminated Fish

For most people, mercury in fish is not a health concern. But the FDA has this advice for pregnant women, nursing mothers, and young children:

* Limit albacore tuna to 6 ounces/week.

* Limit fish lower in mercury to 12 ounces/week.

* Avoid shark, swordfish, king mackerel, tilefish.

* Remove skin and fat before cooking fish.

Omega-3 Supplements

If you don’t like fish, you can get omega-3 from supplements. One gram per day is the amount recommended for people with cardiovascular disease. At high levels, omega-3 can increase the risk of bleeding and may interfere with some medications. Fish oil also may deplete vitamin E, so some supplements include vitamin E. Be sure to consult your doctor before taking omega-3 supplements.

Omega-3 for Vegetarians

If you don’t eat fish or fish oil, you can get a dose of DHA from algae supplements. Algae that is commercially grown is generally considered safe, though blue-green algae in the wild can contain toxins. Vegetarians also can get the ALA version of omega-3 from foods such as canola oil, flaxseed, walnuts, broccoli, and spinach – or products fortified with omega-3s.

Avoiding the Omega-3 Hype

Many food products now boast that they have added omega-3 to support various aspects of your health. But be aware that the amount of omega-3 they contain may be minimal. They may contain the ALA form of omega-3, which hasn’t yet shown the same health benefits as EPA and DHA. For a measured dose of omega-3, taking fish oil supplements may be more reliable.

Omega 6: The Other Healthy Fat

There’s another healthy fat known as omega-6. Research suggests it may protect against heart disease, especially when eaten in place of less healthy fats. The AHA recommends getting up to 10% of your total daily calories from omega-6 fats, which are found in vegetable oils and nuts. And now for some good news – most Americans already get enough omega-6 in their diet, thanks to cooking oils and salad dressings.

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The Best Vitamin in the World

2011-01-04T08:01:00.003+08:00

DOUBLE X - Energy All Day - Are You Ready!

DOUBLE X™ Multi-Vitamin Multi-Mineral Supplement

In 1934, Carl Rehnborg originated the concept of including whole plant concentrates in his formula for the first multivitamin/multimineral product sold in North America. In 1948, NUTRILITE introduced its premier product, called DOUBLE X. The formulation for DOUBLE X is based on Carl Rehnborg's early nutritional research, and still includes alfalfa, parsley, and other plant materials he recognized as being nutritionally beneficial.

DOUBLE X is our flagship product and its formula is updated regularly, based on the nutritional research being done by NUTRILITE scientists around the world.

DOUBLE X is designed around a simple nutritional principle:

To provide an essential nutritional foundation for people who understand the many benefits provided by vitamins, minerals, and plant concentrates (phytonutrients).
Product Benefits

People depend on DOUBLE X because of its sound nutritional basis:

DOUBLE X is power-packed with vitamins, minerals, and plant concentrates, supporting your active and healthy lifestyle.

DOUBLE X has phytonutrients with antioxidant protection, targeting key groups of cell-damaging free radicals.

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Nutrilite Natural Organic Vitamins Supplements

2010-11-29T08:44:00.037+08:00

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New Bird Flu Alert

2010-11-22T09:37:00.007+08:00

DENR tightens watch as bird-flu alert raised over HK case

Field officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) were ordered on Sunday to tighten the watch against the dreaded bird-flu virus following reports of an outbreak in Hong Kong.

Environment Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje directed field officials to closely monitor the transport of potential carrier of the virus, including pet birds.

He also ordered them to closely coordinate with other concerned government agencies and groups such as bird-watching groups and livestock or poultry associations.

The alert level for the disease in Hong Kong has been raised to “serious,” indicating that there is a “high risk” of humans being infected with the potentially fatal disease.

Seven years after the outbreak of 1997 avian influenza or bird flu virus in Hong Kong, which caused the death of six people, yet another case of the disease was reported in the Chinese territory on November 17. Hong Kong Health Secretary York Cho confirmed that a 59-year-old woman was tested positive for H5N1 bird-flu virus. Reportedly, the disease was diagnosed after the old woman returned to Hong Kong after her trip from the Chinese mainland.

DENR personnel assigned at entry points such as air and seaports will be keeping a tight watch over pet and cage birds being transported.

Paje said the reemergence of bird flu in Hong Kong is now being closely monitored by the DENR. 

He said the DENR, if warranted, will order a ban on the importation of all exotic birds, especially those coming from countries with reported incidence of the avian flu, and strengthen enforcement of laws on the illegal wildlife trade.

The DENR, through its Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau, will soon be conducting surveillance of migratory bird sites with assistance from bird-watching clubs.

The Philippines is an integral part of the East Asian Flyway, and its wetlands provide stopover sites for wild birds during their north-south migration.

He urged the public to support government efforts in preventing the transmission of avian flu in the country.

“We urge everyone to exercise extreme caution in handling fowl, as well as in cooking and eating poultry and poultry products so that we can maintain the country’s clean slate with regard to human cases of the disease,” he said.

Although the Philippines remains free from bird flu, Paje said authorities are not taking any chances.

“We have to strengthen our preparedness and reduce the opportunities for the virus to spread through increased information dissemination and improved warning systems,” he said.

While the avian flu commonly infects birds, cases of bird-to-human transmission of the disease have already been reported. The greatest fear expressed by health authorities worldwide is for the disease to be transmitted to humans and mutate into a lethal form that could easily be transmitted among humans.  

Red Cross warning

Noting that Hong Kong is among the most visited tourist spots by Filipinos, Philippine Red Cros Secretary-General Gwendolyn Pang has asked everyone to take precautions against the bird-flu virus, which was recently reported to have jumped anew to humans in Hong Kong. “As the old, yet most effective saying goes: ‘prevention is better than cure,’” Pang said in a statement on Sunday.

In order to avoid acquiring the virus that causes major health problems, Pang reminded the public of the five important things to remember in order to fight flu: 1. Wash your hands; 2. Cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing; 3. Keep your distance; 4. Separate your sick; and 5. Dispose of your waste properly. --J. Mayuga

IN PHOTO -- In this file photo, a migratory bird is seen at the coastal bay area in Parañaque City. The environment department has tightened its watch on imported pets and birds, as well as monitoring places in the country that are favorite flyways of migratory birds, after the first case of bird flu transmitted to a human was detected in Hong Kong. -- Nonie Reyes

By Business Mirror

Immune System Protection

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How Do You Feel?

2010-11-15T09:37:00.006+08:00

Feeling Well Begins with Living Well with Nutrilite

The Nutrilite Health Institute recognizes the importance of optimal health – aiming for the very best health and wellness we can expect to achieve throughout our lives.

* Research has shown that a healthy lifestyle and good nutrition are two important factors to achieving optimal health.

* Research also tells us that almost everyone can benefit from supplementation – because you may still lack optimal amounts of vitamins and minerals, as well as important plant compounds.

Nutrilite and Optimal Health

Optimal health does not mean perfect health. Optimal health means adapting known inherited health risks and your current lifestyle to make the personal choices necessary to live your life as healthy as possible.
Man on mountain bike

* Nutrition & Supplementation – Do you eat a balanced diet, including whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins? Do you know which supplements are recommended for your type of diet?

* Lifestyle – Have you adopted healthy lifestyle habits, such as exercising? Do you smoke?

* Rest & Relaxation – Do you get sufficient sleep on a regular basis? Do you run to the nearest sweet shop when you are stressed? Or, have you learned relaxation techniques?

* Genetics – Does high blood pressure or cancer run in your family?

While you cannot change your genetic makeup, you can modify your lifestyle in your quest for optimal health.

* Adopt a healthier diet.

* Quit smoking.

* Increase your exercise.

* Maintain a proper weight.

* See your health care professional regularly.

Nutrition and the pursuit of optimal health are at the heart of the NUTRILITE™ brand.

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Type 2 Diabetes - What You Need To Know

2010-11-08T13:03:00.009+08:00

Click Here for Help with Diabetes

Type 2 Diabetes: What Is It?

Type 2 diabetes strikes people of all ages, and early symptoms are subtle. In fact, about one out of three people with type 2 diabetes don’t know they have it. Diabetes is a chronic condition that thwarts the body’s ability to change food into energy. This allows sugar levels to build up in the blood, which can increase the risk of heart disease, loss of vision, and other serious complications.

Insulin: Turning Glucose Into Energy

1) After eating, the stomach breaks carbohydrates down into sugars, including glucose. 2) Glucose enters the bloodstream and stimulates the release of insulin from the pancreas. 3) Insulin and glucose travel in the blood to all the body’s cells. Insulin allows glucose to enter the cells and be used as fuel. Excess glucose is stored in the liver.

Type 2 Diabetes

In diabetes, the cells cannot absorb glucose properly. That means glucose levels in the blood become elevated. With insulin resistance, the body makes excess insulin but the muscle, liver, and fat cells do not use or respond properly to insulin. With long-standing, uncontrolled type 2 diabetes the pancreas will reduce the amount of insulin it produces.

Diabetes Warning Sign: Thirst

One of the first symptoms of type 2 diabetes may be an increase in thirst. This is often accompanied by additional problems, including dry mouth, increased appetite, frequent urination -- sometimes as often as every hour -- and unusual weight loss or gain.

Diabetes Warning Sign: Headaches

As blood sugar levels become more abnormal, additional symptoms may include headaches, blurred vision, and fatigue.

Diabetes Warning Sign: Infections

In most cases, type 2 diabetes is not discovered until it takes a noticeable toll on health. One red flag is troubling infections, such as:

Cuts or sores that are slow to heal.

Frequent yeast infections or urinary tract infections.

Itchy skin, especially in the groin area.

Diabetes Warning Sign: Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction could be a complication of diabetes. Diabetes can cause damage to blood vessels and nerve endings in the penis causing impotence. It’s estimated between 35% and 70% of men with diabetes will have at least some degree of impotence in their lifetime.

Risk Factors You Can Control

Being overweight, defined as a body mass index (BMI) over 25.

Sedentary lifestyle.

Abnormal cholesterol and blood fats, such as HDL "good" cholesterol lower than 35 mg/dL or a triglyceride level over 250 mg/dL.

High blood pressure greater than 140 /90 in adults.

Smoking

Risk Factors You Can’t Control

Race or ethnicity: Hispanics, African Americans, Native Americans, and Asians have a higher than average risk.

Family history of diabetes: Having a parent or sibling with diabetes boosts your risk.

Age: Being 45 and older increases your risk of type 2 diabetes.

The more risk factors you have, the greater your odds of developing type 2 diabetes.

Risk Factors for Women

Having gestational diabetes when you’re pregnant puts you at higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes later on. Women who give birth to a baby weighing over 9 pounds are also at risk. Having a history of polycystic ovary syndrome can also cause insulin resistance that can lead to diabetes.

Diagnosing Type 2 Diabetes

A simple blood test can diagnose diabetes. The A1C test gives a snapshot of your blood glucose level over the past two to three months. An A1C level of 6.5% or more is consistent with the diagnosis of diabetes. A fasting plasma glucose test is another option. You must not eat for eight hours before the test. A result above 126 is considered diabetes. An oral glucose challenge test with a two-hour blood test may also help your doctor make a diagnosis.

Managing Diabetes: Diet

Fortunately, controlling blood sugar levels by changing diet can also cut your risk of complications. People with type 2 diabetes should carefully monitor carbohydrate consumption, as well as total fat and protein intake, and reduce calories. Ask your doctor for a referral to a registered dietitian to help you with healthy choices and an eating plan that will work for you.

Managing Diabetes: Exercise

Moderate exercise, such as strength training or walking, improves the body’s use of insulin and can lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. Being active also helps reduce body fat, lower blood pressure, and protect against heart disease. People with type 2 diabetes should try to get 30 minutes of moderate exercise on most days of the week.

Managing Diabetes: Stress Reduction

Stress can cause blood pressure to rise. Or you may turn to food to cope. Both are bad when living with diabetes. Instead of letting stress take its toll, try practicing relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, or visualization. Sometimes talking to a friend, family member, counselor, or member of the clergy can help. If you’re still battling stress, reach out to your doctor.

Managing Diabetes: Oral Medication

When people with type 2 diabetes are unable to control blood sugar sufficiently with diet and exercise, medication may be added. There are many types of diabetes pills available, and they are often used in combination. Some work by stimulating the pancreas to make more insulin, and others improve the effectiveness of insulin, or block the digestion of starches.

Managing Diabetes: Insulin

Your doctor may prescribe insulin early in on your treatment and in combination with pills. Insulin is also used in people with type 2 diabetes who develop "beta-cell failure." This means the cells in the pancreas no longer produce insulin in response to high blood sugar levels. In this case, insulin therapy -- injections or an insulin pump -- must become part of the daily routine.

Managing Diabetes: Vitamins Supplements Organic

Supplementing your food diet with organic vitamins and supplements will help in preventing, and or having diabetes. DoubleX with its natural organic mega nutrients is highly recommended to help people with diabetes, and can help in eliminating the use of insulin.

Glucose Testing

Testing your blood glucose level will let you know how controlled your blood sugars are and if you need to take actions to change your treatment plan. How often and when you test will be based on how controlled your diabetes is, the type of therapy used to control your diabetes, and whether you are experiencing symptoms of fluctuating sugars. Talk with your doctor to find out how often you should use a glucose meter to check your blood sugar. Some common testing times may be when waking up, before and after meals and exercise, and at bedtime.

Long-Term Damage: Arteries

Over time, untreated type 2 diabetes can damage many of the body’s systems. About two out of three people with diabetes die of heart disease. Having diabetes also puts you at a two to four times higher risk for stroke. People with diabetes are likely to develop plaque in their arteries, reducing blood flow and increasing risk of clots. This hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) raises the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Long-Term Damage: Kidneys

The longer you have diabetes, the greater the risk of developing chronic kidney disease. Controlling risk factors such as uncontrolled diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol reduces your risk of developing this complication. Annual screening for kidney disease and medications, which slow the development and progression of kidney disease, are used to reduce your risk of kidney failure.

Long-Term Damage: Eyes

High blood sugar can damage the tiny blood vessels that bring oxygen and nutrients to the retina, a critical part of the eye. This is known as diabetic retinopathy, and it can cause progressive, irreversible vision loss. It is the leading cause of blindness in people between the ages of 20 and 60. Pools of blood, or hemorrhages, on the retina of an eye are visible in this image.

Long-Term Damage: Nerve Pain

Uncontrolled diabetes, and elevated blood sugars over time, increases the risk of nerve damage. Symptoms include tingling, numbness, pain, and a pins and needles feeling in the fingers, hands, toes and feet . Nerve damage (neuropathy) can't be reversed but treatments may help pain and numbness. Nerve damage can also affect other parts of your body such as your digestive system. Controlling your diabetes can help prevent further damage.

Long-Term Damage: Feet

Diabetic nerve damage can make it difficult to feel your feet and detect injury. At the same time, hardening of the arteries results in poor blood flow to the feet. Foot sores and gangrene can occur, even from small injury. In severe cases, infections can go unchecked and result in an amputation.

Preventing Type 2 Diabetes

One of the most astonishing things about type 2 diabetes is that such a life-altering condition is often preventable. To lower your risk, follow the same guidelines for warding off heart disease:

Eat a healthy diet

Exercise for 30 minutes, five days a week

Maintain a healthy weight

Talk to your doctor about being screened for prediabetes

Supplement your food diet with organic vitamins and supplements such as Nutrilite. Click the links on the right column for ala carte vitamins supplements or the DoubleX below for the finest in organic vitamins and supplements.

In people with prediabetes, lifestyle changes and medication can help prevent the progression to type 2 diabetes.

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Alcohol More Harmful Than Crack or Heroin?

2010-11-02T09:36:00.005+08:00

Experts: Alcohol More Harmful Than Crack or Heroin

Substance Abuse Ranked According to Harm to User and Society

Alcohol abuse is more harmful than crack or heroin abuse, according to a new study by a former British government drug advisor and other experts.

Neuropharmacologist David Nutt, MD, of Imperial College London, and colleagues rated 20 different drugs on a scale that takes into account the various harms caused by a drug. Drugs are rated on nine harms a drug causes an individual and seven harms a drug causes society.

The scale, developed by a panel of experts called the Independent Scientific Committee on Drugs (ICSD), ranges from 0 (no harm) to 100 (greatest possible harm). It is weighted so that a drug that scores 50 is half as harmful as a drug that scores 100.

"The highest and lowest overall harm scores … are 72 for alcohol and 5 for mushrooms," Nutt and colleagues calculate. "The ICSD scores lend support to the widely accepted view that alcohol is an extremely harmful drug both to users and to society."

Alcohol was found to be the most harmful drug to society and the fourth most harmful drug to users.

The findings should come as no surprise: Alcohol has been linked to more than 60 diseases.

"Alcohol does all kinds of things in the body, and we're not fully aware of all its effects," alcohol researcher James C. Garbutt, MD, of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, recently told WebMD. "It's a pretty complicated little molecule."

Alcohol vs. Heroin, Other Drugs

Using the ICSD ratings, Nutt and colleagues rated 20 substances in terms of the overall harm they do. Their results:

Alcohol 72
Heroin 55
Crack 54
Crystal meth (shabu) 33
Cocaine 27
Tobacco 26
Amphetamine/speed 23
Cannabis (marijuana) 20
GHB 18
Benzodiazepines (e.g. valium) 15
Ketamine 15
Methadone 14
Mephedrone (aka drone, MCAT) 13
Butane 10
Khat 9
Ecstacy 9
Anabolic steroids 9
LSD 7
Buprenorphine 6
Mushrooms 5

Heroin, crack, and crystal meth (shabu) were the most harmful drugs to the individual, while alcohol, heroin and crack were the most harmful to others.

According to this "multicriteria decision analysis approach," alcohol is almost three times as harmful as cocaine or tobacco.

Nutt and colleagues conclude that aggressively targeting alcohol harm is “a valid and necessary public health strategy."

In an editorial accompanying the Nutt team's report, Jan van Amsterdam of the Netherlands National Institute for Public Health and the Environment and Wim van den Brink of the Amsterdam Institute for Addiction research note that the legal penalties prescribed by various nations’ drug policies are out of synch with the actual harms caused by different drugs.

"It is intriguing to note that the two legal drugs assessed -- alcohol and tobacco -- score in the upper segment of the ranking scale, indicating that legal drugs cause at least as much harm as do illegal substances," van Amsterdam and van den Brink write.

Institutional Individual Health Wellness Programs

Contact us on our institutional group health and wellness programs, and help your employees live a healthier life stronger and longer. Individuals help yourself to be the healthiest you can be by clicking and reviewing the vitamin supplement links on the right column.

Optimal Health is about eating a nutritious organic diet as much as possible, getting a enough exercise and rest everyday, thinking having positive mental health, and supplementing your diet with organic nutrients to live strong and long.

Click the Vitamins Supplement Links on the Right Column for Optimal Health

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Philippine Workplace Health Deteriorating

2010-10-25T08:29:00.007+08:00

MetLife Study: Illness Plagues Pinoy TNC Labor

Filipino workers of transnational corporations (TNCs) share the fate of fellow TNC workers in five other countries, a study by insurance firm MetLife Inc. subsidiary revealed.

“General access to affordable health care, the prevalence of chronic disease, and a growing aging labor force are all factors that today’s multinational employers must consider as they develop policies, physical facilities and behavioral standards within the workplace that are supportive of healthy living,” MetLife multinational solutions vice president Rudy Bethea was quoted in a statement as saying.

Bethea based his comments on a study by MetLife that it said “examines the key challenges facing four multinational employers —American Express, Cemex, GSK, and PPG” and their respective employee health and wellness needs.

The report “focuses on employers’ programs in India, Mexico, China, the Philippines, the United Kingdom and the United States.” It addresses the following: country-specific issues leading to differences in health and wellness programs; ways employers are creating a healthy employee culture, including examples of promising practices; program challenges or setbacks; metrics used to measure the success of health and wellness programs; and government-sponsored health care and its impact on the design of wellness plans.

GSK employees in the Philippines cited addiction to illicit drugs, malnutrition and infectious diseases as their major health concerns.

The study noted that the trend in the country’s health care focuses on access.

“Access to health care is a major issue, especially among the poorer population,” said the report titled “The MetLife Study of Global Health and Wellness: A Look at How Multinational Companies are Responding to the Need for a Healthier Workforce.”

Cardiovascular disease was common among employees in India, Mexico and the US, the study said while in the UK, smoking and drug and alcohol abuse are issues of concern.

China, like the Philippines, also cited infectious diseases as among the TNC employees’ major health concern.

“In China and the Philippines, access to consistent health care by the overall population is a problem. Employers with global operations are trying to navigate and address these issues, which have a significant impact on the health of the workforce base,” the report said.

The report added that most Chinese citizens are uninsured: “45 percent of urban populations and 79 percent of rural populations pay out of pocket for health insurance. Similarly, in the Philippines, about half of health-care costs fall on the individual.”

MetLife said it drew its findings from research commissioned by MetLife Multinational Solutions. It added that six in-depth telephone interviews were conducted in March-April 2010 with US and foreign corporate heads of health-care initiatives at the four multinational companies, which range in size from 40,000 to 90,000 employees worldwide.

The employers operate in 50-130 countries (average 89 countries) in regions including the Americas, Western and Eastern Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Australia, Southeast Asia, and the Asia Pacific. The industries include finance and insurance, manufacturing and pharmaceuticals.

MetLife said “the interviews focused on the benefits and executives’ perception of current challenges in implementing health and wellness programs that align with corporate and strategic goals, as well as the needs of local employees.”

It said the research also reviewed company materials.

“We believe employers can learn from the successes of the four companies featured in the MetLife resource as they navigate the ever-changing global health environment and design cost effective health and wellness programs that address the needs of their employees and their business,” Bethea was quoted as saying.

By Business Mirror

Institutional Health Wellness Programs

Contact us on our institutional group health and wellness programs, and help your employees live a healthier life stronger and longer. Individuals help yourself to be the healthiest you can be by clicking and reviewing the vitamin supplement links on the right column.

Optimal Health is about eating a nutritious organic diet as much as possible, getting a enough exercise and rest everyday, thinking having positive mental health, and supplementing your diet with organic nutrients to live strong and long.

Click the Vitamins Supplement Links on the Right Column for Optimal Health

Nutrilite DoubleX
Super Potent Daily Multi-Vitamins
Immune System Protection
More Energy All Day
Organic PhytoNutrients

Infanticipating: Your Ultimate Guide to Motherhood

2010-10-19T08:06:00.005+08:00

What to do when you’re Infanticipating

Babies and kids don't come with instruction manuals. When you're pregnant, you don't automatically receive a pamphlet on how you should eat or what you can do to have a good pregnancy. Likewise, manuals don't fall from the heavens telling you what your husband should do to help you carry a healthy baby to term.

Wouldn't it be great if everything you needed to know about getting pregnant, pregnancy and babies could be detailed in one handy book?

This is exactly what Infanticipating: Your Ultimate Guide to Motherhood, the first pregnancy guidebook written by Filipinas for Filipinas aims to become.

“ Pregnancy is every woman’s dream. It’s something that every woman looks forward to – a time in her life when she feels the most fulfilled as a woman,” says Dr. Raul Quillamor, President of the Perinatal Association of the Philippines. He notes that Infanticipating was designed with the primary objective of helping women adequately prepare for pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and after-delivery care.

Infanticipating is a joint effort by PACE (Philippine Association for Childbirth Education) and Mommy Mundo, the Philippines' most extensive portal of mom and family-focused resources in partnership with GlaxoSmithKline.

Infanticipating covers all areas of a healthy pregnancy: from choosing the proper childbirth classes and maternity wear to the different vitamins you need to take and how to create a proper home checklist to prepare for your baby's arrival. Infanticipating also stresses the important role of your husband or partner in maintaining a healthy pregnant as well as the essential food and vitamins you need to take to prevent sickness and disease that could harm your unborn baby.

Aside from these, an important section of Infanticipating: Your Ultimate Guide to Motherhood covers the importance of pre-pregnancy and post-partum vaccination specifically against diseases such as German measles and Chickenpox. For instance, the guidebook reminds pregnant mothers that if they contract German measles while they’re pregnant, they put their unborn child at risk for a variety of problems that include deafness, heart problems, cataracts of the eyes, and mental retardation. The same goes for Chickenpox which put unborn children at risk of weakening or withering of the arms and legs (atrophy) and eye abnormalities.

“Preventive healthcare for babies should not begin at the moment they’re born; but at the moment that parents plan to have a baby,” stresses Dr. Quillamor. “And with 38% of Filipinas who are at childbearing age at risk of diseases such as rubella, the importance of pre-pregnancy vaccination can’t be overemphasized.”

The launch of Infanticipating puts a creative spin on Great Expectations to highlight the different important practices that moms and expecting moms should remember for a healthy pregnancy. Taking cues from the elegant and very classy mood and feel of the book, the event will feature massage and pampering stations for women, photo booths and different unique activities made especially for expecting moms. Meanwhile, different experts in the fields of obstetrics-gynecology, parenting and baby care will also share expert advice and tips. Guests will also be given complimentary copies of Infanticipating to guide them towards a stress and illness-free pregnancy.

A healthy pregnancy and childbirth don't need to be experiences that you have to second-guess your way to. With the comprehensive guides in Infanticipating, you can be sure that you can expect great things in both pregnancy and motherhood.

By Business Mirror

Click here for what to take during pregnancy to have a strong healthy newborn baby.

The Biggest Loser

2010-10-11T08:24:00.012+08:00

Fitness First Fetes New You Achievers

In the tradition of the popular Biggest Loser series on TV, a local version of the weight-loss competition recently recognized 15 Fitness First members who changed their lives through fitness.

Each one of them has an inspiring tale on how they made a monumental decision to attain health and even save their lives. Recently, Fitness First’s New You Achievement Awards (NYAA) 2010 celebrated these fitness success stories for the second year at Teatrino in Greenhills Promenade. Its awards night theme, “Stars Unleashed,” was meant to recognize the stellar qualities of discipline, determination and perseverance shown by the awardees.

Out of 180 nominees, 15 finalists were shortlisted for their fitness triumphs. They represented five categories: Health, Shape, Sport, Strength and Staff. The Health Category celebrated the success of members who joined the club to improve on their health through fitness and nutrition to manage illness. The Shape Category acknowledged significant transformation from physical weight loss through regular personal training. The Sport Category recognized members who honed their athletic skills through the club’s fitness programs, while the Strength Category spotlighted members who used the gym to strengthen either their entire body for stamina or a particular body part which required building up.

The Staff Category honored Fitness First employees who have achieved an outstanding fitness goal. Among the five, the judges also picked the one deemed to be the best in upholding the values of a Fitness First ambassador.

“Nine years ago, Fitness First engaged in a mission to guarantee real results for all its members, with the vision to help change lives through fitness. Tonight is a testament of our commitment as we recognize members who have done just that. We are proud and honored to award the people who allowed us to help them transform their lives through our specialized programs,” said Fitness First country manager Mark Ellis.

“Their success is our success, fueling us to continue our mission of changing lives through fitness. As a premier fitness chain, we recognize the various needs of each member and continue to develop programs that will cater specifically to their needs.”

A panel of famous judges who deliberated and awarded the winners included Biggest Loser Asia finalist Carlos Miguel, NYAA 2009 overall winner Angelica Balatbat, Fitness First national fitness manager Roger Villarimo, philanthropist Iliac Diaz and fashion designer Frederick Peralta.

Winning in the Health Category was Jocelyn Ompoc, who’s currently battling stage four lung cancer and has been utilizing the club for two years. With the encouragement and support of her personal trainer, she was able to improve her overall health and quality of life. The winner in the Shape Category was Cebuano native Ivan Camasura, who has lost a total of 176 lb with the help of continuous workout and the discipline to abide by his personal trainer’s program.

Anna Bartolome, a recent college graduate, won in the Sports Category for achieving her running goal of first completing a 5-kilometer marathon to eventually finishing a 21-km run with the help of proper training and diet as provided by her personal trainer. Barbara Kenny, an Irishwoman living in Cebu, topped the Strength Category for being able to sustain her bone mass and strength at the age of 63 with regular workouts and personal training sessions. Last, winning in the Staff Category was Francis Angeles, currently a group exercise manager at Fitness First Alabang, for achieving his goal of eventually becoming a Fitness First manager through continued exercise while still a member.

Chosen as the overall winner of the NYAA 2010 was Camasura, whose quest in achieving a fitter body and healthier lifestyle began when he realized that he was not of ideal weight and felt he could do better if he committed himself to it. “I used to weigh 355 lb. and one day I looked at myself in the mirror and didn’t like what I saw. I knew I could look better and feel better, so I took that first step and joined Fitness First. Now I’m proud to say that I’m 179 lb. I can say that it not only made me look better but also improved my whole outlook in life,” shared Camasura.

The prizes awarded to the winners included roundtrip tickets to Boracay and gifts from Fitness First partners.

By Business Mirror

6 Top Health Threats to Men

2010-10-05T07:24:00.009+08:00

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6 Top Health Threats to Men

What puts a man’s health at risk as he gets older?

More boys than girls are born every year in the U.S. But any lead in health men start with vanishes with the first dirty diaper.

From infancy to old age, women are simply healthier than men. Out of the 15 leading causes of death, men lead women in all of them except Alzheimer's disease, which many men don't live long enough to develop. Although the gender gap is closing, men still die five years earlier than their wives, on average.

While the reasons are partly biological, men's approach to their health plays a role too, experts tell WebMD.

"Men put their health last," says Demetrius Porche, DNS, RN, editor in chief of the American Journal of Men's Health. "Most men's thinking is, if they can live up to their roles in society, then they're healthy."

Men go to the doctor less than women and are more likely to have a serious condition when they do go, research shows. "As long as they're working and feeling productive, most men aren't considering the risks to their health," says Porche.

But even if you're feeling healthy, a little planning can help you stay that way. The top threats to men's health aren't secrets: they're known, common, and often preventable. WebMD consulted the experts to bring you this list of the top health threats to men, and how to avoid them.

Cardiovascular Disease: The Leading Men's Health Threat

They call it atherosclerosis, meaning "hardening of the arteries." But it could as easily be from the Latin for "a man's worst enemy."

"Heart disease and stroke are the first and second leading causes of death worldwide, in both men and women," says Darwin Labarthe, MD, MPH, PhD, director of the Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention at the CDC. "It's a huge global public health problem, and in the U.S. we have some of the highest rates."

In cardiovascular disease, cholesterol plaques gradually block the arteries in the heart and brain. If a plaque becomes unstable, a blood clot forms, blocking the artery and causing a heart attack or stroke.

One in five men and women will die from cardiovascular disease, according to Labarthe. For unclear reasons, though, men's arteries develop atherosclerosis earlier than women's. "Men's average age for death from cardiovascular disease is under 65," he says; women catch up about six years later.

Even in adolescence, girls' arteries look healthier than boys'. Experts believe women's naturally higher levels of good cholesterol (HDL) are partly responsible. Men have to work harder to reduce their risk for heart disease and stroke:

* Get your cholesterol checked, beginning at age 25 and every five years.

* Control your blood pressure and cholesterol, if they're high.

* If you smoke, stop.

* Increase your physical activity level to 30 minutes per day, most days of the week.

* Eat more fruits and vegetables and less saturated or trans fats.

"There's a saying that 'children should know their grandparents,'" says Labarthe. "This is fatal or disabling condition that causes lost family time and working time. But a large number of these events are preventable."

Lung Cancer: Still a Health Threat to Men

Lung cancer is a terrible disease: ugly, aggressive, and almost always metastatic. Lung cancer spreads early, usually before it grows large enough to cause symptoms or even show up on an X-ray. By the time it's found, lung cancer is often advanced and difficult to cure. Less than half of men are alive a year later.

So ... are you still smoking?

Tobacco smoke causes 90% of all lung cancers. Thanks to falling smoking rates in the U.S., fewer men than ever are dying of lung cancer. But lung cancer is still the leading cancer killer in men: more than enough to fill the Superdome every year.

No effective screening test for lung cancer is available, although a major study is going on to learn if CT scans of the chests of high-risk people can catch cancer early enough to improve survival.

Quitting smoking at any age reduces the risk for lung cancer. Few preventive measures are as effective -- or as challenging -- as stopping smoking. But new tools are available that work to help men quit. Your doctor can tell you more.

Prostate Cancer: A Leading Cancer for Men

This is one health problem men can lay full claim to -- after all, women don't have prostates. A walnut-sized gland behind the penis that secretes fluids important for ejaculation, the prostate is prone to problems as men age.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men other than skin cancer. Close to 200,000 men will develop prostate cancer this year in the U.S.

But while one in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime, only one in 35 will die from it. "Many prostate cancers are slow-growing and unlikely to spread, while others are aggressive," says Djenaba Joseph, MD, medical officer for cancer prevention at the CDC. "The problem is, we don't have effective tests for identifying which cancers are more dangerous."

Screening for prostate cancer requires a digital rectal exam (the infamous gloved finger) and a blood test for prostate specific antigen (PSA).

But in fact, "Screening has never definitively been shown to reduce the chances of dying from prostate cancer," according to Joseph. That's because screening finds many cancers that would never be fatal, even if undetected. Testing then leads to aggressive treatment of relatively harmless cancers, which causes problems like impotence and incontinence.

Should you get screened for prostate cancer? Some experts say yes, but "the best solution is to see your doctor regularly and talk about your overall risk," says Joseph. "All men should understand the risks and benefits of each approach, whichever you choose."

Depression and Suicide: Men Are at Risk

Depression isn't just a bad mood, a rough patch, or the blues. It's an emotional disturbance that affects your whole body and overall health.

In effect, depression proves the mind-body connection. Brain chemicals and stress hormones are out of balance. Sleep, appetite, and energy level are disturbed. Research even suggests men with depression are more likely to develop heart disease.

Experts previously thought depression affected far more women than men. But that may just be men's tendency to hide depressed feelings, or express them in ways different than women's.

"Instead of showing sadness or crying, men get angry or aggressive," says Porche. "They feel it's not OK for them to say, 'I'm depressed,' so they cope in other ways, like drinking too much." Men are also less likely to seek help for depression.

The results can be tragic. Women attempt suicide more often, but men are more successful at completing it. Suicide is the eighth leading cause of death among all men; for young men it's higher.

Most men and women respond well to depression treatment with medications, therapy, or both. If you think you might be depressed, reach out to your doctor or someone close to you, and seek help.

Diabetes: The Silent Health Threat for Men

Diabetes usually begins silently, without symptoms. Over years, blood sugar levels creep higher, eventually spilling into the urine. The resulting frequent urination and thirst are what finally bring many men to the doctor.

The high sugar of diabetes is anything but sweet. Excess glucose acts like a slow poison on blood vessels and nerves everywhere in the body. Heart attacks, strokes, blindness, kidney failure, and amputations are the fallout for thousands of men.

Boys born in 2000 have an alarming one-in-three chance of developing diabetes in their lifetimes. Overweight and obesity are likely feeding the diabetes epidemic. "The combination of diabetes and obesity may be erasing some of the reductions in heart disease risk we've had over the last few decades," warns Labarthe.

Exercise, combined with a healthy diet, can prevent type 2 diabetes. Moderate weight loss -- for those who are overweight -- and 30 minutes a day of physical activity reduced the chance of diabetes by more than 50% in men at high risk in one major study.

Erectile Dysfunction: A Common Health Problem in Men

Erectile dysfunction may not be life threatening, but it's still signals an important health problem. Two-thirds of men older than 70 and up to 39% of 40-year-old men have problems with erectile dysfunction. Men with ED report less enjoyment in life and are more likely to be depressed.

Erectile dysfunction is most often caused by atherosclerosis -- the same process that causes heart attacks and strokes. In fact, having ED frequently means that blood vessels throughout the body are in less-than-perfect health. Doctors consider erectile dysfunction an early warning sign for cardiovascular disease.

You've probably heard more about the numerous effective treatments for ED than you ever cared to just by watching the evening news. Treatments make a fulfilling sex life possible despite ED, but they don't cure the condition. If you have erectile dysfunction, see your doctor, and ask if more than your sex life is at risk.

Click here for the Health Problems Vitamin Supplement Guide to help your body be healthier, stronger longer.

Click the vitamins supplement links on the right column to help your particular health issue.

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