Category: health

Got pregnancy cravings? Here’s how to deal with them

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PREGNANCY is a life-changing experience for most women. Their bodies go through many changes. They may also experience discomfort, pain and strange sensations as a new life grows in their womb. Their delicate condition may also put them at risk for health issues and accidents.“Aside from having to share their nutrients with their unborn child, pregnant women are also vulnerable to many health problems as they undergo physical and physiological changes. While the health risks are unavoidable, women can make lifestyle changes to keep themselves and their babies healthy,” says Dr. Nicky Montoya, President of MediCard Philippines.

To ensure a healthy and safe pregnancy, expectant mothers are reminded to:Eat a well-balanced diet. Pregnant women are advised to eat a lot of grains, fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and lean meat. These foods are rich in calories and essential nutrients that keep them and their babies well-nourished. To avoid food borne diseases, food must be prepared properly. Commercialized food with lots of preservatives, undercooked meat and unpasteurized dairy products must be avoided.Manage food cravings. Some pregnant women experience cravings for certain food as a result of the changes in their nutritional needs. Fulfilling these cravings may help them get the necessary nourishment and ensure the normal development of their baby. However, some expectant mothers experience a craving for non-food items, like clay and laundry detergent, which can be harmful to pregnancy. Women who experience these are advised to seek help from medical experts.

Drink plenty of water. Drinking eight (8) to ten (10) glasses of water every day is essential for expectant mothers to stay hydrated and support the life inside their womb. Water also helps them prevent constipation, hemorrhoids, urinary tract and bladder infections, contractions, and premature or early labor.

Stay active. Exercise prevents pain, discomfort and depression. It also prepares their bodies for labor and delivery. However, they are also advised to stop exercising when they are exhausted or feeling any pain. It is also safer for them to consult a doctor first before starting a fitness routine.

Wear comfortable clothes. Pregnant women are advised to wear maternity clothes, which are especially made to provide adequate comfort and support as they gain weight and their bellies grow. When it comes to footwear, it is wise for them to temporarily ditch high heels and platform shoes for a pair of comfy flats or loafers that can ease pregnancy-related foot discomfort and keep them safe from falling and hurting themselves. Wearing support stockings can also minimize foot and ankle swelling.

Stop smoking and drinking caffeinated and alcoholic beverages. Expectant mothers are strongly advised to quit smoking because of the harmful effects of nicotine to the developing fetus in their womb. Likewise, exposure to the chemicals in coffee, alcohol and carbonated beverages can slow down their baby’s development and could sometimes result in miscarriage and preterm birth.

Get regular prenatal care visits. Doctors recommend expectant mothers to get at least four prenatal care consultations throughout their pregnancy. During these visits, their health and that of their babies are closely monitored. They are also provided with essential vitamins and supplements for a healthy pregnancy.

The MediCard free-standing clinics offer consultations and tests on obstetrics and gynecology. All medical services are also open to non-members.

Philippine Red Cross prepares for the ‘Big One’

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With the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS’) recent warning about a magnitude 7.2 earthquake that could be generated by the West Valley Fault, the Philippine Red Cross yesterday disclosed that it is continuously upscaling its preparations to ensure efficient response should this dreaded “Big One” occur.

PRC Chairman Richard J. Gordon said the humanitarian organization has been preparing for an earthquake of such magnitude since the Metropolitan Manila Earthquake Impact Reduction Study came out some years back by upgrading its resources and assets to be able to extend the necessary assistance during such a mass casualty event.

“For a long time, the PRC has been continuously preparing for emergency responses. When the MMEIRS came out several years ago, the Red Cross has started its preparations. We started building an armory of vehicles, equipment, and others that could be deployed in response to the mass casualty incident that an earthquake of such magnitude would cause,” he added.

Studies showed that at least an estimated 34,000 people will be killed, 90 % will be due to pressure from collapsed buildings, while another 18,000 will perish in the fires that the quake could trigger. Close to 114,000 will be heavily injured.

Some 168,000 buildings will be heavily damaged or will collapse. Water, electricity and communication lines will be cut off due to damaged water pipelines, electricity cables, telephone cables. At least 7 out of 213 bridges and 80 flyovers have strong possibilities of collapsing.

Gordon said that over the years, the PRC has acquired vehicles that can be used in responding to large-scale disasters such as ambulances, rescue trucks, Blood Mobile, fire trucks, Fork Lifts, Pay loaders, Humvees, water tanker, among others.

It also has various equipment that would be useful should a strong earthquake hit Metro Manila such as generators, tower lights, water bladder, satellite phones, tents for temporary shelters, portable comfort rooms. And since hospitals would become jam-packed with patients in such eventuality, the PRC has medical tents, and Emergency Field Hospitals that can cater to those who could no longer be accommodated in the hospitals.

Gordon assured that manpower-wise, the PRC has highly-trained and skilled staff and volunteers who can operate the different rescue vehicles and function as crew for them. He added the Red Cross 143 also strengthens the organization’s disaster management and risk reduction capacity.

The PRC chairman disclosed that the organization’s deployment of several teams to earthquake-hit Nepal served as a drill for the members of the emergency response unit and the medical team.

 

Generika new ad campaign assures quality medicines and huge savings

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Consumers’ perception about generic medicines being inferior to branded drugs still exists today. Primarily, their doubt on generic medicines comes from the lack of information on the sources or manufacturers of these medicines. Many consumers consider generic medicines inferior since they are perceived to be locally-made and from cheaper ingredients.

Generika Drugstore, with its new campaign, corrects their common notion about generic drugs, and underscores the savings one can get without having to sacrifice on the efficacy of medicines. After all, consumers need to be assured that they and their loved ones will get well with the generic medicines they are taking.

Utilizing Boy Abunda as its brand ambassador for the third year, Generika’s Magaling…Makatao… campaign gives the consumers the confidence and the assurance that the medicines from Generika are of excellent quality, as they are sourced from reliable and known manufacturers here in the country and abroad. Generic medicines available at Generika are made by multinational and local drug companies which are based in countries like Germany, Korea, Italy and India, among others. In the Philippines, the manufacturers that supply Generika with medicines are only those approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and that comply with manufacturing standards, thus attesting to their products’ quality and efficacy.

But quality does not always come with a premium price. At Generika, consumers can buy generic medicines at very affordable prices, but at the same time get the same level of efficacy as branded medicines. Generic medicines contain the same active ingredient as brand name drugs; therefore, they are as equally effective as branded medicines. While generic and branded medicines provide the same efficacy, the significant difference can be felt in the pocket. At Generika, consumers can enjoy savings up to 85% which can be utilized for other expenses or for goods and services that are as substantial as medicines.

Generika’s campaign does not only educate the public about generic medicines, but more importantly, it teaches each and every Filipino to be a smart and practical consumer, by taking advantage of what generic medicines can offer.

Nursing Services to launch knowledge-sharing program CARE Extend

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Makati Medical Center’s Nursing and Patient Care Services Division has created CARE (Competency Assessment and Relational Enhancement) Extend, a program with the mission to provide opportunities for clinical observation and research enrichment for registered nurses working in Strategic Hospital Alliance Program partner hospitals, the Metro Pacific Investment Corporation hospital group, and other healthcare institutions.

According to Margaret May A. Ga, RN, MAN, Nursing Education Research and Development (NERD) Program Manager, CARE Extend “is a five-day program inclusive of a two-day lecture and a three-day clinical immersion learning experience provided by NERD.” At the end of the program, participants will be able to learn MakatiMed’s best clinical practices, update their knowledge on current nursing trends and the latest technologies related to patient care, and develop assertiveness in creating and promoting a culture of safety in a clinical setting. Participants will each receive a certificate at the end of the training.

The CARE Extend program was formed following several requests from various organizations and colleges for Christine Donnelly, RN, MSA, MA, Vice President of Nursing and Patient Care Services, to be a resource person and speaker at their events.

Ms. Donnelly participated in various events in and out of the Philippines. Locally, she attended events organized by the Philippine Society of Medical Oncology, Philippine Oncology Nurses Association, St. Dominic College of Asia Clinical Graduation, Makati Medical Center College Leadership Seminar and a number of lecture series in the Philippines.

She also attended the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Nursing Society Research Conference in Hong Kong, Leadership Summit in Singapore, International Congress of the Asia Pacific Society of infection Control in Taiwan and various events in the United States.

The training fee is PhP 5,000 per participant, inclusive of handouts, activity sheets and meals. NERD will roll out the program in June.

Dad spends only 56 minutes with their son, study says

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Because fathers spend most of their time at work to bring home the bacon, dads spend an average of only 56 minutes a day with their sons. But despite that fathers today work harder than ever, it is still important that their relationships should never be compromised.

According to Carmie de Leon, vice president for Sales and Marketing of Healthway Medical, fathers play a huge role in their son’s development, and the quality of time they spend together is important in preparation for manhood. “A dad’s presence can do much to motivate their child to understand the ways of life and give them the emotional stability they need in going through the ups and downs of daily life,” de Leon says.

She adds, “With the mounting financial woes every Filipino household have to face, fathers have no choice but to spend more time at work. This time, Healthway is giving them enough reason to spend time with their son during one of the most crucial events in his life—his passage to manhood.”

Study shows that fatherly love is critical to a child’s development. This time, show your son some love by accompanying him to any Healthway Medical clinic between March 1 and June 30, 2015 for his circumcision.

“His passage to manhood is more than just a traditional Filipino practice; it lessens his risks of acquiring infections. In fact, study shows that uncircumcised boys have higher risk of acquiring urinary tract infection (UTI),” de Leon emphasizes.

Now that summer is finally here, make sure to schedule your son for an appointment to Healthway Medical clinics located in Alabang Town Center, Festival Supermall, Greenbelt 5, Market! Market!, Shangri-La Plaza, and SM The Block.