‘Tis the season of rain! And ‘tis the season to bring out those umbrellas, raincoats, and boots! Sure, those rainy season gears are needed in some countries experiencing heavy rainfall and flood. But how about the Philippines and other neighboring Asian countries? Guess umbrellas, raincoats, boots aren’t enough to safeguard one’s health ‘tis season. Mosquito repellent lotions and sprays are must-haves too!

Out of all the genera of mosquitoes, it’s most likely that the aedes mosquitos bring dengue to human. Aedes is a small, dark mosquito that can be identified by the white bands on its legs and a silver-white pattern of scales on its body 

When mosquito bites a person who has dengue virus in his or her blood, the mosquito becomes infected with the dengue virus. An infected mosquito can later transmit that virus to healthy people by biting them. Dengue cannot be spread directly from one person to another, and mosquitoes are necessary for transmission of the dengue virus. The symptoms are sometimes diagnosed as flu; the only difference is that dengue symptoms includes sudden high fever, severe headache, joint and muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, and skin rash. Dengue may also lead to hemorrhagic fever, which causes mild bleeding in the nose, bleeding gums, and easy bruising. 

There is no treatment for dengue in the sense that patients can only be given supportive and symptomatic management. Medicine or measures that directly fight the virus are yet to be developed. It is fortunate that the natural course of the disease allows most patients to recover spontaneously. This is one reason why prevention is very crucial.

The Department of Health on its previous campaigns against dengue strongly stressed out that it is during the month of September where numbers of dengue victims soar. The reason behind is mosquitoes are now surviving in septic tanks, and no longer just on clean stagnant water. Thus, to eliminate mosquitoes and its dengue threat, we should start off by finding where mosquito breeding sites are.

Here are 6 ways to prevent dengue, according to DOH:
1.    Cover water drums and water pails at all times to prevent mosquitoes from             breeding
2.    Replace water in flower vases once a week
3.    Clean all water containers once a week. Scrub the sides well to remove eggs         of mosquitoes sticking to the sides
4.    Clean gutters of leaves and debris so that rainwater will not collect as                     breeding places of mosquitoes
5.    Puncture or cut old tires used as roof support to avoid accumulation of water
6.    Collect and dispose all unusable tin cans, jars, bottles, and other items that           can collect and hold water.

If you think you’re impervious to health risk during your twenty-something years, then think again.

Whatever age we are in, we face health risk long before we are aware of it. Some of the people think they’re all fine and good as long as they don’t experience the occasional to frequent headache or common colds. I don’t need to echo the cliche “prevention is better than cure” but there I‘ve said it.

Regular check up with your doctor is a must especially for us, “young invincibles” as they coined. Seeing a doctor seemed to be a hassle for many, too. While absolutely it’s a need and obviously not a want or a luxury even.

Know the benefits to why, really, should you see your doctor every year:

Keep up to date with recommended vaccinations and screenings is a fundamental part of health and wealthness. Vaccinations not only prevent some serious diseases, such as polio, hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella, and even cervical cancer, but also provide “herd immunity” to those who cannot get vaccinated or who have weakened immune systems. Screenings can lead to early identification and treatment of underlying diseases such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and cancer.

Getting your blood pressure and cholesterol checked provides a baseline to compare to over time, so it's valuable to obtain these numbers while you're still considered young and healthy. If nothing else, you can print out the numbers and use them as motivation to be healthier and beat them next year.

Annual visits to the doctor are a chance to update your personal medical record. Previously documented health information is accessible to Emergency Department physicians. This can reduce unnecessary testing and prevent allergic reactions, and generally help to ensure that you receive the best level of care possible.

Proper diet and exercise play a large role in our health, but genetics may “over rule” these efforts. If you have a family history of any of the multitudes of cancers, high blood pressure, sleep disorders, allergies, or any of a whole list of health issues, yearly physicals may detect them early, and early detection is vital for your health and safety.

Robert Wergin, MD says “It’s about establishing a relationship with someone who cares about, and can help you with, your health.” You may not need to see a doctor when you’re healthy, but when you come down with a nasty bug or mysterious ache, you’ll be glad to have someone with a knowledge of your medical history to turn to. Your relationship with your primary care physician, if well established, can provide peace of mind when you’re not feeling your best. “We’re like an extension of your own family,”

Remember, amongst many relationship you have, your relationship with your doctor is one of the most healthiest, (literally). Be a better patient. Be a responsible one. Set an appointment. Says your doctor.

Source:

5 Reasons Why You Should See Your Doctor

http://greatist.com/health/five-reasons-to-see-a-doctor-even-if-you-are-healthy

Do You Really Need An Annual Checkup

http://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/do-you-really-need-an-annual-checkup

Some risk factors for cancer can be avoided, but many cannot. For example, both smoking and inheriting certain genes are risk factors (anything that increases your chance of developing cancer) for some types of cancer, but only smoking can be avoided. Regular exercise and a healthy diet may be protective factors (anything that decreases your chance of developing cancer) for some types of cancer. Avoiding risk factors and increasing protective factors may lower your risk but it does not mean that you will not get cancer.

If you're concerned about breast cancer, you might be wondering if there are steps you can take toward breast cancer prevention. Some risk factors, such as family history, can't be changed. However, there are lifestyle changes you can make to lower your risk.

Lifestyle changes have been shown in studies to decrease breast cancer risk even in high-risk women. The following are steps you can take to lower your risk from Mayo Clinic:

• Limit alcohol. The more alcohol you drink, the greater your risk of developing breast cancer. The general recommendation — based on research on the effect of alcohol on breast cancer risk — is to limit yourself to less than 1 drink per day as even small amounts increase risk.

• Don't smoke. Accumulating evidence suggests a link between smoking and breast cancer risk, particularly in premenopausal women. In addition, not smoking is one of the best things you can do for your overall health.

• Control your weight. Being overweight or obese increases the risk of breast cancer. This is especially true if obesity occurs later in life, particularly after menopause.

• Be physically active. Physical activity can help you maintain a healthy weight, which, in turn, helps prevent breast cancer. For most healthy adults, the Department of Health and Human Services recommends at least 150 minutes a week of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity weekly, plus strength training at least twice a week.

• Breast-feed. Breast-feeding might play a role in breast cancer prevention. The longer you breast-feed, the greater the protective effect.

• Limit dose and duration of hormone therapy. Combination hormone therapy for more than three to five years increases the risk of breast cancer. If you're taking hormone therapy for menopausal symptoms, ask your doctor about other options. You might be able to manage your symptoms with nonhormonal therapies and medications. If you decide that the benefits of short-term hormone therapy outweigh the risks, use the lowest dose that works for you and continue to have your doctor monitor the length of time you are taking hormones.

• Avoid exposure to radiation and environmental pollution.Medical-imaging methods, such as computerized tomography, use high doses of radiation. While more studies are needed, some research suggests a link between breast cancer and radiation exposure. Reduce your exposure by having such tests only when absolutely necessary.

We have gathered information from various reliable sources. Nevertheless, you should not take this as the only means to prevent and fight breast cancer. We strongly suggest that you should see and consult your doctor or healthcare provider.

Source:

https://goo.gl/CLziq8

https://goo.gl/0k1wQw

Have you ever felt a pounding headache, nausea, vomiting, double vision, light and sound irritation? If yes, then probably you have experienced migraine. A migraine can cause severe throbbing pain or a pulsing sensation, usually on just one side of the head. It's often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound.

It’s no joke when migraine attacks as it attacks out of the blue. Warning symptoms known as aura which produces flickering lights, spots, or lines, may occur before or with the headache. It can consequently cause significant pain for hours to days and can be so severe that the pain is disabling. Physical activity may intensify the pain, but symptoms can vary from person to person and from one attack to the next.

It’s always better to be educated about signs and symptoms of migraine. Sometimes you might experience them yet you are not sure about the pain you feel tells you something. Or others might see the signs and yet think that’s normal. So here; One sign of migraine is change of mood. Some patients will feel very depressed or suddenly down for no reason, too.

You may also have trouble falling asleep. This inability to sleep can be the start of a vicious cycle and might accumulate overtime resulting to insomnia -- which is linked to migraine and also may lead to more serious health problems like diabetes, heart attack and more. Sinus symptoms, such as stuffy nose, clear nasal drainage, droopy eyelids, or tearing may also be experienced. Stiff neck and food cravings are also prevalent before a migraine attack occurs. Once you've already got a migraine, some odor can make it intense and worse. Balance problem which is caused by intense dizziness or vertigo ( when a person feels as if they or the objects around them are moving when they are not)

Many medications have been designed to treat migraines. Some drugs often used to treat other conditions also may help relieve or prevent migraines.

Medications include:

• Pain relievers. Aspirin or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) may help relieve mild migraines.

• Triptans. These medications are often used in treating migraines. Triptans make blood vessels constrict and block pain pathways in the brain. Triptans effectively relieve the pain and other symptoms that are associated with migraines. They are available in pill, nasal spray and injection form.

• Ergots. Ergotamine and caffeine combination drugs (Migergot, Cafergot) are less effective than triptans. Ergots seem most effective in those whose pain lasts for more than 48 hours. Ergots are most effective when taken soon after migraine symptoms start.

• Anti-nausea medications. Medication for nausea is usually combined with other medications. Frequently prescribed medications are chlorpromazine, metoclopramide (Reglan) or prochlorperazine (Compro).

• Opioid medications. Opioid medications containing narcotics, particularly codeine, are sometimes used to treat migraine pain for people who can't take triptans or ergots. Narcotics are habit-forming and are usually used only if no other treatments provide relief.

• Glucocorticoids (prednisone, dexamethasone). A glucocorticoid may be used with other medications to improve pain relief. Glucocorticoids shouldn't be used frequently to avoid side effects.

We can not compare migraine to other migraine. They are all not the same but share one thing in common -- it’s painful. So we have to be very understanding and patient towards people who experience such dreadful feeling.

Source:

Migraines and Headaches Health Center. http://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/

Migraines. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/migraine-headache/home/ovc-20202432

I bet a lot of people, maybe half of the population, will agree with the line “Rice is Life”. Rice is a staple and has been a staple food source for many Asian countries like China, Japan, India and of course, Philippines. It’s already been a part of our daily lives. We often utter “hindi ako nabusog, kasi walang kanin” and most can relate without judgement.

Often times we settle for the usual white rice, but in this article, we aim to inform and educate you, our dear readers, about the different types of rice, its length and shape, texture, color and the health benefit it goes with.

Length and Shape

There are three varieties of rice; long grain, medium grain, or short grain rice.

Long Grain Rice - This rice has milled grains that are slim and lengthy and at least three to four times as long as they are wide. Due to its starch composition, it has firm, dry texture when cooked. Goes with salads, too.

Medium Grain Rice - Medium grain rice has a shorter, wider kernel about two to three times longer than it is wide compared to the long grain rice.It is characterized by its moist and chewy grains that sticks together when cooked.

Short Grain Rice - Shoutout to all sushi lovers. This is the short and sticky rice you enjoy every time your chow your fave sushi.

Texture:

There are people who don’t mind the texture of their rice, because as for them, “rice is rice”, however, there are also a lot who minds. If you’re the latter then here’s a fast fact:

Sticky Rice - also called sweet rice or waxy rice grown mainly in Southeast and East Asia and is used in many traditional Asian dishes, desserts, and sweets. It becomes sticky to some degree when cooked.

Parboiled Rice - (also called converted rice) is rice that has been partially boiled in the husk. This “rough” rice has gone through a steam-pressure process before milling that drives nutrients, especially thiamine -- 80% nutritionally similar to brown rice.

Color

Brown is the natural color of rice after being harvested. Once the bran is removed, the color changes to white. Other colors like, red, black and purple all feature unique pigmentation in the bran.

White Rice - or polished rice refers to white rice that has had its outer brown layer of bran and germ removed. Rice that has shed its bran layers can also be referred to as "milled rice."

Brown Rice - This healthful rice still has the side hull and bran, thus the color. The side hulls and brans provide “natural wholeness” to the grain and are rich in proteins, thiamine, calcium, magnesium, fiber, and potassium.

Black Rice- also known as forbidden rice, it possesses nutty taste, and chewy texture. Recent research discovered that the bran layer of black rice contains a surfeit of anthocyanins.

For us Filipinos, as long as there’s a good amount of rice, any viand will suffice. We can do countless of recipes to make our daily rice bowl more appetizing and exciting. Hashtag relate, right? So we hope these fast facts help you as you explore the world of rice! :)

When the sun is out and the sweat drips down your brow usually your first instinct is to take care of your skin. Sunblock? Check. Oil absorbing tissues? Check. Water? Check. But when the skies are grey and the rain pours do you relax and think “Whew. Finally, I can take a break from lugging all this stuff?” Quite contrary. The rainy season is more of a reason to tend to your skin because of the high risk of infections that can be caused by this damp and humid weather. Try the following tips to give your skin some extra lovin’ during this rainy season:

1. Drink lots of water.
Most of us forget to drink enough water (7-8 glasses a day) during the rainy season because the low temperature hardly makes us feel thirsty. However, keeping yourself hydrated is important (all dermatologists swear by this) to keep your skin healthy. Dehydration leads to dry, blotchy skin and who wants that? 

2. Keep your regimen.
Being indoors in your pang-bahay belting out “This time I’m not gonna let you slip away” while the rain pours is also no excuse to be lazy and opt out on your skin care regimen. Cleanse, tone, and moisturize daily. Use a soap-free or gentle cleanser once a day and an alcohol-free toner since increased humidity can open up your pores. Also, light lotion-based moisturizer or serum with a lightening agent and lactic acid is recommended as it gently rehydrates and brightens up your skin. 

3. Oil absorbing tissues are your best friend.
Some people who don't feel that much oil on their skin during cold weather think this is a sign that their face is fine. But it's the exact opposite. So don’t skip out on the extra pack of tissues just because the sun’s not out. 

4) Rainy days call for sunscreen too.
Sunscreen is very important when it is cloudy and about to rain. Most people make the mistake of not putting sunscreen in this weather because they can’t see the sun. Remember, UV rays are invisible. So use a sunscreen that’s at least SPF 30, water resistant and oil free. 

5.) Nourish your skin from the inside.
All the products and tips in the world are not going to do your skin any good if all you eat is junk. Here are some great sources of vitamins and minerals that will do wonders for you hair and skin:

• Walnuts - fatty acids and omega 3 keeps your skin supple and moisturized
• Salmon - omega 3 and selenium protects your skin from the sun
• Tomato - lycopene for anti-aging
• Spinach - omega 3 and Vitamin E keeps your skin healthy
• Oysters - zinc for skin cell repair

I’m pretty sure everyone has heard of the song that goes “don’t worry, be happy.” What better way to B-happy than to B-healthy with Vitamin B? There are 8 B vitamins, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9 and B12 (more commonly known as vitamin B complex).  These vitamins are abundant in green vegetables, whole or fortified grains, dairy and meats—allowing us to incorporate them into our diets very easily. Here are 5 reasons to convince you to get your Vitamin B:

1. Stay mentally sharp.
We lose about two percent of our brain volume every decade as we grow older. Although this is a normal part of aging, accelerated atrophy (the wasting of our cells/organ) is linked with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Folic acid and vitamins B6 and B12 reduce levels of homocysteine, a toxic amino acid that is associated with increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Don’t want to forget the memories or people that make you happy? Get enough Vitamin B.

2. Prevent heart disease.
If you think bagoong, patis, roast pork, and chicken adobo were the only risk factors for heart disease, think again. An elevated level of homocysteine (a non-protein a-amino acid that is not obtained from diet) is also a risk factor for heart disease. According to Harvard researchers, a high blood level of homocysteine triples the risk of heart attack and increases the chance of having a stroke. As mentioned in the previous paragraph, taking B vitamins can help reduce levels of homocysteine. And if homocysteine levels are reduced, so are the chances of you having a heart attack or stroke.

3. Preserve your vision.
It’s a little hard to B-happy if you can’t see anything, right? Thankfully, another Harvard study has revealed that B vitamins can also protect the eyes. In one of their studies, women who took daily folic acid, B6, and B12 supplements had a reduced risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (an eye disease that causes vision loss; associated with aging). In addition, several studies have also found that long-term use of B vitamins, along with vitamins A, C, and E, can reduce the risk of cataracts.

4. Boost your energy.
Vitamin B12 is a great energy booster. This nutrient is vital to burning fats and carbohydrates for energy, the formation of healthy red blood cells, and the maintenance of the myelin sheaths that protect our nerves. Since Vitamin B12 has so many different functions, a deficiency can cause symptoms ranging from mild fatigue to severe exhaustion. So when you find yourself feeling a bit tired from doing chores around the house, it might be a good idea to take some extra vitamin B.

5. Lift your mood.
Don’t worry, B-happy. Folic acid and vitamins B6 and B12 have been shown to improve mood (aka help make us happy). These nutrients play an indirect but important role in the formation of serotonin and other neurotransmitters that help control mood and contribute to well-being and happiness.

Do you have a stubborn belly bag that just won’t go away?
Are you experiencing hair fall or muscle sore?
Do cough and colds attack you every now and then?
Are you having acne breakouts and other skin infections?

With the mighty help of Vitamin C, you can solve these problems as easy as ABC!
Vitamin C is one of the most abundant vitamins present in the food that we eat like when you get your orange juice on or you take a slice of that ripe papaya.  There's so much more to Vitamin C than its sour impression. It is an essential nutrient that our body requires for the development and maintenance of scar tissue, blood vessels, and cartilage.

Let us find out the many wonders of this simple vitamin.

1. When you get injured or develop an infection, your body sends out inflammatory cytokines (a cell signalling molecule), which causes your liver to send out those CRP’s. Scientists believe that Vitamin C adds up to the production of cytokine. So when you get injured and it heals up ASAP, then you do the math.

2. Some people use Vitamin C for other infections including gum disease, acne and other skin infections. Bronchitis, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease, stomach ulcers caused by bacteria called Helicobacter pylori, tuberculosis, dysentery (an infection of the lower intestine) are also included same as through the infections of the bladder and prostate.  (Phew, that's a lot to memorize!)

3. When you get those "baradong ilong at masakit na lalamunan" grandma will surely buy you dalanghita. That's  because these days, vitamin C is used most often for preventing and treating the signs of common colds. As your Vitamin C intake increases, immunity level is boosted thus susceptibility to cough and colds decreases.

4. Constantly exposed to stress? Oh noooo! No matter where your stress is coming from, your adrenal glands depletes due to an almost constant outpouring of stress hormones. Adrenal fatigue will eventually take place and you may experience hair loss, exhaustion and even depression! With vitamin C, you can fight all these!

5. Another study conducted in the Indian Journal of Medical Research showed that patients with type 2 diabetes that took 1,000 mg of vitamin C daily for a six week period had significant declines in serum insulin and blood glucose levels. See that's Vitamin C!

Now, you might be asking:  What if I consume too much Vitamin C? Would it give me abnormal health reactions?  Since, vitamin C is water-soluble, excesses in the blood is rapidly excreted in the urine. And no, it will not intoxicate you! After all, your body's a wonderland that it could cut off what's too much for you.

For your Vitamin C needs, eat more organic, vitamin rich food, such as tomatoes and citrus fruits, bell peppers, dark leafy greens, kiwifruit, broccoli, berries, citrus fruits, tomatoes, peas, and papayas.  You can also take supplements to ensure that you are getting all the benefits that this amazing vitamin has to offer. 

Another trend went viral on the world wide web! And that is none other than the “Running Man Challenge”! Have you accepted the challenge yet? Have you grooved your unique running man moves to the 90s song, My Boo by Ghost Town Djs? Whether it’s a yay or a nay, sure it has nothing to do with the running man (real) challenge. But maybe it could ease up one way or another, when you feel that sudden stabbing pain on your side, or when you feel like throwing up while running. Now, that’s the real running man challenge, right?

All right, seriously speaking, what are the common challenges that beginners face on their first attempt running? Of course, running is one of the most relatively easy sports to get involved in thus making us feel that we can be a runner anytime, anywhere we want to. As a newbie, you can not escape these not-so-fun things that we might experience before, along the way, or after running. But the fun thing would always be about the countless amazing rewards that this sports could give you.  

So before you throw your towel in the air, let’s check out these pointers:

1.    So you’re running your way downtown; maintaining your pace and stance. At about 20 miles, you’re feeling an internal intestine jarring that makes you want to stop and look for the nearest comfort room. Well, that seems to happen more often than not especially when the blood goes to your active muscles. Same principle applies when you feel sleepy after eating; blood goes to the working muscle. To avoid this from happening, make sure your last meal has been fully digested two hours before running; also a bottle of water or two will be your best friend!
2.    Ever wonder why you feel light-headed, dizzy, and nauseous after running? Then maybe you’re that kind of newbie runner who runs non-stop without any walk breaks. You are doing overexertion. When you first take up running, shoot for a walking distance first, then start inserting short running segments into that walk until you start increasing your speed and length segments. KitKat is right, “Have a break!” 
3.    No one can escape the annoying and excruciating pain brought to you by blisters! If you happened to get those because of new pair of running shoes, sure you know how it could change the day from good to bad. For some reasons, blister should be taken good care of, really. So after running, you might want to pop it with sterilized needle, sterilize the area, cover it with blister pad, and allow some recovery time before you wear your running shoes again.
4.    “I just feel like I can’t catch my breath!” Now you are having trouble breathing. Do not panic, even trained runners experience the same challenge every now and then. Most and foremost, it’s not because you have a smaller lungs than others, but difficulty in breathing during your first run means bad posture. Consider, tilting your head your head high, and shoulders back. When you feel at ease, that means your chest is open enough to provide the sufficient air needed.

These challenges are minor setbacks that you might experience as a beginner. And that’s normal and okay too! Kudos in all your future running adventures. Happy running!