Every 10 seconds, a person’s life is lost due to diabetes; inflicting much pain for the love ones they left behind and regrets of what could’ve been had the disease been attended to at an earlier stage.[1]

According to the Department of Health, diabetes is the ninth leading cause of death in the Philippines. Today, an estimated 3.36 million Filipinos were affected by the disease. This number is expected to increase by approximately 8 million in about 20 years.[2]

“Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease caused by the body’s inability to produce insulin, or by the ineffective use of the insulin produced. Such deficiency results in increased concentrations of glucose in the blood, which in turn damage many of the body’s systems.”[3]

Most of the time, diabetes can go undiagnosed because the symptoms may appear harmless and oftentimes normal. Some symptoms of diabetes include; frequent urination, excessive thirst, extreme hunger, unusual weight loss, increased fatigue, irritability, and blurry vision. Thus, if one or more of these indicators persist over a period of time, it would be best to see a doctor.[4]

World Health News - Millions of deaths are prevented by vaccination every year, yet immunization programs and rigorous science are continuously being ignored because of public anxieties and vaccine scares.

For most children in the developed world, immunization against range of infectious diseases is a form of health protection often taken for granted. However, in developing countries, one of the key public health problems is getting regular vaccinations for those who are already in need. These, coupled with lack of health-care infrastructure, high costs and delays between their introduction in developed countries and their roll out in the developing world were identified as the main barriers in providing the immunization program.

http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/86/6/08-030608/en/index.html

An upset stomach can really ruin your day, interrupting your busy schedule and leaving you feeling weak in the end. Most of the time, people tend to ignore this and just let the feeling pass. However, understanding what you’re going through and its causes can be extremely helpful.

Diarrhea, often characterized with upset stomach, is an increase in frequency or decreased consistency of bowel movements [1]. It usually lasts for a day or two and can be stimulated by too much fruit in the diet, tainted food, the flu, or even stress.[2]

The major effects of diarrhea are dehydration, malnutrition, and weight loss. Severe dehydration leads to changes in the body’s chemistry and could become life-threatening. Dehydration from diarrhea can result in kidney failure, neurological symptoms, arthritis, and skin problems. Make sure you drink plenty of clear liquid from a secured source to replace lost water.[3]

In most cases, people immediately reach for a medication; this can help temporarily control the symptoms, but if at all possible it is best to wait for at least twelve hours before taking over-the-counter medications. This will give your body a chance to rid itself of the toxins that caused the problem. Nevertheless if diarrhea lasts for more than 48 hours, it is best to consult your doctor.[4]

Healthway Medical says Hello to Bacolod as it settle its first satellite clinic in the corporate office of Teleperformance. This partnership was made possible through Healthway and Teleperformance-Bacolod’s coordination with Affinitas Insurance Broker. The agreement was signed last May 16, 2008 and is effective on the same day, Healthway will provide Teleperformance - Bacolod overall clinic management and occupational health management. Photo shows Healthway and Teleperfomance’s Team, also seated are (L-R): Healthway’s VP for Sales and Marketing Ms. Carmie P. de Leon, Healthway’s President Dr. Eleanor Bengco-Tan, Teleperformance Bacolod’s Director for Administration and Human Resources Ms. Claire G. Bedia.

As we experience the first drop of rain after summer, we begin thinking of the comfort of our home and warm soup for our meal. Yet, in this damp environment the rainy season gives us, we should all be wary of our health.

Now that the period of continuous downpour is here, Health officials appealed to all communities to raise their alert on Dengue. A flu-like viral disease transmitted through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes and is usually characterized with high fever, a rash over most of your body, severe headache/backache, pain behind your eyes, severe joint and muscle pain, nausea and vomiting. Dengue fever rarely causes death and symptoms usually get better after five to seven days. However a more severe form of this disease, Dengue Hemorrhagic fever, may become fatal. [1]

There is no known cure or vaccine to fight dengue fever. Thus, it is important to remove sources of stagnant water and other potential breeding grounds of the dengue carrying mosquito. A puddle of water about the size and depth of 20-cent coin is sufficient for an Aedes mosquito to breed in.[2]