Health and Lifestyle
Duque welcomes P1.4-B refund for unused Dengvaxia
January 16, 2018, 12:24 pm
MANILA -- Health Secretary Francisco Duque III has welcomed Sanofi Pasteur’s move to refund the government PHP1.4 billion for the unused doses of the controversial dengue vaccine, Dengvaxia, in the health department’s public immunization program. "We will ask for a full refund eventually. But… Read More
New gene linked to diabetes, low blood sugar found in same family
January 16, 2018, 10:22 am
WASHINGTON -- A new gene thought to be critical in the regulation of insulin, the key hormone in diabetes, has been found in a family with both high and low blood sugar conditions, researchers said Monday. The research, carried out at Queen Mary University of London, University of Exeter and… Read More
Too early to conclude Dengvaxia caused kids’ death: Duque
January 12, 2018, 12:16 pm
MANILA – While Health Secretary Francisco Duque III acknowledged that most of the 14 children, whose deaths are being investigated by the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), had succumbed to Dengue Shock Syndrome, he said it is too early to link the deaths to the controversial dengue vaccine,… Read More
PRC caters to 1,906 patients during ‘Traslacion’
January 10, 2018, 10:56 pm
MANILA -- The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) on Wednesday reported that it served a total of 1,906 patients during Tuesday’s procession of the Black Nazarene or the “Traslacion”. The PRC, in its final list of cases attended as of 8 a.m. Wednesday, said most of the patients, or 854, suffered from… Read More
DOH assists 301 persons during ‘Traslacion’
January 9, 2018, 7:27 pm
MANILA -- The Department of Health (DOH) reported that it has provided medical assistance to 301 persons who joined the procession of the Black Nazarene or the annual “Traslacion” in Manila as of 2 p.m. Tuesday. Of the figure, about 127 suffered cuts, puncture wounds and soft tissue injuries,… Read More
Red Cross issues safety reminders for 'Traslacion 2018'
January 7, 2018, 8:15 am
MANILA -- As Traslacion 2018 is expected to be an event wherein minor and major injuries can happen, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) on Saturday issued some safety reminders to avoid untoward incidents especially for those who will be joining the Black Nazarene procession. Here are some of PRC… Read More
Day 15 of DOH firecracker injury watch: 20 hurt
January 5, 2018, 8:14 pm
MANILA – The health department reported another 20 firecracker-related injuries, five days after the New Year revelry, with the partial total now numbering 449 cases since December 21. According to the department’s Aksyon Paputok Injury Reduction 2017 Report No. 15, the figure is 421 or 48… Read More
PhilHealth to implement new premium rates this month
January 5, 2018, 7:20 pm
MANILA – Health Secretary Francisco Duque III announced Friday that the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) will raise the premium contributions of its members starting January. "Magtataas tayo ng (We will raise PhilHealth’s) premium contribution, 0.25 percent, effective January… Read More
Alcohol may cause cancer by damaging stem cell DNA: study
January 5, 2018, 4:09 pm
LONDON -- Drinking alcohol may cause irreversible damage to the DNA of stem cells and increase the risk of developing certain cancers, a new study has revealed. Using genetically modified mice, British scientists found that acetaldehyde, a toxin produced as the body processes alcohol, can slice… Read More
DOH on the lookout for leptospirosis due to floods
January 5, 2018, 11:50 am
MANILA -- The Department of Health (DOH) is anticipating a rise in the incidence of leptospirosis following the onslaught of three weather disturbances that have caused massive flooding in several regions across the country, an official said Thursday. "Our hospitals are aware of a possible… Read More
DOH reports 23 more injuries from firecrackers
January 4, 2018, 8:27 pm
MANILA -- The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday recorded another 23 injuries from firecrackers, with three amputations, bringing to 429 the total number of injuries since surveillance began on December 21. "This is 437 (50 percent) cases lower than the five-year (2012-2016) average and 196… Read More
Duque warns vs. tetanus from firecracker injuries
January 4, 2018, 4:50 pm
MANILA – Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Thursday urged all those who were injured by firecrackers during the New Year celebrations to go to the nearest health facility immediately and have themselves checked for tetanus. “Blast wound injuries have always been closely associated with… Read More
Tuberculosis drugs work better with vitamin C: US study
January 4, 2018, 3:02 pm
WASHINGTON -- Tuberculosis patients may have a quicker way to recover. A new study on mice and tissue cultures suggested that giving vitamin C with tuberculosis drugs could reduce the unusually long time it took these drugs to eradicate this pathogen. The study was published Wednesday in the US… Read More
Caffeine level in blood could help diagnose Parkinson's disease: study
January 4, 2018, 12:34 pm
WASHINGTON -- Simply testing the level of caffeine in the blood could help determine if a person has Parkinson's disease, a new study suggested Wednesday. People with the degenerative disease have significantly lower levels of caffeine in their blood than people without the disease, even if they… Read More
After the holiday binge eating, try fasting, says health official
January 3, 2018, 8:33 pm
MANILA – Time to put the brakes on eating. After gorging on hamon, queso de bola, pasta, cakes and everything else served during all those holiday dinner parties, give your bodies some sort of a break by eating healthy and exercising. “And going on a fast,” Department of Health (DOH)… Read More
Injuries from firecrackers up by 44: report
January 3, 2018, 6:23 pm
MANILA – An additional 44 injuries from firecrackers, with three amputations, were reported by the Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday, bringing to 406 the partial total number of injuries, with 15 amputations, recorded from Dec. 21 to January 3. "This is 451 (53 percent) cases lower than… Read More
Kidney disease can lead to diabetes
January 3, 2018, 2:03 pm
CHICAGO -- Kidney disease increases the risk for diabetes, not just the other way around, a study of the Washington University at St. Louis has found. Researchers at the university found that kidney dysfunction can lead to diabetes, and that a waste product called urea plays a role in the two-way… Read More
Lack of sleep boosts levels of Alzheimer's proteins: study
January 3, 2018, 1:58 pm
CHICAGO -- A sleepless night causes levels of the Alzheimer's protein amyloid beta to rise faster than the brain's waste-disposal system can remove it, a study of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis found. Persistent high levels of the protein can set off a cascade of brain… Read More
171 more injuries from firecrackers: DOH
January 2, 2018, 5:31 pm
MANILA -- The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday disclosed an additional 171 firecracker-related injuries nationwide a day after the New Year celebration, bringing the partial total to 362 cases from 6 a.m. last Dec. 21 to 6 a.m. Jan. 2, with 12 amputations. "This is 473 (57 percent) cases… Read More
DOH 'relatively pleased' as firecracker injuries drop by 68%
January 1, 2018, 7:13 pm
MANILA -- The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday noted a significant reduction in terms of the number of firecracker-related injuries in its assessment for the period covering 6 a.m. of Dec. 21, 2017 until 6 a.m. of Jan. 1, 2018, compared to the same period last year. FIRECRACKER INJURY UPDATE.… Read More
