Health and Lifestyle

Advocacy group hails signing of UHC Act into law

Advocacy group hails signing of UHC Act into law

February 21, 2019, 6:39 pm

MANILA -- A health advocacy group on Thursday lauded the signing of the Universal Health Care Act into law. In a statement, the Health Justice PH said President Rodrigo Duterte and Congress have translated into reality the national dream to make health care equitable and accessible to all.… Read More

DOH rolls out JE vaccination in CAR, 3 other regions

DOH rolls out JE vaccination in CAR, 3 other regions

February 20, 2019, 1:14 pm

BAGUIO CITY -- The Department of Health (DOH) has started to administer Japanese Encephalitis vaccines to children in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), one of the four pilot regions in the country. "We will be conducting a house-to-house immunization for Japanese Encephalitis (JE) virus… Read More

Health centers open for measles vaccination on weekends: DOH

Health centers open for measles vaccination on weekends: DOH

February 16, 2019, 6:34 pm

CURBING MEASLES. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III reiterates that the Department of Health provides vaccines which are free and proven safe and effective in protecting children against measles, rubella, mumps, hemophilia, diptheria, tetanus and polio (Photo by: Ma. Teresa Montemayor)MANILA… Read More

Experts warn public vs. measles complications

Experts warn public vs. measles complications

February 13, 2019, 7:29 pm

MANILA -- If left untreated, serious complications from measles could be life-threatening, medical experts said on Wednesday. Dr. Mario Panaligan, Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases president, said measles-stricken children and adults could suffer from serious… Read More

Vaccination key to preventing measles spread: experts

Vaccination key to preventing measles spread: experts

February 13, 2019, 4:47 pm

MANILA -- Medical experts on Wednesday stressed the importance of vaccination in combatting the spread of measles virus in some regions of the country. Dr. Mario Panaligan, president of the Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, said children and adults can easily contract… Read More

PhilHealth urged anew to support heart attack patients

PhilHealth urged anew to support heart attack patients

February 12, 2019, 9:23 pm

MANILA -- A group of medical experts is again calling on the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to subsidize the treatment of heart attack patients. "Philhealth creates packages where they provide support to those with serious diseases, like the coronary artery bypass, but the one that… Read More

Experts raise public awareness of heart attack

Experts raise public awareness of heart attack

February 12, 2019, 6:54 pm

Philippine Heart Association Vice President Dr. Aurelia Leus encourages public to have their hearts checked at least once a year to avoid killer cardiovascular diseases. (Photo by Ma. Teresa Montemayor)MANILA -- Medical experts on Tuesday underscored the importance of taking care of one’s heart… Read More

Measles outbreak due to vaccine hesitancy: DOH

Measles outbreak due to vaccine hesitancy: DOH

February 11, 2019, 4:59 pm

MANILA -- The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday identified vaccine hesitancy of the public as one of the reasons for the recent measles outbreak in some regions of the country. In a statement, DOH defined vaccine hesitancy as the delay in acceptance or refusal of vaccines despite availability… Read More

Get vaccinated vs. measles, DOH tells public

Get vaccinated vs. measles, DOH tells public

February 7, 2019, 7:23 pm

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III appeals to parents to have their children vaccinated against measles to avoid contracting and spreading the disease. (Photo by Ma. Teresa Montemayor) MANILA -- The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday urged the public to have their children vaccinated… Read More

DOH confirms measles outbreak in NCR

DOH confirms measles outbreak in NCR

February 6, 2019, 9:15 pm

MANILA -- The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday confirmed a measles outbreak in the National Capital Region (NCR). "Yes, this afternoon, (Health) Secretary (Francisco) Duque officially declared the outbreak in the National Capital Region after seeing the numbers and as of February 2, we had… Read More

DOH warns public against flu

DOH warns public against flu

February 5, 2019, 1:20 pm

MANILA -- The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday urged the public to take extra precaution to avoid contracting and spreading the flu virus during the peak months of the flu season.“Binabantayan natin kung ano iyong strain at talagang by middle of the year nagbabakuna na tayo. Sa Pilipinas… Read More

Not yet safe to swim in Manila Bay: DOH

Not yet safe to swim in Manila Bay: DOH

February 4, 2019, 7:05 pm

MANILA -- The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday warned the public against swimming in Manila Bay. In a statement, the DOH said it supports the government's recent rehabilitation efforts of the bay. However, it advised the public to wait until the bay's water is deemed safe for recreational… Read More

Smoking can cause almost 20 cancers

Smoking can cause almost 20 cancers

February 3, 2019, 6:29 pm

MANILA -- No matter how you take tobacco into your body — through smoking or inhaling secondhand smoke — it affects not only your lungs but also your entire body.Emer Rojas, a victim of tobacco and president of cancer support group New Vois Association of the Philippines (NVAP) said smoking… Read More

Overcoming thyroid gland diseases

Overcoming thyroid gland diseases

January 31, 2019, 8:43 pm

MANILA -- Maricel Galang, 43, has been battling goiter since she was a teenager. While the disease kept her from doing certain physical activities, it did not keep her from pursuing her passion -- singing in their church's worship team and caring for her family. "Nalaman ko na mayroon ako nito… Read More

Curbing schistosomiasis thru deworming

Curbing schistosomiasis thru deworming

January 31, 2019, 6:49 pm

MANILA -- No appetite and sluggish -- this is how Lilibeth Mosende described her four-year-old niece, Hazel, a year ago when she had schistosomiasis. Schistosomiasis is an acute and chronic disease caused by parasitic worms. "Naalagaan ko siya noon sa probinsiya, lagi masakit ang tiyan niya at… Read More

Climate-friendly diets also healthier: study

Climate-friendly diets also healthier: study

January 31, 2019, 5:23 pm

CHICAGO -- After examining the carbon footprint of what more than 16,000 Americans eat in a day, a study conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan (UM) and Tulane University shows that more climate-friendly diets are also healthier. The researchers ranked diets by the amount of… Read More

Sleep deprivation accelerated Alzheimer's brain damage: study

Sleep deprivation accelerated Alzheimer's brain damage: study

January 29, 2019, 3:41 pm

CHICAGO -- Studying mice and people, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found that sleep deprivation increases levels of the key Alzheimer's protein tau, and sleeplessness accelerates the spread through the brain of toxic clumps of tau, a harbinger of brain… Read More

Scientists develop new drug to halt cancer cells' growth

Scientists develop new drug to halt cancer cells' growth

January 25, 2019, 9:23 pm

LOS ANGELES -- Scientists have developed a new drug that shows potential to halt cancer cells' growth by stunting the cells' biological clock. The findings from scientists at the US University of Southern California (USC) Michelson Center for Convergent Bioscience and Nagoya University's Institute… Read More

SoKor gov't, UNICEF PH launch nutrition, health program

SoKor gov't, UNICEF PH launch nutrition, health program

January 24, 2019, 9:49 pm

UNICEF Philippines Representative Lotta Sylwander (center) says nutrition and health interventions at the local level are key in reaching every vulnerable mother and child especially those who do not have access to essential services. (Photo courtesy of UNICEF Philippines)MANILA -- The South… Read More

DOH allays fears over suspected meningo case in Manila

DOH allays fears over suspected meningo case in Manila

January 23, 2019, 5:26 pm

MANILA -- The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday allayed fears of the public over the suspected meningococcemia case at the Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center (GABMMC) in Manila. "Iyong ginagawa nilang pag-sterilize, iyan ay bahagi ng protocol natin kung mayroong suspected na case… Read More