Quick Bytes..

glasses, contact lens or LASIK?

Unlike my parents and our youngest sibling, me and my first bro have bad eyesight. We have what doctors call nearsightedness, that is, we can't see far things. My bro wore glasses ever since he was in grade school while I started wearing it regularly in high school. Can't afford not to see my HS crushes playing basketball clearly! LOL! My bro also tried wearing contact lenses but he went back to glasses. Me, never tried contact lenses coz I don't like the feeling of putting something inside my eyes. UGHH!! But now that my wedding is drawing near, I am thinking about wearing contacts -- I definitely won't be wearing glasses on my wedding day noh! But at the same time I would love to have crystal clear vision.. So it's gonna be cheap but stomach-curling contacts for me or the expensive, vision-correcting LASIK (laser in-situ keratomileusis). This is gonna be a hard one to decide! Tsk!

what is phentermine?

Phentermine is an appetite suppressant (FDA approved) to help reduce weight in obese patients when used short-term and combined with exercise, diet, and behavioral modification. Like many other prescription drugs, it works with neurotransmitters in the brain. Phentermine is a centrally-acting stimulant chemical, and stimulates neuron bundles to release a particular group of neurotransmitters known as catecholamines. The neurotransmitters signal a fight-or-flight response in the body which, in turn, puts a halt to the hunger signal. As a result, it causes a loss in appetite because the brain does not receive the hunger message. Thus, you lose weight! Whoopee! =) Phentermine is typically prescribed for individuals who are at increased medical risk because of their weight but is now prevalent among dieters.
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Info Source: Wikipedia

you NEED medical insurance!

When I was still working in a private hospital, I’d often come across patients who are relatively well-off but due to the chronic course of their disease, they eventually had a hard time paying off hospital bills. The problem? They didn’t have any insurance, HEALTH or hospital insurance for that matter. How about you, do you have one? If you still don’t have one, better check out with your insurance provider. I'm sure they'll have quality medicare insurance coverage at affordable prices. As with every doctor, I want you to get well, keep you well, and have better health in the long run -- without damaging your finances.

diet pills, anyone?

I have never recommended diet pills for those wanting to lose weight. I have always advised them to diet (cut back calories) and exercise. But for some, this doesn't work, especially for those trying to get rid of the last few pounds in the belly and thigh areas (also my problem, LOL!). Recently, I came across a list of the top diet pills -- most of the names were familiar, as well as the drug ingredients. What caught my attention was the top 1 product name OROVO. It claims to be all-natural and its ingredients are more of multi-vitamin supplements than chemical drugs.
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According to its website, OROVO contains 10 highly concentrated "SuperFoods" recommended by renowned anti-aging experts around the world. Orovo also contains the antioxidants alpha-lipoic acid, DMAE, green tea, and an anti-aging ingredient first marketed by the makers of BOTOX® called Idebenone. Orovo users have reported dramatic reductions in weight, wrinkles, and acne. Orovo also detoxifies the body and improves overall health. Yup, aside from losing weight, you'll have a perfectly beautiful and youthful face! Too good to be true? I hope not!

addicted to weight loss pills?

When we hear addiction, the first thing that comes to our mind is illegal drugs addiction, i.e. cocaine and other dangerous stuff like it. But from a medical point of view, there are many different kinds of addiction, and DRUG addiction is just one of them. And among drug addictions, the dependent use of illegal drugs is just a small percent of the overall problem. Most drug addictions involve the use of legal (and safe if used right) drugs.
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One of the most common of which is weight loss pills addiction . If you’re one of the people who is trying to lose weight by way of pills, and have yet to be weaned from pill use (continuing taking it despite seeing no effect), chances are you’re addicted to it. If you feel that you cannot function without first taking your weight loss pills, with or without seeing any effect, then most likely you’re addicted. And I strongly suggest that you SEEK HELP asap.

suffering from GERD?

GERD = gastroesophageal reflux disease =) If you're one the unfortunate sufferers of this disease, there's some good news for you. And I'm not talking about medicine to cure it but an innovation that will let you sleep soundly and not be bothered by the acid reflux symptoms. Presenting the sleep wedge!
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The Incliner Sleep Wedge relieves acid reflux by elevating your head and shoulders, as doctors recommend. The sleep wedge gradually slopes up from nearly flat to a 5" elevation and is designed for sleep comfort. The elevated sleeping position will alleviate pain and discomfort associated with acid reflux, evening heartburn, constricted airways, snoring, sinus irritation, and more. The Incliner Sleep Wedge fits under fitted sheets or on top, is designed for one person in any size bed, and it removes easily when symptoms dissipate. As I said, a nice innovation! =)

some progesterone facts

Progesterone is a steroid hormone involved in the female menstrual cycle, pregnancy (supports gestation) and embryogenesis of humans and other species. The use of progesterone and its analogues have many medical applications -- both to address acute situations, and to address the long-term decline of natural progesterone levels. Because of the poor bioavailability of progesterone when taken orally, many synthetic progestins have been designed. Progesterone is poorly absorbed by oral ingestion unless micronised and in oil, or with fatty foods; it does not dissolve in water. Progesterone can be given by injection, but because it has a short half-life they need to be daily. Implants, for a longer period, are also available.

time to detoxify!

There are many colon cleanser formulas out in the market now, and it's really up to you (or your doctor) on what to choose. These products help our body get rid of the accumulated waste and undigested matter in our intestines. Removing the wastes will prevent toxins from being absorbed by the body. Potential benefits include less bloating and an overall trimmer silhouette. I have been interested about body detox ever since I read about the high incidence of colon cancer in persons with low-fiber, high-meat diet. I told myself that I need to detoxify my body then start eating right. But so far I’ve done nothing -- must get on with it and cleanse my colon right now! Hayy..

general acne treatment guide

There are many products sold as acne treatment. Generally speaking successful treatments give little improvement within the first week or two; and then the acne decreases over approximately 3 months, after which the improvement starts to flatten out. Many treatments that promise big improvements within 2 weeks are likely to be largely disappointing. Exception of this is cortisone which can give very quick results.

In general, acne treatments are believed to work in at least 4 different ways [with many of the best treatments providing multiple simultaneous effects] - a.) normalising shedding into the pore to prevent blockage, b.) killing causative bacteria, c.) antinflammatory effects, and d.) hormonal manipulation.

mag-exercise tayo tuwing umaga!

One of my resolutions for the year 2008 is to exercise. I plan to do jumping rope in the morning and jogging in the afternoon (maybe even use ellipticals). I really hope I'd stick to it. My metabolism is already slowing down (I'm 26!!!) and it doesn't help that my physical activity is just limited to house work and playing with our dogs. For most part of the day, I'm just sitting in front of the PC. Yikes! Anyway, here's an exercise survey from dNEERO. If you wanna earn extra money for going out on Valentines Day (gotta start early!), answer the survey I posted, post it in your own blog and earn $$$! Simple! =) dNEERO totally rocks!

lose weight by surgery!

I’ve posted several times in this blog about losing weight surgically by Lap Band. If you missed it, here’s a recap: Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding or LAGB / LAP-BAND® System procedure is unlike other weight loss surgery procedures in that it is less invasive. The surgeon just inserts an inflatable adjustable gastric band through small (laparoscopic) incisions and positions the band around the upper portion of your stomach. This creates a small stomach pouch and passageway into the lower part of the stomach. This will allow you to feel full and satisfied even though you’re actually eating less.
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It doesn’t require cutting, stapling or rerouting of the stomach or intestines thus, risks are lower and there are less serious long-term complications. The procedure can even be performed in an outpatient (day surgery) setting! That means recovery period is shorter than the other bariatric surgical procedures. If you are interested, please consult your doctor for further information. Or you can follow this link of lap band Surgarland, Texas where the bariatric surgeons with most experience in Lap Band are found. Good luck!

high-style rehab

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Looks beautiful and relaxing huh? That’s in Malibu baby! But that ain’t a resort or a luxury hotel. Would you believe that it’s a drug rehabilitation center?? Yes, boys and girls, that’s a rehab center named Cliffside Malibu. The center consists of a residential drug and alcohol rehab hubs, and an extended care facility for adults suffering from alcoholism, drug addiction, eating disorders, depression, and other co-occurring disorders. Along with these, patients are also given gourmet meals, laundry service, transportation, scheduling of appointments, Internet access and special requests (where appropriate). Wow! A rehab center that sounds more and more like a hotel, lol! Me thinks Lindsay Lohan and other celebrities with addiction stay in rehab centers like these. Admitting yourself in a place as beautiful as this is definitely conducive to the healing process. So, if ever you’re looking for a drug or alcohol rehab in Malibu, look no farther – Cliffside Malibu has everything you need and more!

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Looks beautiful and relaxing huh? That’s in Malibu baby! But that ain’t a resort or a luxury hotel. Would you believe that it’s a drug rehabilitation center?? Yes, boys and girls, that’s a rehab center named Cliffside Malibu. The center consists of a residential drug and alcohol rehab hubs, and an extended care facility for adults suffering from alcoholism, drug addiction, eating disorders, depression, and other co-occurring disorders. Along with these, patients are also given gourmet meals, laundry service, transportation, scheduling of appointments, Internet access and special requests (where appropriate). Wow! A rehab center that sounds more and more like a hotel, lol! Me thinks Lindsay Lohan and other celebrities with addiction stay in rehab centers like these. Admitting yourself in a place as beautiful as this is definitely conducive to the healing process. So, if ever you’re looking for a drug or alcohol rehab in Malibu, look no farther – Cliffside Malibu has everything you need and more!

Live happier this 2008!

Most people think that if they have enough money to buy all they want, they’ll be happier with their life. But, that’s not the way it really goes in real life. You’ll find that at the end of the line, after you amassed your “wealth”, there is no one to share it with. Or worse, your body is not good enough for you to enjoy your money. Money won’t make you happier, it will make your life easier – and there’s a big difference between the two! If you want to live a happier life this 2008, focus on “body mind spirit” – be healthy, be smart, be in touch with your soul! Be healthy is easier said than done since you have to undo all the unhealthy habits you’ve been practicing for years. So –-
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Let’s just start with the mind-be smart thing! After graduating from college, most of us didn’t go for higher education anymore (masteral, short-course diplomas, etc). Often, we just deal with work stuff and sometimes, with repetition, our mind stagnates. For 2008, why not try to join programs aimed for self improvement or personal development? Who knows, you might gain a new talent and look at yourself with a new perspective. At the very least, your brain will be happy with the stimuli you gave it. Ergo, you’d be a happier person! =) As for the spirit, it doesn’t have to be religious. Do what your soul tells you to do. For me, meditation just right after waking up and going to sleep. It restores my spirit and helps me remember my place in the universe. WowZa!

gotta exercise!

One of my resolutions for the year 2008 is to exercise. I plan to do jumping rope in the morning and jogging in the afternoon. I really hope I'd stick to it. My metabolism is already slowing down (I'm 26!!!) and it doesn't help that my physical activity is just limited to house work and playing with our dogs. For most part of the day, I'm just sitting in front of the PC. Yikes! Anyway, here's an exercise survey from dNEERO. If you wanna earn extra money for going out on Valentines Day (gotta start early! lol), answer the survey I posted below, post it in your own blog and earn $$$! Simple! =) dNEERO totally rocks!

get hearing protection now!

Noise pollution is rising dramatically especially in urban cities. The source of most noise worldwide is transportation systems, principally motor vehicle noise, but also including aircraft noise and rail noise. Poor urban planning may give rise to noise pollution, since side-by-side industrial and residential buildings can results in noise pollution in the residential area. Other sources are office equipment, factory machinery, construction work, appliances, power tools, lighting hum and audio entertainment systems. For most of us, it has been a way of life. And this not good coz it will eventually lead to hearing loss and other health problems! According to studies, unwanted noise can damage physiological and psychological health. Noise pollution can cause annoyance and aggression, hypertension, high stress levels, tinnitus, hearing loss, and other harmful effects. Stress and hypertension are the leading causes of today’s health problems, whereas tinnitus can lead to forgetfulness, severe depression and at times panic attacks.
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Noise reduction , therefore, is a must! But that’s a very lofty ideal. Unless new vehicles and machines with quieter engines are made, it will be hard to reduce noise. So what’s your next best tactic? Use hearing protection aids! That way, you will be able to block the stressful noise pollution that surrounds your day-to-day life. You can use noise reduction headphones or ear plugs like the ones made by SONOMAX (pictured at right). For those interested, that’s a Sonomax's SonoCustom custom-fit, custom calibrated, expansion earpiece. It is a highly efficient gatekeeper between sounds and eardrums. With its multi-purpose capabilities, it can shut the gate on harmful sounds like workplace noise and can also welcome sounds like music and voices with perfect fidelity while eliminating the associated risk of noise induced hearing loss. It effectively blocks hazardous noise, yet still allows you to hear conversations and warning signals. Way kewl!!! =)

what is fibromyalgia?

Lately I've been having muscle pains for no reason (i.e. I did not engage in strenous activities, etc). With my doctor's mind going to overdrive, I began thinking of the "exotic disease" I might have. One of them is fibromyalgia. Actually it's not that exotic, lol! So, what is it? Read on to find out! And yes, this is the Health Matters post for January. The first for the year 2008!
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Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain in your muscles, ligaments and tendons, as well as fatigue and multiple tender points — places on your body where slight pressure causes pain. Fibromyalgia is more common in women than in men. Previously, fibromyalgia was known by other names such as fibrositis, chronic muscle pain syndrome, psychogenic rheumatism and tension myalgias.
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According to Mayo Clinic, although the intensity of your symptoms may vary, they'll probably never disappear completely. It may be reassuring to know that fibromyalgia isn't progressive or life-threatening. Treatments and self-care steps can improve fibromyalgia symptoms and your general health. For more information, consult your favorite doctor =)

Healthcare-related Training

Being a medical doctor (as yet to take the board exam) with 3 years clinical experience, my eyes have been opened to the fact that there other healthcare professionals out there. It’s not just doctors and nurses – there are medical assistants, techs in x-ray laboratory, occupational therapists and physical therapists, to name a few. From what I’ve heard, there are many licensed and practicing doctors who, when seeking greener pastures abroad, preferred to take the roles of medical assistants. Some people look down on what they thought of “demotion” on the part of the doctors. But that’s hardly true. According to a healthcare website, and I quote –

"At one time, doctors were thought of as the fabric of the medical institution, but things are changing with managed care as nurses and medical assistants are finally receiving rightful credit for their increasing role in patient care, performing examinations, administering therapy treatments, and managing insurance and billing records."

If you want to be a doctor but have no means to afford the expensive tuition fees (and can’t get a scholarship too), you can try and get into medical assistant training programs in medical assistant schools. This way, you are in the field you want and earn money to save up for your future medical school expenses IF and when you decide to enroll. Just search “medical assistant programs” in Google to see the choices available for you.

Mental Health

A couple of posts back, I shared my wish to pursue further studies online and that my course of choice (if ever) is Health Informatics (IT) coz it will complement my Medicine background and my love for computers =) As I browsed through Capella University’s site, I got interested in their online psychology degree. Psychology is another field I’m interested in, as well as Psychiatry. For me, the human mind is very elusive to all the experiments we’ve done to elucidate how it functions, how it works superbly. There is so much to discover about it, as well as how (and why) people interact the way they do. Mental health is a serious issue for me, and I think a course in Psychology and/or Psychiatry would do me good =)
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This blog post is based on information provided by Blogitive. For more info, please visit Blogitive.com guys! =)

health product trends for 2008!

Do you know what ProBiotics are? How about SuperFruits? If medical associations recommend products that contain these stuff, would you buy it? These are just few of the survey questions found below, hehe =) Scroll down for my answers. And remember, if you want to earn money, answer dNeero's surveys and post it in your blogs! Easy as 1-2-3 =)
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cleaning up!

WOW! Back to back HEALTH MATTERS posts, lol! As I noted in an old post, when I blog, it seems that I blog in pairs or groups. That is, the back to back posts are in the same vein. Previously my blog posts were all about travel then there was a spell where I blog about money matters on and on -- and then now, health matters! =) Anyway, for this post I'll talk about detoxifying our bodies. With the coming Christmas parties and all, it would be very easy to overeat and forget about our health (and our gastrointestinal tract to be specific). But fret not, after all the overeating, you can cleanse your insides and swear to eat healthy foods ever after. Lol!
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There are many colon cleanse formulas in the market now, and it's really up to you (or your doctor) on what to choose. These products help our body get rid of the accumulated waste and undigested matter in our intestines. Removing the wastes will prevent toxins from being absorbed by the body. Potential benefits include less bloating and an overall trimmer silhouette. I have been interested about body detox ever since I read about the high incidence of colon cancer in persons with low-fiber, high-meat diet. I told myself that I need to detoxify my body then start eating right. But so far I’ve done nothing, tsk! Think I'm gonna put this in my New Year's resolutions for 2008. How about you guys?

surgical way to lose weight

The hottest type of surgical procedure for losing weight right now is the Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding or LAGB / LAP-BAND® System procedure. Unlike other weight loss surgery procedures, the Lap Band surgery is less invasive. The surgeon just inserts an inflatable adjustable gastric band through small (laparoscopic) incisions and positions the band around the upper portion of your stomach. This creates a small stomach pouch and passageway into the lower part of the stomach. This will allow you to feel full and satisfied even though you’re actually eating less. It doesn’t require cutting, stapling or rerouting of the stomach or intestines thus, risks are lower and there are less serious long-term complications. The procedure can even be performed in an outpatient (day surgery) setting! That means recovery period is shorter than the other bariatric surgical procedures. If you are interested, please consult your doctor for further information. Here’s to living healthy and living lite! =)

Asbestos-caused cancer

If you work in an environment where you are exposed to asbestos articles or asbestos dust and fibre, chances are, you might get mesothelioma. From the title, you might have surmised that mesothelioma is a form of cancer. It is almost always caused by previous exposure to asbestos, and in this type of cancer, malignant cells develop in the mesothelium, a protective lining that covers most of the body's internal organs. The most common site where this develops is the pleura (outer lining of the lungs and chest cavity). It may also be seen in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity) or the pericardium (a sac that surrounds the heart). Unlike lung cancer, there is no association between mesothelioma and smoking. If you want more information about this dreaded cancer, you can visit MesotheliomaMedical.org

do I miss medical life?

I went on a medical hiatus since mid-June of this year, and it’s been five+ months already. People have been asking me, do I miss the medical life? Well, honestly, not really. I gave 9 years (5 years in formal training) of my life to medicine already. And I think it’s about high-time that the focus now would be myself, my creative side, my family, my home.. Still, I missed some things from the hospitals where I once roamed 24-36hours per day. In Davao Medical Center (DMC), a public hospital, I missed the vending machines! There’s no place in Davao that has vending machines that dispenses food and hot coffee except in the international airport. Not even the world-class Davao Doctor’s Hospital (DDH) has these vending machines. In DDH, I miss the super comfy sofas in their lobby. Shallow huh? Lol! In San Pedro Hospital (SPH), I miss their healthcare cart full of goodies! It contains high-end adhesive and IV tapes, gloves, masks, etc, etc. I really love SPH’s carts! It’s like SM – they got it all for you! Hahaha! =) And last, but not the least, I miss the camaraderie and our quarters in Brokenshire Hospital (BIHMI). I miss the residents and consultants too. They’ve been very good and very helpful during my one year stint there. I do hope to see you all soon docs!

fuzzy memory?

My parents are in their mid-40s now, and I can say (with passion, hehe) that they have been quite forgetful lately. My father, who has very good memory especially in terms of places and directions, has been forgetting important stuff which is quite surprising to me. Being in the medical field, I consequently asked myself, “is this an early sign of the dreaded Alzheimer’s Disease?” I argued with myself that this could be just age-related memory degeneration but you never quite know. The solution? To do a memory screening!
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Yes boys and girls, a screening is now available for those concerned about memory loss or experiencing warning signs of dementia; or for those who believe they are at risk due to a family history of Alzheimer's disease or a related illness. However, it must be noted that memory screening is NOT meant to diagnose Alzheimer's or other related disease. As what I’ve been always saying, consultation with your doctor is always the best. Anyway, for those interested with memory screening, there are FREE screenings (click HERE for the screening sites) all through out the month of November. Why? Coz it’s the National Memory Screening Day! NMSA is a collaborative effort spearheaded by the Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA) to promote early detection of Alzheimer's disease and related illnesses, and to encourage appropriate intervention. AFA also has tips for successful aging in their website and accepts donation to help the people already affected by Alzheimer’s Disease.
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lose weight by patch??

Another HEALTH MATTERS post guys! And it's still about losing weight, hehe! What can I say? It's a very pressing matter to us ladies ;-p A couple of posts back, I shared the latest surgical procedure in losing weight. Most of us, I'm sure, cannot afford the expenses that goes with it. So what do you say about a PATCH that allows you to lose weight? God-send right?? Lol! And it's actually in the market now! Presenting to you -- HOODIA patch!
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Hoodia is a succulent that looks like a cactus, and its taste has been said to be like a bitter-tasting cucumber. It grows in extremely hot, dry weather and is numerous in the Kalahari Desert region of South Africa. The San Bushmen of the Kalahari (one of the world’s oldest tribes) has been eating the Hoodia for thousands of years to stave off hunger during nomadic hunting trips. So how does it makes you lose weight? A chemical in the Hoodia sends signals to the brain that make the brain believe that the body is full, even when it is not. Molecule P57 is believed to be responsible for Hoodia's ability to suppress appetite, increase energy levels, and aid in weight loss. BBC News has reported that in the first human clinical trial conducted for Hoodia, the morbidly obese group given the succulent had reduced their calorie intake by 1000 a day! Just compute how much you'd lose in a week, month, year! o_O

lose weight by surgery!

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November's HEALTH MATTERS post is here! And it's all about losing weight -- the favorite topic of ladies all over the globe. Hehe! Anyway, the hottest type of surgical procedure for losing weight right now is the Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding or LAGB / LAP-BAND® System procedure. Unlike other bariatric procedures, the Tampa lap band surgery (pictured at left above) is not so invasive. The surgeon just inserts an inflatable adjustable gastric band through small (laparoscopic) incisions and positions the band around the upper portion of your stomach. This creates a small stomach pouch and passageway into the lower part of the stomach. This will allow you to feel full and satisfied even though you’re actually eating less. It doesn’t require cutting, stapling or rerouting of the stomach or intestines thus, risks are lower and there are less serious long-term complications. The procedure can even be performed in an outpatient (day surgery) setting! That means recovery period is shorter than the other bariatric surgical procedures. If you are interested, please consult your doctor for further information. Here’s to living healthy and living lite! =)

gotta exercise!

One thing I miss living in Makati was the exercise gym in the condo where we are staying. The basic fitness equipment were there like treadmills, exercise bike, bench presses, and other machines I don’t recognize (or use, hehe). I go to the gym with my parents early in the morning, and we take turns with the treadmill and bike. And since the gym’s aircon was damaged, we managed to sweat within 10 minutes of exercising. Hehe! Man, it felt great sweating all the bad stuff out! =)

safest surgical way to lose weight?

Wow, I can’t believe I’m doing back-to-back Health Matters post! I think it’s great though. Our health is one of the most important aspects of our lives that we should care for. Anyway, moving on… I’m sure you’ve heard about bariatric surgery as an effective means to lose weight. Google before & after images of people who underwent this procedure and prepare to be amazed! But before you get excited, this type of surgery isn’t for everyone. According to the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA), bariatric surgery is the term for surgical operations to help promote weight loss. These procedures are only considered for people with severe obesity (BMI of 30 or more) and for those wherein medical treatments, including lifestyle changes of healthful eating and regular exercise, have not been effective. Here’s an overview of what consists bariatric surgery:
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The hottest type of procedure right now is the Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding or LAGB / LAP-BAND® System procedure. Unlike other bariatric procedures, the laparoscopic gastric banding (pictured at left) is not so invasive. The surgeon just inserts an inflatable adjustable gastric band through small (laparoscopic) incisions and positions the band around the upper portion of your stomach. This creates a small stomach pouch and passageway into the lower part of the stomach. This will allow you to feel full and satisfied even though you’re actually eating less. It doesn’t require cutting, stapling or rerouting of the stomach or intestines thus, risks are lower and there are less serious long-term complications. The procedure can even be performed in an outpatient (day surgery) setting! That means recovery period is shorter than the other bariatric surgical procedures. If you are interested, please consult your doctor for further information. Here’s to living healthy and living lite! =)

ouch!

Went grocery shopping yesterday and even though I did not wear NEW shoes, my feet developed painful blisters! =( I didn’t even shop and walk for hours, I was only busy for about 45 minutes. Me thinks my feet is not used to wearing shoes anymore, lol! It’s coz I rarely go out of the house, and most of the time I just wear flipflops or go barefoot. So what did do with the painful feet blisters? Of course, I used a Foot Pain Relief product. The pain was eased but as they always say, prevention is better than cure. So the next time I wear shoes, I’d definitely use blister prevention patches. Hopefully it will work!

Malibu!

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Looks beautiful and relaxing huh? That’s in Malibu baby! But that ain’t a resort or a luxury hotel. Would you believe that it’s a drug rehabilitation center?? Yes, boys and girls, that’s a rehab center named Cliffside Malibu. The center consists of a residential drug and alcohol rehab hubs, and an extended care facility for adults suffering from alcoholism, drug addiction, eating disorders, depression, and other co-occurring disorders. Cliffside Malibu offers an individualized clinical program for each patient, and the program includes individual therapy, cognitive-behavioral groups, process groups, and a family program. Along with these clinical activities, patients are also given gourmet meals, laundry service, transportation, scheduling of appointments, Internet access and special requests (where appropriate). Wow! A rehab center that sounds more and more like a hotel, lol! Me thinks Lindsay Lohan and other celebrities with addiction stay in rehab centers like these. Admitting yourself in a place as beautiful as this is definitely conducive to the healing process. So, if ever you’re looking for a drug or  alcohol rehab in Malibu, look no farther – Cliffside Malibu has everything you need and more. If you’re interested (or knows someone who might be), give them a call at this number: 1-800-501-1988. God bless and here’s to a future free of drugs and alcohol!

stress incontinence

For the readers adverse to reading names of sexual organs, you can stop reading now. This post is a medical one that involves women genitalia.
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When I was rotating in OBGyne (I’m a medical doctor, as yet unlicensed), I have seen several women who had stress incontinence. This type on incontinence is defined as an involuntary loss of urine that occurs during physical activity, such as coughing, sneezing, laughing, or exercise. I noticed that the condition is most prevalent in women with multiple pregnancies and vaginal childbirths. Surely, it has something to do with the fact that in multigravid women, the elastic and connective tissues that support her pelvic area have gone lax due to the stresses brought about by the many pregnancies. According to medical literature, stress incontinence is the most common form of urinary incontinence in women, and is a result of weakened pelvic muscles that support the bladder and urethra or because of malfunction of the urethral sphincter.
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Treatment for stress incontinence involves four major categories: behavioral changes, pelvic floor muscle training, medication, and surgery.  Behavioral changes involve decreasing how many fluids you drink, if you drink an excessive amount during the day.  Pelvic muscle training exercises (called Kegel exercises) may help control the leakage of urine. These exercises improve the strength and function of the urethral sphincter.  Meds, on the other hand, are given to patients with mild to moderate incontinence. Meds prescribed are antimuscarinic drugs that block bladder and alpha-adrenergic agonist drugs help increase sphincter strength and improve symptoms in about 50% of patients. As for surgery, there are many different types but mostly involves vaginal surgery repair. The first choice of surgical treatment usually recommended is the SLING procedure which has 80-90% cure rate for stress incontinence.

attention athletes!

Ey guys! I stumbled on Numetrex.com, a website that makes and sells COOL heart rate monitors. How cool? The monitor is embedded on your bra or racer tank top or shirt for men! The clothes are made with special sensing fibers that knit directly into the fabric to monitor heart rate. A tiny transmitter (still in the clothing) sends data to a compatible monitoring device, and voila! You can see your heart rate while you’re jogging, doing cardio exercises, etc. I watched their video on how their products work and I must say, I’m impressed! You can view the video below:

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For those who are non-athletes, you might be wondering why should one monitor his heart rate? Aside from being one of the VITAL signs of the body that doctors and medical personnel routinely measure, your heart rate can tell you whether you are exercising just right. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, adults should exercise at moderate intensity (50–70 percent of maximum heart rate) for at least 30 minutes five days a week, or at a vigorous intensity (70–85 percent of maximum heart rate) for 20 minutes three days a week. Would you know if you’re exercising at moderate or vigorous intensity if you won’t monitor your heart rate? Of course not! Also, through heart rate training, you would have an “early warning signal” if your heart rate suddenly changes during exercise. For more reasons why you should wear a heart rate monitor, please go here.
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addicted

When we hear addiction, the first thing that comes to our mind is illegal drugs addiction, i.e. cocaine and other dangerous stuff like it. But from a medical point of view, there are many different kinds of addiction, and DRUG addiction is just one of them. And among drug addictions, the dependent use of illegal drugs is just a small percent of the overall problem. Most drug addictions involve the use of legal (and safe if used right) drugs. The most common of which is painkiller addiction. If you’re one of the people who experienced a chronic painful illness, and have yet to be weaned from painkiller use, chances are you’re addicted to it. If you feel that you cannot function without first taking your painkillers, with or without feeling any pain, then most likely you’re addicted.
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Persons addicted to painkillers seek to numb their depressing feelings, and whatever it is they do not want to feel. As you all know, taking painkillers feels like as if you’re floating up in heaven with no care in the world. No problems to think about and such. It’s no doubt a wonderful feeling but that’s not how you live life at all. If you know someone who is addicted to painkillers, have them consult with a doctor asap or bring them to the nearest drug rehab before the addiction will get any worse.

electronic medical records

Still another health-related post guys! I’m through with money matters and house & home stuff for now. Lol! Anyway, we all know that almost all industries are now going digital. And it seems that the medical sector is lagging behind. Sure, there are already many big hospitals going automated with patient records stored electronically. But how about the small hospitals, public institutions and private clinics, should they go digital and electronic too? The answer’s a big YES!
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With electronic medical records or EMR software, you can create and maintain complete medical records with minimal effort while it streamlines your workflow, controls utilization, and manages critical data related to patient care outcomes. It can even create documents and letters, manage prescriptions (ePrescribing) and clinical images, and provide patient education. If you’re interested, you can go visit VirMedice.com – they have all the support needed to implement, train and develop the medical records management software to your specific needs.

time for health matters!

When I was still working in a private hospital, I’d often come across patients who are relatively well-off but due to the chronic course of their disease, they eventually had a hard time paying off hospital bills. The problem? They didn’t have any insurance, HEALTH or hospital insurance for that matter. How about you, do you have one? If you still don’t have one, better check out Kaiser Permanente Health Insurance Plans. They offer quality medical insurance coverage at affordable prices, and with an added focus on preventive medicine, nutrition, and exercise. As every doctor, their goal is to get you well, keep you well, and better your health in the long run. For health insurance quotes (how much you’d pay), check Kaiser online <-- here.

looking for the best anti-hairloss product?

No need to look far! According to hair loss product users, Provillus has been the most effective one they’ve used. A family member of mine (I won’t say who, you might tease him of his hair loss problem, hehe) has used this in the past with excellent results. His hair at the above his neck base grew back and never fell in clumps again. So, why do most men go bald? According to science, hair loss has both genetic and hormonal causes. Androgenetic alopecia or "male pattern hair loss" is implicated in 95% of hair loss cases in men. And the one responsible is a hormone byproduct called dihydrotestostrone or DHT. The more DHT that gets put into your body, the more your hair follicles become thinner and finer until the hair is permanently lost. The solution? Block DHT, and that’s what provillus does. According to its website, Provillus has an excellent blend of nourishing nutrients that also block the DHT in the body. The formula prevents hair loss and promotes regrowth of hair follicles. Hmm, sounds good. But, as I often advise, consult with your doctor first BEFORE trying new medical related products. Okay??

wanna have hairless smooth skin?

We women are a vain species (actually men nowadays are even more vain!). We always look for ways to constantly improve ourselves, to make our bodies and faces look the best they could be. Nothing really wrong with that especially if you have the money to burn, lol! When I was rotating in Dermatology a few months back, I noticed that the most popular services among the patients were whitening treatments and laser hair removal. Name a body part and the patient would want to whiten it and make it hairless. Dermatology is very lucrative I tell you! Hehe! Anyway if you’re in Phoenix and nearby areas, and you want to improve yourself, you can check out Southwest Vein & Laser Institute and Medical Spa in 16601 North 40th Street, Suite 226, Phoenix, Arizona 85302. Aside from aesthetic surgeries and services, the institute also specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of venous disease.

medical stuff

I don’t know why it is so bloody hard to find a piece of a much needed medical equipment in this city of ours! Years ago, we were hard-pressed to buy a wheelchair for my grandfather, a stroke victim. A bit recently, nebulizer machines were out of stock. And now, I’m trying to find a Carpal Tunnel computer glove to no avail. No, I don’t have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, YET. Lol! I was just trying to be ready in case the disease strikes me. Typing is a huge part of my online life and it would certainly diminish my online experience if I can’t type. So, just in case Carpal Tunnel Syndrome strikes me, at least I have a computer glove that will enable me to type much earlier than the usual victims of the syndrome with lesser pain. Now if only I could find it in our city! Online, I had no problems finding the special gloves. AllegroMedical.com has it in stock as well as several other equipment. In fact, they have over 55,000 products under 50 categories and hundreds of sub-categories! o_0 You can shop by Category in their site, or shop by Brand and by Condition (disease). They even have RSS feed and a FREE eCatalog that offers limited time specials and discounts to anyone who signs up. Of course I signed up, I’m all for freebies! Lol! Wanna sign up too? =)

October is...

...Breast Cancer Awareness Month. So, to all bloggers out there, THINK PINK! =) Our family is lucky coz we have no history of breast cancer (so far). We have breast lumps but histopath results have all revealed benign changes. Other wives, mothers and sisters are not so lucky. The sad thing is that Breast Cancer is preventable and it is curable if caught early. So guys, let's amplify the awareness campaign! Who knows, the life (and breasts) you save might be your own.
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what is labiaplasty?

For the readers adverse to reading names of sexual organs, you can stop reading now. This post is a medical one that involves women genitalia.
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Nearly a week ago, I blogged about labiaplasty. Many were curious what exactly is labiaplasty. In the simplest terms, it is labia reduction surgery. It can either be a labia majora reduction surgery or a labia minora. So why should women undergo reduction surgery of her labia? We all know that cosmetic surgery is one of the most lucrative business there is, people being vain or wanting to improve their self-esteem by cosmesis. Labiaplasty can be likened to it. According to LVRAtlanta.com -- "Realizing one's genital image is part of one's body image, it is easy to understand how many women might feel sexually inhibited if they are not comfortable with appearance of their vagina. A survey (Ackard,2000) of 3,627 women found that women with positive body images reported more sexual activity, initiation of sexual activity, orgasm, sex with lights on, and greater comfort undressing in front of their partners, trying new sexual behaviors and  pleasing their partner."
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I guess the quote above explains very well the need of other women to have labiaplasty. If you need more information about it, you can visit the website of Laser Vaginal Rejuvenation Institute of Atlanta whose doctors have since performed labia reduction surgery and laser vaginal rejuvenation surgery in 46 states and 23 countries. A word of warning though, there are graphic images of the female sex organ in the said website. 

medical mission

Attention all doctors! If you're free this coming Friday (from 1-5pm), please join us with Mom's Radio for a medical mission in Toril. Wyeth will sponsor the medicines; all we need are more doctors to serve the people in the community. Will post more details soon. Hope to see you all there! =)

Bulimia Nervosa

Hi guys! This will be my second post about health and food. My first post was ages ago, in the month of July, I think. Hehe! Check it under the Health Matters category. Anyway, there are lots of women out there who love to eat but are prevented by eating disorders to enjoy their food like normal people do. You might have heard of binge eating wherein the woman eats a lot of her favorite food then intentionally throws it all up after. The keyword there is "intentional", and this condition is known as bulimia nervosa.
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In medical terms, bulimia (as it is commonly called) is a psychological condition in which the subject engages in recurrent binge eating followed by intentional purging (via vomiting, inappropriate use of laxatives, diuretics, enemas, and/or excessive physical exercise). There is also a non-purging type of bulimia but it is very rarely found. If you know someone with the symptoms above, please refer them to medical authorities. You might be saving a life. Yes, bulimia is that serious, this is a disease that should be treated by medical means. If you’re in New York or its nearby areas, you can check out Avalon Centers which offers a licensed partial hospitalization program for adolescents (14 and older) and adults diagnosed with eating disorders. Supportive outpatient services are also available, if you opt not to admit the patient.

labia reconstruction

For the readers adverse to reading names of sexual organs, you can stop reading now. This post is a medical one that involves women genitalia.
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When I was rotating in OBGyne (I’m a medical doctor, as yet unlicensed), I have assisted in the repair of a woman’s vaginal opening with some labial reconstruction. According to the surgeon I worked with, these types of surgeries are often undergone by women whose sex organs were “damaged” during childbirth, or aging. They often want to get their organs restored to pre-childbirth times. Some do it for cosmetic reasons, while some do it to please their partners.
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Anyway, I became curious about the numerous procedures that can be done to help these women. One procedure I found out was laser labiaplasty. I also found out about Laser Vaginal Rejuvenation Institute of Atlanta whose doctors have since performed labia reduction surgery and laser vaginal rejuvenation surgery in 46 states and 23 countries. If you’re interested, go visit their website. A word of warning though, there are lots of graphic images of the female sex organs in the said website.

air ambulance in davao?

I’m a medical doctor by education but a writer by profession. Hahaha! Joking on the writing profession portion =) Anyway, I’m on hiatus from the medical field right now but I keep myself updated with what’s happening in the world of medicine and anything related to it. Recently I saw a terrible accident on TV wherein 2 buses fell off a bridge and into the river. Scores of people were injured and a few died. I saw 911 vehicles rushing into the scene and I thought to myself, when will our city have a reliable 24 hour air ambulance? Sure, we have lots of land-bound ambulances but during rush hour, instead of responding within 5 minutes to a reported accident, these ambulances arrive much later. It’s sad to think that in cases of mass accidents, so many lives could be saved if there are air ambulances, unhampered by traffic. Maybe it’s about time to broach this idea to our city’s 911. Paging Mayor Duterte! Hehe! =)

detoxify your body!

It’s funny coz about five days ago one of my close friends (the one who arrived from Chicago) asked me about colon cleansing while we were eating in a European cafe. I told her to search about it in the internet or go to Tagaytay coz there’s a spa in that place which specializes in detoxifying the body. Four days later I stumbled upon Dual-Action Cleanse on the internet.
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Dual-Action Cleanse is a colon cleansing formula that helps our body get rid of the accumulated waste and undigested matter in our colon. Removing the wastes will prevent toxins from being absorbed by the body. Potential benefits include less bloating and an overall trimmer silhouette. I have been interested about body detox ever since I read about the high incidence of colon cancer in persons with low-fiber, high-meat diet. I told myself that I need to detoxify my body then start eating right. But so far I’ve done nothing, hehe! I’m the great procastinator, but maybe Dual-Action Cleanse can jumpstart my goal to have a healthy life. We’ll see soon enough so stay tuned!

i'm going on a diet! lol

My lifestyle recently underwent a very drastic change. For the past two years, I have been going on 24-hour hospital duties that are sometimes so hectic and busy. Often, I’m unable to eat on time and I lack sleep. Coupled with a very active lifestyle, my weight just hovers the below normal range. I may look thin to some but my body mass index or bmi is still within normal limits. If you wanna check your own bmi, here’s a free bmi calculator for you.
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Anyway, last June I decided to go on hiatus from the medical field. So now, for the past two months, I’ve been a bum at home. No more 24-hour duties, no more running around the hospital hallways, no more missed meals and sleep deprivation. My life has become sedentary, save for gardening activities and doing household chores. I just bet my basal metabolic rate or bmr has decreased, which is the starting point in gaining weight. Wahh, that’d be nightmare!!! If you’re as health conscious as me, you can check your bmr with this free bmr calculator. Hope your bmr is way better than mine, hehe! :p
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Aside from my life going sedentary, yummy food is available to me 24/7! Goodness! My low bmr and increased food intake will definitely equal to weight gain, huhu! =( I don’t wanna gain weight coz it won’t match my petite figure. Thus, starting today, I promise to watch what I eat and count the calories. And of course, I promise to be active again. No more sitting in front the pc for hours. Gotta move baby! =) The pics above show my lunch for today -- spiced ham sandwich with lettuce. HEALTHY!!!

planning to have cosmetic surgery?

At our age and time, they say it’s a sin if you will be ugly. What with cosmetic surgery and other beauty solutions you can avail to better your looks. But often, money is the problem. If you’re one of the many planning to have cosmetic surgery but don’t have a budget for it yet, I suggest you visit MYA Cosmetic Surgery UK because they offer FREE Cosmetic Surgery Advice. Yep, you read that right, FREE! And don’t we love freebies?? =) An alternative would be to call this number for FREE consultation: 08000-10-14-10. MYA has been around for quite awhile and they are quite popular in UK. It was started by John Ryan, one of the pioneers in cosmetic surgery, and he brought some of the most experienced and skilled surgeons in the world to form MYA, which means Make Yourself Amazing. I love it! Lol! =) So what are waiting for? Head to the site and avail their FREE Cosmetic Surgery Advice!
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P.S. This is a sponsored post courtesy of PayPerPost.

healthy FOODbits

 
I am an avid reader of everything! From classic obscure stuff (mimsy were the borgroves!) to popular fiction (Harry Potter!!!), from medical books to cookbooks and architecture manuals, from sexy Cosmolitan and FHM to mainstream Reader’s Digest and Time Magazine. Comics, food labels, graphic novels-- name it and I most likely have read it; barring perhaps old poems that are not about love, hehe! Seriously, since the start of the year, I have read across a lot of stuff which have influenced my life for the past 6 months. Medical updates and healthy living tidbits are the most common ones I applied on my life. Others are about love and how to deal effectively with other people. In this, the 10-year anniv mag of Cosmo is a must-have!!! I have learned so much from their thickest issue ever! =) Anyway since this is a food blog, what I’d share is of course related to food. Most of these were new to me so I’d guess they might be new to you too. Read on and be enlightened!

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We have been taught from the beginning that canned goods are bad for us due to a lot of preservatives. But did you know that canned stuff can be good for you? According to the British Nutrition Foundation, the following canned goods can boost your diet with essential nutrients--

1. Canned apricots and gooseberries provide more      vitamin C than their fresh counterparts.
2. Tinned and canned tomatoes are composed of tomatoes that have been cooked in small amounts of oil and fat, and our body absorbs the lycopene better this way. Lycopene is an antioxidant found in tomatoes.
3. Canned chickpeas in water – just 5 tablespoons of this will provide 6 grams of your recommended daily fibre intake of 18 grams. That’s already 1/3! Nice! However I haven’t found this in the supermarkets here in Davao. Tsk! The pix at right shows canned chickpeas. Make sure you wash the peas thoroughly before eating or cooking.

 

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Filipinos are fond of eating rice and it is rare to see bread in the dining table except during breakfast (which is incomplete without pandesal!). But more and more Filipinos are shifting to bread thinking it is healthier. But not all bread is created equal. If you are seeking for a healthy loaf, check the label of the bread for:

1. The word “whole” before the first mention of grain of flour in the ingredient list. Our family usually buys the “whole wheat” variety which adds a lot of fiber to our diet and texture for cooking purposes. Click the pix for more info.
2. Two grams of fiber per slice – fiber is      the magic word if you wanna go healthy.
3. Added seeds and nuts – even though the fat and calorie content will increase, seeds and nuts provide phytochemicals (and proteins to keep you fuller!) which help fight disease.

Source: British Dietetic Association

 

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Our grandmothers are known to use “vetsin” in most of their dishes. They swear it makes the food tastier, and this is backed by a Japansese claim that the vetsin taste is the 5th basic one and is called “umame”. But then it is the Japanese company Ajinomoto that made vetsin use ubiquitious so I can’t really trust the Japanese on the umame claim, can I? Hehe! Vetsin is more popularly known as MSG (monosodium glutamate) to the younger generations who grew up influenced by media that MSG = cancer. They seem loathe to use vetsin in cooking but you see them happily munching on junkfoods which is full of MSG and other preservatives. Others proudly claim they only buy food labeled “no MSG”. Unfortunately for them, foods stating “no MSG” may contain another flavour enhancer known as the “new MSG” – disodium 5’-ribonucleotides 635. When I first read about this, I was shocked as I’m one of the people who avoid MSG as much as I can. I’m not eating the old-MSG but was I was pigging out on the new-MSG?? Oh God, the thought of it! Ignorance is truly a bliss! Now I’m wondering what could this new-MSG cause in the long-term. Cancer?? Spare me! As a consequence, I’m reading food labels a lot more closely than ever before. No MSG? Still not safe! READ MORE CLOSELY. And google stuff you find suspicious. Let the new era of food-enhancer paranoia begin!