News Feature: Celebrating World Health Day
By Dines Garcia
BUTUAN CITY, Apr. 17 (PIA) -- Every year on
April 7, World Health Day commemorates the founding anniversary of the World
Health Organization (WHO) in 1948. A theme is selected yearly to better give
emphasis on a certain area of public health in the world. This year, the theme
is High Blood Pressure.
About one in 10 people in their 20s and 30s to
five in every 10 people in their 50s or one in every three adults have high
blood pressure worldwide(WHO).
Hypertension – the rise in blood pressure
increases the risk of developing heart attacks, strokes and kidney failure.
Measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg), blood
pressure is recorded in two numbers, oftentimes one on top of another.
These two numbers represent the systolic blood
pressure, or the highest pressure in a blood vessel, which occurs when the
heart contracts, and the diastolic blood pressure of the lowest pressure in a
blood vessel that occurs between heartbeats when the heart muscle relaxes.
The normal adult blood pressure is defined as a
systolic blood pressure of 120 mmHg and a diastolic blood pressure of 80 mmHg.
A normal blood pressure level is vital for the
efficient functioning of vital body organs such as the heart, the brain, and
the kidneys for overall health and well-being. An elevation from the normal
blood pressure or a systolic blood pressure equal to or greater than 140 mmHg
and/or a diastolic blood pressure equal to or greater than 90 mmHg.
High blood pressure may lead to the enlargement
of the heart, heart attack and, eventually, heart failure. Under high pressure,
the blood vessels may eventually develop bulges and weak spots making them more
likely to burst or clog up. Small blood vessels inside major body organs are
more likely to get affected such as the brain, the heart and the kidneys. High
blood pressure may cause a stroke, kidney failure, blindness or cognitive
impairment.
“Tobacco use contributes to the development of
high blood pressure. Some of the 7,000 chemicals in tobacco damage the walls of
your arteries causing them to narrow, contributing to the risk of developing
high blood pressure,” said Delma Legaspi, during the training on smoking
cessation held at Luciana Convention Center, Butuan City. Graced by representatives
from various municipalities and cities in the Caraga region, the training was
conducted to better strengthen the fight against tobacco use though the
establishment of Smoking Cessation Clinics throughout the region.
High blood pressure is preventable as well as
treatable. Management of high blood pressure includes adaptation of healthy
behaviors, regular monitoring of blood pressure if possible, at home, checking
of blood sugar, cholesterol and urine albumin levels, cardiovascular risk
assessment, regular eyesight check-ups and following doctors as well as other
health professionals’ advice. If blood pressure – lowering agents are
prescribed by the doctor, take them regularly as advised.
Certain behaviors decrease the likelihood of
developing high blood pressure.
A healthy lifestyle with emphasis on dietary
precautions and balance nutrition is one of the key means of preventing high
blood pressure.
A well-balanced diet which includes five
servings of fruits and vegetables daily and minimizing the intake of saturated
fat and food high in cholesterol is highly advised.
Reducing salt intake to less than five grams per
day from all sources as well as avoiding the harmful use of alcohol, the cessation
of tobacco use, the effective management of stress and routine physical
activity of at least 30 minutes per day is recommended for a healthier whole
being.
DOH – CHD Caraga Director, Dr. Ariel I.
Valencia, as an advocate of healthy lifestyle practices, emphasized to all,
especially to the CHD Staff, sports activities as a means of maintaining an
active lifestyle. (DOH-CHD 13/PIA-Caraga)
Feature: Tips to enjoy summer
By Dines Garcia
It’s summer once more. March to May is
highlighted by fiestas and vacation time. To make the best out of the summer
time, it would be best to keep your body healthy and active.
Summer time is also the peak season for some
spoilers, such as food poisoning, diarrhea, heat-associated ailments and
recreation-associated injuries, thus the public is cautioned on the following:
1) food and water-borne diseases like typhoid, cholera, hepatitis A, food
poisoning, and other diarrheas; 2) sore eyes; 3) measles; 4) mosquito-borne
diseases such as dengue and malaria, and other conditions such as sunburn and
prickly heat.
When preparing food, handlers are advised to
wash their hands before and after food preparation. Food should be cooked
properly. Avoid leftover food by consuming it immediately after cooking. This
reduces the risk of food poisoning caused by bacteria.
Leftover food should be refrigerated, to
decrease the likelihood of bacterial colonization, and reheated before
consumption. If sick, avoid preparing food for others as a precautionary
measure.
Ensure that your drinking water is potable and
safe for consumption. If doubtful of its quality, boil drinking water for at
least two minutes. Avoid drinking water or any beverage if you are doubtful of
its quality, if in doubt, consider it unsafe. Lastly, wash and peel fruits and
vegetables before eating. And always, wash your hands before and after eating.
When spending time on the beach, avoid staying
under the sun with scanty/skimpy clothes for more than 3 hours as this
predisposes you to sunburn, heat exhaustion and the worst, heat stroke. Should
you want a tan, hydrate yourself by drinking lots of fluids as to avoid
dehydration. When spending the day at the beach with your family and kids,
always have an adult, who is not under the influence of alcohol, with the
children. Never let children swim by themselves unsupervised.
Check your vehicles before embarking on a trip.
Check spare tires, brakes, and other essentials before leaving home. If your
vehicle is unsafe, you are, too. Bring extra supplies and repair kits in the
event of a car breakdown. Never drive if you are under the influence of
alcohol, the safety of your passengers depends on you.
“Summer time is one of the best times of the
year to spend with your family. Spend a healthy and illness-free vacation with
your family by practicing precautionary measures to keep you active and on the
go,” advised Dr. Ariel I. Valencia, Director, DOH – CHD Caraga. (DOH-CHD
13/PIA-Caraga)
Tagalog news: Mga produkto mula sa Pilipinas
namayagpag sa Natural and Organic Expo sa London
Ni David M. Suyao
AGUSAN DEL SUR, Abril 17 (PIA) -- Matagumpay na
naging bahagi ng 2013 Natural & Organic Products Europe expo ang Pilipinas.
Ito ang nangungunang pagtatanghal ng mga natural
at organikong produkto tulad ng pagkain, produktong pangkalusugan at
pampaganda, sa London.
Libu-libo ang bumisita sa itinanghal ng
Pilipinas sa at marami ang naitalang order para sa maraming bagay na naka
eksibit sa buong panahon ng pagtatanghal mula Abril 7–8, 2013.
Kabilang sa mga sumaling nagsipagtanghal mula sa
Pilipinas ay ang Castillejos Agri- Farms, Echostore, Flora Integrated Farms,
Marigold Manufacturing Corporation Tropicana Food Products at Refmad-V
Enterprise.
Kasama sa mga ibinida ng Pilipinas ay mga
produktong mula sa niyog (sabaw ng niyog, langis mula sa niyog, asukal,
desiccated coconut at iba pa), kape, tsaa, cocoa, muscovado, bigas, katas ng
mga prutas, sawsawan, jams and preserves, preskong prutas at pineapple fiber.
Ang Ambassador ng Pilipinas sa United Kingdom na
si Enrique Manalo ay naroon rin para batiin ang mga nagsidalo at mga bumisita.
Ang pagsali ng Pilipinas sa pagtatanghal ay
proyekto ng Department of Agriculture sa pakikipag-ugnayan sa Philippine Trade
and Investment Center (PTIC) sa London at sa Philippine Embassy sa London.
(RER/DMS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
Cebuano News: Aquino administration misimpatiya
ngadto sa mga biktima sa Boston bombing
Ni Susil D. Ragas
SURIGAO CITY, Abril 17 (PIA) -- Si Presidente
Aquino kagahapon mihatag sa iyang mga pag-ampo ngadto sa mga biktima sa duha ka
mga pagpamomba atol sa Boston Marathon ug iyang gikondinar ang mga nagpaluyo sa
maong pagpamomba nga usa unta ka malinawon nga kalihukan sa paugnat sa kusog.
Sumala ni Deputy Presidential Spokesperson
Abigail Valte sa iyang pamahayag nga ang administrasyon miduyog sa
international community sa paghatag sa ilang simpatiya ngadto sa mga nawad-an
og mga minahal sa kinabuhi sa maong pagpamomba sa Boston Marathon.
Sumala pa ni Valte nga ang Boston Marathon usa
ka tinuig nga selebrasyon sa tawhanong diwa sa endurance, friendly competition,
ug community celebration.
Dugang pa niya nga ilang gikondinar kadtong
nanamastamas sa maong kalihukan nga maoy hinungdan sa pagkalas sa mga kinabuhi
nga naagoman sa syudad sa Boston ug sa tibook Estados Unidos.
Matud pa ni Valte nga ang Presidente personal
nga mipaabot sa iyang mensahe pahasubo, ug pakighusa sa mga katawhan sa Boston,
diin maoy nahimong dalangpanan niya ug ang iyang pamilya atol sa Martial Law.
(PIA-Surigao del Norte)
