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Holistic appreciation and treatment of the physical systems of the body

Holistic appreciation, care and treatment of physical, mental, emotional, psychological, psychic and spiritual health

Holistic appreciation, study and application of various modalities of health care and of medicine

Holistic appreciation of synergies among various roles of healers and care-givers in an effort centered on empowered patients.

  1. Total Human Development and Harmony Through Synergism

  2. Holistic Health Care and Medicine

  3. Deep Ecology and Harmony with Nature 

  4. Sense of History and Sense of Mission

  5. Civics and Democratic Governance

  6. Culture as Community Creativity

  7. Light-Seeking and Light-Sharing Education

  8. Gender Sensitivity, Equality & Harmony

  9. Reconstructive/Restor-ative Justice

10. Associative Economics, Social Capital and Sustainable Development

11. Synergetic Leadership and Organizations

12. Appropriate/Adaptive Technology

13. Mutual Enrichment of Families and Friendships

14. Human Dignity and Human Harmony: Human Rights and Peace

15. Aesthetics Without Boundaries: 'Art from the Heart'   

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SPECIAL SERIES:

LATEST: 

Hypertension

Be guided about HYPERTENSION because this is one of the most common worldwide diseases afflicting humans. Also, because of the associated morbidity and mortality and the cost to society, hypertension is an important public health challenge.

Hypertension or High Blood Pressure is a common condition in which the force of the blood against your artery walls is high enough that it may eventually cause health problems. The heart creates its pressure as it pumps blood. The higher the value is called the systolic blood pressure and the lower value is the diastolic blood pressure. Systolic BP is the blood pressure in the arteries when the heart is pumping blood. Diastolic BP is the blood pressure in the arteries when the heart is at rest, between beats.

NOTE: It is important to remember that high BP is a disease not of the heart but of the arteries. Normally, BP drops when you sleep and rises when you subjected to stress, startled by a loud noise, threatened, dieting or exercising.

Normal blood pressure. Your blood pressure is normal if it's below 120/80 mm Hg. However, some doctors recommend 115/75 mm Hg as a better goal. Once blood pressure rises above 115/75 mm Hg, the risk of cardiovascular disease begins to increase. 

SYMPTOMS & COMPLICATIONS

• Symptoms: Usually none, until complications arise
• Few people with early-stage high blood pressure may have dull headaches, dizzy spells or a few more nosebleeds than normal, these signs and symptoms typically don't occur until high blood pressure has reached a severe - even - life-threatening - stage.
• Complications: Stroke, Heart attack, Heart Failure & Kidney Failure

Causes of Hypertension are unknown in about 90% of the cases. However, there are factors that increase the risk of Hypertension:

• Age - Through early middle age, high blood pressure is more common in men. Women are more likely to develop high blood pressure after menopause.
• Race and Heredity - High blood pressure is particularly common among blacks, often developing at an earlier age than it does in whites.
• Smoking. Not only does smoking or chewing tobacco immediately raise your blood pressure temporarily, but the chemicals in tobacco can damage the lining of your artery walls. This can cause your arteries to narrow, increasing your blood pressure. Secondhand smoke can also increase your blood pressure.
• Excessive alcohol / salt intake, obesity, lack of exercise and Stress.
• Adrenal disorders, congenital heart defects and Certain chronic conditions. Certain chronic conditions also may increase your risk of high blood pressure, including high cholesterol, diabetes, kidney disease and sleep apnea
• Sometimes pregnancy contributes to high blood pressure, as well. (Pre-eclampsia)

Although high blood pressure is most common in adults, children may be at risk, too. For some children, high blood pressure is caused by problems with the kidneys or heart. But for a growing number of kids, poor lifestyle habits — such as an unhealthy diet and lack of exercise - contribute to high blood pressure.

WHAT TO DO

Lifestyle changes can help you control and prevent high blood pressure — even if you're taking blood pressure medication. Here's what you can do:

• Eat healthy foods. Eat less saturated fat and total fat. Decrease the salt in your diet -you can reduce the amount of salt you eat by putting down the saltshaker,
• Maintain a healthy weight and increase physical activity. Strive for at least 30 minutes of physical activity a day.
• Limit alcohol and don’t smoke.
• Manage stress. Reduce stress as much as possible. Practice healthy coping techniques, such as muscle relaxation and deep breathing. Getting plenty of sleep can help, too. Practice relaxation or slow, deep breathing. Practice taking deep, slow breaths to help relax
• Monitor your blood pressure at home. Home blood pressure monitoring can help you keep closer tabs on your blood pressure, show if medication is working, and even alert you and your doctor to potential complications. If your blood pressure is under control, you may be able to make fewer visits to your doctor if you monitor your blood pressure at home.

Sticking to lifestyle changes can be difficult — especially if you don't see or feel any symptoms of high blood pressure. If you need motivation, remember the risks associated with uncontrolled high blood pressure. It may help to enlist the support of your family and friends as well.

PREVENTION

 “The best prevention against the complications of uncontrolled HYPERTENSION is to know your blood pressure!”   

Prepared by: Amerey D. Teñoso RN  

Sources: MayoClinic.com, Health Guide Philippines

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Save Your Eyes, Save Your Sight

Most people take their eyesight for granted; let us not wait until our eyes are threatened. Let us join in these efforts to save our eyesight and SEE a better future for Filipinos!

“August 2011 has been declared by the Department of Health and the National Committee for Sight Protection as Sight Saving Month.

According to the WHO, About 284 million people are visually impaired worldwide: 39 million are blind and 245 have low vision, i.e. have moderate to severe visual impairment and about 90% of the world's visually impaired live in developing countries. The good news is 80% of all visual impairment can be avoided or cured. 

Vision varies from one person to another and understanding how some of us see differently and how the eyes change over time, will help protect your vision:

• Normal Vision -  “20/20” Vision
• Near Sighted / Myopia - able to see close objects clearly
• Far Sighted / Hyperopia – distant objects are seen clearly
• Astigmatism – loss of ability to focus; accompany either of nearsighted or farsighted conditions.
• Age-related blurring / Presbyopia – usually noticeable in people 40 y/o and above
• Lazy Eyes / Amblyopia – most common cause of visual impairment on children

Globally the major causes of visual impairment are:

Ø      uncorrected refractive errors (myopia- nearsighted; able to see close objects clearly but distant objects appear blurred; hyperopia- farsighted, distant objects are clearer; or astigmatism- inability of the eye to focus due to loss of curvature of the cornea), = 43%

Ø      cataract, (lens of the eye turns opaque) = 33%

Ø      glaucoma,(results from a damaged optic nerve often associated with increase pressure in the fluid of the eye) = 2%.

As in any disease condition, early detection and treatment are the keys to prevention of visual loss. Following these 3 simple steps will hopefully contribute to the decrease in incidence of blindness particularly among Filipinos,

1.      Get regular eye examinations - having your eyes checked by an eye professional will not only detect and treat vision loss but will also be helpful in detecting other conditions like diabetes and hypertension when no other symptoms are present.

2.      Eat a healthy diet - following our mother’s advice to eat carrots to improve our eyesight is not only sound but very true. High vitamin A content of carrots and other “orange-colored” veggies contributes to developing good eyesight. Recent studies also reveal that a diet rich in omega 3 fatty acids helps protect the retina (layer of tissue behind the eye that senses light and sends these signals to the brain) from wear.

3.      Protect your eyes at ALL ages - In the United States, eye injuries, usually sports-related, are the most common cause of blindness in children. Hence, wearing of helmets or goggles when engaging in sports activities are highly recommended. The use of similar eye wear is also suggested when working with tools like lawn mowers, saws, drills and other “power tools”. Use sunglasses when going out under the sun to protect your eyes from the harmful effect of ultraviolet (UV) rays.

Dr Emily Chew, deputy director of the National Eye Institute (NEI- National Institute of Health) stated, "Keeping your eyes healthy means learning about them and the conditions for which you may be at risk,".

Prepared by: Amerey D. Teñoso RN

Source: www.doh.gov.ph; www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus;www.who.int

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Keep Your EYES

from SORE EYES!!!

Conjunctivitis, the conjunctiva, the transparent membrane covering the white of the eyeball and the inside of eyelids, is inflamed. It is more commonly known as pink eyes or sore eyes due to the redness, swelling, and yellow pus that comes with it. Though the inflammation of pink eye can be irritating, it rarely affects your vision. If you suspect pink eye, you can take steps to ease your discomfort. But because pink eye can be contagious, early diagnosis and treatment is best to help limit its spread.

Common Causes:

• Irritation (ex: when a particle/chemical accidentally lodges in the eye).
• Bacterial or viral infection of the eye.
• Allergy (ex: eye make-up)
• Part of other diseases (ex: flu, measles) of which conjunctivitis is a feature.

 Signs & Symptoms

• Redness in one or both eyes
• Tearing (watery eyes)
• Uncomfortable gritty sensation 
• Yellow discharge (pus) from the eyes, in the presence of bacterial infection. Encrusted eyelids upon waking in the morning. 
• Itch, in some cases 
• Mild pain, in some cases 
• Dislike for bright light although vision is normal. 

WHAT TO DO

• If the condition is caused by a foreign body entering your eye, refer to an eye specialist.

• Nothing, if the condition is due to allergy, which will clear up by itself. Anti-histamine eye drops (anti allergy medicine) may be used with doctor’s advice.

• Wash away eye discharge or crusts with eyewash or warm water.
• Put/Applied ice pack around the eyes to alleviate pain.
• Avoid direct contact with other people (ex: shaking hands, using another persons towel) to prevent spreading the infection.
• Consult a doctor, particularly if there is pain or pus discharge from the affected eye.

PREVENTION

• Practice proper and good hygiene.
• Do not touch your eyes after having touched anything else (ex: door knob, handshake, paper bills and coins).
• Wash your hands with soap and water.
• Use clean towels, handkerchief and washcloths daily.
• Do not share towels or handkerchiefs.
• Change pillow cases often
• Do not share eye cosmetics or personal eye-care items.
• Protect your eyes from foreign object; wear eye protective gadgets such as eyeglasses, goggles, helmets.
• Avoid crowded places.

Prepared by: Amerey D. Teñoso RN

Typhoid Fever

• Sustained high fever
• Headache
• Malaise (weakness)
• Anorexia (loss of appetite)
• Diarrhea or Constipation and abdominal discomfort
• Sore throat

Children are more likely to have diarrhea, whereas adults may become severely constipated. During the second week, you may develop a rash of small, flat, rose-colored spots on your lower chest or upper abdomen. The rash is temporary, usually disappearing in two to five days.


COMPLICATIONS
The most serious complication of typhoid fever - intestinal bleeding or perforation - may develop in the third week of illness. About 5 percent of people with typhoid fever experience this complication. Intestinal bleeding is often marked by a sudden drop in blood pressure and shock, followed by the appearance of blood in your stool. A perforated intestine occurs when your small intestine or large bowel develops a hole, causing intestinal contents to leak into your abdominal cavity and triggering signs and symptoms such as severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and bloodstream infection (sepsis). This life-threatening emergency requires immediate medical care.

PREVENTION & CONTROL

• Boil water for drinking. (Upon reaching boiling point, extend boiling for two or more minutes) or
• Do water chlorination
• Cook food well and always use food cover to prevent flies and other insects from contaminating them.
• Wash thoroughly all vegetables and fruits especially those that are eaten raw.

clean hands save lives!

• Avoid eating street vended foods.
• Wash hands with soap and water after using the toilet and before eating.
• Keep surrounding clean to prevent breeding of flies.

Prepared by: Amerey D. Teñoso RN
Sources: Department of Health; MayoClinic.com

EARLIER:  DENGUE    HEAT STROKE   

DENGUE FEVER Also known as ‘H-fever’, dengue fever is an acute viral infection transmitted to humans by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which breeds in places where there is stagnant water. One of the symptoms is extreme muscle pain. Although no specific treatment or vaccine is yet available for dengue fever, it is not life threatening. However, dengue hemorrhagic fever, a severe form of the disease that affects children and young people, causes heavy bleeding and can be fatal.

Aedes aegypti, the transmitter of the disease, is a day-biting mosquito which lays eggs in clear and stagnant water found in flower vases, cans, rain barrels, old rubber tires, etc. The adult mosquitoes rest in dark places of the house.

SIGNS & SYMPTOMPS
• Sudden onset of high fever which may last 2 to 7 days. 

• Joint & muscle pain and pain behind the eyes
• Weakness
• Skin rashes – maculopapular rash or red tiny spots on the skin called petechiae
• Nosebleeding when fever starts to subside
• Abdominal pain
• Vomiting of coffee-colored matter or blood
• Dark-colored stools

Complications:
• Shock (paleness, rapid breathing, cold sweat, clammy skin, drowsiness, fast pulse rate, and loss of consciousness).
• Jaundice (yellow eyes and skin), in rare cases.
• Death

WHAT TO DO?

Consult a Doctor because:
• They will determine if you have dengue fever or dengue hemorrhagic fever. Early detection and treatment of the symptoms can be life-saving.
• Admit you into hospital to monitor your blood pressure and blood count, and to watch out for complications.
• Treat the complications. Complications like severe internal bleeding in which it could be fatal if not treated aggressively. Fluids, blood, or plasma must be replaced quickly.



PREVENTION

• Cover water drums and water pails at all the times to prevent mosquitoes from breeding.
• Replace water in flower vases once a week.
• Clean all water containers once a week. Scrub the sides well to remove eggs of mosquitoes sticking to the sides.
• Clean gutters of leaves and debris so that rain water will not collect as breeding places of mosquitoes.
• Old tires used as roof support should be punctured or cut to avoid accumulation of water.
• Collect and dispose all unusable tin cans, jars, bottles and other items than can collect and hold water.
• Use methods to protect from mosquitoes like putting anti – mosquito repellant lotion, chemical sprays, mosquito nets and other electrical gadgets that can cease mosquitoes.

Prepared by: Amerey D. Teñoso RN

Source: Department of Health

"Temperature's risin'... so f#4%n hot in here!"
Heat Stroke is a form of hyperthermia, an abnormally elevated body temperature with accompanying physical and neurological symptoms. It can be fatal if not properly and promptly treated.

The body normally generates heat as a result of metabolism, and is usually able to dissipate the heat by either radiation of heat through the skin or by evaporation of sweat. However, in extreme heat, high humidity, or vigorous exertion under the sun, the body may not be able to dissipate the heat and the body temperature rises.

Another cause of heat stroke is dehydration. A dehydrated person may not be able to sweat fast enough to dissipate heat, which causes the body temperature to rise.

Susceptible to heat strokes includes: infants, the elderly (often with associated heart diseases, lung diseases, kidney diseases, or who are taking medications that make them vulnerable to heat strokes), athletes, and outdoor workers physically exerting themselves under the sun.

SYMPTOMS

Symptoms of heat stroke can sometimes mimic those of heart attack or other conditions. Sometimes a person experiences symptoms of heat exhaustion before progressing to heat strokes.

Symptoms of heat exhaustion include: nausea, vomiting, fatigue, weakness, headache, muscle cramps and aches, and dizziness.
However, some individuals can develop symptoms of heat stroke suddenly and rapidly without warning.
Common symptoms and signs of heat stroke include: high body temperature, the absence of sweating, with hot red or flushed dry skin rapid pulse, difficulty breathing, strange behavior, hallucinations, confusion, agitation, disorientation, seizure, coma

TREATMENT

Red Alert!!!

Victims of heat stroke must receive immediate treatment to avoid permanent organ damage. First and foremost, cool the victim.
Get the victim to a shady area, remove clothing, apply cool or tepid water to the skin, fan the victim to promote sweating and evaporation, and place ice packs under armpits and groins.
Monitor body temperature with a thermometer and continue cooling efforts until the body temperature drops.

Notify emergency services immediately if symptoms persist.

PREVENTION

Summertime!

The most important measures to prevent heat strokes are to avoid becoming dehydrated and to avoid vigorous physical activities in hot and humid weather.

If you have to perform physical activities in hot weather, drink plenty of fluids (such as water and sports drinks), but avoid alcohol, caffeine, and tea which may lead to dehydration.

Your body will need replenishment of electrolytes (such as sodium) as well as fluids if you sweat excessively or perform vigorous activity in the sunlight for prolonged periods.

Take frequent breaks to hydrate yourself. Wear hats, umbrellas and light-colored, lightweight, loose clothes.

Prepared by: Amerey D. Teñoso, R.N.

Source: Medicinenet.com