My wife and I, both retired senior citizens, were advised by our family physician to get immunized with the herpes zoster vaccine in addition to the flu and pneumococcal vaccines that we already have. Is the vaccine worth its price? —This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

At more than P5,000, Zostavax, the only herpes zoster vaccine currently available, is indeed rather expensive, but is it worth its price? I think this is a question which you yourself should answer, but I’ll help you decide by telling you what you need to know about the disease and its vaccine.

Herpes zoster or shingles (“kulebra,” in Filipino) is a peculiar disease. It is caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), the same microorganism that causes chickenpox, but its manifestations are very different from the latter. Also, only people who previously had a natural infection with chickenpox or had been immunized with the chickenpox vaccine can develop the disease.

Primary infection with VZV results in chickenpox, which generally resolves spontaneously, but the virus does not perish, it simply hides in nervous tissues where it stays dormant for a long time. Presumably, this is also what the virus does when given in attenuated form as a vaccine. Years or decades later, the virus may break out and give rise, not to chickenpox, but to herpes zoster. Exactly how VZV remains latent, subsequently re-activate, and cause another disease is not understood.

Shingles can occur in young people, but a person’s risk for the disease and its complications increases with age. Statistics show that one out of every three people 60 years old or older will get shingles. Of these, one out of six will experience PHN.

Most people have only one episode of herpes zoster in their lifetime. Second and even third episodes, however, are possible.

Shingles is a painful ailment

Shingles is characterized by painful skin blisters or rashes that usually develop in a limited area on one side of the body, extremities, or face. The skin lesions are typically preceded by one to two days of pain over the involved skin area. The pain persists and often intensifies after the skin lesions appear.

The virus also affects the nerves that supply the area of the skin where the lesions are located. Thus, if the skin lesions are around the anal or bladder area, the patient may experience bladder and bowel problems. Likewise, it is not unusual for the patient to experience diminished sensation on the affected skin area or paralysis of the muscles that are supplied by the involved nerve. Also, lesions around the eye may cause impairment of vision.

The signs and symptoms of shingles generally subside within two to four weeks, but some people experience residual nerve pain, which can be very severe and debilitating, for months or years, a condition called postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Rarely, the sensory loss, paralysis, and visual problems become permanent, too.

Shingles may have other long term complications

South Korean researchers who recently examined a database of 519,880 patients have noted another possible long-term health risk of shingles. They found out that people who had shingles had an overall 41 percent higher risk of cardiovascular events, such as heart attack or stroke, when compared to an age-matched control group that did not develop shingles. The risk of stroke was 35 percent higher and heart attack 59 percent higher.

The management of herpes zoster is difficult and expensive

There is no cure for herpes zoster. A variety of analgesics, to relieve the pain, are the main drugs prescribed by physicians. There are several antiviral agents—acyclovir, famciclovir, and valacyclovir—that can reduce the pain and shorten the duration of herpes zoster, but they are effective only if given early in the disease. For PHN, anti-depressants such as amitriptyline, anticonvulsants like gabapentin, and opioids such as codeine are used, but results are inconsistent. Overall, the treatment of herpes shingles and its complications is decidedly more expensive than the vaccine.

Does the herpes zoster vaccine offer full protection?

Zostavax, the herpes zoster vaccine, which is recommended for people aged 60 years and older and administered as a single shot, is not 100 percent effective. It merely reduces the risk of developing shingles by only 51 percent and PHN by 67 percent. Also, its efficacy wanes within the first five years after vaccination, and protection beyond five years is uncertain.

Email inquiries on health matters to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Source: Manila Bulletin: Published July 25, 2017, 12:05 AM

http://lifestyle.mb.com.ph/2017/07/25/is-the-zoster-vaccine-worth-its-price/

Herbs and spices are widely known for their culinary uses and applications yet their medicinal uses are often overlooked in the modern world we live in. Wouldn’t it be nice to know how the herbs and spices benefit your health in the same way they delight your culinary senses?

Here are common and locally available herbs and spices recognized for their medicinal uses as studied by renowned experts in the field of nutrition and dietetics, Dr. Virginia Serraon Claudio and Dr. Adela Jamorabo-Ruiz.

1. Basil – Belonging to the mint family, this sweet, spicy, and aromatic leaf is often used in salads, tomato dishes, and Italian cuisine. It helps calm the nervous system making it a natural tranquilizer.

2. Bay leaves – Commonly used in oriental dishes and our very own adobo and lechon sauces. Bay leaves or laurel aids in proper digestion. It also enhances insulin utilization in the body thus beneficial to individuals with insulin resistance or diabetes.

3. Cilantro or coriander leaves – An herb that has a strong aroma widely used in Chinese dishes. Wansoy as it is also known, wards off infection of the urinary tract and relieves symptoms of diarrhea and cystitis.

4. Lemongrass – This grassy blade flavors Muslim and Bicolano dishes. It is also used as a stuffing for lechon. Tanglad or lemongrass tea soothes a queasy stomach and relieves bloating.

5. Oregano – Having a spicy, strong aromatic flavor and pleasantly bitter taste, oregano is used in Spanish, Mexican, and Italian cooking as well as the Filipino paksiw and estofado. The oregano’s antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties can be attributed to a compound called rosmarinic acid that promotes a healthy digestion and relieves symptoms of colds, cough, and flu.

6. Pandan – This slender long blade of grass is used as a flavoring for teas, beverages, and desserts. Rice is sometimes cooked with pandan leaves, which give it the sweetest aroma reminiscent of my childhood days. Pulverized dried pandan leaves can be applied to wounds to facilitate healing.

7. Parsley – This mild flavored herb that look like clusters of tiny leaves is often used as a garnish and seasoning for soups, sauces, salads, dressings, and marinades. Parsley is commonly discarded after adding aesthetic appeal to dishes putting the many benefits it possesses to waste. It is a diuretic and also a remedy for urinary tract infection, colic, anemia, and arthritis. It stimulates milk flow and menstruation.

8. Chili pepper – Used fresh or dried in Filipino and Mexican dishes, this fruit pod from the capsicum plant is locally known as siling labuyo. This spice is hot in the real sense of the word and works well for cold hands and feet as it promotes good blood circulation. It also soothes the digestive system, relieves colds, sore throat, and fever.

9. Pepper and peppercorn – This pungent, sneeze-inducing spice comes in black and white varieties. Paminta and butil ng paminta are usually paired with salt to season dishes. This spice eases flatulence, stomach, constipation, and improves circulation.

10. Saffron – The orange-yellow, bitter tasting, needle-like spice considered to be the most expensive spice. Typically used in Middle Eastern cuisine and a key ingredient in making paella and risotto. Saffron helps with digestive and urinary problems. It eases menstrual cramps, depression, diarrhea, and neuralgic (nerve) pain.

Now that we have been enlightened by the wonders of these herbs and spices, I recommend regularly incorporating them into your recipes instead of taking large amounts. Do not discontinue any medications against your physician’s advice.

source: Manila Bulletin - Published May 9, 2017
http://lifestyle.mb.com.ph/2017/05/09/10-natural-remedies/

One out of four Filipinos in general is hypertensive, and roughly half of them are not aware of their condition.” That’s the sad prognosis I heard yesterday over the radio while traversing a stressful 150- minute drive which normally would just be 45 minutes.

In a recent news release, the Department of Health (DOH) said that “hypertension remains to be the leading cause of illness and a primary contributor to premature death in the Philippines, projecting around 200,000 deaths yearly in the country attributed directly or indirectly to high blood pressure.”

“Some of these unsuspecting hypertensive individuals are extremely at-risk and can be considered as ‘walking time bombs,’ because anytime they can figuratively ‘explode’ to develop complications like massive stroke, heart attack, heart failure, and kidney failure.”

“Health awareness offers tremendous advantages. Screening is a cost-effective way to identify at-risk individuals and those who may have already been experiencing significant symptoms, leading to lower disease rates, reduced healthcare costs, and increased productivity,” Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial pointed out.

To intensify the awareness on hypertension through a needed multi–sectoral approach and in observance of the Hypertension Awareness Month (as declared in Presidential Proclamation 1761), the DOH together with the International Society of Hypertension (ISH), World Hypertension League (WHL), and our local coordinating society Philippine Society of Hypertension and Philippine Heart Association will conduct a blood pressure (BP) screening initiative for the whole month of May.

“We have an ambitious goal during the month of May 2017 to screen 25-million people, who have not had their BPs measured since April 30, 2016, during the month of May 2017. To reach this target, each day throughout May, we will need to screen for example an average of 100 people in 100 sites in each of 100 countries (100 x 100 x 100 x 25 = 25 million!),” said ISH president Neil Poulter. 

“We appreciate that the number of sites will vary from country to country based on the population size. But a target to screen one percent of the population of each country will also get us to target,” he added.

This initiative is part of a global BP screening towards achieving the goal to screen 25-million people worldwide where the Philippines is one of the lead countries crusading this cause through its local campaign called May Measurement Month 2017 (MMM17) with a theme #BantayBP “Magpa-check at mag-monitor. Now na!” 

DOH is targeting at least 1.7-million Filipinos, 18 years old and above, who have not undergone BP measurement for the past year. There will be a nationwide screening for the whole month of May in the rural health units, health centers, barangay health stations, and other healthcare facilities.

“Do not be a victim of the silent killer, make a move now and take control of your blood pressure. Achieve a healthy and long life!” Secretary Ubial appealed.

Hypertension or high blood pressure increases the risk of developing heart disease and stroke, chronic kidney failure, and peripheral vascular disease. It occurs when the blood pressure, or force of blood pushing against the blood vessel walls, gets too high and stays that way.

Hypertension is dubbed a “silent killer” because it doesn’t have early signs or symptoms. A person can look and feel great and still have hypertension. You can also be young and have the disease. It can affect anyone at any age, even children.

When your blood pressure is taken, there are two numbers. The top number, or systolic blood pressure, measures when the heart pumps or contracts while the bottom number, or diastolic blood pressure, measures when the heart is resting or relaxing.

Health professionals in general agree that the upper range of normal blood pressure should be 130/80 or less. The lower your numbers, the better.

The key risk factors for hypertension include family history of hypertension, high salt or sodium intake, high fat intake, obesity, smoking, excessive alcohol intake, insufficient physical activity or exercise, and chronic or continuous stress. Some women who use oral contraceptives may also have an increased risk of developing hypertension.

Lifestyle adaptations to prevent or manage hypertension should include weight control, active and regular exercise, limiting salt intake to no more than 2.4 grams a day, limiting alcohol intake to no more than one ounce a day, taking the minimum daily requirement of potassium, calcium, and magnesium, plus avoiding excessive emotional stress.

source: Philippine Star - May 9, 2017 - 12:00am
http://www.philstar.com/health-and-family/2017/05/09/1697942/know-and-monitor-your-blood-pressure

This is the most realistic of questions to those who seek to know more about the connection between mind, body and spirit. So let’s explore the numerous dreams in our lives and try to understand what we are doing to ourselves as a result of our choices and actions.

Many scenarios play out within the realm of our physical, mental and emotional/ spiritual selves when faced with sticky, if not serious or tragic situations. It is important to broaden our scope of knowledge for the sole purpose of acting more wisely in the future.

So what happens when you are …

Angry: This state of emotion can be triggered by stress, financial problems, emotional distress or abuse; an overwhelming demand on one’s energy and time; a disconcerting situation; deep, unresolved psychological issues triggered by a minor domestic or personal situation; substance abuse (alcohol, drugs); deficient hormone levels; low self-esteem.

The moment you have an angry outburst, you will feel the following:

A tingling sensation throughout the body due to the sudden rush of blood to the brain.

Increased blood pressure (which could send you to the emergency room)

Tightening of the chest

Heart palpitations

Headaches or migraine

Pressure in the sinuses

Fatigue

You will know you have anger issues, which may require anger management, when you are experiencing constant irritability and rage.

Unresolved anger issues will eventually lead to anxiety. Immediate effects of anxiety include nausea, muscular pain and tension, unexplained headaches, dizziness, rapid breathing, loss of concentration and memory and sleep disorders such as insomnia. Long-term anxiety could lead to strokes.

Now that you know how much damage rampant anger can do to your body, think thrice, not twice, before you decide to lose your temper. That’s right. Emphasis on the word “decide.” Ultimately, the master of one’s emotions should be yourself.

Atrophy

Lazy: When you sit or lie down all day, your body gets weak, bones lose their density (eventually becoming brittle), muscles start to atrophy. The human body only responds to whatever demands you put on it.

Take the case of Peter, a 63-year-old businessman who had an active fitness routine. While on vacation, he lost his drive to exercise. He didn’t revisit the gym and stopped playing basketball with his friends. After two months, he was alarmed to see his weight on the scale—a 20-lb weight gain. And he never noticed it. Worse, his arm muscles became soft and flabby.

Worried about his physical deterioration, he embarked on a “new me” campaign while embracing a healthier lifestyle.

Regular exercise ensures a steady blood pressure, weight maintenance, muscle tone, stronger bones and a calm mental/emotional state.

When you don’t like what you see in the mirror, it’s a sign that you must take immediate action. Otherwise, your self-esteem will suffer eventually.

Remember, for each day you laze around, your aging mechanism speeds up. Therefore, when you slow down too much, you will age faster.

Bingeing: The word itself translates to overdoing anything. In this case, it’s either food, sweets or alcohol, or all of the above. It can even be shopping.

It is a common thing to find yourself waking up one morning, only to discover several empty bottles of wine or beer scattered on your dining table, or empty boxes of pizza.

This is when you ask yourself, “What happened to me?!” Believing that you are rational is one thing but acting rational is another matter.

Whether it’s drinking, eating or shopping—clearly, there is a lack of self-control.

Psychologists say that all types of bingeing have an underlying cause. It has to do with negative emotions. Extreme overindulgence of any kind (especially when done in private) is connected to a person’s feeling of lack of control, a state of powerlessness which may include shame or guilt. This will require a therapist for counseling. But for the regular person out to “treat” herself or himself, what does it mean?

There is a difference. Most people want to live it up for a moment. Thus, you are encouraged by your friends with words like “you only live once,” so you deserve that extra slice of cake or another serving of pasta and an extra toast to the good life with champagne.

There’s nothing wrong—if you know your limits. Everyone has a different tolerance level for anything. Your guiding principle should rule.

Just remember that for every overindulgence, there is a price to pay. You could gain weight, suffer from headache, feel nauseated or be overcome with regret.

source: Philippine Daily Inquirer - May 09, 2017
http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/262041/what-happens-to-you/