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Breathe IN, Breathe OUT: Breathing Exercises for COPD
COPD, in short for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is a set of diseases that impair breathing and obstruct airways. It is the ninth leading cause of mortality in the Philippines which negatively affects the patients’ function and quality of life and raises their risk of contracting lung cancer, heart disease, and several other diseases. People…
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Understanding Food Fortification Act of 2000
Executive Order 382 declares November 7 as the National Food Fortification Day. The term “Fortification” as defined by Codex Alimentarius, it is the addition of one or more essential nutrients to food, whether or not it is normally contained in the food, for the purpose of preventing or correcting a demonstrated deficiency of one or…
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The Risks of Vaping
Vaping—inhalation of vapor from an electronic cigarette or vapes. Since more public areas have started to forbid smoking as well as the country’s tobacco taxes have increased, vaping has grown in popularity among Filipinos, especially among the younger demographic. Around 82 million vape users globally were estimated by the Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction…
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Why Newborn Screening is essential?
Newborn screening can detect conditions that can affect a child’s long-term health or survival. It is an essential public health approach that enables the early detection and management of several congenital disorders. Through early detection, diagnosis, and intervention can prevent death or disability and enable children to reach their full potential. Yearly, millions of babies…
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Newborn Screening: Common Diseases Detected
Immediately following birth, newborns are screened as part of a public health initiative for disorders that are treatable but not yet clinically visible. How newborn screening is done? A small amount of blood drawn from the infant’s heel is tested. Before the infant leaves the hospital, this occurs, typically at 1 or 2 days of…
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Nutrisyon Para kay Lolo at Lola
Nutrition is the process of eating healthy foods and having a balanced diet to obtain the nutrients that our body needs to sustain bodily functions. Whatever age group you belong, keeping a healthy body is vital to be less susceptible to infections and diseases that may affect our way of living. It is inevitable that…
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Nutrition 101: Mechanical Soft Diet
Mechanical Soft Diet (MSD), also known as the Geriatric Diet or Dental Soft Diet, is a variation of the regular diet, wherein the texture is modified, especially for individuals who are unable to chew or swallow properly. This type of diet can be made through many different cooking processes such as grinding, pureeing, liquefying, chopping,…
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WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW: Newborn Screening Act of 2004
Newborn screening is an important public health method that provides for the early detection and treatment of a number of congenital diseases that, if untreated, may cause mental incapacity and mortality. In the Philippines, this became one of the necessary newborn care routines mandated by law— Republic Act 9288 or mostly known as the Newborn…
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Preventing Folic Acid Deficiency Through Food
Vitamin B9 also known as folate, is a water-soluble vitamin that can be found in a variety of foods. In the form of folic acid, it is also added to foods and offered as a supplement; this form is actually more readily absorbed than that obtained from dietary sources (85% vs. 50%, respectively). Folate participates…
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Why We Need Iron
Our bodies require small amounts of minerals, and many minerals become toxic at higher concentrations. Iron, for example, is an essential mineral that is required for many cellular functions. However, like many other nutrients, excessive amounts are harmful. So, let’s take a look how important Iron is in our body. What is Iron and What…
