Health Issues

Summer, Kidney Stone Season

Summer in a tropical country should be full of outdoor activities such as swimming, wakeboarding, kiteboarding, surfing, cycling and many more. There should be lots of fun with these activities. Summer is also considered as kidney stone season when people have the highest risk of obtaining a kidney stone during this season.

Kidney stones are made of salts and minerals in the urine that stick together to form small “pebbles.” They can be as small as grains of sand or as large as golf balls. Sounds simple but the “profound degree of pain” can radiate down the side and belly and can be accompanied by excessive sweating, nausea and vomiting. The pain will stop and starts again, its a cycle of pain. Normally, when you felt these symptoms, you have no choice but to rush to a nearby hospital. The pain is unbearable and can be compared to labor pains.

Its summer, studies showed that summer is kidney stone season. Here are the tips I want to share, I will update this if I remember additional tips.

• Dehydration is the primary culprit during this hot weather. This is the time of the year that we have to drink more than we usually have. Drinking 8 glasses of water daily is fine but if you are engaged in outdoor activity or any activity that will make you sweat, the more water you drink, the better. I drink 3 liters of water daily.
• Filipino loves patis (fish sauce), toyo (soy sauce), bagoong and other salty food, if not eaten with moderation will give us health problems. Actually, there’s no food to avoid but always eat a proper diet and always in moderation.
• Don’t drink supplements such as calcium unless prescribed by your doctor especially if you are a “stone former”. Drink milk in moderation as natural source of calcium. Calcium nutrient is also present to other food we eat.
• A large percentage of people have kidney stone in their kidneys they never know about. Patients who already have kidney stone history tend to get it again. Prevention is the key, a regular annual check-up of your kidney will help.

Its okay to have fun during summer but don’t forget your water!

kidney stone health issues pinoy

Goodbye La Nina

Just heard of the news that La Nina is nearly over to the Philippines when the temperature is 34°C. Usually La Nina occur every 3-5 years to tropical countries like Philippines. La Nina caused floods and landslides to Philippine provinces. If I remember it right, there was also La Nina when typhoon Reming triggered mudslides from Mayon Volcano and damaged many towns of Albay including Cagsawa Ruins Park in December 2006. I found out that La Niña conditions typically last approximately 9-12 months. Whatever, I got used to our extreme weather condition, if its not La Nina (cold weather), it could be El Nino (warm weather) and vice versa.
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Let There Be Water… I'm Thirsty!

The typhoid outbreak in six barangays of Calamba, Laguna had worsened, victims have increased from 241 to 500 persons. I’ve watched the news last night, JP Rizal Memorial Hospital (provincial hospital) had set up tents at the hospital grounds to accomodate the increasing number of patients. Some patients are confined at the nearby town hospitals.

Update: The local government of Calamba, Laguna declared state of calamity as of March 6, 2008 because of the typhoid fever outbreak.

What bothers me now is the report that the water in Calamba, Laguna had passed the water bacteriology test. The ancestral home of my Aunt is there, if I remember it right, their water there is nawasa. The town folks of Calamba and DOH (Department of Health) cannot think of possible reason of the typhoid outbreak but the water in their area. If its not the water, where did the outbreak came from? Laguna is a nearby province which we frequently visits during summer season. Although, we used to buy mineral water when we are out of town, this is alarming.
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Need A Good Shrink?

Love is in the air? How about the many Filipino couples struggling on their married life? Marriage crisis is not simple as it is. Nobody feel the pain but the couple and their children. Each individuals react differently in this situation. If the marriage is already on the rocks, sometimes they need proffesional help, someone they can talk to and guide them. If you don’t have money to pay for professional fee of a good shrink, CeFam is highly recommended.

The Center for Family Ministries or CeFam is a Spiritual-Pastoral Center that aims to empower the Filipino family to become a community of love, justice, and peace in the home. It endeavors to direct families to fulfill its social role and responsibility to the nation and the world as well. For this, it has pioneered the psycho-spiritual approach to addressing the issues of hurting individuals, engaged-to-be-married couples or those struggling with their marriages, and families. Through its undertakings, CeFam seeks to promote the familys’ well-being, healing, and growth. Towards this end, they provide resources that facilitate the empowerment of the family within the home and in society at large.

It has established the Center for Family Ministries located in the Ateneo de Manila University campus with a Satellite Counseling Site in Don Bosco Parish, Makati City. This apostolate work has planted the seed that addresses the growing need for Pastoral Ministry in the Philippines.

Specifically, CeFam offers counselling Services for individuals, couples, and families including Child and Adolescent Counseling, Premarital Counselling and Marriage Preparation, Marital Counseling, Family Mediation, Crisis Intervention, Support Groups, and Radio Counseling.

Contact them first for appointment at 4264289-92 (Loyola Heights, QC) and 8945932-34 (Don Bosco, Makati City), be patient for the appointment availability. They won’t charge you for professional fee but asked you for donation. One hour conseling session, one on one with a psychologist/sociologist. These professionals also have their own clinics but they’re doing the counselling session for free as part of their social work or community service. There’s no guarantee that CeFam will save your marriage, it is still depends on YOU!

Blue Lights For Diabetes World Day

I’ve watched the segment the yesterday at TV Patrol. Many countries participated, they’ve lighted their known places using blue lights. It was really beautiful. The blue light campaign is part of a worldwide effort celebrating Diabetes World Day backed by the United Nations. After seeing the entire list made me wonder, where’s Philippines? Based on a WHO study conducted last year, the Philippines is in danger of being the ninth out of the 10 countries in the world with the most diabetes cases by 2030. It said the country may have 7.8 million diabetics if preventive measures are not observed.

Our participation to Diabetes World Day focuses on Filipino children. Actually the campaign is for public awareness, a wake up call for all of us. Children belonging to low-income families are the most affected because the medication is expensive. The statistics is very alarming, the government should do something focusing to the wellbeings of the Filipino people. I hope they start with public awareness campaign, to all parts of the Philippines. If they already have, I think its not enough, many are still ignorant with their condition.

I know many people who are suffering from diabetes including my father in law, friends and some relatives. My father used to be a diabetic before he had a kidney failure. My mother found out last year that she is also a diabetic. I don’t know if diabetes is hereditary but in my case, I believe it is. Therefore, having my both parents diabetic and my father in law, there’s a big risk to my children to have it. It runs with their blood and it worries me a lot.

Some pictures here of the event.