Gordon to impose higher taxes on tobacco

Source: Philippine Star
(The Philippine Star) Updated March 18, 2010 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - Bagumbayan standard-bearer Richard Gordon would impose higher taxes on tobacco and sees nothing wrong with government giving out condoms to prevent the spread of AIDS.

Speaking to doctors at the presidential forum on health at the Medical City hospital in Pasig Monday, Gordon said he will spend money to prevent HIV but not to control population.

“That is the responsibility of the parents. I am preaching about the quality of population,” he said.

“Population becomes an opportunity to develop our country.”

Gordon asked the doctors whether they would spend money on contraceptives or education.

“We should strengthen our education advocacy ..... But I’m not for abortion,” he said.

China, Brazil and India have managed to develop quality manpower resources from their large population, he added.

Gordon said if elected president, he intends to give the health sector the needed funds from tax on text messaging and increased taxes on tobacco products.

“We would tax tobacco as high as I can,” he said.

“It is being done in other countries as a source of money. You want to smoke but we will not pay for it when you get sick.

“Cigarette smoking is just one facet of our problems.”

Gordon said he does not get any financial support from cigarette companies for his campaign.

Gordon said the collected funds from text messaging and cigarettes will be used to improve the standards of government hospitals and clinics and to pay government doctors salaries of P50,000 a month, and as much as P70,000 a month for surgeons.

He will also give community health workers P3,000 every month in allowances, he added.

By raising the salaries of government doctors, he could stop them from going abroad to work as nurses, he said.

Gordon said he intends to make young doctors serve in the countryside for at least three years before they are permitted to leave for jobs abroad.

“Dapat maglagay ng doktor sa probinsya (Doctors should be placed in the provinces) and then pay them well,” he said.

“Every graduate of medicine in the country should be drafted to serve in the country.

“Dapat magsilbi muna ng three years sa bansa (Three years of service) before they leave the country. People should be able to serve their country.”

On the other hand, Lakas-Kampi standard-bearer Gilbert Teodoro believes in the need to equally promote the natural and artificial methods of family planning.

“There are pros and cons over population advocacy but informed choice must be respected,” he said.

“We have to have a consensus. Government must serve as receptacles of advocacies that promote manageable population growth.” – Mike Frialde, Sheila Crisostomo, Jaime Laude

12 ways to beat insomnia

Source: Manila Bulletin
Q. What advise can you give somebody like me who suffers from insomnia? What causes it? I am 65 years old and I sleep only 5-6 hours a day and I wake up frequently. Isn’t it people need 8 hours of sleep a day? Will sleeping pills help?

---Benbinom@yahoo.com

A. Insomnia or inability to fall asleep or to stay asleep is a common condition that affects people of all ages, especially adults. About 50% of all adults have occasional insomnia while around 10% have chronic insomnia.

Insomnia is not a disease but simply a symptom that has a variety of causes, chief of which are stress and over stimulation. Other common causes of insomnia include an irregular sleep-wake schedule, excessive intake of alcohol or coffee, intake of medications (e.g., anti-cholinergics, anti-depressants, anti-hypertensives, etc.), and emotional problems that are often relationships or work related. There are, however, insomnias that have no apparent cause.

There is no consensus among experts on how much sleep a person requires to maintain optimal health and wakeful alertness. Evidently, the amount of needed sleep varies from individual to individual and from age group to age group. Although most people sleep between 7-8 hours a night, many function normally with less than 7 or more than 8 hours of sleep. However, regular sleep of less than 4 or more than 9 hours is associated with a shorter life expectancy.

Incidentally, the elderly generally need only 5 1/2 to 6 hours sleep a night—the amount of sleep you regularly get. Likewise, old people are “light sleepers.” Hence, I will not even say you have insomnia unless you experience sleepiness during the day that interferes with your daily activities.

Treatment of insomnia depends on the cause, but the following measures should allow you to sleep better, whatever is the cause of your insomnia:

• Regularize your sleeping hours. Go to bed at the same time each night and get up at the same time each morning.

• Keep your bedroom clean, quiet, cool and comfortable.

• Use your bed for sleep and intimacy only. Do not watch TV or read in bed. Get out of bed if you can’t sleep. Return to it only when you’re sleepy. Do not clock-watch nor indulge in counting activities such as counting sheep when you are in bed.

• Do not take your worries and frustrations to bed with you. Likewise, avoid doing stimulating activities before bedtime. Take up relaxing activities such as listening to music or taking a warm bath instead.

• Take an early, light dinner. At the same time do not go to bed hungry. A heavy meal can interfere with sleep, so can hunger.

• Refrain from taking coffee or any caffeine-containing beverages in the afternoon or evening.

• Try taking a warm glass of milk at bedtime. Dairy products contain tryptophan, a natural sleep inducer.

• If you smoke. Quit. Smokers, especially those who consume a pack or more a day, have difficulty sleeping.

• Moderate your alcohol intake.

• Exercise regularly, but this should be in the morning or early afternoon and not four hours or less before bedtime.

• During the day, do not take naps and ensure that you have adequate exposure to sunlight. The body has a natural clock that is reset by sunlight.

• If you are taking medicines on a regular basis, review their side effects with your doctor. Replace those that could possibly interfere with sleep.

If your insomnia persists, seek medical consultation. Do not self-medicate with “sleeping pills.” Sleeping pills are only adjuncts in treating insomnia. If used incorrectly, they aggravate rather than cure sleep problems. Besides, they are very dangerous. Very few people need drugs and only for a limited period of time to help them sleep.

(E-mail inquiries on health matters to: medical_notes@yahoo.com)

621 pass physician licensure examination

Source :mb.com.ph
The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announced Thursday that 621 out of 1,344 examinees passed the Physician Licensure Examination given by the Board of Medicine in the cities of Manila and Cebu this month, while one out of 11 passed the preliminary examination.

The results were released in three (3) working days from the last day of examinations.

Members of the Board of Medicine who gave the licensure examinations are: Dr. Mildred N. Pareja, chairman; Dr. Florentino C. Doble, Dr. Restituto C. De Ocampo, Dr. Edgardo T. Fernando, Dr. Miguel L. Noche Jr., and Dr. Jose Y. Cueto Jr., members.

Registration for the issuance of Professional Identification Card (ID) and Certificate of Registration will start on March 2, 2010 but not later than March 5, 2010. Those who will register are required to bring the following: duly accomplished Oath Form or Panunumpa ng Propesyonal, current Community Tax Certificate (cedula), two passport size picture (colored with white background and complete name tag), one 1”x1” picture (colored with white background and complete name tag), two metered documentary stamps, and one short brown envelope with name and profession; and to pay the Initial Registration Fee of R600 and Annual Registration Fee of P450 for 2010-2013. Successful examinees should personally register and sign in the Roster of Registered Professionals.

The oathtaking for the successful examinees as well as the previous ones who have not taken their Oath of Professional will be held before the Board on March 14, 2010, 1 p.m., at the Plenary Hall of the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), Roxas Boulevard, Manila.

Registration for membership with the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) will start on March 2, 2010.

The successful examinees who made it to the top 10 are: Marie Jo-Ann Beltran Cabanting, Far Eastern University-Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation, 85.42%; Arlyn Dizon Salut, Our Lady of Fatima University-Valenzuela, 85.08%; Reginald Ricasa Cordial, Our Lady of Fatima University- Valenzuela, 84.92%; Rod Mark Memoracion Clavel, Our Lady of Fatima University-Valenzuela, 84.67%; Bianca Katrina Escaro Villanueva, University of the East-Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center, 84.25%; Charlene Rose Khe Haw, University of Santo Tomas, 84.17%; Jan Edward Espino Sayco, Our Lady of Fatima University-Valenzuela, 84.08%; Michael Ramos Arrosas, West Visayas State University-La Paz, 84.00%; Noreen Antoinette Garcia Opina, Ateneo de Zamboanga, 83.92; Suzette Bungay Sagun, University of the Philippines-Manila, 83.83.

The complete list of new physicians will be published in tomorrow’s issue of the Manila Bulletin.

Energy-saving aircon claims to provide ‘vitamin C'

Source: Daily Inquirer
KNOWN FOR HOUSE-HOLD appliances, Electrolux launches for the first time in the Philippines its line of split-type air-conditioners. Infused with the latest innovation in cooling system, the air-conditioners are said to cool the room but won’t dry the skin.

Called the vitamin-C technology, the air-conditioner consistently releases pure vitamin C nano particles into the air so it improves one’s skin’s condition and help combat stress. Studies even show that over a period of time, the skin lightens by a shade or two as well.

“[These] are designed for real consumers and needs. [We’re introducing] a new model endowed with integrated innovation,” said Terry Sales, marketing manager of Electrolux Phils.

Also one of the integrated innovations is the Follow Me technology, precise cooling that follows the user anywhere in the room as long as s/he is holding the remote control. Not to worry about power consumption, though. The Electrolux currently holds the highest energy-efficiency saving record—as high as 11.6, said Sales.

Anti-bacteria

It saves energy by reaching required temperature quickly and reducing power usage to only what is required to keep the room cool.

Gold Fin protection technology prevents bacteria from breeding and spreading through a coating that withstands salty air, rain and other corrosive elements. Active Plasma Filtration system can help reduce the incidence of allergies, asthma and common cold by holding off 99-percent of air-borne allergen—95 percent of harmful bacteria and 85 percent of viruses.

Another health feature is the Bio Hepa (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter that removes more than 95 percent of bacteria and 99 percent of dust particles. It means no re-polluting when the filtered air has been recirculated.

The split-type air-conditioners, although available in Europe for quite some time already, have also been introduced in Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand.

“I am confident our entry into this new product segment will not only enable consumers to benefit from Electrolux premium standards, but it will also demonstrate our commitment to enhance our consumer’s experiences in all aspects of household appliances,” he said.

Those who will buy the split-type air-conditioners until Dec. 31 will get a vacuum cleaner for free.