Better Asthma Management this Lung Month and Beyond: At-home nebulization advised by experts for the treatment of asthma and other lung ailments

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Respiratory diseases remain a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the Philippines, with pneumonia, COPD, all forms of tuberculosis and other lung infections affecting millions of Filipinos.

Asthma, a major noncommunicable disease (NCD), is one of the most prevalent health conditions in the country. About 21 million Filipinos suffer from asthma. The country ranks second in asthma mortality worldwide across all ages, with deaths caused by it accounting for 2.37 percent of total deaths in the country.[1] Asthma can affect people across all ages, but it is most common among children. Besides breathing difficulties, its effects include trouble sleeping, fatigue and poor concentration. On top of the health and wellness concerns, long-time care can negatively impact one’s financial well-being.

So, what can be done to help patients with asthma, especially this Lung Month?

Easing the burden of asthma

There is still no cure for asthma, unfortunately. But effective management can help control the symptoms so that asthma patients can enjoy an active, normal life.

“Long-term control medications are definitely important in managing asthma. But knowing that asthma attacks can be sudden, the most reliable solution is quick-relief medications,” said Dr. Dex Macalintal, a registered nutritionist-dietitian and one of the pioneers of lifestyle medicines in the Philippines. “One of the most recommended ways for quick relief and to address asthma symptoms is the use of nebulizers at home.”

Dr. Mitch Syquia, a pulmonologist-pediatrician and former chief resident of the Department of Pediatrics at Perpetual Help Medical Center, shares the same view. “Having a nebulizer unit and medication at home makes a lot of difference, particularly for children with asthma. Besides giving quick relief, this reduces and even eliminates the need to go to the hospital or seek emergency assistance during asthma exacerbations. This is why I always tell my pediatric asthmatic patients and their families to do at-home nebulization,” she said.

OMRON Healthcare, one of the most trusted brands for clinically proven medical equipment among Filipinos, has long been an advocate of accessible health management and solutions. In its commitment to promote awareness for at-home nebulization and in celebration of this year’s Lung Month, Omron has announced a price promotion of P300 off its nebulizer products in line with its Relax Ka Lungs campaign. The promotional pricing on select OMRON nebulizer products will be in effect until October 31, 2022.

Also as part of OMRON’s Relax Ka Lungs campaign, both Dr. Dex Macalintal and Dr. Mitch Syquia will delve deeper into asthma management in an upcoming episode of OkiDoc. The said episode will be livestreamed on August 26, 2022 via the official Facebook pages for OMRON Healthcare and Hello Doctor, and YouTube page of Dr. Dex Macalintal. During the show, viewers will have the chance to raise questions about and discuss lung-related concerns with experts.

 

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About OMRON Healthcare Business

Committed to advance health and empower people worldwide to live life to the fullest, OMRON Healthcare is a global leader in the field of clinically proven, innovative medical equipment for home health monitoring and therapy. The company develops and provides remote patient monitoring services for cardiovascular condition management.

Throughout its history, OMRON Healthcare has been striving to improve lives and contribute to a better society by developing innovations that help people prevent, treat, and manage their medical conditions, both at home and in clinical practice in over 110 countries.

With over 300 million devices sold globally*, OMRON provides the world’s most recommended blood pressure monitors by healthcare professionals**. The company provides product and service solutions for cardiovascular condition management, respiratory care, and pain therapy equipment. OMRON Healthcare Group is headquartered in Kyoto, Japan

To learn more, please visit:

https://www.omronhealthcare-ap.com/ph    

International: https://www.healthcare.omron.com/

                      

*1 “Global Home Appliance Market Comprehensive Survey 2020”, Fuji Keizai Co., Ltd. (data for 2019)

*2 Cumulative sales of home-use digital blood pressure monitors worldwide (as of May. 2021)

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[1] Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) 2020

 

Michael Learns To Rock ‘Back On The Road Tour 2022’, performing all their greatest hits!

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Announcement – Danish soft rock band Michael Learns To Rock will be touring the Philippines with their latest tour ‘Back On The Road Tour 2022’ this October 2022. The iconic band will be performing in Manila on October 26 at the Araneta Coliseum, Cebu on October 28 at the Waterfront Hotel Ballroom, and Davao on October 30 at the SMX Convention Center Davao.

 

Michael Learns To Rock will serenade their Filipino fans with their well-loved classics. The band’s greatest hits include “That’s Why (You Go Away)”, “Take Me To Your Heart”, “25 Minutes”, “Sleeping Child”, “Paint My Love”, “The Actor”, “Out of The Blue”, “Complicated Heart”, “Nothing To Lose”, “Breaking My Heart”, “You Took My Heart Away”, and many more.

 

With global record sales of 11 million physical albums since their debut album in 1991, more than a billion paid downloads, over 200 million video views on YouTube and more than 300 million streams on Spotify, Michael Learns To Rock’s story is one of the most successful bands to ever come out of Denmark. The secret about Michael Learns To Rock is simply their incredible gift to write, record and play great pop songs and get them through to people all over the world.

 

Diamond soul siren Nina will be joining the band’s Philippine tour as special guest. Known for her wide vocal range and her signature use of the whistle register, Nina is behind the chart-topping singles “Jealous”, “Foolish Heart” and “Make You Mine”.

 

Presented by Wilbros Live with Midas Promotions.

Tickets will go on-sale on Saturday, September 3 at 10AM.

 

MANILA:

TicketNet.com.ph, TicketNet outlets

 

CEBU:
SMTickets.com, SM Tickets outlets and Waterfront Hotel Cebu

 

DAVAO:
SMTickets.com, SM Tickets outlets

 

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @WilbrosLive

How travel can help with your child’s development

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Revenge travel, or the increase of travel activity to make up for lost time during the height of the pandemic, is real and on the rise. In the Philippines, optimism for tourism is also continuously growing with the Department of Tourism reporting a 91.6 percent in tourism receipts from April to September 2021 versus the same period in 2020.

As more countries ease restrictions and open borders, families can now take the opportunity to explore new places both internationally and locally after the long hold off given the pandemic. In fact, experts say that traveling is beneficial not just for adults but also for their child’s development[1].

Here are some ways traveling can help your children later in life.

Broadens perspectives. Being thrust into new environments is key to transformative learning, according to sociologist and education professor Jack Mezirow. This is when a learner’s assumptions and beliefs are challenged and transformed. When traveling, children are exposed to various cultures, languages, art, and more. They also get to interact with all kinds of people. This can help them grow into more open-minded individuals and improve cross-cultural understanding.[2]

Equips them with valuable life skills. During travels, children are put into various situations that allow them to develop and practice soft skills in a real-life setting such as proper communication, teamwork, problem solving, patience, and flexibility, among others. ²

Ignites creativity and imagination. According to a leading child psychologist, your child’s “play” and “seek” brain systems, which were discovered by Professor Jaak Panksepp, a world-renowned neuroscientist at Washington State University, are activated when traveling. These are two of the seven emotional systems of your brain that are exercised when you interact and bond with your kids and when you explore new sights with them respectively. Traveling supports your child’s explorative and playful side which will make them more adept at exploring new ideas in the future.

Strengthens family relationships. Nothing creates bonds more than having shared experiences as a family. Use travel as an opportunity to understand and connect with the whole family and collect memories that you can look back at for years to come.

As traveling makes a comeback, we have to ensure our family’s safety wherever we go. Travelling with children can be quite tricky, but parents need not to worry as much if they have prepared thoroughly. AXA Philippines Chief Customer Officer Nandy Villar shares, “Studies have shown that traveling is an important experience not only for learning and development but also for overall wellbeing and mental health. As a company that aims to promote wellbeing through its services, AXA Philippines wants to give its customers security and protection so they can remain worry-free throughout well-deserved vacations.”

Getting travel insurance can provide a substantial financial safety net alongside emergency assistance as you show your children the world. Smart Traveller by AXA provides convenient and best-in-class protection whether you are traveling locally or abroad so your family can make the most of their experience. It provides comprehensive medical benefits during your trip including covering hospitalization costs, doctors’ professional fees and more, and has 24/7 travel and medical assistance. Moreover, it also helps manage travel inconveniences by protecting your luggage in case of loss or damage and covering refunds in case of trip cancellation and postponement for non-refundable expenses.

Smart Traveller is also Schengen-accredited so you’re covered for your visa requirements. If you have multiple travel plans ahead, AXA also offers annual plans and discounts for group travel.

Visit https://www.axa.com.ph/travel-insurance and prepare for your next adventure!

[1] Chen, C.-C., Petrick, J. F. (2013) Health and wellness benefits of travel experiences, Journal of Travel Research, 52:6, 709–719. DOI: 10.1177/0047287513496477

[2] Deborah A. Byrnes (2001) Travel Schooling: Helping Children Learn through Travel, Childhood Education, 77:6, 345-350, DOI: 10.1080/00094056.2001.10521668

AIA Philippines partners with the PCP Foundation to empower more Filipinos To Live Healthier, Longer, Better Lives

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Since it was established in 1947, the country’s premier life insurance company, AIA Philippines (formerly AIA Philam Life), has been actively partnering with various organizations to empower more Filipinos to live healthier, longer, and better lives.

As a testament to its commitment, the company is inking more partnerships to support initiatives which push its advocacies promoting health and wellness. AIA Philippines’ most recent collaboration is with the Philippine College of Physicians Foundation, Inc. (PCPF) who received a donation pledge of PHP1.5 million to fund the organization’s Bridging Leadership Workshops and projects, and other non-communicable disease registry/programs.

“We at AIA Philippines are well-positioned to make a difference in health and wellness by supporting initiatives that can contribute towards improvements in the health care sector,” Kelvin Ang, CEO of AIA Philippines, said. “We are proud to partner with the PCP Foundation and other organizations in the health sector. Supporting their initiatives go a long way towards helping more Filipinos live Healthier, Longer, Better Lives.”

The Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) is the umbrella organization of internists in the Philippines. This organization aims to continue the medical education of internists and other physicians, and provide accreditation and certification of training programs for internal medicine in the Philippines. PCP created the PCP Foundation to become the social service arm of the College.

From left to right: Max Ventura, Diane Madulid-Santiago and Regina Custodio from the AIA Philippines ESG Team, Dr. Maricar Limpin, 2021 President of the Philippine College of Physicians (PCP), Bernadette Chincuanco, Head of Branding and Communications from AIA Philippines, Dr. Kenneth Hartigan Go, Vice-President PCP Foundation, Dr. Sandra Torres, Executive Director PCP Foundation.

The PCP conducted a Bridging Leadership Workshop in 2021 for their members. This is a transformational leadership program focused on enabling the physicians to work with other stakeholders, such as the local government units, in providing innovative health projects for their respective communities. AIA Philippines is supporting some of the projects.

Some notable programs under the partnership include GINAHA (the Sweetheart Project, which aims to improve health outcomes through community empowerment of indigent hypertensive and diabetic patients of barangay San Isidro village, Virac, Catanduanes. Another is the “Magpangaman gamit ang BOTA, Leptospirosis matana ta” initiated by the PCP Western Visayas-Panay chapter that aims to prevent Leptospirosis among farmers from Cabatuan, Iloilo, a town where a high incidence of Leptospirosis is found. If these programs are successful, it can serve as a model for preventing non-communicable diseases and leptospirosis in other areas.

Aside from the PCP Foundation, AIA Philippines has other ongoing partnerships with various organizations in the health sector: the Cancer Research and Registry Philippines Foundation (CARE), the Philippine Alliance of Patient Organization, the Philippine College of Surgeons Cancer Commission Foundation (PCS-CanCom), I Can Serve Foundation, UP Cancer Institute, the Philippine Society of Public Health Physicians (PSPHP), and the Ateneo School of Governance (ASOG).

Know more about AIA Philippines by visiting their website at aia.com.ph or Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/AIAPhilippines/, emailing customerservice.ph@aia.com or calling (02) 8528-2000. For more information about the PCP Foundation, you may visit their website at https://pcpfoundation.com/ or their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/PCPFoundationInc/ . The PCP Foundation secretariat may be reached via email at secretariat@pcpfoundation.com.

Shopee’s new initiative “Barangay Shopee” aims to better the lives of underserved communities

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• Barangay Shopee grants community wishes such as basketball courts, multi-purpose hall renovation, and more

With its mission of bettering the lives of Filipinos across the country through technology, Shopee has helped millions of local buyers and sellers adopt e-commerce seamlessly through its meaningful campaigns and initiatives. In time for its much-awaited double day sale, the 9.9 Super Shopping Day, Shopee launches Barangay Shopee, the newest initiative under its Shopee Bayanihan CSR program, designed to help communities in need by enabling Filipinos to win a sponsored community project for their barangay.

Through this contest, Shopee users from all over the Philippines have the chance to win a community project that will help address the needs of their barangay. Winners of the contest can choose their own community project that all members of their barangay can benefit from, such as a new basketball court, multi-purpose hall renovation, public school supplies, and other community-building projects.

Starting August 25 up to September 9, users can join Barangay Shopee by posting video entries on Facebook and submitting the link via the Barangay Shopee page in the app. Joining the online contest can be done in three simple steps:

Create a 1-2 minute video with at least 3 barangay members and answer the questions:

● Bakit kayo ang dapat tawagin na “Barangay Shopee”?

● Paano pwedeng tulungan ng Shopee ang inyong Barangay?

Post the video on Facebook, following these requirements:

● Follow and tag @ShopeePH on Facebook

● Post is public

● Use the hashtag #BarangayShopee in the caption

Submit the link to your video via the Barangay Shopee page in the Shopee app.

Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines, shared “We are thrilled to be launching our newest initiative, Barangay Shopee. In everything that we do, we work towards our main mission of bettering the lives of our users, sellers, and communities through technology. Through Barangay Shopee, our goal is to foster the community spirit of barangays from all over the Philippines, and uplift them by providing them with a community project that their whole barangay can benefit from. We look forward to crafting even more initiatives that will help make e-commerce more accessible for all.”

Barangay Shopee is the newest initiative under Shopee Bayanihan, the company's umbrella CSR program that seeks to harness the power of technology to help communities benefit from digital transformation, wherever they are in the Philippines

To learn more about how you can join and win a Shopee-sponsored community project of your choice for your barangay, visit the Barangay Shopee page in the app. Download Shopee for free on App Store or Google Play Store.