This is to inform the public that the following persons are no longer connected with the Company (Ambica International Trading Corporation) and all other Affiliations effective immediately.

Mr. Palani Punniyacotti

Ms Maureen Verano

Any transactions or representations hereinafter made by any of the above named persons will not be valid, conclusive and ratified by Amibica.

All men over 40 need a yearly checkup (this goes for the ladies, too). For those who are overweight or those with a family history of heart disease, diabetes or early deaths, you need to see a doctor even if you’re not yet 40. Listed here are the 10 most important health tips for men.

1. Stop smoking. Almost 60 percent of Filipino males smoke. And many start at 13 to 14 years of age. This explains why lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer deaths in the Philippines. Studies show that 80 percent of lung cancers are due to smoking. Smoking can also cause cancers of the oral cavity, throat, and prostate. Smoking kills. And it kills painfully. So I urge everyone to find a way to quit smoking.

2. Check your prostate. If women worry about breast cancer, then men should be concerned about their prostates. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in males. To help detect prostate cancer, you may check the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, especially for those over 40. In addition, your doctor can insert a finger in the rectum to see whether your prostate is enlarged. This sounds uncomfortable, but it’s part of the checkup. In men over 60, it is common to have urinary problems, such as straining and frequent urination due to an enlarged prostate.

3. Get a cancer checkup. A complete cancer checkup includes checking your thyroid, lymph nodes (nodules under the armpits), oral region, skin (look for black marks), and testicles for any suspicious masses.

Colon cancer is another common cancer. You should watch out for changes in your bowel habits, stool consistency, such as stools becoming smaller or thinner than usual. Blood in stools always needs a quick checkup. A CEA test can help detect bowel cancer.

After 50 years of age, a stool occult blood test is done yearly. To better visualize the colon, a sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy is recommended after 50.

4. Limit or avoid alcohol. Red wine is good for the heart, right? But not if you drink the whole bottle. A teeny-weeny sip of wine is just fine. Too much wine can destroy your liver and brain cells. You become forgetful, moody, and dependent on alcohol. Alcoholics are also prone to falls and fractures. And if you’ve never had an alcoholic drink, I will definitely not advise you to start the habit.

5. Maintain a healthy lifestyle. Engage in aerobic exercise 30 minutes a day, most days of the week. Lessen your salt and fat intake to maintain your ideal body weight. Practice proper dental care with regular tooth brushing and flossing.

6. Know your BP. Checking your blood pressure regularly is a simple way to care for your heart. If your BP is greater than or equal to 140 over 90 mmHg, you have high blood pressure. If your BP is higher than 160 over 100 mmHg, you are at serious risk for a stroke or heart attack. Please get a checkup now. For those with BP below 140/90 but higher than 120/80, you should be careful and monitor your BP. Maintain a healthy lifestyle to attain an ideal BP of 120 over 80 mmHg.

7. Limit work stress. It’s been proven that chronic stress harms the body. Tension elevates the blood pressure and makes the blood thicker. Although we don’t want to endorse a lazy lifestyle, too much stress can hurt your body organs like the heart, brain, and stomach. Take it easy sometimes.

8. Resolve family and relationship issues. Stress does not only come from work. Family stress, guilt, anger, and conflict can lead to sleepless nights and high blood pressure. Too much jealousy and hate poison the mind and cause sickness. Some experts believe that cancer arises from these negative emotions, too.

9. Get vaccinated. For persons above 50 and those with chronic medical conditions, influenza (flu) and pneumonia vaccinations are lifesaving. Just like infant vaccinations, the recent advances in medical science now offer protection for adults. Pneumonia vaccine is given every five years while the flu vaccine is given yearly.

10. Get a basic laboratory exam. These are the basic laboratory exams:

• Blood exams: Complete blood count, creatinine (check the kidneys), uric acid (check for gout), cholesterol (high-fat diet), fasting blood sugar (check for diabetes), and SGPT (check the liver).

• Urinalysis: Check for urinary infections and kidney problems.

• Electrocardiogram: Check for heart problems.

• Chest X-ray: Check for lung and heart problems, particularly for smokers.

Checkups are done yearly. Statistics show that regular checkups can add an average of three years to your lifespan.

Life is short — let us not make it shorter by our stubbornness and fear of doctors. I sincerely hope I have convinced you to visit your favorite doctor.

The Philippine Star

We are what we eat” goes an old saying. Eat lots of fatty foods and you can get a heart attack. Eat mostly veggies, fruits, and fish, and you’ll probably live longer. But did you know that there are special foods that can help you gain supple and radiant skin? You read that right. Check out our top 10 beauty foods:

1. Avocadoes. Avocadoes are packed with the B vitamins, which help nourish your skin. vitamin B3 (called niacin) acts as an anti-inflammatory agent and may help smoothen reddish and patchy skin. One avocado contains 3.8 mg. of niacin, which fullfills 27 percent of your daily needs.

2. Green tea. According to authors Dr. Michael Roizen and Dr. Mehmet Oz, polyphenols in green tea may prevent sunlight damage and improve the elasticity of the skin’s outer layer (the epidermis). Studies show that green tea may prevent various cancers, including skin cancer, because of the high concentration of catechins. Drink one to two glasses a day.

3. Green veggies. Green leafy vegetables contain many vitamins, minerals, and plant chemicals known to provide health benefits. Green veggies also help flush out toxins from the body. An international study shows that people who eat more vegetables and fish have less wrinkles, compared to those who eat less. Locally, we have cabbage, pechay, kangkong, camote tops (talbos), and spinach.

4. Tomatoes. A German study found that tomato paste with olive oil helped participants prevent sunburn within 10 weeks of taking it. Tomatoes are extremely high in antioxidants, especially carotenoids like beta-carotene and lycopene. Studies show that lycopene may help slow down cellular damage from free radicals. Lycopene is readily released by cooking tomatoes and better absorbed with a little oil added. Therefore, eating spaghetti sauce, around 10 tablespoons per week, is considered very healthy. Just limit the fatty meatballs.

5. Watermelon. Watermelon’s beneficial effect comes from its component citrulline, which is converted to arginine in the body. Arginine helps flush out ammonia and other toxins from the body. The deep-red watermelon variety also contains the pigment lycopene, which helps counter the bad effects of free radicals circulating in the body. Once we reduce these free radicals, we can theoretically slow down aging and gain healthier-looking skin.

6. Soybeans. Soybeans contain protein which breaks down into smaller amino acids upon digestion. These amino acids, in turn, help repair the skin cells and collagen beneath the skin. In addition, soybeans contain essential fatty acids that help moisturize your skin naturally. Soybeans are also rich in calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium, B vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, and fiber. Hence, they’re good for your heart, bones, and digestion. You can add soybeans to your diet by drinking soya milk or adding tofu to your soups, stews, and salads.

7. Oily fish. Endorsed by the American Heart Association, oily fish, such as sardines, tuna, mackerel, and salmon, are filled with healthy omega-3 fatty acids — a type of fat that makes your blood less likely to form clots. Salmon, in particular, contains astaxanthin, which is a carotenoid that improves skin elasticity. A study in the Journal of Lipid Research in 2005 showed that fish oil could limit skin damage caused by the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Fish oil may also alleviate conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, and dry and flaky skin. To get the full health benefit, fresh oily fish is better than canned fish where omega-3 levels are reduced.

8. Cottage cheese and milk products.

Low-fat milk products are good for your heart, bones, and skin. Cottage cheese contains calcium, phosphorous, iron, magnesium, and selenium. The selenium component is a potent antioxidant, which can help promote a more beautiful skin. However, don’t eat too much cottage cheese because they can be fatty, too.

9. Nuts. The rich oils in nuts help moisturize your skin while their vitamin E component may protect your skin from damage and premature aging. Don’t worry since the fats found in nuts are the good fats — monounsaturated and polyunsaturated. Locally, we have nilagang mani (boiled peanuts) and cashew nuts. Walnuts and almonds are more expensive, but they are specially packed with healthy oils. However, some nuts are salty and high in uric acid. Just eat a handful as a snack.

10. Water. Our bodies are composed of mostly water, which keeps the skin soft and radiant. While a dehydrated person will have deep-set eyes and wrinkled skin, a fully hydrated person exhibits a normal and firm skin tone. Drink eight to 10 glasses of clean water every day.

Aside from the above 10 skin-friendly foods, don’t forget the basic secrets to having beautiful skin:

• Drink lots of water to flush out toxins.

• Have some form of daily exercise.

• Avoid the noonday sun and apply sunblock.

• Avoid stress and get plenty of rest.

• Take a multivitamin.

By the way, if you want to know the unhealthiest food for the skin, it’s heavy alcohol drinking. Binge drinking makes you prone to sunburn and skin cancer. So don’t drink, don’t smoke, and eat right to have beautiful skin. Quite simple, isn’t it?

Source: The Philippine Star

Hardly a week passes by without a fun run, a marathon, a 5K or a walkathon happening. This is a healthy development. Runners know what recent research confirms: The path to good health begins by taking one step at a time.

There is no question that we are in the midst of a boom in run-ning in the Philippines today.

Not quite up for competing in a marathon yourself? Don’t feel bad. Most of us aren’t, after all. But that doesn’t mean that you have to sit on the sidelines. Even the slower pace of brisk walking can pay health benefits.

Walking can give you more energy, make you feel good, reduce stress, and help you relax. It helps build and tone muscles and strengthen your bones. Studies have shown that walking can lower your risk for chronic diseases, such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes, improve your sleep, and alleviate symptoms of depression. Much like running a marathon, walking increases the number of calories your body uses, and improves your stamina and fitness.

Steps To Longer Life?

One recent study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, suggests that being physically fit after age 60 — regardless of your body’s fat content — may help you live longer.

Xuemei Sui, MD, of the Department of Exercise Science of the University of South Carolina, and colleagues, examined the links between fitness, fatness, and mortality in older adults. They studied more than 2,600 men and women, age 60 or older, who were participants in the Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study. The subjects walked on a treadmill to determine their fitness levels and had their body fat levels assessed in several different ways: waist circumference, body fat percentage, and Body Mass Index (BMI), which is a comparison of weight to height.

During an average follow-up period of 12 years, 450 of the participants died. The researchers noted that the body fat percentage did not appear to be related to the risk of dying. But better fitness did play an important role in reducing the risk of death.

Grouping the participants into five categories based on their fitness levels, the researchers found that the least-fit group had a death rate four times higher than that of the fittest. Even those in the low fitness group fared much better than the least-fit; they had only half the mortality rate of the least-fit group. In most cases, too, the death rates for those with higher fitness levels were less than half the rates for those who were least fit but who weighed similar amounts.

The researchers say their findings suggest that you don’t need to get thin to benefit from regular physical activity. Brisk walking for at least 30 minutes most days of the week, for example, will keep most older adults out of the lowest fitness category and possibly help prolong their lives, the researchers said.

And it’s not just the years in your life physical activity affects, but also the life in your years. “Staying physically active is key to healthy aging,” says Dr. Sui.

Getting Started

You’re probably not ready to run a marathon right out of the starting gate, but that’s no excuse for staying sedentary. Walking is one of the easiest ways to get started being physically active. Weather permitting, you can walk almost anywhere and at any time. Requiring almost no gear — really, just appropriate clothing and a water bottle — walking is also inexpensive.

Wear shoes with proper arch supports, a firm heel, and thick flexible soles to cushion your feet and absorb shock. Before you buy a new pair of walking shoes, be sure to walk in them in the store.

Wear clothes that will keep you dry and comfortable. Look for synthetic fabrics that wick sweat away from your skin. Dress in layers. And don’t forget sunglasses and sunscreen.

If you walk at dawn, dusk, or night, wear a reflective vest or brightly colored clothing. Walk in a group when possible, or let someone know when you are setting out and plan to return. Do not wear headphones — be aware of your surroundings!

A pedometer may encourage you to walk farther. A recent Stanford study found that using a pedometer correlated positively with significant increases in physical activity and decreases in BMI and blood pressure.

Of course, prior to starting any exercise regimen, consider consulting your doctor, especially if you have any health concerns such as heart trouble, diabetes or asthma, or if you experience pains in your chest with physical exertion.

Quite A Stretch

Here are some helpful pointers on stretching — an important part of remaining injury-free when walking or running. Stretch gently after you warm up your muscles with an easy five-minute walk and again after you cool down. Do not bounce or hold your breath when you stretch. Perform slow movements and stretch only as far as you feel comfortable. Try doing these five basic stretches:

1. Slide reach. Reach one arm over your head and to the side. Keep your hips steady and your shoulders straight to the side. Hold for 10 seconds and repeat on the other side.

2. Wall push. Lean your hands on a wall with your feet about three to four feet away from the wall. Bend one knee and point it toward the wall. Keep your back leg straight with your foot flat and your toes pointed straight ahead. Hold for 10 seconds and repeat with the other leg.

3. Knee pull. Lean your back against a wall. Keep your head, hips, and feet in a straight line. Pull one knee to your chest, or as close as you can get it, and hold for 10 seconds. Repeat with the other leg.

4. Leg curl. Pull your right foot to your buttocks with your right hand. Stand straight and keep your knee pointing straight to the ground. Hold for 10 seconds and repeat with your left foot and hand.

5. Hamstring stretch. Sit on a sturdy bench or hard surface so that your left leg is stretched out on the bench with your toes pointing up. Keep your right foot flat on the floor. Straighten your back, and if you feel a stretch in the back of your thigh, hold for 10 seconds and repeat with your right leg. If you do not yet feel a stretch, lean forward from your hips until you feel a stretch.

(Go to <win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/walking.htm#warmup> online to see illustrations of the exercises.)

Stepping Out

Think of your walk in three parts. First, warm up by walking slowly for five minutes. Then do some stretching (as above).

Next, walk at a moderate-to-brisk pace for your allotted time. Set a reasonable goal — say, 15 minutes to start out — and stick to it.

Finally, cool down by walking slowly again for five minutes and finish up with gentle stretching.

Walking correctly helps prevent injury. Walk with your chin up and your shoulders held slightly back. Walk so that the heel of your foot touches the ground first, then roll your weight forward. Gently swing your arms in a natural, graceful manner as you walk.

Try to walk at least three times per week, gradually increasing the length of your sessions. Each week, add just two or three minutes to your walk. If you walk less than three times per week, you may need more time to adjust before you increase the pace or frequency of your walk. Over several walks, increase your pace, mileage, and walking time. Keep track of your progress with a walking journal or log.

Experts recommend 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on most, if not all, days of the week. If you cannot do 30 minutes at a time, try walking for shorter amounts and gradually working up to it.

Expect yourself to achieve the short- and long-term goals you’ve set. But if you slip — and this happens occasionally to all of us — don’t be so hard on yourself that it becomes counter-productive. Rather, encourage yourself to get back on track.

Who knows? Maybe you’ll even work yourself up from a fun run initially to running a marathon ultimately!

Source: The Philippine Star

You were probably vaccinated years ago against a number of infectious diseases. Although most vaccinations are given in the first couple of decades of life, even adults need an occasional shot in the arm, for several reasons. Some of us were never vaccinated as children. Vaccines are available now that were not when today’s adults were young. As you age, immunity can fade, leaving you susceptible to serious disease caused by common infections. And you may find yourself traveling to areas where certain infectious diseases are much more common than they are where you live.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has added several new vaccines to the list of those recommended for adults. Not everyone needs all of those vaccines. For example, the more recently approved vaccine against sexually transmitted strains of human papillomavirus (HPV) that cause cervical cancer is recommended only for girls and young women, age nine through 26 years old. That’s because it works best if given before a young woman becomes sexually active and is exposed to HPV. On the other hand, the zoster (shingles) vaccine is recommended for everyone over age 60 to prevent shingles and reduce its excruciating pain (post-herpetic neuralgia).

Vaccination protects not only you as an individual but also the entire community, through a phenomenon called herd immunity. When you become infected, your vaccine-primed immune system limits the time you remain contagious, which minimizes the risk that you’ll infect others. If everyone around you has been vaccinated, you’re less likely to get infected. And if enough members of a community have vaccine protection, everyone in that community  even the unvaccinated  is less likely to get sick.

The vaccination recommendations in today’s article are taken from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and they apply to healthy older adults. The outline follows the following sequence: name of the vaccine, who should get it and how often, and the benefit. I suggest you clip today’s column for future reference.

Influenza (FLU)

• Anyone who wants to reduce the risk of becoming ill with the flu or transmitting it to others. CDC recommends giving it to everyone, age 50 and older, once a year at the start of the flu season. The vaccine contains the strains of virus most likely to cause illness in that year. It should not be given to anyone who’s had an anaphylactic reaction to eggs or the vaccine itself, or anyone who contracted Guillain-Barre Syndrome within six months after a previous influenza vaccination.

• Protects against the flu, a respiratory illness that kills thousands of people annually from its complications. If you have a chronic condition like diabetes or asthma, it is especially important to be vaccinated. (This vaccine will not prevent H1N1 “swine” flu.)

Pneumococcal polysac charide vaccine (PPSV)

• Everyone age 65 or older, or if you have a chronic respiratory condition, like asthma, or you smoke. Anyone with a chronic illness, a weakened immune system, or a removed or damaged spleen, residents of nursing homes or homes for the aged, or anyone at high risk for pneumococcal disease. Should not be given to anyone who’s had an anaphylactic reaction to this vaccine. One or two doses of the vaccine per lifetime.

• Protects against pneumococcal bacteria, which can cause pneumonia, meningitis, or a bacterial infection in the bloodstream  all can be fatal.

Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis (TD/TDAP)

• Adults, age 19-64, should receive a dose of Tdap as a substitute for the usual Td shot that is given every 10 years. Adults who were never vaccinated against these diseases need to be given three doses of the vaccine (the first two doses four weeks apart and the last, six to 12 months later). Should not be given to anyone who’s had an anaphylactic reaction to the vaccine.

• The Tdap is a booster vaccine that helps prevent tetanus (a bacterial disease that causes lockjaw, muscle spasms, and damage to the nervous system), diphtheria (a respiratory disease), and pertussis (whooping cough). The Td vaccine only protects against tetanus and diphtheria.

Herpes zoster (SHINGLES)

• A single dose for all adults, 60 and older. Should not be given to pregnant women, to anyone with a weakened immune system, or anyone who’s had an anaphylactic reaction to this vaccine.

• Protects against shingles, an itchy, painful rash caused by the varicella–zoster virus  the same virus that causes chickenpox. If you’ve had the chickenpox, you are at risk for getting shingles since the virus stays dormant in your nerve cells. The zoster vaccine decreases your chances of getting shingles by 50 percent.

Varicella (CHICKENPOX)

• Anyone, especially health workers, born before 1980, who haven’t had chickenpox or never been vaccinated against it. Two doses during your lifetime, four to eight weeks apart. Should not be given to pregnant women, to anyone with a weakened immune system, or to anyone who’s had an anaphylactic reaction to this vaccine.

• Protects against chickenpox.

Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)

• For adults who have not had these childhood diseases; one to two doses per lifetime. People born before 1957 are considered to have immunity from measles, but getting vaccinated is still a good idea. Should not be given to pregnant women, to anyone with a weakened immune system, or to anyone who’s had an anaphylactic reaction to this vaccine.

Protects against measles, a virus that can cause fever, rash, and runny nose, and may lead to pneumonia or death; mumps, a virus that can lead to deafness, meningitis, or death; and rubella, also called German measles, which causes swollen lymph nodes, rash, and fever.

Hepatitis A

• Anyone who wants to be immune to hepatitis A infection; anyone with chronic liver disease, or a clotting factor disorder; people whose work or lifestyle exposes them to hepatitis A virus; certain international travelers and food handlers. Two doses per lifetime, six months apart. Should not be given to anyone who’s had an anaphylactic reaction to this vaccine.

• Protects against hepatitis A, an acute liver disease, contracted by ingesting contaminated food.

Hepatitis B

• Anyone wishing to become immune to hepatitis B infection; anyone with chronic liver disease, HIV infection, end-stage renal disease; people whose work or lifestyle exposes them to hepatitis B   especially adults with multiple sex partners, partners of infected people, and travelers to high-risk areas. Three doses, with four weeks between doses one and two, and eight weeks between doses two and three. Should not be given to anyone who’s had an anaphylactic reaction to this vaccine.

• Protects against hepatitis B, a liver disease caused by the hepatitis B virus, which is transmitted through body fluids. Hepatitis B can range from acute to long term and can cause liver cancer.

Meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine

• International travelers to countries where meningitis is widespread; laboratory workers exposed to meningococcal bacteria; anyone with terminal complement component deficiency. One or more doses per lifetime. Should not be given to anyone who’s had an anaphylactic reaction or neurological reaction to the vaccine or any of its components, including diphtheria toxoid.

• Protect against infection from meningococcal bacteria, which can cause potentially fatal illness.

Source: The Philippine Star

Brave bikers: Organized by Bravehearts, in partnership with Team David’s Salon and GlaxoSmithKline,Tour of Hope 2011 aims to provide cervical cancer vaccinations for 500 women during its five-day tour.

MANILA, Philippines – The countdown to the cycling tour that will save at least 500 Filipino women from cervical cancer has begun.

Now, about a hundred anti-cervical cancer campaigners are getting in shape for The Tour of Hope 2011-500: Going the Xtra Mile Against Cervical Cancer, one of the most challenging cycling tours in the country. Organized by Bravehearts in partnership with Team David’s Salon and GlaxoSmithKline, this year’s Tour of Hope aims to provide cervical cancer vaccinations for 500 women during its five-day tour.

In a country where cervical cancer claims the lives of 3,807 women every year, the need to fight this deadly but preventable disease has only grown stronger over the years.

Since The Tour of Hope started in 2008, it has generated approximately P2-M through sponsorships and pledges. These were then used for cervical cancer screening programs and lectures with the Cervical Cancer Prevention Network (CECAP).

However, The Tour of Hope is not just about the bikers. Over the past two years, the event organizers have formed partnerships with local government units such as those of Tarlac, Dagupan, Pampanga, La Union, and Baguio in order to conduct lectures during each stopover of the tour to local communities containing marginalized groups with poor health-seeking behavior.

“Over the past two years, The Tour of Hope has been perceived as a cycling tour first and an anti-cervical cancer fundraising event second, when in fact it should be the other way around,” explains Abbygale Arenas-de Leon, Bravehearts president. “For this year’s Tour of Hope, we are not just focusing on increasing awareness about the disease, we also want to encourage people, especially women out there, to take action against cervical cancer.”

Aside from the challenging journey, The Tour of Hope has always been known for bringing its participants to scenic locations such as Vigan, Zambales, and Camarines Sur. This year is no exception. The Tour of Hope 2011 will kick off at the TriNoMa Mall in Quezon City on May 28.

The first stop will be at Tarlac City, Tarlac. It is the home of President Noynoy Aquino’s ancestral house and Mount Pinatubo, where adventure-seeking 4×4 wheel drivers try their skills, and hikers visit the crater. The tour will then continue to San Fernando, La Union, where the renowned La Union Botanical Gardens is located. Afterwards, the bikers will head to Vigan City, Ilocos Sur, where historical churches and ancestral homes that reflect the beauty of old world architecture can be found. The fourth stop will be Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, where tourists often visit the Juan Luna Shrine. There, visitors can get a glimpse of the award-winning “Spolarium” painter’s life through vintage photographs and household artifacts. The final stop for this year’s Tour of Hope is Paoay, where you’ll find the Paoay Church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The last leg of the tour will feature celebrity bikers such as Matteo Guidicelli, Senator Pia Cayetano, Marvin Kiefer, Rovilson Fernandez, Troy Montero, Aubrey Miles, Will Devaughn, Richie Hardin, Richard Herrera, Janna Victoria, Jeena Lopez, Gem Padilla-Thomas, Anthony Pangilinan, and David Charlton. They will be lending their star power to draw attention to a good cause. Tessa Prieto-Valdes is also currently working on a special project that will also help raise funds for cervical cancer prevention.

Source: The Philippine Star

From The Philippine Star:

Your kidneys perform a number of jobs that affect your everyday health. In addition to removing excess fluid and waste material from your blood, these bean-shaped organs clear away drugs and toxins; keep your body’s level of salt, potassium, phosphorus, and calcium in balance; and release hormones that help your body regulate blood pressure, make red blood cells, and form strong bones.

Although it’s easy to take kidney function for granted, it may be dangerous to do so — especially if you have diabetes, high blood pressure (hypertension), or other conditions that can lead to kidney damage.

Unfortunately, the symptoms of chronic kidney disease (CKD) may not be noticeable until the kidneys are severely damaged. But tests are available that can aid in the early detection of impaired kidney function and allow for treatments that often can keep the problem from getting worse and possibly progressing to kidney failure.

When Damage Is Done

Each day, your kidneys process about 200 quarts of blood and filter out about two quarts of waste products and extra water, which leaves your body as urine. However, when they become damaged, their filtering ability becomes impaired and can allow fluid and waste to accumulate in your body.

Most forms of kidney disease attack nephrons (see diagram), which are located inside your kidneys and contain tiny blood vessel clusters (glomeruli) that filter your blood and extract fluid, waste, and substances your body needs. These filtered materials then cross into tubules, where they can either be absorbed into your bloodstream or sent to your bladder to be expelled.

In some cases, damage to the nephrons can happen quickly. But most kidney diseases destroy nephrons slowly and silently. Although having a family history of kidney failure can put you at higher risk of CKD, about two-thirds of all cases of CKD are caused by diabetes and hypertension.

Other diseases that can impair kidney function include glomerulonephritis, which causes inflammation and damage to the glomeruli, and polycystic kidney disease, an inherited disease that causes large cysts to form in the kidney. Some over-the-counter pain relievers can also cause kidney damage, particularly if they’re taken in large amounts over long periods of time. These include aspirin, acetaminophen, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

The damage caused by CKD can lead to kidney failure, which is also known as end-stage renal disease (ESRD). However, CKD can lead to other health problems well before kidney failure occurs. These problems include anemia, weakened bones and cardiovascular disease. In fact, if you have CKD you’re more likely to die of a heart attack or a stroke than from kidney failure because even a small loss of kidney function can double your risk of cardiovascular disease.

Early Detection Methods

If you have diabetes, hypertension or other factors that put you at higher risk of CKD, your doctor should monitor your blood pressure and check your blood and urine for possible signs of kidney problems during regularly scheduled office visits.

A blood pressure measurement is considered key because high blood pressure can lead to kidney damage, or be a sign that kidney damage has already occurred. Urine tests can help detect if you have an excess amount of protein in your urine, which may mean your kidney’s filtering units have been damaged by disease. Blood tests can check your levels of creatinine, a waste product that can build up in your blood when your kidneys aren’t working well. In recent years, experts have also recommended using blood creatinine levels to help calculate glomerular filtration rate (GFR), which measures how efficiently kidneys are filtering waste from blood.

Protecting Your Kidneys

Here’s a rundown on strategies that make sense, both to prevent kidney disease and to slow the progression of a established disease:

• Blood pressure. Hypertension is a major contributor to heart attack, stroke, visual loss — and chronic kidney disease. Doctors now consider blood pressure below 120/80 mm Hg as normal; readings between 120/80 and 139/89 are classified as pre-hypertension, and pressure of 140/90 and higher indicate hypertension. If you are healthy, be sure your average or usual pressure is below 140/90. But if you have diabetes, kidney disease, or atherosclerosis (coronary artery disease, carotid artery disease, peripheral artery disease, or an abdominal aortic aneurysm), your pressure should be lower than 130/80. In all cases, though, a truly normal blood pressure is best of all.

Since lower blood pressures are better for health, we should all adopt a blood pressure-friendly lifestyle, including salt restriction (below 1,500mg a day for people with high blood pressure, kidney disease, and for everyone middle-aged and older; below 2,300mg a day for others); moderate exercise, such as walking for 30 minutes a day; weight control, using caloric restriction and exercise; and limiting alcohol consumption to one or two drinks a day.

• Blood sugar. When it comes to diabetes, the best plan, of course, is to prevent it from developing in the first place; weight control, exercise, and diet are the cornerstones of prevention. And even after the disease develops, all diabetics need lifestyle treatment, but many may also need medication to control their blood sugar and blood pressure levels.

• Diet. It’s a controversial area. In some animal experiments, high levels of dietary protein appear to accelerate the age-related decline in kidney function. Dietary protein restriction appears to delay kidney failure and death in patients with moderate to severe kidney disease. Withdrawing red meat from the diet of diabetics reduces albuminuria, and eating fish appears to be protective.

There is no evidence that high levels of dietary protein will damage healthy human kidneys — but at the same time, there is no benefit to excess protein intake. All in all, it seems prudent to aim for the recommended dietary protein intake of about two ounces a day. And, in addition to adjusting dietary protein, patients with kidney disease benefit from nutritional guidance to prevent malnutrition and regulate elements such as sodium, potassium, calcium, and phosphorus. Cola drinks may contain too much phosphorus for diseased kidneys, and long-term use may even harm healthy kidneys. In moderate doses, alcohol does not increase risk in healthy people.

• Medication. Although certain drugs can protect at-risk kidneys, there is no all-purpose medication to help kidneys stay that way. Still, limiting the use of certain drugs may cut the risk of developing kidney problems. NSAIDs and over-the-counter painkillers are among the prime suspects, especially when used in high doses or for long periods. And all patients with kidney disease require special care in choosing medications and using them safely.

• Lifestyle. What’s good for the rest of the body should be good for the kidneys. Experts agree that regular exercise, weight control, and smoking cessation are important to protect your kidneys. To be fair, there are no clinical trials to back up this advice — but since these measures are so important for general health, it’s a quibble without consequence.

Perspectives

It’s easy to dismiss the kidneys as little organs that simply rid the body of waste by making urine. In fact, though, the kidneys also play a big role in regulating blood vessels and blood pressure, in stimulating the production of red blood cells, and in the metabolism of vitamin D and calcium.

Kidney disease is common, and it often leads to anemia, hypertension, and bone disease. Kidney disease also boosts the risk of heart disease and premature death. Kidney disease is treatable, and dialysis or transplantation can sustain patients with end-stage kidney failure.

Still, prevention is the best treatment of all — and with simple measures, you can preserve your kidney function throughout your lifetime.

Reader’s Digest is one of the most widely read monthly publication in the world. The Reader’s Digest Asia available in the Philippines contains awe inspiring stories, useful tips from parenting to saving money, amusing anecdotes, and jokes. Ambica and Ambica products have been previously published in Reader’s Digest. This is to reach wider audiences across the country. Complimentary copies given to pharmacies, doctors, and other select individuals featured personalized Ambica cover jackets in various months. Starting May 2011, Ambica will be seen in the monthly Reader’s Digest. Watch out for special advertorials and highlighted products.

[Show as slideshow]

MANILA, Philippines – A Makati Regional Trial Court has dismissed the patent infringement case filed by a US-based pharmaceutical firm against a local drug company that sells and distributes medicine containing atrovasin ingredient.

In his March 11 decision, Judge Cesar Untalan cited Rule 9 of Republic Act 9502 (Cheaper Medicines Act of 2008), which states that the owner of a patent has no right to prevent third parties from selling and distributing drugs without his authorization.

“The unqualified right of private parties such as petitioner to import or possess unregistered imported drugs in the Philippines is confirmed by the Implementing Rules of Republic Act 9502,” the court said.

“The limitation on patent rights shall apply after the medicine has been introduced in the Philippines, or anywhere else in the world by the patent owner,” it added.

Earlier, the multinational firm sued Sahar International Trading Inc. for the selling and distribution of a drug, which contains the atrovasin ingredient. The said medicine is known to reduce the risks of heart attack and stroke, lowers bad cholesterol level, and prevents other diseases.

Sahar, president and co-owner Muhammad Ateeque, hailed the court decision, saying that this would benefit millions of Filipinos as cheaper drugs would be accessible to them.

Source: The Philippine Star

By Aie Balagtas See (The Philippine Star) Updated March 28, 2011 12:00 AM