Showing newest posts with label Health. Show older posts
Showing newest posts with label Health. Show older posts

Tamiflu vs. Swine Flu

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Swine flu! This PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY OF INTERNATIONAL CONCERN is freaking me out. Somebody please give me Tamiflu!

According to the
US Center for Disaster Control, "the recommended antiviral drugs for swine influenza are oseltamivir (brand name Tamiflu®) and zanamivir (brand name Relenza®). Both are prescription drugs that fight against swine flu by keeping flu viruses from reproducing in the body. These drugs can prevent infection if taken as a preventative."

I am trying to get my hands on at least 2 boxes of Tamiflu. Wish me luck. 

In the mean time, here are some tips from the
CDC.

PRACTICE HEALTHY HABITS TO HELP STOP THE SPREAD OF SWINE FLU
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water. This removes germs from your skin and helps prevent diseases from spreading.
  • Use waterless alcohol-based hand gels (containing at least 60% alcohol) when soap is not available and hands are not visibly dirty.
  • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and put your used tissue in a wastebasket.
  • If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands.
  • Wash your hands after coughing or sneezing, using soap and water or an alcohol-based hand cleaner (with at least 60% alcohol) when soap and water are not available.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread that way.
  • Try to avoid close contact with sick people. (Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.)
  • It is important to follow the advice of local health and government authorities. You may be asked to restrict your movement and stay in your home to contain the spread of swine flu.

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New Year Chores: Quarterly Mold and Moisture Check

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Damp and humid weather is conducive to mold growth. While the mold toxins may not kill you, it can cause nasty allergic reactions such as irritated eyes, nasal congestion and headaches.

With molds, prevention is the key. You can never let your guard down. Constant vigilance is required. Check and clean your cabinets at least once every quarter.

Tools:

  • Flashlight
  • Bleach Spray (I am using diluted Domex)
  • All-Purpose Cleaner Spray (I am using diluted dishwashing liquid)
  • Rags
  • Moisture Absorbers
  • Silica Gels
  • Industrial Fan
  • Moth Balls















Clockwise: (1) Dehumidifier from Japan Home; (2) Used Dehumidifier; (3) Neopara (moth balls); (4) Sachets from Gourdo's

DETECTION.


Check all your rooms, cabinets and drawers for mold and moisture patches. Use a flashlight to inspect the dark corners. Don't forget to check the cabinet ceiling.

Examine your leather items carefully. Molds love real leather so you better check your designer bags, shoes and belts. I've noticed that if there's leather in the cabinet, they will ignore the pleather.

ELIMINATION.

SPRAY AND WIPE. The best way to kill molds is by spraying them with a bleach solution. Clean the area with an all-purpose cleaner then spray with bleach. DO NOT use bleach on leather.

For items made of leather, click here for instructions -- How to Clean Mold from Leather.

DRY. Make sure the area is dry before returning the clothes inside the cabinet. I used an industrial fan to dry the cabinets.

PREVENTION


Prevent further build up by putting moisture absorbers and silica gels in the area. I also put Neoprana (it smells like moth balls) in small sachets and hang them inside the cabinet.

More Resources:

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Go Organic This Christmas

Friday, December 19, 2008

This is my favorite gift box so far. All that yummy goodness without the guilt.
















Second place goes to the basket containing SPAM that will last us a year.

Oooooh...Temptation!

What's was in your favorite gift basket this year?

(C, I know it's a horrible picture. I'll change it later.)

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P35 Project: Take Your Vits

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Sick and tired of reminding family members to take their vitamins?

Try this!

Slide in your Vitamin Schedule in a small acrylic menu holder (P35/$0.70 in National Bookstore ).










Place everything in a tray and serve during meal time.














You can go a step further by making a schedule for each family member.

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Eat Good, Live Bad Longer

Friday, November 7, 2008

I've been sick the whole week and I left my readers with a post on death. I'm so sorry.

Now that I'm feeling a bit better, I want to share with you the new craze in our household -- ORGANIC FOODS.


















We are starting with breakfast. We still eat junk food and order from Jollibee but it's a big step from the greasy bacon, ham and spam we eat every morning.

P.S. Mai da Paypay, our switch to organic is partly your fault. LOL!

P.P.S. More posts on this when I get better.

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Organize Your Medicine Box

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

When I was growing up, my parents kept our emergency medication (paracetamol, antihistamine, loperamide, etc.) in a small Tupperware container. Everything was dumped inside. Our medicine wonder-box was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're going to get.

My husband, on the other hand, is very organized in this area. Good thing he brought with him his own medicine box when we got married.




Here's are some handy tips on organizing your own medicine box.

1. Spread it. Take it all out of its container and see what medicines you currently have.

2. Sort it. Remember the Sesame Street song, "Which of these things go together... which of these things do not..."? Sort it in a manner that makes sense to you.

3. Check it. Check for expiration dates. If there is none and you have no idea how old it is, toss it out. It's not worth the risk.






4. Store it. Decide on a container. We use a crafts box to keep the medicines neatly sorted. Some keep theirs in small envelopes inside an index card box

5. Label it. Label every medicine with it's corresponding expiration date. If it comes in a blister pack and you're planning on cutting it up, make sure you note down the expiration date first. I made the mistake of cutting before checking and I ended up piecing it all together like a jigsaw puzzle just to see the date.

6. Hide it. Keep away from reach of children. Hide it in a cool, dry, and preferably dark place. It should be accessible to you but not your children. But don't even think of keeping it in your bathroom. Storing medication in a humid bacteria-infested place is not a good idea. Remember, aerosol effect.

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Lead in Make-up

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

We had quite a scare yesterday when HV taught us this simple test to check if there's lead in make-up.

  • Apply foundation/lipstick at the back of your hand.
  • Rub anything made of gold, like a gold ring, to the make-up.
  • If it darkens or turns black, there is lead in the make-up.
We were on our way to Divisoria so I was the only one wearing gold jewelry, my wedding ring. MM, on the other hand, was the only one with a make-up kit in her bag.

MM tested her Maybelline foundation first. It turned black. Aaack! She tested her favorite Cinema Secrets foundation next. It turned black too! She was distraught. (
I know she left her bulky wallet that day to lighten her load so why did she have 2 foundations with her? Beauty before comfort.)

Good news, MM! You don't have to give up your favorite foundation. At least, not yet.

According to Snopes.com and About.com, this test is a sham.
The handy home test for lead in lipstick touted in the email is bogus. Certain metals, including gold, may leave a dark streak when scratched on various surfaces, but this is an artifact of the metals themselves, not an indicator of a chemical reaction with lead or any other substance.
To All: Can you help me confirm this? Please do the test on your foundations and tell me what happens. If it's true that gold will generally leave a dark streak when scratched, then ALL foundations, regardless of brand, should turn black.

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Dirty Handbags

Tuesday, October 7, 2008










(Mrs. G enters the bedroom)

Wow! Fresh bed sheets.

(
"Psycho" theme plays in the background. Mrs. G looks to the right.)

Shriek! Why is my bag on the bed? And it's beside my pillow!

(
Mrs. G faints.)
Whoever put it there has absolutely no idea how dirty that bag is.

I have this bad habit of putting my bag on ANY floor, including public restrooms. I would prefer not too but it is sometimes unavoidable especially with the current condition of most of the public restrooms in Manila. No hooks!

Well, you think your handbag is cleaner than mine? Think again.
Microbiologist Amy Karen of Nelson Laboratories says nearly all of the handbags they tested were not only high in bacteria, but high in harmful kinds of bacteria.
Here are some tips on keeping your bags germless:
  • Use wipes (preferably the disinfecting kind) to clean the outer surface of your bag when you get home.
  • Bring your own bag hook when you go out so that you won't be forced to put your bag on the floor or any other dirty surface.
  • Refrain from putting your bag on surfaces where you know food is served or prepared.
  • Apply the same rules to briefcases, backpacks and gym bags.
Reference: Health Desk and Today

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Adobo and the China Food Scare

Friday, September 26, 2008

I wanted to cook Marketman's Adobo, Gata at Sili for dinner tonight but I was worried about the canned coconut milk in our pantry. I remember the can having some Chinese writing so, to be safe, I decided to cook something else.

I won't be eating adobo tonight, but all is not lost. After learning that Marketman used coconut milk from Thailand, I immediately checked our pantry. Luckily, our coconut milk is also made in Thailand and not China as I first thought. Whew! It's going to be adobo for lunch tomorrow.

Ate S on the China Food Scare

The China food scare is making even Ate S nervous. When I handed her the coconut milk, she kept on asking if I was sure it was not made in China. I had to explain to her that the writings in the can are Thai and not Chinese. I also pointed to her the words "PRODUCT OF THAILAND".

I am trying to access the BFAD site for the partial list of products pulled out from the groceries but the site is down.
In the meantime, Ate S is removing the China-made products in our pantry.

UPDATE: I got the partial list from ABS-CBN News. Get it here.

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Chocolatiest Test

Friday, August 22, 2008

My husband believes in rapid nutrient replacement after a workout. I have no problem with this since studies show that a person must consume carbohydrates within 15 minutes after a workout to help restore glycogen. My problem is his choice of carbohydrates, KRISPY KREMES.









© BrokenSphere / Wikimedia Commons


I have to give him another option! But where will I find a healthy alternative to Krispy Kremes? It must be as yummy as doughnuts.

Compared to children, husbands are harder to feed healthy meals. You can't just give them "the mommy look of terror".
Fortunately, after some research, I found the perfect after workout snack...

CHOCOLATE DRINKS

According to WebMD:

In the study, nine male cyclists rode until their muscles were depleted of energy, then rested four hours and biked again until exhaustion. During the rest period, the cyclists drank low-fat chocolate milk, Gatorade, or Endurox R4. During a second round of exercise, the cyclists who drank the chocolate milk were able to bike about 50% longer than those who drank Endurox, and about as long as those who drank the Gatorade.
Problem solved? Not really.

My husband would only drink CHOCO-VIM but that drink was discontinued decades ago. The only trace the good ol' drink is this bottle being sold on eBay.








If there's a will, there's a way.











I hope one of these tastes like Choco-Vim.

Anyone out there who can still remember how that chocolate drink tastes like? Please send me your suggestions.

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Very Dirty City Air

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Manila Air is sooo DIRTY! Here's the proof...

I had our air conditioners cleaned last 6 August 2008. On the same day, I placed in it special filters that are designed to turn any air conditioner into an air filter. It comes with an indicator that you stick on the air conditioner's grill. Once it turns black, after around 1-2 months of normal use as the packaging claimed, it's time to change the filter.









On the 8th day...












The indicator was barely a week old when it started turning black. We had to replace the filter after only 8 days!


See the dirt trapped in the filter? Gross!

Alas! The price we have to pay for living in the city.

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Health: Granite Countertops

Friday, August 8, 2008

I Need a Geiger Counter! Now!

I just found out that my jet black granite countertop releases RADON.

RADON: This odorless, tasteless gas occurs naturally when uranium in rocks and soil decays. Recent studies indicate that exposure to high levels of radon over extended periods is linked to lung cancer. Both the U.S. Surgeon General and the EPA recommend that every home be tested for radon. [Good Housekeeping: The Complete Household Handbook, p. 379 (2005)]

Good Housekeeping not a good enough source for you?


Okay, here is an article from the New York Times -- What's Lurking in Your Countertop?

The E.P.A. recommends taking action if radon gas levels in the home exceeds 4 picocuries per liter of air (a measure of radioactive emission); about the same risk for cancer as smoking a half a pack of cigarettes per day.

I don't smoke but now there's a possibility that I have the same risk for cancer as my friend who smokes half a pack of Dunhills a day. Argh!

What's your kitchen countertop made of?

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Where Do You Keep Your Toothbrush?

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Experts say that flushing the toilet causes an "aerosol effect" wherein the bathroom is filled with microscopic mist contaminated by germs and bacteria. Imagine the "tiny things" floating all around the bathroom. Yikes!

My husband keeps his toothbrush in the bathroom cabinet. Up until a few weeks ago, I kept my toothbrush out in the open, on top of the bathroom sink.


The question now is whether my toothbrush is safer inside the cabinet?

After some research (a.k.a. googling), I have good news and bad news.


Bad News

No matter where you keep your toothbrush, it could still be contaminated by germs and bacteria. That extra stretching you had to do in the morning to get your toothbrush from the cabinet was all for naught.

Good News

No matter where you keep your toothbrush, the level of contamination will not be enough to make you sick. Just make sure your ex-girlfriend did not use it to clean the toilet before she left you.


So where do I keep my toothbrush?


They say that it's not hygienic to leave your toothbrush in the sink because of the aerosol effect. So was my husband correct in keeping it inside the cabinet? Experts still say no. Toothbrushes must not be kept in dark and moist areas. It must be air dried properly.

So where the *&^% do I keep my toothbrush?

Geez... I'm keeping it in the sink where I can grab it in the morning even with my eyes closed.

If you missed the Myth Busters episode in Discovery Channel, just check out these links:
1. Wikipedia - MythBusters Season 1
2. MythBusters - WikiDiscovery

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Tips: Anti-Dengue

Saturday, July 26, 2008













This tip was sent to me by a friend/mrsgblog-fan who trained with the US Army.

If you are going camping and there are a lot of bugs, put dryer sheets in your pockets and around your tent. Do not use the fruity smelling kind. Bounce works best.
This is a great anti-dengue tip for children going on a field trip. I myself will do this the next time I have to eat al fresco in Bonifacio High Street. The last time I was there, my legs were riddled with mosquito bites!

I was able to ask my friend the following questions:

Q. When you say bugs, does that include Philippine mosquitoes?
A. Yes

Q. Will it work with used dryer sheets?
A. No. It must be unused.

Q. Will it work against tics?
A. No. We use dog tic collars for that.

Hmmm... Tic Collars? That is too "Man vs. Wild" for me. I'll stick to dryer sheets.

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