Philippine Philhealth Contact address & telephone, membership

Philhealth is the Government medical insurance plan. The premiums are P100 per month for a family of 4 with reimbursments up to P150,000 per family per year. It only pays 25% of the costs, but  25% is better than nada.
 

Among the Benefits
Inpatient coverage:
PhilHealth provides subsidy for room and board, drugs and medicines,
laboratories, operating room and professional fees for confinements of not
less than 24 hours. Please refer to the table of rate ceilings/maximum
allowances for inpatient coverage.
Outpatient coverage:
Day surgeries, dialysis and cancer treatment procedures such as
chemotheraphy and radiotheraphy in accredited hospitals and free-standing
clinics.
Dialysis (except those undergoing emergency dialysis service during
confinement)
Chemotherapy
Cataract Extraction
Radiotherapy
Selected surgical procedures

Who Can be a member of PhilHealth Philippines?
Self-employed individuals - those who work for him/herself and is therefore both the employer and employee, including but not limited to the following:
Self-earning professionals like doctors and lawyers
Business partners and single proprietors / proprietresses
Actors, actresses, directors, scriptwriters and news reporters who are not under an employer-employee relationship
Professional athletes, coaches, trainers and jockeys
Farmers and fisherfolks
Workers in the informal sector such as ambulant vendors, watch-your-car boys, hospitality girls, tricycle drivers, etc.
Separated from employment - those who were previously formally employed (with employer-employee relationship) and are separated from employment.
Employees of international organizations and foreign governments based in the Philippines without agreement with PhilHealth for the coverage of their Filipino employees in the program.   Also foreigners married to Filipinos and their children.
All other individuals not covered under the previous categories mentioned, including but are not limited to the following:
Parents who are not qualified as legal dependents, indigents or retireess/pensioners
Overseas contract workers
All working employess in the Philippines
So that includes just about everyone hehe

Be a Member!  You will use the new membership form, and you need to bring your birth certificate, your marriage certificate (so you can include your spouse as your dependent), and birth certificates (so your children or parents over 60 will be enrolled as your dependents).  Bring original and xerox copies.  Registrant will be issued his/her PhilHealth Identification Number or PIN and the Member Data Record or MDR and shall be asked to pay the required premiums to the PhilHealth Cashier or at any of PhilHealth's accredited collecting banks

Contact Philhealth Contact Location Address and Philhealth Phone number
Head Office  Citystate Centre, 709 Shaw Boulevard, Pasig City 1603, Philippines
Call Center: 441-7442    info@philhealth.gov.ph

Contact PhilHealth here click location desired click link below
 

Manila Area North Capital Region 
Central  Capital Region
South Capital Region

North Luzon Area
PhilHealth Regional Office I - Dagupan
PhilHealth Regional Office II - Tuguegarao City
PhilHealth Regional Office III - San Fernando City 
PhilHealth Regional Office CAR - Baguio 

South Luzon Area
PhilHealth Regional Office IV-A - Lucena City 
PhilHealth Regional Office IV-B - Batangas City 
PhilHealth Regional Office V - Legaspi City 

Visayas Area
PhilHealth Regional Office VI - Iloilo City 
PhilHealth Regional Office VII - Cebu City  
PhilHealth Regional Office VIII - Tacloban City 

Mindanao
PhilHealth Regional Office IX - Zamboanga City 
PhilHealth Regional Office X - Cagayan De Oro City 
PhilHealth Regional Office XI - Davao City 
PhilHealth Regional Office XII - Koronadal City 
PhilHealth Regional Office CARAGA - Butuan City 
PhilHealth Regional Office ARMM - Marawi City 

Related Links to click to read more
Philhealth website
Philhealth Members site
PhilHealth Information Portal
Philhealth Doctor Find Find a Doctor
Philhealth Find a Hospital
Philhealth Ask A Doctor health FAQs
Philhealth for Overseas Contract workers 
Availment conditions and procedures 
Philhealth Claim Forms 
Philhealth Membership form

Signs and symptoms & Prevention of Japanese Radiation poisoning

MANILA, Philippines—Radioactivity, or radioactive decay, is the spontaneous emission of energy from unstable atoms. These atoms emit radiation, which travels in the form of waves or high-speed particles.

Radiation poisoning, radiation sickness or a creeping dose, is a form of damage to organ tissue caused by excessive exposure to ionizing radiation. The term is generally used to refer to acute problems caused by a large dosage of radiation in a short period, though this also has occurred with long term exposure. The clinical name for radiation sickness is acute radiation syndrome (ARS) as described by the CDC

Everyone is exposed to low levels of radiation on a daily basis, as radiation occurs naturally in sunlight and sound waves. Man-made radiation is used in X-rays, nuclear weapons, nuclear power plants and cancer treatment.

The amount and duration of radiation exposure affects the severity or type of health effect. Any living tissue in the human body can be damaged by radiation in a certain manner, but the body can also repair its own cells and leave no residual damage.

But sometimes, if the exposure is too long or the radiation too high, the damage becomes too severe or widespread to be repaired.
For example, exposure to small amounts of UV radiation is beneficial for people and essential in the production of vitamin D and in the treatment of several diseases, such as jaundice.

Signs and symptoms
But prolonged exposure to UV radiation may result in skin cancer and cataracts.

Other long-term health effects of damaging radiation exposure are mutations that affect fetuses or unborn children (smaller head or brain size, poorly formed eyes, abnormally slow growth, and mental retardation) and genetic effects that are passed from parent to child.

Exposure to a lot of radiation during a short period, such as from a radiation emergency, can cause burns or radiation sickness. Symptoms of radiation sickness include nausea, weakness, hair loss, skin burns, and reduced organ function.

Large enough exposure can cause premature aging or even death.

Prevention

The best prevention for radiation sickness is to minimize the dose suffered by the human, or to reduce the dose rate.  What you can can do to avoid radiation poisoning is to stay inside when fallout is expected, shower and change your clothes when you come in from outdoors and listen for announcements by officials in case the situation changes.

Principles of radiation protection
Time: Reducing the time of an exposure reduces the effective dose proportionally. An example of reducing radiation doses by reducing the time of exposures might be improving operator training to reduce the time they take to handle a source.

Distance: Increasing distance reduces dose due to the inverse square law. Distance can be as simple as handling a source with forceps rather than fingers.

Shielding: The term 'biological shield' refers to a mass of absorbing material placed around a reactor, or other radioactive source, to reduce the radiation to a level safe for humans

Q: Is soap and water really enough to get radiation off you? A: Any person with contamination on their clothing or body should remove their clothes and shower. Soap and water can go a long way toward minimizing absorption through the skin and keeping local contamination from spreading.

Q: Iodine tablets are selling out in America; should we be stocking up? Are there any other steps we should take

A: There is absolutely no need to panic and right now and there are no special steps that experts are recommending. After a nuclear event, local public health or emergency management officials will tell the public if they should be taking potassium iodide or if other protective actions are needed. Remember, iodine prophylaxis is not one size fits all. If you have a seafood or shellfish allergy, a thyroid condition or certain skin disorders, you should not take potassium iodide before consulting with your doctor.

Governments world-wide are now stockpiling potassium iodide (KI).  The CDC recommends using iodine to prevent injury form radioactive iodine fallout.


Sources: "Radioactivity and Radiation" (US Environmental Science Division), "Radiation Exposure" (US National Library of Medicine), US Environmental Protection Agency


Related links (click the link to read the article) 

No potassium iodide tablets available in PH 

Radiation from Japan may reach PH: UP scientist 

DOH says we have limited ways to avoid radiation 

Health Consequences from Radiation Exposure

NY Dept. of Health offers radiation FAQ

How to Prepare for and Survive a Disaster

Radiation poisoning
Radiation protection
What are the symptoms of radiation sickness?
Radiation sickness 
Why You Don't Need Potassium Iodide for Radiation Poisoning
How to Avoid EMF Radiation
Potassium Iodide (KI)
What Are Radiation Pills?
Scientists Project Path of Japan's Radiation Plume

10 myths of heart disease

Imagine hearing news of a catastrophe causing the deaths of 2,200 Americans every day — an average of one every 39 seconds.    A plague? Nuclear fallout?

It's heart disease, which includes diseases of the heart and circulatory system. The No. 1 killer stalking the world, cardiovascular diseases cause more deaths than all forms of cancer combined.

1 It's a disease of the elderly. WRONG ......read why at link at end of article
2 It doesn't affect children.    WRONG ......read why at link at end of article
3 It doesn't affect those who are fit and strong.    WRONG ......read why at link at end of article
4 I'd feel sick if I had high cholesterol or high blood pressure.    WRONG ......read why at link at end of article
5 Heart attack symptoms are the same in men and women.   WRONG ......read why at link at end of article
6 Heart disease is genetic.  WRONG ......read why at link at end of article
7 Extra weight is just more to love.   WRONG ......read why at link at end of article
8. Women are more likely to die of breast cancer than heart disease.  WRONG ......read why at link at end of article
9 Diabetes is not a heart threat, as long as my blood sugar level is under control.  WRONG ......read why at link at end of article
10 If I were at risk for heart disease, my doctor would order tests.  WRONG ......read why at link at end of article

With diet, exercise and greater awareness of risks, most heart disease is preventable, Sacco says. But too often, "people treat their cars better than their bodies," he says, "bringing them in for checkups, oil changes and other preventive maintenance."
Hearts deserve at least that much care.

Read complete detail of why these 10 myths of heart disease are wrong here at this link click here

Related articles to click

Heart disease Mayo clinic
CDC  Heart Disease
Heart Disease Web MD

Why eggs are back on the menu & Exercise cuts risk of bowel cancel

Click these links to read complete article

Study suggests being short may protect your from cancer, diabetes

Concierge Medical Care With a Smaller Price Tag

 Exercise cuts risk of developing bowel cancer polyps

Why eggs are back on the menu

Low in calories and packed with nutrients, they should be part of a balanced diet

655 pass Philippine physician board exam

MANILA, Philippines—A total of 655 out of 1,230 passed the Physician Licensure Examination, the Professional Regulation Commission announced Friday.
See complete list of successful examinees
655 pass physician board exam

FEU graduate tops medical board exam

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20110225-322218/FEU-graduate-tops-medical-board-exam

Home remedies can do the trick & Go Generic! Store brands can save you money.

To read these complete articles please click the headline below

  After Stroke Scans, Patients Face Serious Health Risks  

Mayo Clinic guide: Home remedies can do the trick

Go Generic! Store brands can save you money.

Bringing nursing care to homes, good idea for Philippines

Medical Treatment, Out of Reach in USA

Hospitals Shift Smoking Bans to Smoker Ban

10 ways to reduce your cancer risk in the Philippines

Cancer is now one of the leading causes of death in the Philippines. And the most common types of cancer in our country, arranged by sex, according to the 2005 estimates of the Philippine Cancer Society, are as follows:
• Men: 1) lung, 2) liver, 3) colon/rectum, 4) prostate, 5) stomach, 6) leukemia, 7) nasopharynx, 8) oral cavity, 9) non-Hodgkin Lymphoma; and 10) larynx.
• Women: 1) breast, 2) cervix uteri, 3) lung, 4) colon/rectum, 5) ovary, 6) thyroid, 7) liver, 8) leukemia, 9) corpus uteri, and 10) stomach.

Even though a number of factors can increase your risk of getting or dying of cancer, many of them can be controlled by the choices you make every day. Evidence suggests that two-thirds of annual cancer deaths are related to diet, weight, exercise, and tobacco exposure. In today’s column, we’ll look at the role that many lifestyle behaviors can play in raising or lowering your risk of canEdit Articlecer development.
You may have heard conflicting news reports about what can or can’t help you in terms of cancer prevention. This can make it difficult to know what to believe. Although not every new discovery may pan out, there are some prevention methods that can make a real difference. Here are 10 of them:
1. Don’t smoke.
2. Eat fruits and vegetables.
3. Limit fat in your diet.
4. Maintain a healthy weight.
5. Be physically active.
6. Curb alcohol consumption.
7. Limit exposure to radiation.
8. Protect against infections.
9. Consider chemoprevention.
10. Get recommended screening exams.
For full article details click this link http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=632458

 Additional resources: American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org)

 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -Cancer Prevention and Control (www.cdc.gov/cancer)

 and National Cancer Institute (www.cancer.gov).

31 Simple Ways to Prevent Cancer
http://www.rd.com/health/31-simple-ways-to-prevent-cancer/

10 Ways to Reduce Your Cancer Risk
http://blog.preventcancer.org/healthy-eating/10-ways-to-reduce-your-cancer-risk/

10 Ways to Reduce Your Risk of Getting Cancer
http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/10-ways-to-reduce-your-risk-of-getting-cancer/

World Study Finds No Progress in Safety at Hospitals & CPR headlines

click these links below to read the complete articles

Study Finds No Progress in Safety at Hospitals 

Start Chest Compressions Immediately, Don't Worry About Breaths in Performing CPR

 Report on global cardiac risks: World gets fatter, but blood pressure goes down

Healthy adults getting unneeded heart screenings

Added reference to read on above link

http://www.consumerreports.org/health/conditions-and-treatments/heart-health/heart-test.htm

High blood pressure, obesity linked to memory loss

Dietary Guidelines Call for More Exercise, Less Food from US Government

Stay away from the television at mealtime and skip the hamburgers in favor of seafood and vegetables, says the U.S.  They call on Americans to switch to fat-free or low-fat milk and choose a variety of proteins, including beans, peas and soy products.

The USDA also got more specific in telling Americans what kind of protein they should eat. Whereas fish used to be lumped together in a catch-all category for lean meat and beans, the agency is now saying seafood is an important part of the diet.

The agency suggests that people prepare and serve smaller portions at home, and eat a small, healthy snack before heading out to parties to keep from gorging. Americans should also drink more water instead of soda or other drinks with a heavy load of calories and little other nutritional benefit.

New Guidelines
Enjoy your food, but eat less.
Avoid oversized portions.
Make half your plate fruits and vegetables.
Switch to fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk.
Compare sodium in foods like soup, bread, and frozen meals – and choose the foods with lower numbers.
Drink water instead of sugary drinks.
Source: USDA

Food Figures
Average amount of salt Americans consume each day: 3,400 milligrams (Recommended amount: 1,500 milligrams per day for high-risk groups, 2,300 for others.)
Percentage of sodium in diet that comes from pizza: 6%
On average, percentage of total calories that comes from added sugars: 16%
Percentage of added sugar in diet that comes from soda and other sugary drinks: 36%
Average annual consumption, per person, of seafood in the U.S. (including shellfish): 11 pounds
Average annual consumption, per person, of beef in the U.S.: 65 pounds (of which 33 pounds are hamburger)  Sources: U.S. Department of Agriculture; American Meat Institute (beef consumption) 

 

Other reference materials can be found at these links

www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/

 www.dietaryguidelines.gov/

www.cnpp.usda.gov/DGAs2010-PolicyDocument.htm

Pink eye or sore eyes or Conjunctivitis

Seems sore eyes are going around in Cebu right now so its a good time to write about the causes, precautions, and treatment.

 

References for above and more reading

1.  http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/curing-pink-eye-or-conjunctivitis-naturally-using-home-remedies-391505.html

2.  http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/pink-eye/DS00258

3. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/pink-eye/DS00258/DSECTION=lifestyle-and-home-remedies

4. http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/eye-health-conjunctivitis

5. http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/eye/conjunctivitis.html#

6. http://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/conjunctivitis.htm

7. http://www.clevelandclinic.org/health/health-info/docs/1900/1951.asp?index=8614

WHEN TO GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM (ER)

WHEN TO GO TO ER 

Wondering whether an illness or injury warrants a trip to the emergency room is a common quandary. With severe, life-threatening conditions, call 911. Here are some other symptoms experts say require an ER visit:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Chest or upper abdominal pain or pressure lasting two minutes or more
• Severe persistent abdominal pain
• Loss of consciousness, or sudden dizziness and weakness
• Sudden changes in vision or difficulty speaking
• Confusion or changes in mental status
• Severe or persistent vomiting or diarrhea
• Severe sprain or suspected broken bone, usually involving more pain and swelling than a minor sprain, which doesn't merit emergency care.
• To avoid unnecessary tests and procedures once you get to the ER ask lots of questions:
• Is this the best test or treatment?
• What are its costs, benefits, and risks?
• Are there alternative tests that are cheaper or less risky?
• Why do I need this test now, and what would happen if I don't get it now?
Source: The American College of Emergency Physicians Foundation and other sources

What every patient should ask (and tell) the doctor

CLICK THE HEADLINE BELOW TO READ THE COMPLETE ARTICLE

  What every patient should ask (and tell) the doctor

Great useful Online Medical sites

 From sitejabber.com

webmd.com  This site helped me figure out how to relieve some really bad cold and flu symptoms. It is a good way to take care of yourself w/o having to speak to a real professional. Good site. RELIABLE.

mayoclinic.com  Point your browser here: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/symptom-checker/DS00671 - for "Symptom Checker" page. The Mayo Clinic has for a long time established itself as one of the most trusted names, and facilities, for medial care.

medgle.com  Symptom Search - Very easy to use and filters diagnoses based on age and gender. 

 

omnimedicalsearch.com

Very diverse medical Search Engine for none professionals and professionals. It has been useful for me. It comes time in life, we start searching for health and diseases information.

 

worldhealth.net

I subscribed to the email newsletter from this site and have read it almost every single time. I feel after reading for a few months I have a much better understanding of how to live a healthier life and would recommend this newsletter to anyone who...

 

drugs.com  The top source of prescription drug information, it features an unique and authoritative pill identification wizard which will help you identify anything you find accidentally dropped on the floor, or hidden in, say, your teenager's bedroom. That al...

 

cdc.gov    The CDC website is the main site I have always used as a physician to get the latest news on outbreaks of diseases. In particular with the spread of the H1N1 flu, this site has a wealth of information. They have a page dedicated to the H1N1 status h...

drugtopics.modernmedicine.com  One of my main resources to get the latest news on the pharmaceutical industry and drug related topics. They have the latest developments by both big pharma and biotech companies.

medlineplus.gov   Very diverse and well organized site on health related topics with links to libraries, medical database, articles in many languages.

 

erck.com  When I was in medical school, the Merck Manual was one of the books we often used to look up various diseases as they had a pocket sized version that fit in our coat pockets. Now, the entire home edition of the famed Merck Manual is available online...

nccam.nih.gov The National Center for complimentary and alternative medicine offers this FREE pdf on the real facts about herbs and supplements. I would recommend if anyone takes supplements that they download this pdf http://nccam.nih.gov/health/NIH_Herbs_at_...

obgyn.net  One of the best websites out there focusing on women's healthcare. The site has forums as well as articles written by physicians. They also have a comprehensive section of the site for physician and industry professionals, which is nice because it k...

 

revolutionhealth.com   The internet is a dangerous place when looking for health care you can trust - This site is about general healthcare, but it really does a great job of education people how to take care of their medical problems. It is more like integrative medicine...

 

searchmedica.com    Often times patients want to know where they can find a medical search engine rather than relying on google to find them medical information written by professionals. Searchmedica.com is a nice search engine and while it is designed for professional..

webmd.com   This site helped me figure out how to relieve some really bad cold and flu symptoms. It is a good way to take care of yourself w/o having to speak to a real professional. Good site. RELIABLE.

for more reviews of medical sites go here http://www.sitejabber.com/websites/health

What Do You Lack? Probably Vitamin D & The Miracle of Vitamin D: Sound Science, or Hype?

Vitamin D promises to be the most talked-about and written-about supplement
of the decade. While studies continue to refine optimal blood levels and
recommended dietary amounts, the fact remains that a huge part of the
population - from robust newborns to the frail elderly, and many others in
between - are deficient in this essential nutrient.  CLICK HERE to Continue reading the
complete article here Published: July 26, 2010 NY Times

More reference links here, click to read
Vitamin D

The Miracle of Vitamin D: Sound Science, or Hype?

Vitamin D Deficiency Affects Billion Plus – Are You One Of Them?

5 Must-Have Medical Tests

1.  Cholesterol/Lipid Profile Screen
When you go to the doctor to get blood tests, they check for HDL, LDL and total cholesterol. HDL (High Density Lipoproteins) are healthy cholesterol that should be at high levels in the body—55 or greater for women and 45 or greater for men. On the other hand, LDL (Low Density Lipoproteins) are bad and should be kept at levels under 100. Added together, the HDL and LDL levels equal one's total cholesterol, which generally should be low.

2.  Blood Pressure/Obesity Screen
High blood pressure is one of the most important, and yet preventable risk factors for cardiovascular disease. It’s often called "the silent killer" and can harm a person’s body for years before actual symptoms develop, which is why it’s even more important to get your blood pressure tested.

3.  Fasting Blood Sugar Screening for Diabetes
Diabetes is one of the most common health problems in the country. Many experts agree that a fasting blood sugar level above 100 mg/dl is abnormal, between 100 and 125 mg/dl is a warning sign that you may develop diabetes, and levels above 125 mg/dl are highly suggestive of diabetes.

4. Cardiovascular Screening with Exercise Stress Test
According to the American Heart Association, an estimated 785,000 Americans had a new heart attack in 2009 and about 470,000 will have a recurrent one. Even more powerful is that every minute an American will die from a coronary problem such as a heart attack, which is why it is important to get a cardiovascular screening with a stress test. If you have two or more cardiovascular risk factors such as a family history of heart disease, then get the screening done before vigorous exercise.

5.  Colon Cancer Screening with Colonoscopy and FOBT (Fecal Occult Blood Testing)
Colorectal cancer becomes more common as you age, so doctors usually screen people for colorectal cancer when they turn 50 and older. Screening should begin earlier if you have risk factors that make you more likely to get colorectal cancer at a young age such as a family history of colon cancer.