Your Heart

Life is full of surprises, but having a heart attack shouldn’t be one of them. This special section shares the latest information about the unique needs of women’s hearts and gives you advice on how to keep your heart healthy and strong. Plus, the Duchess of York helps spread the word.

Low-dose pills, high dose benefits

Low-dose pills, high dose benefits It is well-known that use of birth-control pills cuts the risk of getting ovarian cancer. By stimulating pregnancy, the Pill shuts down ovulation and allows the ovaries to “rest”. But until recently, this extra benefit of the Pill has been studied only in women taking high-dose formulas. Now, researchers from the Graduate School of Public Health at the University of Pittsburgh, US, report that newer, low-dose pills are just as effective, reducing the chances of developing the cancer by the same 40 percent as the older pills. – Stella G. de Dios, M.D.

Beat Body Odor

Q: A friend of mine has body odor. Whenever she starts to sweat, the smell comes out. Aside from using deodorants, are there any alternatives? – Stella G. de Dios, M.D.

A: Sweat itself is odorless. We start to smell when sweat mixes with bacteria which is normally found on the skin. Here’s how you can nix body odor.

● Antiperspirants stop sweat from pouring out of sweat glands. Antideodorants block sweat and destroy bacteria at the same time. She could use both.

● Take daily showers or baths. Scrubbing armpits with a washcloth and antibacterial soap, especially after heavy sweating (i.e., during a hot day, after exercising, after sex), will minimize both sweat flow and bacterial contamination .

● Liberally use cornstarch powder or the more absorbent Zeasorb powder to keep the armpits dry.

● Choose light-colored clothing made of natural fibers like cotton. They help the skin breathe. Avoid dark colors and synthetic materials like nylon and polyester.

● She should watch the food she eats. Someone on a low carbo-high protein diet like the Atkin’s diet may develop a condition called ketosis. This causes body odor and bad breath. Certain spices that may be secreted into sweat (and may even discolor it) also causes body odor.

● If all else fails, visit a dermatologist.

What's in a hotdog?

Q: My kids and my husband love eating hot dogs. I like its convenience, but I’m not so sure it’s healthy to eat. What do you thing?—Carmen Valdellon
A: Hot dogs are a staple food in many Filipino households. They’re part of our breakfast, merienda, and baon. Family outings, children’s parties, and barbecues are incomplete without them. Yes, they’re very convenient:

They’re early to prepare, relatively inexpensive, and don’t spoil easily—important in our hot and humid climate. Some mothers also believe that hot dogs are packed with protein essential for their child’s growth and development. They couldn’t be further from the truth!

This is how hot dogs are made: After removing all the choice cuts from a beef carcass and using these for other purposes, whatever remains—the skin, fat and water! It’s really not a dieter’s delight not a good source of protein. What’s more, a study conducted at the University of California San Diego in 1996 showed that because of the presence of nitrates, preservatives used to keep meat from spoiling, eating just 12 hot dogs in one month already increases your chances of developing leukemia. It’s a wise move to tell your kids and husband to find a healthier alternative to the hot dogs they love. – Stella G. de Dios, M.D.

Not a "silent killer"

Good morning everybody. There are saying that “it’s never too late, when early diagnose”. It’s true. Many of us thought that they are strong and they will not acquire any disease. It’s wrong. It happened sometimes that we don’t expect and we don’t have any single idea.

Conventional wisdom says that ovarian cancer has no symptoms early on, so diagnosis is often delayed until the disease becomes so far advanced that it is difficult to treat. But study suggests that early-stage symptoms do, in fact, exist.

Research shows that before diagnosis, women with the disease experience a cluster of symptoms such as bloating, abdominal pain and urinary incontinence, says Barbara Goff, M.D., a professor of obstetrics-gynecology at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle. These symptoms may provide an opportunity to detect ovarian cancer in its early, must treatable stage.

Occasional bloating and gastrointestinal (GI) discomfort, especially around the time of your period, are not uncommon, but more frequent and severe symptoms that last longer than usual may indicate something more serious. Researchers learned that women with malignant masses typically experienced symptoms 20 to 30 times a month and they were worse than those related to menstruation. The most common symptoms associated with malignancy include bloating or a feeling of fullness, constipation, abdominal or pelvic pain and frequent or urgent urination.

So tell your doctor about any persistent GI symptoms, even if they seem vague, and don’t be afraid to bring up the possibility of ovarian cancer. She’ll probably perform a recto-vaginal pelvic exam to feel for tenderness or masses and may recommend a follow-up ultrasound. – Arricca Elin SanSome

What milk can give you . . .

Good posture that comes from strong bones. Confidence that shows all over.

One glass a day of milk provides 100% calcium RDA. A healthy diet and milk keep bones strong. And from strong bones comes good posture. With good posture, women becomes more confident. So in everything you do, from back-breaking sports to being a mother, you get to stand strong, stand proud, stand straight . . . stand out.

Eating and Drinking Tips

Many people love to eat. As some said that they will eat the food they want to eat until while they are still alive.

EXCESSIVE EATING AND DRINKING CAN LEAVE YOUR BODY BEGGING FOR A DETOXIFYING OVERHAUL. ALTHOUGH SOME EXPERTS RECOMMENDS PERIODIC, INTENSIVE CLEANSING PROGRAMS, A DAILY LIVER-FRIENDLY LIFESTYLE IS MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE THAN TRYING TO PLAY CATCH-UP A FEW TIMES A YEAR.

Liver Foes

Preserved meats

Alcohol

Artificial sweeteners

Caffeine

Fried foods

Processed foods

Refined flour

Sugar

Liver Friends

Apples
Nuts and seeds
Artichokes
Papaya
Beans
Soybeans
Broccoli
Spinach
Brussels Sprouts
Tomatoes
Cabbage
Water
Cauliflower
Watermelon
Figs
Whole Grains