Hoedown Throwdown

Hannah Montana the Movie has introduced and inspired its audience to do a total brand new exercising moves that surely would make you move your feet. The "pop it, lock it" or what we call the Hoedown Throwdown dance. It kind of crept in me when I first saw it on the movie and I'm somehow challenged to it too.


CLICK TO SEE VIDEO


It's both fun and healthy for you. Your muscles will surely move even without any "machines" and that kind of stuff. Just "shuffle in diagonal" and you'll be sweating in no time. So why don't you give it a try, then "stick it - glide!" (click on the picture for your hoedown throwdown tutorial)


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dengue outbreak

For the recent months, the dengue case
scenario has not yet ceased. As a matter of
fact, the proliferation has reached large
and different areas in the world and
Philippines have not escaped.

In the country today, the Department
of Health has urged the general public,
especially the parents, to drop the “wait-
and see” attitude it practices for Filipinos

tend to do such when fever and whatever illness comes around – and with dengue lurking around the corners of Filipino homes, such practice is a big no-no. Delaying the treat for dengue pave way to more crucial and even fatal conditions. The call for immediate medication to anyone who has been seen suffering from dengue-like symptoms is on call.

The public’s cooperation with this matter is needed so much in order to fight and eliminate the dengue fever scourge. Drop the "too see is to believe" trend for this might cause a life's end.

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Cardiac arrest

Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart is unable to maintain blood flow to the carotid artery sufficient to detect a pulse. The cardiac failure refers the loss of function of the heart. In many cases, it is a result anticipated to a serious disease. The cardiac failure often gives rise until death. The sudden cardiac failure refers to the heart's unexpected halting of the activity due to one causes that is potentially reversible. The brain death happens within some minutes if the situation is not reversed. The sudden cardiac death refers to an unexpected, heart-related death within an hour of the beginning of symptoms.

Cardiac arrest may be caused by:

• Ventricular tachycardia which is a rapid, but regular heart rhythm that, if sustained, may turn into ventricular fibrillation

• Ventricular fibrillation — a rapid, irregular heart rhythm preventing any circulation of blood (most common cause of sudden cardiac arrest)

• Choking or drowning

• Respiratory arrest

• Dramatic slowing of heart rate due to failure of its pacemaker or severe heart block

• Sudden loss of blood pressure

and many others.

The following are some of the chances of getting a disease or what we call risk factors:
Enlarged heart, heart attack, coronary artery disease, congenital heart disease, adverse drug effects, trauma to the chest, and use of illicit substances such as cocaine.

I strongly recommend anyone prone to cardiac arrest to become aware of heart disease warning signs and promptly seek treatment for any that would eventually develop. For those do not have a heart condition, following the rules of primary prevention of heart disease would help you maintain such status, unless of course you would want the opposite. If you have a heart condition or may be at high risk, consulting your doctor about on how to reduce your risk of sudden cardiac arrest is very much necessary.

At this time, cardiac arrest can come at anytime, on anywhere, and with anyone. So always be on watch. Keep the heart beating, keep a healthy living!


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Gloria Macapagal Arroyo SONA 2009

State of the Nation Address (SONA) is an annual event in any republic, in which the president gives a report or summary on the status of the nation, eventually during the term of such president. In the Philippines, to give such address is a duty of the President as mentioned in Article VII, Section 23 of the 1987 Constitution:
“The President shall address the Congress at the opening of its regular session. He may also appear before it at any time.”

This very day, July 27, 2009, the President of the Philippines, Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, had given her 9th SONA and had it in a way different from the others.
She gave a picture of the country that would have been “lying on its back” if “we had given in to our critics.” She had referred to the achievements her administration had during the nine years of her presidency, most specifically in the areas of education, infrastructure, and economics.

She had for her audience some of the individuals who became testaments with the progress of the nation; one of them is the champion, Manny Pacquiao. She also had her chance to deal with the many allegations given her by her critics. She said, “I have never done any of the things that have scared my worst critics so much.” Telling them that, “They are frightened by their own shadows.”

With her seventy-six minutes state of the nation address, she had given it her all, showing people with her acclaimed achievements and response to her opponents. But with all her ‘blabs’, I don’t think that the people, the citizens of the Republic of the Philippines, have been deeply ‘touched’ or even yet ‘moved’ by them. Talks do not walk as actions are seen by the people. Her 9th address would have been truer if she had it with all the honesty – if she still does have.

I personally believe that there would no longer be a need to somehow resurrect her self is she did really achieve the goals she had been telling the people. There would not be a massive rebellion against her if all the nine years that she had stayed at her position were not nine years of waste.

The SONA would somehow fit the definition that was originally given it IF she had just stated the very status, situation, or whatever you may call it, of the nation right now, even up to the moment she was opening her mouth, and let her words depart it.

People are not that blind to see the scavenging status of everyone just to live. People are not that deaf, to not hear the cries of empty stomachs and injustice cries. People are not that insensitive, to not feel the heat of the sun burning their skins and still enduring all the pain just to feed his family. People are people who see, hear, and even feel the devastation she had brought during the wasted years she sat at her ‘throne’.

There’s this comment that I have read in one of the articles regarding the same subject and I just love it so for it nailed it all.
“I h[a]ve to give GMA credit for giving out a pretty good speech, but you have to be completely dense to believe it.”


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The choice to live

Is the power to choose absolute? ? More often than not, the statements we hear from people is not “I have a choice” but “I don’t have a choice” instead. For people born with physical and mental inabilities, the freedom to choose was not handed over them. With those who have inherited family ailment, choice was not with them.
In most cases, what worsens a disabled little girl, a sick young man, and a forgetful old woman, is the fact that they were not given the chance to choose of whether they wanted it or not. Often, this leads to not accepting what was fated and even suicide to the extent.
The gift of health is what we always treasure. Our prayer every birthday is to have good health. We can choose to live a healthy life, or a miserable one. I feel those whom I have mentioned above but still I do not pity them. Why? Because still, they do have a choice – a choice to continue on living despite the circumstance. Unlike those who have not been given the chance to be born.
We may not have always the choice of certain things that come our way, but certainly, we always have the choice to do what is best for us. We have the choice to accept or reject. To build or to create. To progress or to fail. To love or to hate. To cherish life regardless of or to die and suffer in the end.


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Whack ! Food Allergies!

Allergy is a hypersensitivity reaction to a particular allergen; symptoms can vary greatly in intensity. Allergies may vary from animals, insect bites, to drugs and food allergies. In this article, we will be dealing mainly on what we call as food allergy.
According to research, there are approximately 8% of children and 2% of adults suffering from true food allergies. When the culprit food is eaten, allergic reactions occur within minutes. Itching mostly likely occur, as well as sneezing, itchy nose and eyes. Some may vomit; suffer from cramps and diarrhea, chest tightness and the like.

Most reactions to food are probably not allergic in nature, but rather intolerance. This means that there is no allergic antibody present against the food in the person. Intolerance can be classified as toxic and non-toxic. Milk, soy, wheat, egg, peanut, tree nuts, fish and shellfish compromise more than 90 percent of food allergies in children. Allergy to milk and egg are by far the most common, and are usually outgrown by age 5 years. Peanut, tree nut, fish and shellfish allergies are typically the more severe and potentially life-threatening, and frequently persist into adulthood.
Allergies may differ from one person to another. That is why it is never a universal thing. Most often, people who have these allergy on a specific food, most likely would want to eat that very food. Odd, isn’t it?



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Pinkish gums versus Gingivitis

My dentist had always complimented, though not on my teeth, but rather on my gums. She said that I have healthy gums and it is a good thing to have. I wouldn’t be giving detailed info about my gums for I find it rather a gross thing to do. All I can say is that they’re pinkish!
Forgive me to brag on my gums but as healthy as mine are, there’s this what we know as gingivitis. Gingivitis is an inflammation of gums surrounding the teeth. It is caused by the long-term effects of plaque deposits which is also the major cause of tooth decay. When plaques are not removed, it turns into a hard deposit called tartar. This irritates and inflames the gums.

General illness, poor dental hygiene, pregnancy, and uncontrolled diabetes are some factors that may raise the risk of having gingivitis. Bleeding gums, bright red or red-purple appearance to gums, mouth sores, and swollen gums are symptoms of having gingivitis.
Treatment for this kind of dental problem is not that difficult. Ones goal is to only reduce inflammation. So thorough cleaning of the teeth by the dentist and antibacterial mouth rinses gives a big aid for such problem.
Prevention is always the option for us those who do not want for their gums to suddenly bleed or so. Good oral hygiene is the best prevention against gingivitis – thorough brushing and flossing. Regular tooth cleaning is also important to remove any unnecessary residues found on teeth that may develop even with careful brushing. It is recommended by dentists to have your teeth professionally cleaned every after 6 months.



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Sexually Transmitted Disease

Sexually Transmitted Disease or commonly known as STD is really sounds a bell to anyone. STDs are diseases that are chiefly passed from one person to another during sexual activities or more likely in intercourse.
Although STDs are not predictable by just looking at an individual, it is still best to know its common symptoms and the most common ones that are sexually transmitted.

STD symptoms vary, but the most common are soreness, unusual lumps or sores, itching, pain when urinating, and/or an unusual discharge from the genitals.
The following are a list of some of the common STDs and some other genital disease.
• Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) is not strictly an STD as it is not transmitted via sexual intercourse. It is caused by an imbalance in the normal healthy bacteria found in the vagina and although it is relatively harmless and may pass unnoticed, it can sometimes produce an abundance of unpleasant fishy smelling discharge.
• Chlamydia it is caused by the Chlamydia trachomatis bacterium. It infects the urethra, rectum and eyes in both sexes, and the cervix in women. If left untreated, long-term infection can lead to fertility problems in women.
• Crabs or Pubic Lice are small crab-shaped parasites that burrow into the skin to feed on blood. They live on coarse body hair, predominantly pubic hair, but can also be found in armpit hair, facial hair and even on eyelashes. The lice are yellow-grey in colour and use their crab-like claws to grip hair strands. They can sometimes be spotted moving on the skin.
• Genital warts are caused by some sub-types of Human Papillomavirus (HPV). They can appear on the skin anywhere in the genital area as small whitish or flesh-coloured bumps, or larger, fleshy, cauliflower-like lumps.
• Gonorrhea (once known as the clap) is a sexually transmitted infection that can infect the urethra, cervix, rectum, anus and throat. Symptoms usually appear between 1 and 14 days after exposure, but it is possible to have no symptoms.

These STDs as what have been mentioned may sometimes be passed on unnoticed. But just a rule of the thumb, always keep yourself clean and most of all, your intentions. There is never wrong on the right time.



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A second thought on cigarette smoking

Cigarette smoking has been the problems of many countries today, aside from the actual air pollution, although very minimal, it can cause, it also increases the fatality rate of both first and second hand smokers.
Here in the Philippines, cigarette smoking has not been banned. Though government warnings have been posted here and there and almost everywhere, still the rampancy of it has not minimized but has set to the opposite. According to recent study, cigarette smoking has now become one of the primary causes of deaths in foreign countries. Smoking encourages heart problems which could cause early death to anyone - no exception.
We have heard a lot especially from our parents that smoking isn’t good for our health but still we see it grow in number every single day, from all walks of life, and from all ages. Varying reasons flood our way into knowing why people indulge themselves to cigarette smoking. To look cool, to fit in, and to relieve stress are just a few of these reasons.

I have been with people who smoke on a regular basis. Although some of them do such for socialization, others do so because they do not have the restraint anymore to stop. It has become their vice already. According to my brother-in-law, it takes 21 days of practice to make such practice a habit. I won’t be discussing on the ailments that cigarette smoking causes on the smokers. What I want to share is my very own father’s experience regarding this matter.
While the fact of leaving this kind of vice is not as easy as 1 2 3, it is nevertheless an impossible thing to do. My dad was a chain smoker. He could actually consume more than one big box full of cigarette packs in a day, he was able to get through and get rid of this unwanted practice. Yes, cigarette smoking is dangerous to ones health but more than that, I believe that everything is a choice – a choice whether to stay on something or to leave something. My father had a his choice, have you?



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Dry Eye Syndrome

Just a couple of weeks ago, I have been experiencing this newly, sudden, and disturbing behavior with my eyes. It was not until this week that I found out that what I was experiencing was the so called dry eye syndrome. The term was relatively new to me until I got myself to search about it. And apparently, I’m making an article about it.
Dry eyes syndrome is an eye problem caused by certain troubles involving the quality of the tear film that lubricates the eyes. Tears are what lubricate the eyes. Tears are produced as a reflex response to eye injury or emotion and the like.
Occasionally, dry eye syndrome has many causes. It may be induced by simply the normal aging of an individual. Climates may also have a say on having this syndrome as well as cigarette smoking and air-conditioning. Eyes get irritated with constant reading and computer usage. Vitamin A deficiency and some certain medications may also cause the syndrome to likely occur. Periodical rests and blinks help our eyes more comfortable.
As to those who wear contact lens, instead of the aid given by the contacts, the tendency when the one wearing it suffers from dry eye syndrome makes everything more inefficient. Contact lens absorbs the tear film producing water in the eyes and with the said syndrome, the problem starts with the tear film itself.
There are medical processes that one may find helpful in curing dry eye syndrome but why go for medications when a very practical and easy remedy is at hand – have plenty your eyes plenty of rest and in no time, they will serve you the way they did before.



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Are sleeping problems becoming your daily scenario?

Did you know that lack of quality sleep may and certainly can affect ones personal relationship with others, mental and physical aptitudes, and make one literally ‘disconnected’ from the outside world? Sleeplessness not caused by rough deadlines for businessmen or from ‘overnight project to do’s for students but rather by a week or two to of sleeping difficulties until having it on a regular basis is somehow, a little bit considered as abnormal to the common. If you are suffering from the same point of view or maybe would like to avoid such disposition, then...

Getting a good and ample night sleep is essential for one to have a fresh and alert feeling towards the next morning. The opposite makes one unable to focus or concentrate and sometimes easily irritated. These feelings would tend to lead to the disruption of ones work or other matters that needs to be dealt with by the individual.
It is helpful to be able to recognize of whether the causes of your sleepless nights are just nothing but a normal scenario to everyone else or it is indeed something else! The following are considered as the top and most common sleeping disorders and sleeping problems any human might have.
**Sleep Apnea – a sleeping disorder in which one experiences halts in breathing while asleep.
**Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) – a sleep disorder that causes almost irresistible wanting or urge to move the legs and sometimes the arms.
**Narcolepsy – a neurological disorder that cause extreme sleepiness to a person to the extent that one falls asleep all of a sudden without warning.

Two examples of sleeping problems are insomnia and snoring. These two can be managed through self treatments like losing weight for snoring and improved sleep hygiene for insomnia.

Maybe the symptoms you are experiencing right now have not been mentioned above but basically going to the doctor is the last resort that I can suggest for sleeping is managed by none other than you yourself alone and so are your sleeping problems. Why won’t you try to have a self check and see the things that you can do or improve to alleviate the sleep troubles that you have? Because according to F. Scott Fitzgerald, the only(added) worst thing in the world is to try to sleep and not to.



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A (H1N1) outbreak and what to do with it

Constant rain has been around the Philippines, more likely experienced here in Cagayan de Oro, for more or less two months now. Common sickness like cough, flu, and fever mostly occur during this rainy season. But how safe are we amidst all these possibilities of acquiring certain diseases plus the additional fact of the A (H1N1) outbreak?
Just like having the mentioned common sicknesses above, A (H1N1) virus plays the same with its ‘victims’. Although a lot of rumors have been said about the virus, one fact still remains stable – it is not what we think it is.
A (H1N1) is a new virus that causes illness to people. The virus was first detected in the United States on April this year. Although the virus spreads rapidly from person to person, like the case of other regular seasonal viruses, it may lead to fatality when not treated with proper medications in which all other viruses cause to human health.

It is important for us to know that A (H1N1) is fatal not due to the type or class of virus it is made up of but because of somehow human recklessness regarding to his/her health.
One should not panic if having signs and symptoms of A (H1N1) which is also similar to regular flu such as the following: headache, fatigue, lack of appetite, sore throat, runny nose, fever, and cough. What one needs to do is just to somehow ‘quarantine’ him/herself and drink plenty of fluids, roughly those that aid the above mentioned.
Here in the Philippines, although 1000+ confirmed cases have been reported, the best thing to do in order to avoid A (H1N1) virus is the very same manners taught to us when we were still in Kindergarten or so…. First, keep your hands clean by frequent hand washing. Second, eat go, glow, and grow foods and exercise regularly to keep the body healthy. Lastly, the one which even Barney the dinosaur taught us, “When you sneeze, cover your mouth so others won’t get sneezes too.”



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Gallstone formation and factors causing it

My mom was diagnosed to have gallstones. Just a year ago, she went to see the doctor for she was complaining to be having some problems with her stomach. She burps so often and could not sleep well. We assumed it was not that serious or so. We were not expecting for those ‘stones’ to have developed in her gallbladder.

Gallstones are those tiny, pebble-like substances that develop inside the gallbladder. The gallbladder is a little, pear-shape sac; non-vital organ that secrets bile and is in is found below ones liver. These gallstones occur when the liquid accumulated in the gallbladder solidifies into stone-like bits and pieces. If the liquid bile has too much bile salts or cholesterol, it may cause hardening of the liquid and thereby turn into gallstones.


Gallstones may be classified as either cholesterol stones or pigment stones. Obviously, cholesterol stones are hardened cholesterol and the other one is made of bilirubin. According to medical studies, gallstone may have the size as tiny as a sand grain and as large as a golf ball.

Factors to have caused the said stones to develop are the following, too much cholesterol, too much bilirubin, hereditary blood disorders, sex, family history, diet, weight, age, ethnicity, and diabetes.

The formation of gallstones leads to somehow blockage in the bile ducts causing pain for the one that has it. There are different methods as to how to treat these stones and get rid of them. As to my mom, she has these 2-3 kinds of medicine that she takes regularly. I wouldn’t be wondering what kind of gallstones she has for she likes to eat fatty and salty foods. Anyhow, regular medication would not be necessary if she had taken extra care of her health. I also believe the same goes with everybody else.

This following quote nails it all. "The only way to keep your health is to eat what you don’t want, drink what you don’t like, and do what you’d rather not."



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Risks of having typhoid fever

I had a difficult time in deciding on what topic to talk about. Apparently, I had to push my brain to the limit in order to produce one. I planned on going for gallstones, depression, and eye problems but they were sort of a ‘so so’ to me. Suddenly, (thank God) I was able to remember one of the ‘should value life’ experiences in my lifetime. I had a face to face encounter with typhoid fever.


I joined a summer camp last 2005 and it was there that I acquired the fever. The day after the camp began; I was rushed home because I was totally unwell. Many and even I myself thought that it was dengue. Even the doctors thought so until the results came – it was typhoid fever. Typhoid fever is serious infection marked by intestinal inflammation and ulceration caused by the Salmonella typhi bacteria.I don’t care of what those bacteria looked like but I hate them so much. They made me suffer with lots of needle pain and almost a week of being bed ridden.

Anyhow, the bacteria causing typhoid fever may settle in water or food. After ingesting the contaminated food or water, the Salmonella bacteria invade the small intestine and enter the bloodstream temporarily. The bacteria will then be carried to specific organs in the body like the liver. The bacteria then reproduce in the cells of the organs and reenter the bloodstream. Bacteria will now invade the gallbladder, biliary system, and the lymphatic tissue of the bowel. Here, they multiply and multiply numerously. On my part, it caused me to lose my appetite extremely. I had to vomit a lot not just because of the fever though but also because of the strong medicines the doctor had to use on me in order to kill the bacteria. According to a source, typhoid fever affects more than 13 million people annually, with over 500,000 patients dying of the disease worldwide.

By the grace of God, I did not become part of the mentioned statistic. One thing I’ve learned from that experience – before you eat or drink anything, try to check the surrounding environment. Be judgmental somehow on the things that pertains your health. With typhoid fever or what not, I’ve proven this saying to be so true; prevention is always and will always be better than cure.



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