What's On Expat Philippines News Paper

Recognizing Gender Differences in Heart Attacks Can Save a Life

By John Schieszer

Knowing that women often experience different heart attack symptoms than men is important information for women and for those who love them. Being able to recognize those symptoms and then knowing what to do can save a life.

     “Men often experience the traditional symptoms of heart attacks such as squeezing chest pain or pressure, while more subtle symptoms such as shortness of breath, dizziness, fatigue, nausea or vomiting and back and jaw pain are more likely in women,” said heart specialist Dr. Noel Bairey Merz, who is with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the United States.

     Delays in diagnosis and proper treatment can significantly reduce a woman’s chances of having a good outcome after a heart attack. Dr. Bairey Merz said always take immediate action and call for an ambulance. Don’t take time trying to reach your physician and don’t try to drive yourself or someone else to the hospital if you suspect a heart attack.

     It is also recommended

that you chew one aspirin. Most heart attacks are caused by blood clots in the arteries and aspirin reduces the growth of these clots. If a person is not breathing, start cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR). If you haven’t taken a class in CPR, sign up today. It might be the best present you ever give to someone you care about.

Walking Away from
Breast Cancer

A growing body of new scientific research is now showing that about 30 minutes of exercise three to four times a week may help decrease your risk of several types of cancer, including breast, endometrial, prostate, colorectal and lung cancers. In addition, you don’t have to do anything grueling. Just a simple walking program or doing gardening and yard work may actually decrease a person’s overall cancer risk.

According to the National Cancer Institute in the United States, physical active women have a 40 percent reduced risk of developing breast cancer, and physical active men have a 10 to 30 percent reduced risk of developing prostate cancer.

“The easiest way to incorporate physical activity into your day is to find an activity that you enjoy doing so that you don’t become bored or burned out,” said Dr. Elise Cooke, who is an assistant professor in the Department of Clinical Cancer Prevention at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas in the U.S. “People who make exercise part of their every day routine gain the most health advantages and are most likely to continue.”

Light Wine Intake May Lead to Longer Life Expectancy

Drinking a little alcohol every day, especially wine, may be associated with an increase in life expectancy, according to Dutch researchers. They have found that a light intake of alcohol (on average one glass or less a day) was associated with a lower rate of cardiovascular death and death from all causes.

When compared to spirits and beer, consumption of small amounts of wine

appeared to have the greatest benefits. The researchers studied more than 13, 000 men born between 1900 and 1920. All the volunteers were surveyed in detail about their alcohol consumption seven times over 40 years. The participants were followed until death or until the final survey taken among survivors in mid-2000. The researchers studied dietary habits, smoking habits and measured BMI (body mass index). They also looked at prevalence of heart attack, stroke, diabetes and cancer. The findings on alcohol consumption were adjusted to account for other risk factors.

The researchers said life expectancy was 3.8 years higher in those participants who drank wine compared to those who did not drink alcoholic beverages. In addition, life expectancy of wine drinkers was more than two years longer than drinkers of other alcoholic beverages.

John Schieszer is an award-winning national journalist and radio broadcaster of The Medical Minute. He can be reached at medminutes@aol.com.

Environmental Bit

Brown Stuff for the Green Thumbs

     Starbucks is giving out their used coffee grounds for free. So for those with green thumbs, just pass by any store and grab your bag of grounds. Here are some gardening tips you could use the grounds with:

     • Mix grounds with soil around acid-loving plants and watch them flourish.
     • Add brown leaves and grass clippings to mulch to help balance the pH of the soil.
     • Mix grounds into compost to accelerate the composting process.
     • Grounds should be no more than 25% of any one compost pile’s content.
     • To counter acidity of coffee grounds, add 1 teaspoon of lime or wood for each 5 lbs. of coffee grounds in your compost pile.
     • Help a worm bin flourish by feeding worms with coffee grounds combined with brown materials.

Literary Bit

Taft Page

     What does a jeepney-trodden street in Manila have in common with an obscure town in Samar? Both are named Taft after the first American civil governor William H. Taft.

     Taft was sent by President McKinley to the Philippines in 1900 as chief civil administrator until 1903, following to the cession of the Philippine archipelago to the United States by Spain by virtue of the Treaty of Paris in 1898.

     New Day Publishers comes out with a book entitled “The Bearer of Pax Americana: The Philippine Career of William H. Taft, 1900-1903” by Rene Escalante. Literally meaning “American Peace”, the 250-page, eight-chapter book argues that Taft is a major character in Philippine history because he established the American colonial civil government to replace the military government which waged a brutal three-year war of pacification against the Filipino freedom fighters.

     The book presents him as the chief interpreter of President McKinley’s “benevolent assimilation” program, as a legislator,

BITS & PIECES

Illustrations by Carlo Cabrera
Compiled by Jacqueline L. Ong

Cultural Bit

A FEU Good Men

A self-professed street walker and cultural tripper Ivan ManDy leads a bunch of curious wayfarers around thr grounds of the Far Eastern University (FEU) Campus. For an hour and a half, marvel at the art and architecture that echoes around this UNESCO-award winning campus in Morayta, Manila. The tour is free but slots are limited. Check www.oldmanilawalks.com for details.

Business Bit

Galileo and Iberia

Galileo, a leading global distribution system (GDS) and subsidiary of Travelport, announced that they have come into an agreement with Spanish carrier Iberia. The agreement will see all of Iberia’s published fares and inventory, including its web fares, continue to be made available to all users of the Galileo system worldwide.

The deal represents a continuation of Galileo’s successful strategy of securing full airline content programmes across the globe. “We are pleased to achieve a full content agreement with Iberia and ensure a level playing field, both in Spain and worldwide, for our leisure and business travel agency customers,” said Matthew Hall, Galileo’s vice president, supplier services, Europe, Middle East and Africa.

chief executive, troubleshooter, lobbyist, diplomat, judge and a propagandist. It also tackles his qualities as chief executive and crisis manager which paved the way for his successful bid as the 27th president of the United States of America.
The book is released in time for the 61st Philippine-American Friendship Day celebration on July 4.

Lifestyle Bit

Don Moen in the Philippines

Christian songwriter and worship leader who popularized the songs “God Will Make A Way”, “Give Thanks” and “God Is Good All the Time” is visiting the Philippines this July.

Catch him and his worship team at the Pacific Grand Ballroom Waterfront Ceby City on July 27, Friday, 8pm; at the Freedom Ring Ampitheater Clark Expo Pampanga on July 29, Sunday, 5pm and at the Summit Center Zamboanga City on July 31, Tuesday, 7pm.

Sports Bit

Asian Supercross To Hit Fast Track Circuit Manila

     After ten years, the Philippines will again play host to the FIM-UAM Asian Supercross Championships at the Fast Track Circuit in Upper Bicutan, Taguig City for the second round set on July 22.

     Riders from Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong , China, UAE, Indonesia, UAE, Guam and India are set to participate in the event sanctioned by the National Motorcycle Sports and Safety Association and promoted by Xtreme Worx Philippines as they vie for the prestigious titles in the Asian 125 cc. and the Junior Asian 85 cc. divisions.

     Thailand’s top bets, defending champion Arnon Theplib and Arongkot Pinpon, are looking forward to a repeat of their impressive sweeps in the opening round staged in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan last March. Australian champion Kane Scanlan bagged the runner-up honors with Indonesian first timer Hannu Malherbe claiming third place in Moto 1 and the Philippines’ Glenn Aguilar

taking third place in Moto 2. Pinpon, a 12-year-old first timer in the event, also displayed consistency and determination to capture the Asian Junior 85 plum over Farhan Hendra of Indonesia.

For further details on the Supercross Masters of Asia, please email namssa01@hotmail.com>, call (0917)899-2363 or visit www.asiamx.org and www.namssa.org.

What's On & Expat - Philippines