The pandemic has undoubtedly altered our everyday lives. The transition forced us to reevaluate our livelihood while prioritizing our overall well-being in the midst of a global health emergency.

While a post-pandemic lifestyle has its pains and gains, Filipinos have begun to put greater importance on their overall health and make mindful choices when it comes to the efficacy and safety of the health solutions we use.

Whether the situation has influenced our present lifestyle in one way or another, here are a few ways our livelihood and health were reshaped.

Hybrid work normalized for some industries

The pandemic reshaped work life for many. Many office workers have started embracing a more confined lifestyle as the majority (80%) of Filipinos prefer hybrid work, which allows for greater work-life balance. However, it also results in lower levels of physical activity due to long hours of sitting.

This flexible work setup nowadays is convenient for Charlene Miole, a BPO employee. “Mas marami akong oras para sa gawaing bahay at mas maraming bonding time sa family ko. Kaya lang, may mga times na masakit ‘yung balakang at balikat [dahil] sa ‘di tamang posture pag nakaupo kapag nag-ta-trabaho.”

[I have more time to do household chores and bond with my family. However, there are times that I get shoulder and hip pain due to my bad sitting posture when I work.]

Rise of on-demand delivery services

Food delivery rider, Conrado Collado, shared that the pandemic rather unexpectedly provided better opportunities as more consumers order their meals online. However, Collado admitted that he is sometimes overworked, causing recurring body pains.

“Sumasakit ang katawan ko lalo na kapag buong araw ako bumibiyahe—byahe ng motor, lakad dito, lakad [doon]. Bihira ako umuwi ng bahay noon dahil sa taas ng kaso ng COVID tapos ‘yong asawa ko pa nawalan ng trabaho kaya dapat doble kayod. Hanggang sa ngayon, ito lang inaasahan namin kaya bumabyahe pa rin ako araw-araw,” shared Collado.

[I experience body pain especially when I ride for the whole day—riding the motorcycle and walking around for orders. I rarely went home before due to the high number of COVID cases. My wife also lost her job so I had to work double time. Up until now, this has been our main source of income so I deliver food every day.]

Filipinos realized the value of work

Meanwhile, getting laid off during the pandemic was the biggest worry of Joel Lim, a security guard. This pushed him to work harder to stay on the job to support his family, oftentimes, at the expense of his health. “Matindi ‘yung naging pangamba ko na mawalan ng trabaho noong pandemic, kaya ngayong unti-unti na tayo bumabawi, patuloy pa rin ako kumakayod. Kapag masakit ang katawan ko, bukod sa paglagay ng ointment, sinasabayan ko rin ng pain reliever para tuloy-tuloy talaga sa trabaho.”

[I was concerned about my job security during the pandemic. Now that we are slowly recovering from it, I still continue to strive hard. So when I experience body pain, aside from using topical ointment, I also take a pain reliever so I could continue working.]

Importance of well-researched health products

During the pandemic, there has been a lot of confusion and misconceptions surrounding our health and the products we put in our body—one of which is people’s worries about getting vaccinated. Through consistent public education, eventually, there became a greater understanding of the extensive research that goes behind healthcare products.

In the same grain, pain medicines like Alaxan have gone through not just various scientific research, but also real-life monitoring of its efficacy and safety. After decades in the market, Ibuprofen+Paracetamol (Alaxan) has not caused serious side effects to the body organs. It is a synergistic combination of Ibuprofen+Paracetamol that was found to have the highest success rate among OTC pain medicines tested, according to a 2015 scientific review by Cochrane, a world-renowned independent research institution. The same study also found that Ibuprofen+Paracetamol has fewer adverse effects than placebo which proves that the combination is not likely to cause serious harmful effects on our body when used at the recommended dose.

While there is no other way but to move forward, the pandemic has certainly pushed us even more to work harder and to value our livelihood without compromising our health along the way. Fortunately, these past years also taught us that well-researched health products are accessible to give us a strong fighting chance against these challenges.

For more information about Alaxan, visit their website. If symptoms persist, consult your doctor.

When it comes to pain, Filipinos are well-known for being “matiisin”, enduring the toughness of our daily grind so we can better provide for our loved ones. We often try to ignore the aches and pains due to our fear that medicines will have a negative effect on our body. But there’s no need to tolerate body pain, as effective yet safe medicines are available as found by researches. The question is: which formulation provides quick, worry-free pain relief?

Ibuprofen + Paracetamol: The most effective way to combat body pain

The combination of Ibuprofen and Paracetamol is the most effective over-the-counter (OTC) pain medicine among OTC pain medicines studied according to a 2015 scientific review[ Cochrane (2015). Non-prescription (OTC) oral analgesics for acute pain - an overview of Cochrane reviews (Review). ] by the world-renowned independent research institution, Cochrane. Cochrane evaluates health interventions, best known for their systematic reviews, which select only high-grade clinical researches in assessing the effectiveness and safety of medicines.

Among the different formulations studied, which include ibuprofen, naproxen, paracetamol, and aspirin, the combination Ibuprofen+Paracetamol had the highest success rate in providing pain relief. This combination works because while paracetamol and ibuprofen are both painkillers, they also have different mechanisms of action. As a combination, it has both analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, indicating that it can reduce pain and swelling which also causes pain.

Ibuprofen+Paracetamol can work together to effectively fight body pain. According to Unilab Medical Director Dr. Jonas Policarpio, “On one side, ibuprofen inhibits the release of prostaglandins; while on the other side, paracetamols reset the pain threshold in the brain, harnessing synergies to be able to provide better potency even at low doses while maintaining an excellent margin of safety. Their actions then become complementary, and the effect is synergistic. It’s like a one-two punch.”

A low-dose combination for a safe pain relief

The same review of studies has also shown that the combination of Ibuprofen+Paracetamol has less adverse effects than placebo which proves that Ibuprofen+Paracetamol is not likely to cause serious harmful effects on our body when used at the recommended dose.

When assessed whether individually or as a combination, Paracetamol is generally perceived to be harmless, but Ibuprofen and other NSAIDs are perceived differently. On the contrary, Ibuprofen has been found safe when used as directed.

A scientific paper titled “Ibuprofen Safety at the Golden Anniversary: Are all NSAIDs the Same? A Narrative Review”[ Varassi et. al (2019). Ibuprofen Safety at the Golden Anniversary: Are all NSAIDs the Same? A Narrative Review. ] did a comprehensive analysis of published researches on NSAIDs. It concluded that Ibuprofen is ranked among the safest of the NSAID pain relievers. NSAIDs are not all the same when it comes to safety profile. “Risk for GI adverse events, (cardiovascular) side effects, renal, and hepatotoxic effects are very low with ibuprofen compared with other NSAIDs”. This means that Ibuprofen was found to have a very low risk of harm to the gastrointestinal tract, heart, kidney, and liver when taken at the recommended OTC dose.

Another finding of this research was that the health risks were more associated with high therapeutic doses. 200mg Ibuprofen is low in comparison to these prescription-grade medicines.

Among the OTC medications in the Philippines that utilize the effective combination of Ibuprofen+Paracetamol is ALAXAN. It combined a lower level of Ibuprofen & Paracetamol (200mg Ibuprofen and 325mg Paracetamol) to improve its safety profile while harnessing the synergistic effect of the 2 ingredients. It offers relief of mild to moderately severe pain such as muscle pain, arthritis, rheumatism, sprain, strain, tendonitis, backache, stiff neck, tension headache, dysmenorrhea, toothache, pain after tooth extraction and minor surgical operations.

Trusted by many Filipinos for decades, there has been no serious side effects attributable to Ibuprofen+Paracetamol (ALAXAN). That is because of its low-dose combination of Ibuprofen & Paracetamol. This along with following the right dosage helps Ibuprofen+Paracetamol (ALAXAN) to deliver worry-free pain relief for Filipinos.

Proper Dosage is a Must

As with any treatment, following the recommended dosage is a must. For adults and children 12 years and older, the proper dose is 1 tablet or capsule every 6 hours. Do not take longer than 10 days, unless directed by a doctor. Consult your doctor too if you have any serious medical condition. Like any medicine, do not take Ibuprofen+Paracetamol if you have allergies.

For more information about Ibuprofen+Paracetamol (ALAXAN), visit their Facebook Page at @AlaxanFastRelief or visit their website: more about Alaxan. If symptoms persist, consult your doctor.

Boxing Legend Manny Pacquiao and weightlifting champion Hidilyn Diaz challeged each other at the Alaxan Showdown of the Year held at the Unilab Bayanihan Center. They also shared their professional and personal endeavors and their trusted pain relief partner, Alaxan FR. Pacquiao is supporting young boxers and has a housing project, while Diaz is preparing for the 2024 Olympics. Alaxan FR is a reliable companion for both athletes in fighting body pains without serious side effects.

Together with the pain relief medicine brand Alaxan FR, Pacquiao and Diaz, aim to empower hardworking Filipinos–the everyday champions–who continuously persevere and push their limits to achieve their goals and aspirations.

Moreover, as they continue honing their craft to level up with their respective sports, Pacquiao and Diaz, likewise demonstrate the same passion in their other endeavors.

Pacquiao recently unveiled his housing project called “Pacman Village” in Saranggani Province after he was named "ambassador for the homeless and vulnerable" by international organization Spring Rain Global. He is also dedicating his time in supporting young boxers including Mark Magsayo who held the WBC featherweight title in 2022. Pacquiao juggles these social projects with his training as he gears up for an upcoming match this 2023 in Japan.

Hidilyn Diaz, on the other hand, is undergoing rigorous training as she transitions to the 59-kg division for the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics in her attempt to defend the gold after snatching it in the last Olympics in 2020. Named the Athlete of the Year by the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA), Hidilyn strives to promote weightlifting and empower young aspiring athletes, especially women, to reach their dreams.

While busy with both professional and personal ventures, Pacquiao and Diaz ensure they are accompanied by their tried and tested pain relief partner which helps them focus on being champions without worrying about body pains and without fear of any serious side effect.

Since 2001, Pacquiao has been taking Alaxan FR in fighting body pains not only from trainings but also from his non-athletic activities and endeavors.

“Alaxan FR ang naging kaagapay ko for the past 22 years. Ngayong 44 years old na ako, masasabi kong malusog at malakas pa rin ako, at ‘di ako nangangamba kapag nakararanas ng sakit ng katawan dahil sinusunod ko ang correct dose,” Pacquiao shared.

[Alaxan FR has been a reliable companion for the past 22 years. Now that I am 44 years old, I could say that I am perfectly healthy and have nothing to worry about when experiencing and treating my body pain because I always follow the correct dose.]

“Kilala ang mga Pinoy bilang masisipag kaya talagang isinasabuhay ko ‘to hanggang ngayon. Kapag weightlifter ka, hindi talaga maiiwasan ‘yong sakit ng katawan. I’m sure marami rin sa atin ang nakakaranas ng ganito sa araw-araw kaya importante na mayroong trusted companion gaya ng Alaxan na tumutulong labanan ang body pain at magpatuloy sa laban,” Diaz said. [Filipinos are known for being hard-working and it is a value that I always keep in mind until now. As a professional weightlifter, body pains are inevitable. I’m sure many of us also experience this in our daily lives so it’s important to have a trusted companion like Alaxan that will help us beat body pains and continue moving forward.]

Trusted by many Filipinos for 50 years, Alaxan has not caused serious side effects with regard to taking this pain relief medicine. That is because it combined a lower level of Ibuprofen & Paracetamol (200mg Ibuprofen and 325mg Paracetamol). In fact, in a systematic analysis done by Cochrane in 2015, they found that “there were fewer side effects for people taking ibuprofen plus paracetamol than those taking placebo (a pretend treatment).” The study highlighted only Ibuprofen Paracetamol as having a good safety profile among all other common pain medicines that were included in the study.

“Pacquiao and Hidilyn have been icons and testaments that attaining your dreams is possible through determination. We’re very honored to have these champions who are very discerning about their health trust Alaxan, and we’re looking forward to seeing them achieve bigger things in life and in their career without worrying about body pains,” said Valerie Ifurung-Siquian from UNILAB Consumer Health.

For more information about Alaxan FR, visit their Facebook Page at @AlaxanFastRelief or visit their website: more about Alaxan. If symptoms persist, consult your doctor.