As a mommy, following the scheduled vaccine for my little ones is a must. Vaccination is a mandatory thing that I personally abide. We, Mommies, make sure that our kids as much as possible are free from any diseases, that's why we really follow most of the precautionary measures.

Recently, I was able to attend another health related event that got my attention because it involves  kids. As what I keep on mentioning on most of my post when it comes to our kids we make sure they are aware and nourished with information about health. So, I made sure that I get to know more about this mosquito issue and learn what is JE all about. Here are some of the insights of the topics discussed.
Japanese encephalitis (JE) is a leading cause of viral encephalitis in Asia. Transmitted by the mosquito vector Culextritaeniorhynchus, the virus can cause inflammation of the brain, leading to high fever, headache, fatigue, vomiting, confusion, and in severe cases, seizures, spastic paralysis, and coma. It could also mimic a stroke, as was the case reported in Davao during the second half of 2016. There is no specific treatment for this disease. JE is fatal in 20 to 30% of cases and among those who survive, 30 to 50% suffer from permanent disabilities.

Reports from the World Health Organization (WHO) have estimated that there are currently 3 billion people at risk for JE, living in JE-prone areas, including 24 countries in the Southeast Asia and Western Pacific regions. JE usually occurs in rural and agricultural areas, however, an epidemiologic study conducted by Dr. Anna Lena Lopez of the National Institute of Health (NIH) published in 2015, showed that the virus circulates in all regions of the Philippines, including urban areas like Metro Manila, constituting a significant public health burden.  The study showed that although majority of cases occur in children younger than 15 years of age, adults remain at risk, with 15% of cases occurring in individuals older than 18 years. In tropical areas, disease can occur year-round. Data from the Department of Health (DOH) Epidemiology Bureau surveillance system revealed that for 2016, among 875 acute meningitis-encephalitis suspected cases reported as of August 2016, 119 (14%) were laboratory-confirmed for JE.
As part of the government’s strategy to reduce mosquito-borne diseases, the 4S program was implemented several years back. 4S stands for: Search and destroy mosquito breeding places, use Self-protection measures, Seek early consultation for fever lasting more than 2 days, and Say yes to fogging when there is an impending outbreak. However, mosquito-borne diseases are still on the rise. According to the WHO, the most effective way of reducing disease burden is vaccination against the illness. The WHO cites that there is clear evidence demonstrating the impact JE vaccination has on disease burden in a population. Hence, the WHO has recommended that JE vaccination be integrated into national immunization schedules in all areas where JE is recognized as a public health problem.

The WHO Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety (GACVS) has reviewed data on the different types of JE vaccines (inactivated and live attenuated vaccines) and has found them to have acceptable safety profiles. Local scientific bodies, including the Philippine Pediatric Society (PPS) and Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of the Philippines (PIDSP), have recommended that JE vaccination be given as a single primary dose for those 9 months old and above. For individuals less than 18 years of age, this should be followed by a booster dose 1 to 2 years after. Other preventive strategies for disease control include bed nets, repellents, long-sleeved clothes, coils, vaporizers and mosquito control measures.
About the Vaccine, The JE-chimeric vaccine, a live attenuated recombinant vaccine, was first licensed in the Philippines in 2013. The vaccine is produced by Vero cell culture, a cell culture technology recommended by WHO. It is the only JE vaccine available locally and is approved for use for individuals 9 months old and above, with high immunogenicity rates.

Mommies we need to be vigilant nowadays, that mosquito-borne diseases give us scary feeling for our kids. I hope this kind of information give you an enlightenment about JE just like me.  Do follow all the required vaccine for your babies.

I'd like to dedicate this post to all the staff of Operation Smile and to the Doctors who shared their skills in conducting operation to all patients with cleft lip and cleft palate. It's great to know that there are still professionals who seeks and are willing to share their blessings for the less fortunate ones. 
One of the patients that was benefited of the operation conducted through Operation Smile was my nephew, Rafael Montas who is now 9 years old. He is the only son of my brother, Marlon Montas and his wife,  Felisa Villamor. My nephew whom we call "Ap Ap", is living with his parents in Laguna.
Ap Ap was born with a deficiency called the cleft lip and cleft palate. There are instances that there's only one either cleft lip or cleft palate but in Ap Ap's case both are his deficiency. Due to his condition our family make sure to give him the best love and care so that he'll never feel neglected. Even though his condition he is brave in face all his struggles.

When he was 3 years, his cleft lip was operated first at Morong Hospital, then just recently this year when he was 9 years old, his second operation was conducted at Tanay Hospital for the cleft palate.
We were glad that the operation for his cleft palate came through this year. It was conducted by Operation Smile last year for the supposed operation and made everyone be prepared for the schedule.

February 1, 2017 at around 9 am the operation started and it lasted until 12nn. It  was a successful operation. We were so happy of the outcome and thank the Lord for the guidance and strength. Now, Ap Ap is recovering at their house in Laguna. He needs to take a rest for a month and is taking a soft diet. No talk yet so we're communicating through chat only. 
We're expecting him to visit us here in Manila this summer vacation. They'll be staying at their Lolo and Lola's, my parents' house. While having his vacation he'll be having his speech therapy.  For now, we are still waiting for the summer vacation and praying for Ap Ap's full recovery. We will be seeing him very very soon.


To Operation Smile again thank you very much and congratulations for a successful operation!

We, mommies are really eager to learn more when it comes to cooking. Just like me, I want to know more different  dishes so that I can give a new set of menu that I can serve to my Family.
Gladly, Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation organized a press conference at the Madison Hotel in New Manila to announce the launch of its newest product, Sarsaya Oyster Sauce and its celebrity endorser, Mr. Coco Martin.
Sarsaya Oyster Sauce is a concentrated sauce that comes from real oyster, complete with seasonings to provide a delicious blend of savory, sweet and salty taste to any dish. It is a new kind sauce that will be loved by the whole family.

According to Pen Alvina, Ajinomoto's Category Manager for Menu Seasonings, "Sarsaya Oyster Sauce is a unique brand of oyster sauce that is created to suit Filipino taste and preference, making many Filipino dishes like ginisang kangkong and adobo more flavorful and delicious."
During the event, a live cooking demonstration and cook-off was facilitated by Chef McRhyan Rodrigo. Chef Mac cooked one of Filipino favorites, the Ginisang KangKong which was renamed Ginisarsayang Kangkong with Tokwa and of course his very own recipe, Thai Style Fried Chicken using Sarsaya Oyster Sauce. Guests were also invited to participate in a cook-off, where they discovered the convenience of using Sarsaya Oyster Sauce to turn ordinary dishes into an extra special and flavorful.
No less than the Primetime King, Mr. Coco Martin, was chosen to endorse Sarsaya Oyster Sauce. Aside from being a big fan of his grandmother's cooking, Coco graduated with a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management. Coco claimed, "Kakaiba dahil lasang oyster na oyster!" He loved how Sarsaya Oyster Sauce can add that delicious and authentic oyster flavor that truly enhances simple dishes.

I will definitely cooked the new version of Kangkong with Oyster Sauce, hopefully my kids will love it and they will start to enjoy eating vegetables. I have a hard time encouraging them to eat vegetable that's why I am searching for the best recipe that will suit the palate of my kids.
Mommies, this is your chance to serve a new dish for your family. A usual dish that comes with a twist using the oyster sauce. Ajinomoto Sarsaya Oyster Sauce is available in 30g pack and 156g stand-up re-sealable pouch. Also try Sarsaya Sweet and Sour Sauce, available in 200g stand-up pouch, for a delicious blend of pineapple and tomato flavor.

Health is very important in every family. We, mommies, make sure that our families are not prone to any diseases. There are lots of ways for us to have a healthy family, one is that we need to eat healthy foods and practice a healthy lifestyle. And of course there's this called prevention. 

I am so glad that most of the event that I've attended lately were about health awareness. It really helps me learn more things to know about certain health problem and knowing it will help me and my family knows it. So what I am talking about? Well this March aside from the Women and Children's Month and Fire Prevention Month, it is also the Colon Cancer Awareness Month. So topic that was discussed during the event I've attended is the media briefing for the Colon Cancer Advocacy.  The discussion made by the expert doctors were really informative and did made its impact in me. They really made jargon medical terms to be explain in a simple manner. Though it was vulgar they made it sound like prim and proper.
The event was held at Diamond Hotel and it was sponsored by Wesmont, a division of UNILAB. The event was pushed through by the Philippine Society of Gastroenterologist. The media briefing is regarding Colon Cancer Awareness.
The main thrust of the organization is to make a noise regarding Colon Cancer, the myths people believed about it, and the initiative in calling the attention of the government to have every Filipino citizens above 50 years old to be screened. According to DR. FREDERICK DY, Gastronintestinal oncologist and a leading expert in endoscopy, "Colorectal cancer has certainly become a real concern in the Philippines. The growing number of incidence and mortality worldwide have put the disease as the third most common type of cancer for both men and women, after lung and breast cancers."
According to the recent statistics of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) foremost cancer research and statistics project, GLOBOCAN, there were 4,901 deaths of the 8,553 incidences of colorectal cancer in the Philippines in 2012, which means that more than half of those diagnosed have died from the disease.

It is unfortunate that the level of awareness about colorectal cancer here in the Philippines is much lower than that for other types of cancer such as breasts or lungs. Doctors also find difficulty in urging patients to adopt lifestyle changes for the prevention if colorectal cancer. The earlier the better it is prevented.

“Colorectal cancer us influenced by both modifiable and non-modifiable risks, one of which is lifestyle and diet. But as a lifestyle illness, it is also asymptomatic (displaying no symptoms) is the initial stage,” Dr. Dy says.



As what Dr. Dy mentioned, modifiable risk factors are those that can be changed like obesity, cigarette smoking, alcoholic beverage intake, physical inactivity and increased consumption of red meat. A diet rich in animal fat generally increases risk, while eating food rich in fiber and calcium may possible reduce the risk.

Aside from the modifiable risk factors there are also the non-modifiable risks factor in colorectal cancer. Some of these non-modifiable are the gender, age, and family history. According to Dr. Dy these are factors that cannot be altered. These factors are inherent in a person like the family history of the disease and gender.

With the increase in incidences, colon cancer is now among the deadliest, and recent data show that it's not slowing down either.





"Colon cancer doesn't begin as cancer immediately; it starts with pre-malignant precursors called polyps. If left attended, these polyps grow over time, eventually becoming cancer. For young people, the risk is low, but they are not immune to it. We have young adults developing colorectal cancer. The occurrence is generally uncommon, but if someone has symptoms referable to colorectal cancer, no matter the age, they need to see their doctor or better if they consult a gastroenterologist. Most of colorectal cancer occurs sporadically but some have a strong genetic background. There are also genetic syndromes that also develop a significant number of polyps at a younger age," said Dy.
As to what is always said "prevention is the best medicine" and for the Philippine Society of Gastroenterology, they are aiming to inform every Filipino about colon cancer and encourages everyone to have themselves be screened, most especially and a must are those people ages 50 and up. It is preventable all is needed is the cooperation of every Filipino and of course through the help of the government and every individual.

So, Mommies be well informed about things like this matter, specially to those who have Parents ages 50 and above like me. I will definitely talk to my parents and let them know about Colon Cancer. It was really a big help attending this kind of advocacy. It gives enlightenment about the Colorectal Cancer.

Global gaming PC brand takes centerstage at the country’s first fully branded gaming facility

Global gaming PC brand Predator continues to overpower the competition in the local gaming PC market with the opening today of High Grounds Café, the country’s first and only fully branded gaming café.

Operated by the country’s top gaming café brand TheNet.com (TNC), High Grounds Café will definitely capture the attention of both gaming enthusiasts and professionals alike. It is fully armed to the teeth with top-of-the-line and powerful Predator gaming PCs in a gaming environment that’s unlike any other in the country today.

Located amid this city’s entertainment capital, High Grounds Café featured only the best gaming desktops courtesy of Predator, with 110 units of the Predator G1 (GTX 1080) and Predator G3 (GTX 1060) on hand for hours and hours of playing.

The Predator G1 squeals with beastly bravado that suits today’s brawny gamers with its ultra-powerful Intel Core™ i7 6700 processor (8M Cache, up to 4.00GHz) inside and 32GB DDR4 2133MHz memory for enough show and swagger and truly rock the house with its fiery performance regardless of gaming title while the 3TB 3.5-inch 7200 RPM and 256 GB M.2 2280 Solid State Drive combination is a force to reckon with in terms of storage capability. For visual clarity that lets you get your head—and eyes—into the game, trust the NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1080 with 8GB of GDDR5 graphics card to deliver the goods when it comes to an awesome and immersive game experience.
The Predator G3, meanwhile, boasts of the same overclocked Intel i7 processor for that ferocious roar in every game, powerful 16GB DDR4 2133MHz memory and 2TB 3.5-inch and 128GB Solid State Drive combination for the utmost in storage capacity and NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1060 with 3GB GDDR5 graphics card that lets you stun your enemies with out-of-this-world graphics and dominate the esports scene.

Pair these two gaming monsters with the 24-inch full HD Predator XB241H monitors that support NVIDIA G sync technology to boost your game day with its no-tear and less-stutter performance for fast-paced games and ferocious visuals that will certainly stun any onlooker.

Thus, expect screams, shrieks of delight in conquest and supremacy to rock the High Grounds Cafe as hundreds of players can be accommodated there at any given time. Gamers can also enjoy glorious snacks and other meal-time favorites during breaks from their game triumphs so they can recharge their batteries and be ready to dominate the competition again.

The opening of High Grounds Café is also the perfect battleground for the launch of the Predator 21 X which gives gaming pros and tech enthusiasts the best and most fearsome gaming laptop ever. Targeting the well-heeled and loaded tech lovers out there who will spare no peso in getting the most advanced and powerful gaming rig around, the Predator 21 X is a perfect fit for gamers who seek a whole new level of immersion in terms of sound and visuals, interaction, cooling and power efficiency never seen before in any gaming laptop.

The Predator 21 X is a humongous beast of a laptop that comes with a robust 21-inch-wide FHD (2560 x 1080) IPS screen with 2000R curvature for unbelievable visuals, 7th Generation Intel Core™ i7 processor, NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1080 SLI with 16GB GDDR5X graphics card coupled with 64GB of DDR4 system memory, plus Acer ColorBlast™ technology for the clearest and most abundant colors ever to reach a laptop.

TNC.com owner Eric Redulfin said High Grounds Café breaks the barriers in what used to be Internet-surfing-only cyber cafes. “The environment now is totally different in terms of cyber cafés. What used to be just for Internet surfing and browsing metamorphosed into complete full-fledged gaming centers. Of course the Internet is still there but gaming now takes the spotlight and the attention of game-loving and esports aficionados in the country.”
Redulfin bared that High Grounds Café will also be the perfect breeding ground of future Filipino esports stars who can give esports players from other countries a run for their money. “The Philippines is a young entrant in the global esports arena. Compared to other gaming countries, I could say we’re behind but that was 2-5 years ago. Now, even if we started competing only last year in tournaments abroad, we gained much attention already with the recent triumph of the TNC Pro Team during WESG,” he said.

The TNC Pro Team, bannered by members Marco Polo “Raven” Fausto, Carlo “Kuku” Palad, Samson Solomon “Sam_H” Hidalgo, Timothy “Tims” Randrup, and Ryo “ryOyr” Hasegawa, made history by becoming the first Filipino grand champions at the World Electronic Sports Games (WESG) 2016 Defense of the Ancients (DotA) 2 competition. The team took home a rich total prize pot of US$800,000 (roughly Php40 million) after defeating the Cloud9 team from Denmark in a heart-pounding finals match.

Redulfin and team manager Paulo Sy both admitted it’s tough to maintain a competitive team that should be well trained and funded. But with the arrival of the Predator desktops at High Grounds, they know that more and more esports “athletes” or gamers will have full access to powerful PCs that can deliver the best—and only the best—experience in leisure and competitive gaming.

“The players train for 8-10 hours every day and they need the best PCs to help them visualize and conceptualize strategies for every game. With their power and brawn, the Predator desktops are a big help in our aim to promote esports and hopefully, we can find the next best players that will bring pride to our country in future esports competitions abroad and help promote TNC as well,” declares both Redulfin and Sy.
“We are glad that TNC decided to use Predator desktops as their only gaming rigs at High Grounds Café. It just goes to show that Predator remains to be the only preferred gaming PCs by serious esports competitors who only want the best with the most premium components found inside, those that won’t conk out in the heat of the game any time of the day. Esports is serious stuff and is ultra-competitive that needs only the best PC for gameplay, and Predator is definitely it, without question,” explains Clark Gurden, Predator Brand Ambassador, Predator Headquarters.

For his part, Jerome Matti, NVIDIA Consumer Sales Lead, Philippines, said: “We build the ultimate platform for gamers. NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 and 1060 GPUs are based on our most advanced Pascal architecture that delivers amazing speed and power efficiency, plus innovative new gaming technologies. And our advanced G-SYNC monitors are designed to give gamers incredibly smooth, tear-free gameplay. Together, they redefine what makes a perfect platform for the new generation of content. And with Acer’s exquisite craftsmanship, we are able to bring the world’s most advanced platform to the Philippines’ biggest iCafe, High Grounds powered by TNC. We are thrilled to see more and more GeForce PC gamers in the Philippines!”

For more about the Predator gaming system, go to the Predator Philippines Facebook page - @PredatorPhilippines.

For a mom who don't have less knowledge about arts, designs, and creative stuff, events like this should be a no for me. But because it says about young designers... hmm... perhaps or I was prompted to take the chance and be part of the bloggers who will see and capture the event. Who knows my kids might end up like one of these young designers... and that's very very soon.

So in other words I should know things about these, so I would know the level of support that I will give them. The more I know the better I can help them or rather encourage them.

So, like I mentioned earlier this is about designs and creative things that SM North EDSA through their Interior Zone and with partnership with FAME Manila created for everyone who would want to know the story behind or their inspiration for the designs. The event features today's generation of young designers and their work that hits the global market. Few of these young designers were winners of the Red Box Design Program conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry and Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM). The aim of these agencies was to nurture and showcase the talents of the next generation of Filipino designers. Some of these young designers were featured in one of London's prestigious Fashion Showcase.
During the event the young designers like Micki Olaguer, Viktoria Laguyo and Jim Torres sat down and shares their story and their journey in completing the designs. Perhaps two things made these youngsters won their creations, inspiration and creativity.

The exhibit of these young designers creations will run until March 24, 2017. You'll have a chance to check it out and see for yourself. If your haven is the look at designs like these, be there!

Kian Dionisio joins the rooster of GMA Record's recording artists with his debut and self-titled album. A songwriter and a singer, but still couldn't believe that he is singing out his emotions out in the open.

Kian started his singing and performances in different bars after he graduated from UE in 2005. He pursue his songwriting skill when he joined the 5th Annual "Elements Music Camp", a singing and songwriting camp spearheaded by no less than the Maestro himself, Mr. Ryan Cayabyab.
His recent achievement in his songwriting career was when he joined Eat Bulaga's songwriting contest for Aldub. His composition entry for Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza was the song "Aldubidab". Most of his compositions were influences from Gary Granda, Ebe Dancel, Janno Gibbs, Ogie Alcasid, Nyoy Volante and Jimmy Bondoc.

During the Bloggers Conference, I was able to asked him 'Who is the artist that he wants to sing his song?' and he responded that he wants Nyoy Volante, Aiza Seguerra, The Company and Ebe Dancel to interpret his compositions. He also wants to write a song for Julie Ann San Jose and Ebe Dancel, who by the way sung his composed song.
Here are the list of songs included in his EP;
1.Pa Fall
2. Babalik Ka Pa Ba
3. Gabi
4. Ako Na lang Ulit
5. Aldubidad

Kian Dionisio has released his first music video entitled "Pa-Fall" which may also be seen on GMA Record's official YouTube channel and local music channels.
Kian’s first and self-titled album is available on digital formats. It's available on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify and other 160 digital stores worldwide.




For more details: https://www.facebook.com/GMARecords Twitter: @RealGMARecords IG: @gmarecords

Who loves Burrito? Do you want a twist on your Burrito?

Just when you thought a buriito couldn't get any better, Taco Bell ups the game with the introduction of its cheesiest burrito - The Cheesy Core Burrito.

The Cheesy Core Burrito is the first burrito with a melted cheese center. It features a "core" of red nacho strips sauce wrapped in a flour tortilla surrounded by seasoned beef, Mexican rice, cool sour cream, and red sauce wrapped into a burrito. Imagine a mini cheese burrito stuffed inside a classic Taco Bell Burrito.

Already satisfying on its own, the Cheesy Core Burrito is available at P139 ala carte. You may also pair it with nachos and your favorite soda for only P179.

I am not a fan of Burrito but I love Cheese, that's why I am very much happy that Taco Bell have a Cheesy Core Burrito, I love the cheesiest ever. The cheese give more tasty on the burrito, imagine I can finish 1 burrito in one sitting.

So mommies, let your kids and your hubby taste the newest offering of Taco Bell, the Cheesy Core Burrito and have a bonding moment with them.

For more information on the Cheesy Core Burrito and Taco Bell's latest offering visit Taco Bell's official website at www.tacobell.com.ph or follow their official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/tacobellPHL, the Instagram account @TacoBellPHL and the hash tag #TacoBellPHL across Facebook and Instagram.

The new MILO Champ Moves continues to make waves on social media, with millions of netizens having watched the viral, upbeat music video, even creating their own versions through parody clips, memes and cool remixes. At the center of the dance exercise is one of the country’s most influential young celebrities—actor, singer, dancer, and MILO ambassador James Reid. But did you know that there’s more to James than his roles in movies and TV shows?

Here are five Champion Facts you probably didn’t know about the talented James Reid and why he wants to help kids #BeatEnergyGap:

1. He was an athlete at an early age and competed in school competitions.

James is not only agile on the dance floor but also in sports, having participated in gymnastics, Australian football, swimming, golf, and cricket.

“I was very athletic as a kid, and I’m very proud of that. When I was in primary school until high school, I would try everything,” shared James during the Champ Moves video shoot. “I love swimming and I’ve been doing it as long as I can remember. I also played Australian football, golf, gymnastics, and even went as far as high-diving.”

Showing off his champ-like enthusiasm and winning energy, James excelled particularly in gymnastics and swimming, allowing him to participate in several school competitions.

“I competed in school for swimming, and I also reached regionals for gymnastics. Looking back, it was really a good experience, I even won a bronze medal for it," he recalled.

2.James’ dad was the reason why he was athletic at a young age, encouraging him to try different sports.

Growing up, James’ dad encouraged him to work hard and play hard. Whenever James would start to doubt himself, it was his dad who kept pushing him to excel.

“My dad introduced me to different types of sports. He didn’t make me do anything I didn’t want to do. Instead, he encouraged me to try new things and to do my best—he even loved taking videos of me in training. Even if I wasn’t good at a sport, he’d keep pushing me to never give up,” James shared.

3.More than competing and winning, he loves the team camaraderie.

“During competitions, what I enjoyed the most was the team camaraderie—meeting new people and making new friends who were like-minded and passionate about sports," James said.

4.Despite his busy schedule in front of the screen, James continues to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle.

James makes sure that he keeps an active and healthy lifestyle by exercising and eating right.

“Regardless of how hectic my schedule gets, I still make sure I stay active by going to the gym,” said James. “In keeping a healthy lifestyle, it’s important to start your day right by eating a nutritious breakfast; as they say it’s the most important meal of the day.”

James also stressed that discipline is key in achieving a healthy lifestyle. “It’s so easy to fall back on eating unhealthy food knowing that it won’t give you the right energy or nutrients. One needs the willpower to choose to eat the right food, and keep doing it every day. It’s the secret to having a happy and healthy life.

5.As a MILO kid himself, James wants to help kids #BeatEnergyGap through MILO Champ Moves.

When he sings “drink MILO every day!”, you know he means it.

Growing up in Australia where MILO originated, James drank MILO every day before going to school and sometimes after. “I grew up drinking MILO as a kid. It’s a brand that everyone knows, loves and remember seven from their childhood. So I’m so excited to be part of the MILO family,” shared James.

“Champ Moves in partnership with DepEd is a great program for kids as it will allow them to be more active, more alert during the day, especially for school. When you’re physically active, it’s easier to learn, absorb information, and socialize. The MILO Champ Moves program will surely energize kids to start the day right.”

Help #BeatEnergyGap today by doing the new MILO Champ Moves with James. Watch the video on the MILO Philippines Facebook page and the Nestle Philippines YouTube Channel. Follow @MiloPh on Twitter and @MiloPhilippines on Instagram for more information about Champ Moves.

Heart attack is one of the main causes of death every year. It happens when there’s a lack of oxygenated blood flow to the coronary arteries because of plaque buildup, causing permanent damage to the heart. Heart attacks can strike anytime and that is why it’s crucial to know what to do when it happens.

“Heart attacks can happen anytime, sometimes without any warning. It’s important for people to be fully informed on how to prevent heart attacks, how to accurately identify a heart attack and the steps to take when it happens. Some of the essential things you should know are the symptoms and how to perform first aid when you or a loved one suffers a heart attack. Heart attacks, whether silent or recognized, should not be taken lightly because it can cause sudden death if not treated or acted upon immediately,” said Dr. Nicky Montoya, president of MediCard.

Here’s what you need to know about heart attacks:

The warning signs. Paying attention to warning signs can save you or your loved one. Some heart attacks are sudden and intense while others start slowly. That’s why you need to spot the early warning signs and symptoms of a heart attack: chest discomfort, shortness of breath, nausea or lightheadedness, cold sweat, and pain in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach. Even if you’re not sure that you’re experiencing symptoms of heart attack, it is better to consult your doctor about it because patients usually make the mistake of ignoring these signs or waiting too long before they ask for help.

Silent heart attacks. A silent heart attack has more subtle signs wherein a person experiences minimal or unrecognized symptoms or no symptoms at all. It can be as dangerous as a recognized one because the attack often leaves scarring and serious damage to the heart. Signs of a heart attack can easily be shrugged off because they are common aches, like experiencing extreme fatigue, indigestion, flu-like symptoms and jaw, shoulder or neck pain.

People who experienced silent heart attacks realize it only after going through tests like Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) or electrocardiogram (EKG). People who suffered silent heart attacks are at risk of having potentially greater and fatal heart attacks.

First aid. Heart attacks, silent or recognized, can happen anytime, and it is important that you know exactly what to do when you or a loved one suffers from an attack. Keep in mind that acting quickly and getting help immediately can help lessen heart damage and heighten the chances of survival. First, call 911, the emergency hotline, immediately. If you are the one suffering a heart attack, do not attempt to drive on your own as this will only endanger you and others on the road. Keep calm and chew an aspirin – which can prevent blood clotting – if they are not allergic to it. If the person is unconscious, administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Heart attack prevention. Dr. Montoya advises several ways to prevent heart attack. These include maintaining a healthy blood pressure, monitoring your cholesterol, quitting smoking, exercising, eating a balanced diet which contains fruits, vegetables, fiber-rich whole grains and fish that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, and most importantly, having regular check-ups.

If you are experiencing symptoms of heart attack, consult a doctor immediately. MediCard has numerous free-standing clinics located in key cities nationwide that offer cardiology consultations and tests. Visit a MediCard clinic near you or check out their website at www.medicardphils.com for more information.