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Health Tips (Healthy Health) Part II
1. Cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing
Diseases such as influenza, pneumonia and tuberculosis are transmitted through the air.
When an infected person coughs or sneezes, infectious agents may be passed on to others through airborne droplets.
When you feel a cough or sneeze coming on, make sure you have covered your mouth with a face mask or use a tissue then dispose it carefully.
If you do not have a tissue close by when you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth as much as possible with the crook (or the inside) of your elbow.
2. Prevent mosquito bites
Mosquitoes are one of the deadliest animals in the world.
Diseases like dengue, chikungunya, malaria and lymphatic filariasis are transmitted by mosquitoes and continue to affect Filipinos.
You can take simple measures to protect yourself and your loved ones against mosquito-borne diseases.
If you’re traveling to an area with known mosquito-borne diseases, consult a physician for a vaccine to prevent diseases such as Japanese encephalitis and yellow fever or if you need to take antimalarial medicines. Wear light-coloured, long-sleeved shirts and pants and use insect repellent.
At home, use window and door screens, use bed nets and clean your surroundings weekly to destroy mosquito breeding sites.
3. Follow traffic laws
Road crashes claim over one million lives around the world and millions more are injured.
Road traffic injuries are preventable through a variety of measures implemented by the government such as strong legislation and enforcement, safer infrastructure and vehicle standards, and improved post-crash care.
You yourself can also prevent road crashes by ensuring that you follow traffic laws such as using the seatbelt for adults and child restraint for your kids, wearing a helmet when riding a motorcycle or bicycle, not drinking and driving, and not using your mobile phone while driving.
4. Drink only safe water
Drinking unsafe water can lead to water-borne diseases such as cholera, diarrhoea, hepatitis A, typhoid and polio. Globally, at least 2 billion people use a drinking water source contaminated with faeces.
Check with your water concessionaire and water refilling station to ensure that the water you’re drinking is safe. In a setting where you are unsure of your water source, boil your water for at least one minute.
This will destroy harmful organisms in the water. Let it cool naturally before drinking.
5. Breastfeed babies from 0 to 2 years and beyond
Breastfeeding is the best way to provide the ideal food for newborns and infants.
WHO recommends that mothers initiate breastfeeding within one hour of birth.
Breastfeeding for the first six months is crucial for the baby to grow up healthy.
It is recommended that breastfeeding is continued for up to two years and beyond. Aside from being beneficial to babies, breastfeeding is also good for the mother as it reduces the risk of breast and ovarian cancer, type II diabetes, and postpartum depression.
6. Talk to someone you trust if you're feeling down
Depression is a common illness worldwide with over 260 million people affected.
Depression can manifest in different ways, but it might make you feel hopeless or worthless, or you might think about negative and disturbing thoughts a lot or have an overwhelming sense of pain.
If you’re going through this, remember that you are not alone. Talk to someone you trust such as a family member, friend, colleague or mental health professional about how you feel.
If you feel that you are in danger of harming yourself, contact the National Center for Mental Health Care.
7. Take antibiotics only as prescribed
Antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest public health threats in our generation. When antibiotics lose their power, bacterial infections become harder to treat, leading to higher medical costs, prolonged hospital stays, and increased mortality.
Antibiotics are losing their power because of misuse and overuse in humans and animals. Make sure you only take antibiotics if prescribed by a qualified health professional. And once prescribed, complete the treatment days as instructed. Never share antibiotics.
8. Clean your hands properly
Hand hygiene is critical not only for health workers but for everyone. Clean hands can prevent the spread of infectious illnesses.
You should handwash using soap and water when your hands are visibly soiled or handrub using an alcohol-based products.
9. Prepare your food correctly
Unsafe food containing harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemical substances, causes more than 200 diseases – ranging from diarrhoea to cancers.
When buying food at the market or store, check the labels or the actual produce to ensure it is safe to eat.
If you are preparing food, make sure you follow the five keys to safer food:
(1) keep clean;
(2) separate raw and cooked;
(3) cook thoroughly;
(4) keep food at safe
temperatures; and
(5) use safe water and raw
materials.
10. Have regular check-ups
Regular check-ups can help find health problems before they start. Health professionals can help find and diagnose health issues early, when your chances for treatment and cure are better.
Go to your nearest health facility to check out the the health services, screenings and treatment that are accessible to you.
Please visit!
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