Daily treatment: key to managing asthma, according to new study.

In the Philippines, the National and Health Nutrition Survey states that the overall prevalence of asthma was estimated at 8.7% based on wheezing for the past 12 months. And according to the 2017 WHO data, asthma deaths in the country reached over 13,000.****

According to this research, “New Versus Old: The Impact of Changing Patterns of Inhaled Corticosteroid Prescribing and Dosing Regimens in Asthma Management” by Professor Dave Singh, daily usage of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) or maintenance inhalers, addresses both the evident and underlying asthma symptoms that patients experience, decreasing the number and severity of their asthma attacks. This also solves the tendency of patients' over-reliance or under-reliance on their needed medication.*

An additional study shows that nearly 50% of asthma patients in Asia have uncontrolled asthma, despite the same research stating that over 80% of patients consider their asthma to be controlled.**

Consistency over complacency

“When it comes to asthma, poor patient perception is a serious risk. The belief that patients usually have is that their condition is not as serious as it actually is. When in reality, they are already experiencing underlying complications, such as airway inflammation, airway remodeling, decreased lung function, and bronchial hyperreactivity,” says Dr. Gyneth Bibera, Country Medical Director of GlaxoSmithKline Philippines Inc. “The underestimation of their disease's severity often leads to complacency, assuming that they only need treatment to react to symptoms when experienced. What this does is heightens the risk of asthma attacks, emergency hospital visits, a decreased quality of life, or even death.”

Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that requires maintenance medication. An effective way to manage it is through a preventive daily treatment using ICS therapies, alongside other prescribed medication that a patient might have. It helps to address the underlying source of the asthma attacks***, as opposed to only using ICS as a reliever once symptoms are already present. By committing to early and consistent treatment, patients can avoid experiencing asthma symptoms and exacerbations.****

“Patients must view their asthma treatments as preventive rather than a reactive measure to control their condition. In partnership with their physicians, it's about maintaining consistency of treatment to provide them the best outcome in managing a chronic condition like asthma.” Dr. Bibera ends.

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*Singh, D. (2022, March). New Versus Old: The Impact of Changing Patterns of Inhaled Corticosteroid Prescribing and Dosing Regimens in Asthma Management. Springer Open Choice, 39(5). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12325-022-02092-7. Accessed 13 Sept 2022.

**Price D, et al. NPJ Prim Care Respir Med 2014 Jun 12;24:14009. Price D, et al. J Asthma Allergy 2015; 8, 93-103. Accessed 13 Sept. 2022.

***Asthma: Treatments for Inflammation. (n.d.). Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved September 13, 2022, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/11871-treating-the-inflammation-of-asthma 

****Philippine Consensus Report on Asthma Diagnosis and Management 2019; Executive Summary; CH1; p7; PCRADM-2019-Exec-Summary-.pdf (philchest.org)

Cetaphil Bright Healthy Radiance Launches a New Line of Brightening Products to add to your #RadianceRoutine.

With the ever-evolving demands and needs of our skin, one thing remains the same: consistency is key, especially in routines and habits. Being consistent with your #RadianceRoutine and the products and ingredients you use can go a long way in maintaining your skin health. It can even transform your skin to make it look even brighter. 

Formulated with GentleBright Technology,  it has a combination of Sea Daffodil and Niacinamide that visibly corrects dark spots without irritation boosts brightness and evens skin tone. The latest line from Cetaphil introduces more brightening products to the fold that will magnify skin’s brightness. It now has powered by ingredients such as Advanced Peptide and Antioxidant C. 

For Cleansing

Cetaphil Bright Healthy Radiance Gentle Renewing Cleanser

Start your #RadianceRoutine with the new Gentle Renewing Cleanser. This 3-in-1 brightening cleanser offers gentle exfoliation using Jojoba beads infused with Vitamin E to remove pollution and impurities, instantly brightening and improving skin texture. 

For Target

Cetaphil Bright Healthy Radiance Perfecting Serum

Revitalize skin with the new Perfecting Serum, which offers seven times the power for brighter and more radiant skin in just 14 days. With key ingredients advanced peptide and antioxidant C, the perfecting serum provides all these benefits in one bottle: reduces dark spots, evens skin tone, improves fine lines, boosts radiance, delivers fresh and well-rested skin, improves hydration, and illuminates complexion.

For Moisturizing

Cetaphil Bright Healthy Radiance Instant Radiance Mask

Provide even more moisture for your skin with the new Instant Radiance Mask which offers seven times faster when it comes to results and improves skin luminosity, skin tone evenness, tired skin and texture, and lessens fine lines and pores.

The new Cetaphil Bright Healthy Radiance is now available in Mercury Drug and Watsons stores, supermarkets nationwide, and the official Cetaphil Philippines stores in Lazada and Shopee.

Skincare Routine: What To Do For Pigmentation Issues.

We all have our own skincare routines, regardless of age and gender. Yet, we cannot fail to mention that women are far more interested in keeping their skin healthy than most men. Well, okay, men are interested in this too. It’s just that women pay more attention to some things and they usually use much more products to try and keep their skin fresh and healthy. The reason I am mentioning these differences between genders in the first place is that hyperpigmentation, further explained here, usually affects women more than men.

If you’ve done any research on skin health previously, then you probably already know what pigmentation issues are. In short, hyperpigmentation refers to those patches of skin that tend to get darker than the surrounding areas. It is generally a harmless condition, but some people are still not happy about it and they want to do something to reduce the problem or possibly get rid of it altogether.

In case you’re now wondering whether this issue can be treated at all, the answer is yes. Of course, if you don’t want to do it, you should know that it doesn’t really require treatment. As I have explained, it is completely harmful. Yet, if you do want to try and resolve this problem, you should at least know how to do it the right way. In other words, you need to know how to create the perfect skincare routine to get rid of hyperpigmentation.

Well, if you are ready to learn about the right routine, you should keep reading. I’ll tell you what you need to know in order to actually create the perfect routine for you. The tips I’ll share will, hopefully, help you understand which steps you should take when aiming at getting rid of hyperpigmentation for good. Here we go.

1. Make Sure To Pick The Right Products

As you probably could have guessed it on your own, it all begins with choosing the right products for pigmentation issues. After all, if you start using some poor-quality products, you are highly unlikely to get the results that you desire. This is why you need to be quite thorough when researching the various products that are sold on the market these days since you don’t want to wind up buying something that is of terrible quality and that could even affect your skin negatively.

The most significant thing to do when trying to find these products is research the actual brands. Check their reputation and have a look at any types of comments that people have left regarding their products. Of course, don’t forget to also check the ingredients, so as to get a better idea about the safety and the quality of the goods that you are considering.

Photo credit: Alena Darmel on Pexels.

2. Start Your Day With A Cleanser

Once you’ve chosen the right products, you’ll be ready to start your routine. When you wake up in the morning, always start your day with a cleanser. Sure, you can exfoliate before that if you are used to doing it, but a cleanser is undeniably a must. You should also use it in the evening if you want the routine to be perfect, but it is highly important to start your day with it.

3. Use An Antioxidant

Since your goal here is to prevent UV rays from darkening the spots and to generally reduce sun damage, you should add an antioxidant to your routine. That can be vitamin C or E, or even niacinimide. The bottom line is that an antioxidant will help prevent sun damage, which is certainly extremely important when talking about hyperpigmentation. Get some more recommendations here: https://makeupandbeauty.com/skincare-routine-recommendation-pigmented-skin/

Photo credit: Armin Rimoldi on Pexels.

4. Moisturize

Moisturizing is undeniably an important step of the routine as well. You should use a moisturizer after cleansing and after applying the serum. Make sure to choose the right moisturizer for your specific skin, so that you can be sure that it is protecting you well.

5. Don’t Forget Your Sunscreen

We cannot talk about sun damage protection without mentioning sunscreen, can we? While some people tend to use those 2 in 1 one products, i.e. a combination of moisturizers and sunscreens, you should actually use separate ones for better protection. A mineral-based sunscreen is always a good option.

Parents’ flu-proof guide to sending their kids back to face-to-face classes.

The resumption of face-to-face classes coinciding with flu season heightens the need for parents to stay on track of their children’s health and wellbeing. Increased exposure means that there must also be increased vigilance in the observance of public health and safety protocols.

"Parents are naturally on guard now that their kids are getting more face time. We’re dealing with dangerous illnesses such as COVID-19, Dengue, and Monkeypox, which happen to have flu-like symptoms," says Dr. Gyneth Lourdes Bibera, country medical director of GSK Philippines. “It’s important to remember that despite their similarities, these are all separate illnesses, caused by different viruses and having different treatments. This is why it is important to strengthen our immunity through proper nutrition, regular exercise, and eliminating the chances of catching communicable diseases by updating your vaccinations."

To prevent contracting the flu or any of the transmissible diseases, here are 3 important health guidelines to remember:

Be Flutected. GSK hosted a press briefing on flu-awareness 

to help parents keep children protected for face-to-face classes. 

The discussion was led by GSK Philippines' Country Medical Director, 

Dr. Gyneth Lourdes Bibera, and actress and lifestyle influencer, Dimples Romana.

1. Keep your child’s vaccines up to date.

Experts advise that vaccination is the best way to stay protected from the flu. Getting an annual flu shot will reduce the risk of illness, severity, and hospitalization among children while lowering their chances of developing any complications. Flu vaccinations can be administered to children starting at six months old. Depending on the child's age and the doctor's recommendation, immunizations may be given in one or two doses.

Annual vaccinations are also necessary because the flu virus constantly mutates. This means that new strains may be formed from year to year, necessitating new vaccines. When getting the flu vaccine around the same time as the COVID-19 vaccine, follow the national guidelines prescribed by the Department of Health (DOH), which is to take the flu vaccine 14 days before or after the COVID-19 vaccine.

2. Isolate at the onset of symptoms.

If your children start showing or complaining about any signs of flu or illness, they should stay home to avoid potentially infecting others or having their symptoms worsen. At the same time, check with their schools as to what the standard protocol is when a student is ill so that they don’t miss out on important activities for any of their classes.

3. Start healthy habits at home.

Following the right health and safety measures should always start at home, and parents must ensure that children learn these early on. Practicing good hygiene plays a huge role in the prevention of diseases like the flu. Instill in your children the practices of covering their nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, washing their hands with soap and water, not touching their eyes, noses, and mouths, wearing masks, keeping a safe distance from other students or teachers, and disinfecting their personal spaces.

Besides this, other good habits they may also follow include getting enough sleep, being physically active, drinking plenty of fluids, and eating nutritious food. By setting these practices as the standard at home, children will be more likely to follow them when they go out for school or other activities.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic coinciding with flu season might raise alarm bells for parents who are now sending their kids to school but making sure to follow the proper ways to prevent sickness will go a long way in staying healthy.

"The health protocols we've been following the past two years must be standard practice by now," reminds Dr. Bibera. "Beyond that, we've seen the positive effects of vaccinations on disease severity. We implore all parents to get the annual flu vaccine for themselves and their kids, as this is still the best way to protect against the flu," she ends.

Grocery shopping done right with pandamart!

Whether it’s for a short list of items or a monthly supply of essentials, our regular grocery store visits have its fair share of struggles: waiting in long lines, the struggle of looking for a parking spot, getting lost going around the aisles, or the moment you forget to pick up something.

If you want to avoid these usual hassles, choose to shop smart with pandamart! It’s the perfect partner for all your grocery shopping needs especially now that the hustle and bustle of BER months is finally here. foodpanda’s pandamart is not just your regular grocery delivery service, it’s so much more! And we’ll give you reasons why pandamart is the best to rely on for grocery shopping:

Widest selection of the freshest groceries

Offering all of your food and essential needs, pandamart has got over 5,000+ items such as groceries, fresh produce, household items, beauty products, and more from your trusted brands.

From snacks, beverages, and fresh fruits & vegetables, to home care items, access all the freshness and assortment of everything you want and need to stock up your grocery shelves.

Fast delivery for those in a hurry

Whether you’re a busy parent or an always on-the-go professional, time is of essence. For those of you looking for a fast and easy way to get your much-needed essentials, pandamart allows you to get a hold of your grocery items in as fast as 30 minutes – safely delivered at your doorstep by their Ka-panda delivery partners.

Sulit deals and vouchers

Who doesn’t want discounts? As a smart shopper, all of us like to take advantage of these special offers! With pandamart, sulit deals and vouchers are available daily. And sometimes if you get lucky, they also offer free delivery.

Easy to stay within budget

Budgeting on a monthly basis can really have us scratching our heads, especially with the rising cost of goods these days. Shopping at an online grocery platform like pandamart lets you easily track your total bill as you add them to cart so you can check if you’re already over the budget.

Elevating your grocery shopping experience

Online grocery shopping has truly reached a whole new level of convenience. It’s a great way to get the goodies you need delivered straight to your home. Not only can you use your valuable time elsewhere, but you can also save on gas, effort and a whole lot more.

According to foodpanda Philippines Director for New Verticals Karan Bhaskar, they are excited to improve even more and further expand to cater to more customers. “Our number one goal is to always give the best because our customers deserve simply the best. We want to make sure that you get a top-notch and seamless grocery shopping experience – from the moment you shop in our app, to the pickers who will get the items you selected, up to the delivery itself,” Bhaskar says, noting that pandamart will soon be implementing a small platform fee that goes to these enhancements.

“This should help provide our Filipino consumers with a truly world-class online delivery experience, as it goes towards ensuring all products are stored hygienically, picked efficiently and delivered in record time” he says.

Enjoying speedy delivery with top-quality grocery items has never been this fun and simple. What are you waiting for? Switch to pandamart and experience #GroceriesDoneRight with just a few taps on the foodpanda app!