Medical doctors dispelled frequent well being myths within the August 22 occasion organized to debate DECODE, a docuseries by personal hospital group Metro Pacific Well being (MPH) that goals to enhance public well being literacy and encourage health-seeking habits.
Myths are beliefs perpetuated by their retelling. A January 2022 examine within the Journal of Public Well being mentioned these misunderstandings and inaccurate data can happen as a result of “individuals in on a regular basis life have restricted time, cognitive assets, and/or motivation to know complicated scientific matters.”
“DECODE is our approach of setting the file straight on well being myths that many Filipinos nonetheless imagine,” mentioned Jessica C. Abaya, MPH’s group chief business officer.
“By addressing these misconceptions head-on, we purpose to empower our group with the data they should make knowledgeable well being selections,” she mentioned within the August 22 occasion.
One such false impression is that taking pre-exposure prophylaxis (or PrEP, a medicine which may stop HIV from taking maintain in your physique) is a license to apply unsafe intercourse.
PrEP is 99.9% efficient in stopping HIV, mentioned Dr. Benjamin G. Co, a pediatrician, infectious illness professional, and group chief medical officer of the MPH.
“Simply since you’re taking PrEP, [however,] doesn’t provide the license to unfold all different ailments,” he instructed the occasion’s media attendees.
“It’s not solely HIV you possibly can unfold. Mpox [formerly known as monkeypox] is one other one,” he added.
Mpox is an infectious, non-airborne illness that strikes from skin-to-skin, throughout sexual encounters and different intimate types of pores and skin contact.
The Division of Well being confirmed on August 28 two extra circumstances of mpox, bringing the entire variety of circumstances since July 2022 to 14. 5 of the 14 are lively circumstances ready for his or her signs to resolve.
Mpox circumstances 11 and 12 each admitted to shut, intimate, and skin-to-skin contact with a sexual accomplice.
Breast most cancers and coronary heart illness, that are the main causes of demise within the Philippines, have been among the many different matters mentioned on the roundtable.
Ischaemic coronary heart ailments have been the highest reason for demise within the nation from January to November 2023, accounting for 19% of the entire quantity. Neoplasms, however, got here in second with 10.7%, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported.
“The absence of signs is just not equal to absence of illness,” mentioned Dr. Saturnino P. Javier, co-CEO and President & Chief Medical Officer of Makati Medical Metropolis, on the similar occasion.
Coronary heart illness, for example, doesn’t solely current with signs like chest ache.
“It will probably manifest in delicate methods, corresponding to fatigue or shortness of breath. Much less frequent signs may even embody stomach ache, again ache, and imaginative and prescient issues,” he mentioned.
“This is the reason it’s essential to not ignore any indicators, irrespective of how minor they might appear, and to prioritize common check-ups no matter bodily look,” he added.
An early analysis is best, in keeping with Dr. Michelle M. Anlacan, head of the Dementia Heart at Cardinal Santos Medical Heart.
Ms. Anlacan talked about dementia, a gaggle of ailments that have an effect on the mind and impair an individual’s capacity to recollect, suppose, and make selections.
“The newest drugs for dementia are disease-modifying, however these are just for these with delicate illness,” she mentioned. For the later levels, “the drugs are symptomatic.”
Inculcating health-seeking habits and well being literacy ought to begin at a younger age, Dr. Co instructed the attendees of the roundtable.
“We have to promote well being schooling so we are able to empower individuals to make higher judgements with their way of life,” he mentioned.
Season two of DECODE is ongoing, with the primary episode revealed final April. – Patricia B. Mirasol
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