A new COVID-19 Omicron sub-variant named XBB1.5 or “Kraken” has rapidly spread worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) claims that it is the most transmissible variant of Omicron so far. It is a descendant of the subvariant XBB which has recently swept Singapore. Fortunately, there is no evidence that it causes more severe illnesses. However, […]
Author: Deina Blancaflor
The University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) has recently observed an increase in women consulting for pelvic pain, later diagnosed as endometriosis. Unfortunately, limited awareness seems to lead to delayed treatment and undue suffering. Endometriosis is a disease where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside it, causing pain and even […]
Physical activity is a major factor in staying healthy. It improves overall well-being and contributes to the prevention of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes. It also reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety and enhances the mental capacity. However, 80 percent of the world’s population is considered physically inactive. With the holidays fast approaching, let’s take […]
Filipinos love Christmas. It’s long been a tradition that the whole country instantly switches into a cheery holiday mood once the- ber months come. But what people love more than the holidays itself are the festivities—the numerous handaan and salo-salo with relatives, office Christmas parties, and the perfect noche buena and media noche meals with […]
The COVID-19 pandemic’s most far-reaching impact is its huge toll on people’s mental health. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that 23 to 46 percent of healthcare workers experience anxiety symptoms, while 20 to 37 percent have depression. Burnout has also reportedly spiked among the population, even more so heightened during the COVID-19 pandemic. Control […]
The past two and a half years have been a rollercoaster ride of trials and errors in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the harder obstacles that had to be dealt with was how to keep the workforce afloat while protecting employees not only at work but even as they go home to their […]
The COVID-19 pandemic is not over yet. As long as people are getting infected, there is a chance that the virus will keep mutating. However, we have come a long way from how things started in 2020. Vaccination, testing, and various treatments have helped us get back to a semblance of normalcy and, most importantly, […]
As the holiday season approaches, it is expected that the number of COVID-19 cases in the country will once again spike. Omicron continues to be the dominant variant, and unfortunately, new subvariants have cropped up anew: XBB, which is a recombinant of BJ.1 (of the BA2.10.1 sublineage) and BM.1.1.1 (of the BA.2.75 sublineage); and BQ.1.1, […]
The COVID-19 pandemic forced everyone to consider other ways of gaining knowledge and acquiring skills, especially in medicine. While many things came to a halt in the ‘new normal,’ health faculties continuously tried to find innovative ways to prepare the next generation of doctors, nurses, and other medical practitioners. These past two years have […]
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports road traffic injuries as the leading cause of death for children and young adults aged 5-29. Approximately 1.3 million people die each year because of road traffic crashes. Over half of all these road traffic deaths are among vulnerable road users: pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists. Nearly 30% of all […]