Trouble with chlorinated water

By EDUARDO GONZALES, MD

April 26, 2011, 10:30am

Q: We recently got connected to Maynilad. After many years of buying dirty water from delivery trucks, we finally have potable water coming out off our faucets. I know Maynilad water is potable, but does it not contain chlorine? I think I read somewhere that drinking chlorinated water carries some health risks? Is this true? --Enrico P., Las Pinas City

A: Yes, Maynilad chlorinates water as part of its process for making its water potable. Chlorine is perhaps the most commonly used disinfectant worldwide. At its usual concentration in drinking water (two to three parts per million), chlorine is very effective in killing most disease-causing or pathogenic microorganisms—bacteria, viruses and parasites including protozoa—except for a few hardy species (e.g., the protozoa cryptosporidium).

Up to now, most public health experts still say that chlorination of water intended for human consumption is the cheapest, most effective and safest way to prevent life-threatening waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever and amebiasis. Indeed, chlorination of drinking water, which started early this century, has been regarded as one of the greatest advances in public health ever.

Aside from destroying pathogens, chlorine has other benefits. It controls the growth of microorganisms, fungi and algae in water reservoirs and pipes, and in the process, it keeps water pipes patent. It likewise neutralizes the taste and odor of algae and decaying vegetation, making drinking water more palatable. It also eliminates obnoxious gases and compounds like ammonia and hydrogen sulfide from water.

But you are right. Drinking chlorinated water carries some health risks. Chlorination of drinking water has been previously regarded as completely safe, but recent scientific evidence proves otherwise. For example, some epidemiologic studies have indicated that long-term (i.e., 15 years or more) drinking of chlorinated water increases the risk of developing cancer of the colon and urinary bladder.

Actually, it is not chlorine, per se, that is hazardous to health. Rather, it is the by-products that are generated by the chlorination process. Chlorination by-products, often referred to as disinfection by-products (DPBs), are chemical substances that are produced when chlorine reacts with certain organic substances in water during the disinfection process. There are several kinds of these chemicals but the most studied are the trihalomethanes of which the most prevalent is chloroform. Other common DPBs are bromodichloromethane, chlorodibromomethane, bromoform, chloroacetic acid, trichloroacetic acid and dichloroacetonitrile.

In animal experiments that employ mostly rats and mice, chloroform has been shown to produce liver and kidney tumors; while the other DPBs have been variously associated with liver and kidney tumors and damage,  tumors of the intestines, damage to the nervous system and some reproductive abnormalities.

Incidentally, the animal experiments on DPBs used doses that are much higher than those present in drinking water. Also, the mechanism of tumor formation in mice and rats are considerably different from that in humans. Nevertheless, the potential health hazard arising from DPBs in humans can’t simply be written off.

Despite the apparent health hazards that accompany chlorination of drinking water however, to discontinue this practice would be foolhardy, at least until an equally effective and cheap, yet safer, alternative process has been developed.

At present, there are substances and devices available in the market that can remove DPBs or the organic substances that serve as precursor of DPBs from chlorinated drinking water. One of the cheapest among these is activated carbon which removes chloroform and other DPBs. Thus, if you filter your tap water with a device or filter that contains activated carbon, this will surely reduce your health risks from DPBs.

(Email inquiries on health matters to: medical_notes@yahoo.com)

Natural quick fixes for common problems

By Cory Quirino

Philippine Daily Inquirer

Date

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Out of medicines? Try these remedies for headaches, fungal infection and indigestion

PICTURE THIS scenario. You are in the middle of your vacation. Away from home, you are nowhere near your medicine cabinet. The emergency travel medical kit you brought along is empty. That’s because you shared it with your travel companions while failing to keep some for yourself. What do you do?

Here are some common everyday remedies to ease your discomfort.

Headaches

This could be caused by lack of sleep, menstrual problems, emotional and mental stress, indigestion, nutritional deficiency and food allergies or toxicity. Any condition of the nose/sinuses, ears, eyes, and teeth, as well as stroke, high blood pressure, and head injuries, could cause headaches.

As you can see, a headache is a symptom of many diseases. But let’s rule out one basic cause: dehydration.

1. Take 2 glasses of water right away. Chances are, you may just be dehydrated.

2. Maybe your sodium level is down. Try taking ¼ tsp of sea (rock) salt. Its natural sodium and minerals can neutralize a headache. Melt on your tongue, and then follow with two glasses of clean water.

3. If you suspect it’s your sinusitis acting up again, get amedium syringe (minus the needle, of course). In a cup of lukewarm water, add a pinch of sea salt. Do a nasal flush by filling up the syringe with the saline solution, then gently push the liquid in one nostril and out the other. Repeat with the other nostril.

Salt is a disinfectant, and the solution will flush out any hidden toxins in your nasal passages. The result? Unclogged sinuses. In addition, protect your eyes from glaring lights, as your sensitivity is heightened when experiencing a sinusitis attack.

Drink:

•Celery tea—Grate a stalk of fresh celery, add to hot water, and strain. Celery is a relaxant.

•Peppermint tea—For headaches due to indigestion, take one cup.

•Ginger tea—Especially good for menstrual problems. Grate a portion of fresh ginger, mix with hot water, strain, and sip slowly.

Fungus

Any yeast or mold in your body will multiply when you drink too much wine or beer (yeast abounds in the wine-making process), wear tight underwear in very hot weather, overload with sugar, are highly stressed, eat too much mushrooms, or have a diet high in refined carbohydrates (like cakes, pastries, etc.).

A fungal infection is a sign that your immune system is not functioning at its best.

What to do:

1. Drink garlic capsules (two to three times daily) or add more garlic to your diet. If the fungal infection is on your skin, apply sliced garlic directly on the affected area, but only after you have applied a thin film of oil (olive, coconut, sesame, vegetable). Leave on for 5 minutes, then rinse.

2. Combine the infection fighters—onion, potato and cabbage. Mince a portion of these vegetables and make into a poultice. Add garlic if you wish. Wrap with a handkerchief and leave overnight. Don’t forget to add a little bit of oil on the skin.

3. If you have vaginitis, which can be caused by a fungal or bacterial infection or hormonal imbalance (due to menopause), mix ¼ tsp apple cider vinegar and two cups of warm water. With a needle-less syringe, gently lace the mixture into your vagina. This becomes a vaginal implant. Leave on for 20-30 minutes. You will experience relief almost instantly. The apple cider restores the natural acidic environment within and removes any toxins. Do this until the itching stops.

Indigestion

Gas, bloating and pain are all part of abdominal discomforts. You could be suffering from heartburn and indigestion due to stomach acids coming back up into the esophagus. The burning sensation in the chest may even travel to your neck and face.

1. Do not lie down. This will worsen the situation.

2. Eat nothing for two hours. Lessen your intake of anything oily and hard to digest, like meats and innards. If the problem persists and the pain continues, see a doctor immediately.

•Potato antacid—Blend one whole potato in a blender, and mix with ¼ cup of water. Drink slowly, or eat a large chunk of raw potato.

•Chamomile mint tea—This calms the stomach. Sip slowly and relax.

•Baking soda—Mix ¼ tsp in a cup of warm water. Sip slowly.

•Beauty mask: Mash half a ripe avocado. Add 2 tbsp milk and ¼ tsp honey. Apply to the face for a rich, moisturizing antibacterial mask. Leave on for 10 minutes. Whatever is left, you can eat as a nutrient-rich snack!

Affirm today: “My life is more victorious each day!”

Love and light!

The benefits of exercise

By Dr. Gary S. Sy

April 12, 2011, 10:20pm

MANILA, Philippines – People who exercise are stronger and have greater endurance than people who do not. Exercise has a lot of benefits. Research has shown that exercise protects against coronary heart disease. Part of this protection comes from improvement in the heart's pumping action; a person who is physically fit pumps more blood with each heartbeat and is able to sustain demanding physical exertion at a lower heart rate than someone who is out of shape.

Regular, moderate exercise improves your capacity for endurance, meaning you will be able to walk (or swim or bike) farther as you continue to work out. Exercise lowers the blood pressure - a clear benefit since high blood pressure is associated with both heart disease and stroke. Exercise also burns up fat, controls weight, lowers your harmful cholesterol level, and raises your good cholesterol level.

Research has also shown that people who are physically active are less susceptible to the type of diabetes that develops in adulthood (type II diabetes).

Anyone who has been confined to bed for more than a few days knows that his or her muscles and bones become weak. This occurs because the kidneys in large quantities excrete the minerals in the bones during long periods of immobility. Exercise, however, builds up the strength of bones by stimulating bone-building cells to create new bone.

Research has shown that an exercise at all ages improves bone strength. This is especially important for women after they reach menopause, when a lack of the hormone estrogen may lead to osteoporosis (thinning and weakening of the bone). Exercise will help build up the bones to help protect against fractures in the future. Finally, exercise makes people feel good. People who exercise regularly feel healthy and are less likely to become depressed.

Joints:

Joints that are exercised regularly stay flexible and healthy. Regular exercise will benefit the muscles that work the joints and the ligaments that support the joints. Brisk walking, and swimming are good exercises to help keep your joints moving smoothly.

Heart, lungs, and arteries:

Regular, moderate exercise will make your heart and lungs stronger and more resilient. Although exercise may not decrease the amount of fat deposits laid down in arteries, it may increase HDL cholesterol (the good cholesterol), widen the arteries, and make complete blockage, such as that from a clot, less likely.

Muscles:

Because the muscles that move the legs are among the largest muscles in the body, activities that exercise your legs, such as brisk walking, bicycling, and aerobic dancing, is excellent ways to place healthy demands on your heart and lungs and help improve fitness.

Sports:

Gymnastics combines strength, endurance, and flexibility, resulting in high level of physical fitness. Other sports such as running require simply endurance.

Choosing a good exercise program:

The best exercise is exercise that you will enjoy and will do regularly. These recommendations are based on guidelines that apply to most people.

1. Exercise throughout the day for a total of 30 minutes, at least 5 days every week. You do not need to do the exercise in one session. Exercise moderately. If you begin to get dizzy or nauseated, or if you feel any pain, stop what you are doing. These are signs that you are overdoing it. Always do warm-up, stretching exercises before the main exercise session and cooling down, stretching exercise at the end.

2. Choose types of exercise that you enjoy and that you can fit into schedule. Consider brisk walking, bicycling, or swimming. Many people find that bicycling or brisk walking to and from work, or walking up stairs instead of taking the elevator, fits nicely into their everyday routines. The goal is to develop a habit of integrating physical activity into your life, so that you look forward to your chosen activity.

3. Do not attempt to get into shape too rapidly. Start slowly, exercising just hard enough to become aware that you feel mild strain, and increase your efforts gradually over the first 4 weeks. If you are out of condition, avoid vigorous exercise that can demand unhealthy sudden burst of strength and energy. Carefully choose your activities in terms of your capacity.

Before you exercise:

Healthy people of any age can generally increase their routine physical activity with very little risk. An increase in an activity you normally do such as walking, does not require a medical examination. If you belong to one of the following groups, however, it may be wise to call your physician for advice before you begin an exercise program:

* People over 50 years of age, or those over 40 who have had little or no exercise since early adulthood.

* Heavy smokers (those who smoke more than 20 cigarettes per day).

* People who are overweight.

* People under medical treatment or supervision for a long-term health problem such as high blood pressure, heart, lung, kidney disease or diabetes.

Warm-up:

It is important to warm up for at least 10 minutes immediately before exercising. Slowly stretching your muscles helps increase blood flow and can help prevent injury to your muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Try to stretch all the major muscle groups (your chest, abdomen, shoulders, arms, and legs) before starting your exercise. Begin your warm-up gradually, stretching slowly and carefully. Notice how your body feels, being careful not to overstretch. Never bounce or jerk your body while warming up. If your activity is walking, start slowly and gradually accelerate to your preferred pace. Work on some stretching after you have been walking for several minutes. Stretching will improve your flexibility. After exercising, be sure to cool down.

Cooling down:

Cooling down is just as important as warming up because it helps prevent muscle cramps and muscle injury, and it helps blood return to the heart. Always stop exercising slowly and gradually; never stop exercising suddenly. After a long run, for example, gradually slow down to a walk, continue walking for several minutes. Massaging your muscles after cooling down will help your blood circulate well.

When to stop exercising:

No matter how physically fit you are, or how long you may have been playing a particular sport, never ignore certain warning symptoms of over-exercise.

The following warning symptoms are potentially serious, and might mean you are having a heart attack or a medical emergency. If you injure yourself, stop what you are doing. Do not continue with the exercise. You won't "work through" the pain; you can make the damage worse. If you feel that the injury might be serious, do not take chances, consult your physician for advice.

Stop exercising right away if you have any of these symptoms:

* Chest pain or chest pressure.

* Pain in your neck, jaw or running down your left arm.

* Heart palpitations.

* Dizziness or light-headedness.

* Nausea.

* Blurred vision.

* Severe breathlessness.

* Feeling of faint or fainting.

Consult your physician immediately.

Source: Manila Bulletin

Herbal, marine drugs get shot in the arm

By GABRIEL S. MABUTAS

April 8, 2011, 5:50pm

MANILA, Philippines -- The Department of Science and Technology (DoST) is taking steps to centralize government-backed efforts to discover herbal and marine medicines.

Dr. Antonio Ligsay, chief of the research development management division of the DoST’s Philippine Council for Health Research Development (PCHRD), said they are in the initial stage of developing a plan on how to centralize researches that have to do with the discovery of herbal and marine medicines.

He said one of their priorities in the next six years is the discovery and development of herbal and marine medicines.

Ligsay said that by October they will present the plan to the DoST secretary for approval and implementation. He said it would be comprehensively drafted by the AIM.

He said they are talking with the University of the Philippines, University of Santo Tomas and De La Salle University about sharing their database with his agency to sharpen focus on the discovery and development of herbal and marine medicines.

Ligsay said their effort is intended to lower the cost of herbal and marine medicines and eventually increase the number of natural medicines developed in the country.

Dr. Edwin Bien, a medical expert who strongly advocates the use of plant medicine, has been lamenting the failure of most of his colleagues in the medical profession to observe the law that promotes the use of traditional alternative medicines.

Bien noted that RA 8423 hardly gets support from medical practitioners although the number of plants it requires to prescribe was quite small compared to the number of plants that are proven to have medicinal value.

He said it was only recently that he learned that although the country has already more than 200 available plant medicines, the number required for prescription has never gone beyond 10.

He said it is ironic that most doctors do not promote plant medicines when the law has been in existence for 20 years.

“Why is it that although Philippines is the only country in world with a law promoting plant medicines, and also the only country where doctors do not prescribe them?” Bien said.

He noted that although they do not have the same law, doctors in other Asian countries like Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand prescribe plant medicines. Even in European countries, plant medicines are being recognized and promoted, Bien said.

Bien said most medicines being prescribed do not cure, but merely offer temporary relief.

“But when you do give these plants, it would improve immune system. (Those taking it) would have a better batting average than if they only have the synthetic medicine in the body,” he said.