Watsons health expert shares heart-friendly tips to pump you up and keep you going

Photo by Castorly Stock (Pexels)

Cardiovascular diseases cause 1 in every 3 deaths, making it one of the world’s leading killers. In fact, based on the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)’s data, ischemic heart disease is the top cause of death in 2021 with 17.9 percent of the total deaths.

This February marks not just Valentine's Day but Philippine Heart Month. The yearly celebration aims to promote cardiovascular health and wellness. Protecting our hearts against potential heartbreaks and ailments is essential. While the heart is the hardest working muscle in the body, it can still become fragile if not taken care of.

Heart diseases are serious and fatal but it is possible to prevent them even before symptoms arise. Keeping a healthy diet gives you a good start.

Add fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and nuts into your meals, and avoid processed, canned, and fast foods. If you’re a fan of salty meats, try seasoning them with Calamansi juice and vinegar instead.

Losing weight is possible with this new diet. Once you've reached the right body mass index (BMI), it is ideal to maintain it to keep your heart healthy. For example, obesity is one of the most common risk factors for heart disease.

If maintaining a healthy diet proves to be more challenging than expected, move more! Exercising regularly will greatly help the body become stronger. For those who are too busy to sneak in some workout in their daily routine, increasing your mundane physical activities to 2.5 hours per week will be enough. It’s as easy as walking your dog more, brisk walking to the store, choosing stairs over elevators or escalators, dancing to your favorite song, or doing household chores.

Much like obesity, smoking tobacco, and excessively drinking alcohol are risk factors for heart disease. This includes second-hand smoking and e-cigarettes. Make the right lifestyle choice by avoiding these products. Tobacco is proven harmful to the heart and alcohol has been linked to 200 diseases and injury conditions.

Chronic stress also triggers inflammation, high blood pressure, and unhealthy changes in the body. If you suffer from this, meditation, yoga, and deep breathing are your best friends.

There are more specific ways to care for the heart. The Watsons Health Hub provides tips to maintain the right levels of cholesterol and blood pressure as well as promote heart function. For example, taking daily supplements can be a good addition to your heart-healthy lifestyle. Fiber decreases the amount of cholesterol your body gets from food, Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) helps lower blood pressure, and fish oil is full of omega-3 fatty acids that cut down up to 30% of triglycerides, an unhealthy fat in your blood.

For your complete cardiovascular medicines and other health needs, Watsons has over 1,000 stores nationwide that offer over-the-counter and prescription medication as well as expert care through in-store pharmacists, specialists, and staff. You may also conveniently shop online via the Watsons app available for iOS and Android.

Guess who's this another persona who always go to attend golfing with colleagues in Wack Wack Gold and Country Club in Mandaluyong and uses a white Escalade with a plate no. 7 as in?!!!! 

And that doesn't end there! He even uses this Escalade in going to casino! Would you believe that?!!! To think that, he's not even a Senator of this country, guys! 

Take note too, it's a bulletproof one huh, hmmm seemed like he's more of protecting and securing his life but doesn't even know how to follow strict highway rules since he always passes the "bus lane" in EDSA (just being sarcastic, you know hehe) 

Hmmm okay, he was known to: 

*** destroy natural resources 

*** has an existing case concerning his citizenship thus , a "fake Pinoy" 

*** Father of a politician

*** has a position in the government 

Were you able to get it? I bet! Your guess is as good as mine! 

Apparel that comes from the Japanese values of simplicity, quality, and longevity. Designed to be of the time and for the time, LifeWear is made with such modern elegance that it becomes the building blocks of each individual’s style. A perfect shirt that is always being made more perfect. The simplest design hiding the most thoughtful and modern details. The best in fit and fabric made to be affordable and accessible to all. LifeWear is clothing that is constantly being innovated, bringing more warmth, more lightness, better design, and better comfort to people’s lives.

Global apparel retailer UNIQLO announces the launch of the Uniqlo U 2023 Spring/Summer collection starting February 17. Designed by Artistic Director Christophe Lemaire and his UNIQLO R&D team in Paris, the new collection themed A Sense of Ease offers a modern, timeless modular wardrobe centered on clothes that make life easier.

Layering pieces in soft, matte cotton and refreshing AIRism cotton meet airy utilitarian outerwear to create a complete range of versatile basics with often unexpected, always thoughtfully considered proportions. A playful yet elegant color palette combines understated neutrals and rich blues and beiges with bright pops of green, orange, yellow, purple, and pink. 

Womenswear offers versatility; refined, seamless activewear is interchangeable between exercise and everyday life. Tailoring is soft and easy. A sheer shirt with patch pockets in matte-finish cotton is a fresh staple. The new jeans are slightly curved with a fitted leg to create a fresh silhouette.

A complete range of versatile basics for a modern yet timeless look. Seersucker striped shirts and cotton shorts are cut wide for an easy summer silhouette. An oversized utility jacket is a new proportion for outerwear. The crew neck 3/4 sleeve T-shirt has been further perfected with a boxy fit. Parachute pants are utilitarian and effortless with adjustable drawstrings at the hem.

BLOCKTECH hats and jet caps, and a new bucket bag in two sizes marry form and function, while the beloved drawstring shoulder bag returns for another season.

The lineup includes 27 items for women, 23 items for men, and 7 items for accessories.

Outerwear Php 3,490 – Php 6,990 Knits Php 1,490 – Php 2,490

Pants & Skirts Php 1,990 – Php 2,490 Dresses Php 1,490 – Php 2,490

Shirts Php 1,990 Accessories Php 1,490 – 1,990

Cut & Sewn items Php 590 – Php 1,490

Note: The above prices are provisional and subject to change

Special Website: https://www.uniqlo.com/ph/en/contents/collaboration/uniqlo-u/23ss/

Uniqlo U is a collection of “Future LifeWear Essentials.” The world-class designers and patternmakers in the Paris design team reimagine everyday clothing using innovative materials and new, contemporary silhouettes. Each season is designed with the highest precision and in pursuit of a simplified, modern wardrobe.

UNIQLO R&D Centers are places for experimentation, spaces to try new ideas, innovate and create. The Paris R&D Center complements other UNIQLO R&D Centers in Tokyo, Shanghai, New York, and Los Angeles.

Christophe Lemaire has been designing his namesake collection since 1991. He has also served as Artistic Director of Lacoste and Artistic Director of women’s ready-to-wear at Hermès. In 2015, he partnered with UNIQLO, resulting in the UNIQLO AND LEMAIRE collaboration collections for Fall/Winter 2015 and Spring/Summer 2016. Christophe Lemaire was appointed Artistic Director of the UNIQLO Paris R&D Center in 2016, where he and his handpicked team of designers create the Uniqlo U collection.

Apparel that comes from the Japanese values of simplicity, quality and longevity. Designed to be of the time and for the time, LifeWear is made with such modern elegance that it becomes the building blocks of each individual’s style. A perfect shirt that is always being made more perfect. The simplest design hiding the most thoughtful and modern details. The best in fit and fabric made to be affordable and accessible to all. LifeWear is clothing that is constantly being innovated, bringing more warmth, more lightness, better design, and better comfort to people’s lives.

UNIQLO is a brand of Fast Retailing Co., Ltd., a leading Japanese retail holding company with global headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. UNIQLO is the largest of eight brands in the Fast Retailing Group, the others being GU, Theory, PLST (Plus T), Comptoir des Cotonniers, Princesse tam.tam, J Brand and Helmut Lang. With global sales of approximately 2.3 trillion yen for the 2022 fiscal year ending August 31, 2022 (US $16.6 billion, calculated in yen using the end of August 2022 rate of $1 = 138.7 yen), Fast Retailing is one of the world’s largest apparel retail companies, and UNIQLO is Japan’s leading specialty retailer.

UNIQLO continues to open large-scale stores in some of the world's most important cities and locations, as part of its ongoing efforts to solidify its status as a global brand. Today the company has a total of more than 2,400 stores across the world, including Japan, Asia, Europe and North America. In 2010 UNIQLO established a social business in Bangladesh together with the Grameen Bank and currently there are around 20 Grameen-UNIQLO stores, mostly located in Dhaka.

With a corporate statement committed to changing clothes, changing conventional wisdom and change the world, Fast Retailing is dedicated to creating great clothing with new and unique value to enrich the lives of people everywhere. For more information about UNIQLO and Fast Retailing, please visit www.uniqlo.com and www.fastretailing.com.

Home Credit Philippines, the country’s leading consumer finance company, in partnership with Overseas Workers Welfare Association (OWWA), honored the heroes of the modern age, the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), during the OFW Family Day Caravan in Western Visayas.

The two-week-long caravan was attended by over 2,000 OFWs and OFW associations combined from the provinces of Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental. The program aimed to create an avenue for the OFWs and their families to reconnect and spend quality time with their loved ones.

Aside from family bonding activities, the caravan also opened conversations on financial literacy and education, addressing the common problems of OFWs spending years working abroad only to come home with little to no savings.

“Our main goal for the caravan was to show appreciation for the Filipino migrant workers. We want to empower them to make informed decisions on how to spend and manage their hard-earned money from working overseas. We at OWWA Region 6 support our OFWs all the way, and we want them to succeed and secure a better life for themselves and their families,” said Rizza Joy Moldes, OWWA Region 6 OIC director.

Throughout the caravan, Home Credit led the discussions on the basics of budgeting and saving as part of its advocacy program to promote financial literacy across the country. The OFWs were also given knowledge on safe consumer finance options they could explore while protecting themselves and their families from bad debts and financial risks.

“We at Home Credit honor the modern-day heroes of our country. They are an inspiration to many Filipinos as they serve as examples of strength and perseverance. As they strive to make ends meet for their families, we are committed to providing them with the proper knowledge to handle their finances to avoid financial mismanagement and risks. We will continue to support the OFWs and be their trusted ally Para sa Life,” shares Sheila Paul, Home Credit’s chief marketing officer.

Photo from GoDigital Pilipinas Facebook page)

Seated fourth from left, MPIC Chief Finance, Risk and Sustainability Officer and mWell CEO Ms. Chaye Cabal-Revilla represented mWell in the GDP launch during the National Economic and Development Authority 2023-2028 Forum at the PICC convened by The Private Sector Advisory Council Digital Infrastructure (PSAC-DI).  Also present to pledge their full support to GoDigital Pilipinas were:  PSAC Digital Infrastructure Sector Lead and Union Digital President and Chief Executive Officer Henry Aguda; Management Association of the Philippines Atty. Benedicta Du-Baladad, PSAC Lead Convenor and Aboitiz Group President and CEO Sabin Aboitiz, NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, IBPAP Jeanette Carillo, and PSAC Communications Lead and Aboitiz Group First Vice President for Sustainability and Reputation Officer Ginggay Hontiveros.

Metro Pacific Investments Corporation’s (MPIC) mWell heeds the government’s call advocating digitalization initiatives to empower Filipinos through technology during the launch of the GoDigital Pilipinas (GDP) movement. mWell, the Philippines’ first fully integrated and fully digital health and wellness platform, is the only healthcare app among the convenor organizations and supporting companies in the GDP. 

Ms. Chaye Cabal-Revilla, MPIC Chief Finance, Risk and Sustainability Officer and mWell CEO represented mWell in the GDP launch during the National Economic and Development Authority 2023-2028 Forum at the PICC convened by The Private Sector Advisory Council Digital Infrastructure (PSAC-DI).

“mWell is honored to be part of GoDigital Pilipinas. Our collaboration with GDP will increase awareness and widen access to digital healthcare, especially in far-flung areas. Our innovative digital solutions respond to our countrymen’s needs, ensuring good health for economic productivity and nation-building.  We shall continue to bring healthcare closer to more Filipinos here and abroad through a fully integrated, sustainable, and future-proof digital platform,” said Ms. Cabal-Revilla. 

Since its launch, mWell has provided access to quality digital healthcare in a country with an average 3.7 doctors per 10,000 population-- way below the World Health Organization-prescribed ratio of 10 per 10,000. It addresses the shortage of healthcare facilities and personnel in rural areas and underprivileged sectors. This also Indigenous Peoples (IP) in remote and mountainous areas who can now consult using the mWell app.

mWell provides a seamless end-to-end journey for patients-- from booking a video consult or seeing a doctor 24/7 (with only 3 minutes of waiting time), to having medicine delivered to their doorsteps.  Documents like e-prescriptions, e-medical certificates, and lab referrals are loaded into the app for free, along with being the first app to provide a digital medical ID. 

With over 500 Primary Care and Specialized partner doctors including Cardiologists, Dermatologists, Endocrinologists, Pediatricians, Neurologists, OB-GYNs, and Opthalmologists health experts are also just a tap away. 

mWell also launched the biggest nationwide digital medical mission, giving Filipinos access to free consultations with hundreds of volunteer doctors and mental health experts during mWellness Day. 

mWell OnTheGo, a portable mobile digital clinic, was also launched in remote communities. Each package is filled with solar panels, a power station, Smart pocket wifi, and a tablet/mobile phone preloaded with the mWell PH app. These mobile clinics are used to help bedridden patients and those living in areas without electricity.

mWell is also globally available to Filipino migrant workers. This gives 10 million migrant workers access to free consultations with Filipino doctors wherever they go. They can also send their families a Healthsavers Plan—an affordable health pass with online consultation and accident insurance, ideal for their friends and loved ones. 

mWell has also partnered with global companies to digitalize various patient care needs. This includes working with global players in healthcare, wellness, technology, and research to promote far-reaching innovation-centered solutions with its new Cancer Care Management initiative.

mWell has made significant inroads in digitalizing LGUs, including Bacoor, Quezon City and Bataan. Through mWell, LGUs were able to allow their constituents to consult online with Primary Care doctors, specialists, and mind health experts.

mWell, an accredited telemedicine partner of the Department of Health, empowers LGUs to go fully digital in delivering better healthcare in support of Universal Health Care (UHC). The UHC highest possible quality of health care that is accessible, efficient, and equitably distributed for Filipinos. 

With the health and well-being of Filipinos in mind, mWell promotes preventive healthcare.                It has an mWellness Score, developed by data scientists to measure physical health based on daily activities like exercise and sleep.    

mWell also has Wellness Wearables to promote proactive healthcare and providing more Filipinos with affordable smartwatches. These watches allow anyone to track steps, physical activity, and sleep time through the mWellness Score. Also included on the app are specialized fitness programs, including diabetes prevention and post-partum exercise for new moms to get back in shape safely and healthily. Users also have access to calorie-controlled recipe options for healthy dieting. 

Fully loaded mobile app for doctors

mWell provides innovative healthcare solutions not only for users but for partner-doctors as well. Partner-doctors are also empowered to go fully digital with the new mWellMD-- an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) and clinic management system on mobile, designed by doctors, for doctors. mWellMD enables doctors to attend to patients on their mobile phone 24/7. It provides a seamless experience from sign-up to consultation. Doctors were engaged to create the platform, test the system to make sure that the app is intuitive and user-friendly. 

mWell has recently signed a Collaboration Agreement with Metro Pacific Health (MPH) to provide a digital front door to MPH’s network of integrated healthcare services delivered by its hospitals and other fulfillment centers.

MPH, the largest integrated healthcare network in the Philippines, shall roll out virtual care and online consultations on its digital platform mWell MPH, allowing patients to access the outpatient services of MPH's nationwide network of 19 hospitals, 22 outpatient care centers (OCC), and its roster of thousands of accredited doctors.

As part of the MPIC Group, GDP convenor mWell is committed to working towards the achievement of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being. It also supports the MVP Group’s Gabay Kalusugan advocacy, focusing on quality and affordable healthcare. 

Gabay Guro, another MVP Group advocacy, is also among the convenor organizations of GDP. Gabay Guro provides programs designed to hone and improve the welfare of teachers nationwide. The group created the first digital learning app for teachers and learners in collaboration with DepEd and partners, including Microsoft, LinkedIn, FrontLearners, PayMaya, PLDT/Smart. The Gabay Guro app is the digital innovation pillar of Gabay Guro, helps teachers through the integration of e-learning and interactive resources.

“We are grateful to have mWell as one of the two GoDigital Pilipinas convenors from the MVP Group, alongside Gabay Guro. The Private Sector Advisory Council Digital Infrastructure (PSAC) is ready to support the nation’s development blueprint and digitalization agenda through the GoDigital Pilipinas (GDP) movement. Working together, public and private sectors will ensure that every Filipino has the tools and skills to thrive.” PSAC Digital Infrastructure Sector Lead and Union Digital President and Chief Executive Officer Henry Aguda said.

                                                                                                 

Download the mWell PH app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and register. Follow mWell on Facebook and mwellph on Instagram for more updates.

mWell, is the health technology platform developed by Metro Pacific Health Tech Corporation that offers telemedicine, health and wellness programs, e-commerce, among others, in an integrated, tech-based healthcare digital ecosystem. Metro Pacific Health Tech Corporation is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, the leading infrastructure investment company in the Philippines with investments in various infrastructure assets including healthcare. 

BlueWater Day Spa, renowned leader in pampering ang rejuvenation, just introduced two new brand ambassadors just in time for the summer season during its media event last February 17, 2023 at the Marco Polo Ortigas.

Fashion icon, entrepreneur and “Pambansang Ginoo” David Licauco tells Tessa Prieto-Valdez what he loves decompressing with treatments at Bluewater Day Spa.

Hosted by Tessa Prieto-Valdez, BlueWater Day Spa proudly presented GMA 7’s “Pambansang Ginoo” and businessman David Licauco and Miss World Philippines 2021 Tracy Maureen Perez as their newest endorsers this year.

“Relaxation is such a precious time for me. Being very busy with the taping schedules as well as managing my businesses, having my favorite Balinese Massage at the spa at the end of a long tiring week is something that I always look forward to,” said Licauco.

Meanwhile, beauty queen and model Tracy Perez’s go-to treatments include BlueWater Day Spa’s Deep Tissue Massage and IPL Hair Removal service.