16 Jun PART XX- PREVENTION IS THE BEST CURE
The Core Plan to Prevent Chronic Diseases
Our main goal is to increase the number of Filipinos who are healthy at every stage of life- from conception to resurrection. Our strategy provides evidence-based recommendations fundamental to improving the nation’s health through the active engagement of all sectors of society to help achieve these goals. These evidence-based recommendations will reduce the burden of leading causes of preventable death and major illness. Here is the third of seven priority areas:
3 REPRODUCTIVE AND SEXUAL HEALTH
Knowing that the Philippines is one of nine countries where the number of human immunodeficiency virus-acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV- AIDS) cases is growing, what measures can be done to arrest this alarming crisis that shatters lives and damages the very core and fabric of humanity?
Sexual health requires a positive approach to human sexuality and an understanding of the complex factors that shape human sexual behavior. These factors affect whether the expression of sexuality leads to sexual and reproductive health and wellbeing, or to sexual behaviors that put people at risk or make them vulnerable to poor sexual and reproductive health.
Core Issues of Sexual and Reproductive Health:
• Sexually Transmitted Infections /STDs
• Reproductive functions: pregnancy, family planning, and sexual abuse
• Hormones
THE MOST COMMON SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS & DISEASES (STIs/STDs)
Having sex — oral, anal or vaginal intercourse and genital touching — can put you at risk of contracting an STD, also called a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Straight or gay, single or in a relationship, you are vulnerable to STIs and STI symptoms. Some STIs are curable, but others require more complicated treatments to manage them. If untreated, STIs can increase your risk of acquiring another STI such as HIV. This happens because an STI can stimulate an immune response in the genital area or cause sores, either of which might raise the risk of HIV transmission. Some untreated STIs can also lead to infertility.
Most often, STIs have no signs or symptoms (asymptomatic). Some of the following diseases, such as hepatitis, can be transmitted without sexual contact by coming into contact with an infected person’s blood. Others, such as gonorrhea, can only be transmitted through sexual contact. Here are the most common STI’s: chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, HIV* Human Immunodeficiency virus (early signs and symptoms, late stage HIV infection), genital herpes, HPV * human papillomavirus infection, genital warts, syphilis (primary, secondary, latent, tertiary and neurosyphilis). Due to limited space, the complete signs and symptoms of each disease will be found at www.wellnessinstituteinc.com “ASK DR. C” starting on June 30, 2015.
MODE OF TRANSMISSION:
(1) Sexual contact
* STI/STD : 9 out of 10 infections
* HIV_AIDS : 93%
(2) Needle sharing for drug users
= 4%
(3) Blood transfusion and needle
-prick injury = 2%
(4) Mother to child transmission
= 1%
(1) SEXUAL CONTACT * VARIOUS ACTIVITIES AND MAJOR RISKS
– ANAL SEX is the most damaging to our health and possibly life threatening.
• The anal canal is part of the digestive system and therefore lined with a delicate gut epithelium that is only one cell thick compared to vaginal wall (20-40 layers thick).
• Unlike the vagina, the tissues of the anus are not stretchy. This means that the anus can easily tear, which puts the receiving partner in danger of abscesses, hemorrhoids, or fissures (a very large tear).
• Anal sex can weaken the muscles down, which makes it hard to hold feces.
• The anus is the exit door of our body’s waste and therefore home to a tremendous amount of bacteria and other pathogens. The risk of infection from unprotected anal sex may be more than 20 times that of unprotected vaginal sex.
• The fragile nature of the anal tissue makes it easier for STDs to enter into the bloodstream.
• Recent studies have linked anal sex to anal cancer. HPV (Human Papillomavirus) is closely associated with anal cancer, and frequently spreads through anal sex. HPV is one of the most deadly sexually transmitted infections! All cervical cancer cases are linked to genital infection with the virus. Cancer of the cervix is the second most common cancer in women, with 500,000 new cases and 250,000 deaths each year.
• The use of latex condoms lowers the chances of contracting an STD. However, even perfect condom use, which does not realistically occur outside of laboratory settings, does not completely eliminate the risk of STDs. In fact, the condom is more susceptible to leakage, breakage, and slippage during anal intercourse.
– ORAL SEX involves giving or receiving oral stimulation to the penis (fellatio), the vagina (cunnilingus), or the anus (anilingus). HIV can be transmitted during any of these activities. The highest oral sex risk is to individuals performing fellatio on an HIV-infected man with ejaculation in the mouth.
• Factors that may increase the risk of HIV transmission through oral sex are oral ulcers, bleeding gums, genital sores, and the presence of other sexually transmitted diseases.
• Diseases besides HPV and HIV that can be passed through unprotected oral sex include herpes, syphilis, gonorrhea, hepatitis A, and the viruses that cause warts and intestinal parasites.
The STI, STD, HPV, HIV epidemic not only affects the health of individuals, it impacts families, communities, and the development and economic growth of nations.
Meanwhile, here is the Green Secret’s “Repro Boost” juice. It is a MUST to use organic ingredients only to prevent further ingestion of pesticides that harms our reproductive organs.
1 ampalaya fruit
• 3 kale
• 5 stems malunggay
• ½ Beet root (small)
• 5 calamansi
Juice all ingredients in your masticating juicer. Stir and enjoy!
REMEMBER, every three hours, one Filipino is infected with HIV. If we truly and sincerely strive to promote reproductive health in the Philippines, our objective must be value-oriented sexual education that confirms sexuality as the beautiful and life-giving expression of love between husband and wife with all its biological wonder.
Please know that the article on June 23, 2015 will be my last PDI article. I strongly feel that continuing this work on our Wellness Institute’s website “ASK DR C” will reach and benefit more people, not just from the Philippines but also the Institute’s international community. The past fifteen months has been a challenging but rewarding journey. My deepest gratitude to IAJ WELLNESS CORPORATION for making this information public, and to YOU, readers of this column. Thank you for all your emails, feedback and comments. To download past articles and juice recipes, please go to http://greensecret.com.ph.I’d love to continue hearing your thoughts and experiences, on “Ask Dr. C at http://www.wellnessinstituteinc.com”.
Christine E.V. Gonzalez is a doctor of naturopathic medicine and holds PhDs
in holistic nutrition and natural medicine. LLM (MS Environmental Laws & Labor)
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