The Department of Emergency Medicine of the University of Perpetual Help Dalta Medical Center will be holding its 1st Emergency Medicine Badminton Tournament on March 28, 2010 at the Zone Badminton Center in Makati City.  Categories include Men’s Doubles, Ladies’ Doubles, and Mixed Doubles.  For further details, please call UPHDMC-Emergency Department at 873-7062 or 874-8515 local 215.

          Also, the Philippine College of Emergency Medicine and Acute Care will be having its 22nd Annual Scientific Assembly in Emergency Medicine on April 15-16, 2010 at the Dusit Thani Hotel.  Interested parties may call Dr. Jane Lacambra or Dr. Geraldine Cantos-Rubio at 873-7062 or 874-8515 local 215.  Drs. Donna de Padua and Johhny Perez, Emergency Medicine Consultants of the University of Perpetual Help Dalta Medical Center, are the Assistant Chairpersons for this event.

          Finally, four graduates of the Emergency Medicine residency training program will be taking the written exam (March 13, 2010) and oral exam (March 20 and 27, 2010) of the Philippine College of Emergency Medicine and Acute Care.  They are Drs. Rolando Cajucom, Rolando Kilala Jr., Jose Paulo Guerrero, and Ronald Soriano.  To these 4 doctors, the UPHDMC Family, led by its President Mr. Richard Tamayo, is one in fervent prayer for your success.  Good Luck!

Dr. Ernesto Pulido, Chairman of the Institute of Radiology and Allied Sciences, was re-elected as President of the Philippine College of Radiology (PCR) last February 19, 2010 during the PCR convention at the SMX Convention Center.  Dr. Pulido was also instrumental in the establishment of 2 vital centers of the hospital: the Heart and Vascular Institute, and the Women’s Healthcare and Diagnostic Center.

Not to be outdone, resident graduates from the Department of Radiology successfully hurdled the board examinations.  They include: Drs. Celesa Santos,  Cielo Marie Ledesma,  Christine Moran-Bernaldez,  Maricel Miranda-Guzman,  and Martha Lacson-Nuñez.  Also inducted as Fellows of the PCR are  Drs. Cielo Marie Ledesma, Christine Pulido, Maricel Miranda-Guzman, and  Martha Lacson-Nuñez.

Finally, the Department of Radiation Oncology is inviting practitioners to UPHDMC.  Interested parties may submit applications to the office of Dr. Robert Dulay at the UPHDMC.  You may also call us at 874-85-15 and ask to be connected to the Department of Radiation Oncology for details.

By Raymond Oliver A. Cruz, MD

Women today are contributing to economic prosperity more than any other time in history.  Gone are the days of so-called “plain housewives” – today, even stay at home moms can make a living in order to support a family.   However, this development is not without consequences.  More women are now stressed out and prone to unhealthy lifestyles.  As we celebrate National Women’s Health Month, we look into the leading health threats women face today.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is no longer a man’s disease.  More women are smoking and drinking nowadays, and our diet is now saturated with fat and too much salt.  This leads to elevated cholesterol levels and high blood pressure, which serve as danger signs towards the development of heart disease. 

Cancer is now the third leading cause of mortality in the Philippines.  According to national health statistics, the top five cancers afflicting women are breast cancer, cervical cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer, and ovarian cancer.  The sad part is that these tumors are treatable if only they are detected early through proper screening procedures.

Diabetes continues to be a major cause of morbidity.  In the Philippines, type 2 diabetes is currently the leading cause of adult blindness, kidney failure and non-traumatic limb loss. One in twenty-five Filipinos die because of diabetes, making it the ninth leading cause of mortality in the country. It is estimated that by the year 2025, up to 8 million Filipinos will be afflicted with diabetes, 2 times more than its current prevalence.

Osteoporosis is considered as a “silent epidemic”. Lack of knowledge about the existence of the disease is an obstacle that must be addressed.  Although osteoporosis is more prevalent among postmenopausal women, low bone mass among premenopausal women has also been observed. Early diagnosis of the disease prior to the occurrence of fracture is still the best approach to management.  A massive education program must also be undertaken to provide information about how to prevent bone loss before it is too late.

In order to address women’s health concerns, the University of Perpetual Help Dalta Medical Center (UPHDMC) continues to upgrade its products and services for the diagnosis and management of women’s diseases.  Our state-of-the-art Heart and Vascular Institute (HVI) and Cardiovascular Unit (CVU) offers the full spectrum of services from 12-Lead ECG, 2D-echo, and Treadmill Stress testing, to coronary angiography and open heart surgery.   UPHDMC also has some of the best equipment for cancer management with its Linear Accelerator and Brachytherapy services.  We also have Digital Mammography and Breast Ultrasound with Elastography and Automated Breast Volume Scanner for the screening of breast abnormalities. The multi-awarded Diabetes Educational Clinic continues to receive acclaim not just locally but internationally as well.  Finally, the Bone Densitometry Unit at the Nuclear Medicine Section provides accurate and safe diagnosis of osteoporosis and its possible complications.

Many of the leading threats to women"s health can be prevented and treated — if only women become more proactive in seeking help. So make it a point to clear a day or two from your busy schedule to invest in a healthier lifestyle. Take the necessary steps to have yourself screened, and reduce your risks today.