Health & Wellness

A bigger waistline is often blamed on weight gain or bloating, but health experts warn it may also point to a life-threatening condition called abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). In a recent public advisory, the Philippine Heart Association (PHA) said AAA occurs when the abdominal aorta—the body’s main artery in the abdomen—bulges or enlarges. If it ruptures, it can cause massive …

The Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to integrate Comprehensive Gender and Health Education for Youth (CGHEY) into the education system of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) from 2025 to 2028. CGHEY will be mainstreamed across basic education, alternative learning systems, …

The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine’s (RITM) Schistosomiasis National Reference Laboratory (SjNRL) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB) joined forces to train DENR field personnel on schistosomiasis prevention and response. The training, held recently at the Watershed and Water Resources Research, Development and Extension Center (WWRRDEC) in Baguio City, gathered 23 …

The Department of Health (DOH) has taken another step toward strengthening mental health care in the Philippines with the inauguration of a new Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine and the Forensic Psychiatry Building at the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) in Mandaluyong City. Health Secretary Ted Herbosa led the ceremony on Wednesday, highlighting the government’s commitment to make advanced …

Around one million Filipinos are currently battling dementia, the Department of Health (DOH) revealed on Thursday, warning that the number could rise as the population continues to age. In an interview during World Alzheimer’s Month, DOH Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo said dementia affects about 10% of Filipino senior citizens, with Alzheimer’s disease as the leading cause. Other forms, such as …

A bigger waistline is often blamed on weight gain, belly fat, or bloating — but health experts caution it could also signal a life-threatening condition called abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). AAA happens when the main artery in the abdomen enlarges or bulges. If it ruptures, it can trigger massive internal bleeding and death within minutes. The Philippine Heart Association (PHA), …

A groundbreaking artificial intelligence (AI) tool is now capable of predicting a person’s risk of more than 1,000 diseases—sometimes up to 20 years before they occur. Published Wednesday in the journal Nature, the study introduces Delphi-2M, a modified language model that analyzes health records and lifestyle factors to estimate the likelihood of conditions such as cancer, skin disorders, and immune …

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) have introduced the Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP) in Laguna to bring preventive health care closer to Filipino workers. Launched Tuesday at Yazaki-Torres Manufacturing Inc., the program was led by DOLE Secretary Bienvenido Laguesmaand PhilHealth Acting President and CEO Edwin Mercado. With the tagline “Malayo ka …

The Department of Health (DOH) on Saturday lauded President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for ordering the return of ₱60 billion surplus funds to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), a move seen as a major boost to Universal Health Care (UHC). DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, who also chairs the PhilHealth Board, said the reinstated funds will expand health benefits, reduce …

Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa last week threw his support behind Senator Erwin Tulfo’s proposal to use the Medical Assistance for Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFP) fund to directly procure medicines and medical equipment for patients in need. In a video message aired over *Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon*, Herbosa called the proposal a timely and practical solution. “Ito po ay isang …