Tag: Westlake Medical Center

4 types of psoriasis: Do you know which one you have?

Psoriasis is a chronic and recurring skin condition with various symptoms depending on its type. If you’re suffering from the disease, check which of its four types you’ve contracted.

Plaque type psoriasis. This is the most common type. It happens when the skin is covered with large, red, scaly plaques that are usually seen throughout the body, including the scalp and butt area. This type of psoriasis has no itching symptoms unless the patient applies something on their skin that they shouldn’t.

Generalized type psoriasis. One has this type when their whole body is reddish and scaly, and shows symptoms like fever, chills, joint and muscle pains, as well as swelling of the hands and feet.

Nail Psoriasis. This usually accompanies other types of psoriasis. Patients with this type have small holes in their nail or nail pits, yellowness under their nail or oil spots, or thickening under their nails that could lead to the destruction of the nail itself.

Psoriatic arthritis. Typical symptoms of this type are swelling and stiffness of the joints in the hands and feet every morning. Patients also have pain and stiffness in the back and hips that are usually accompanied by red, itchy, painful, and watery eyes.

According to Dr. Cristina Ceballos-Lacuanan, a dermatologist at Westlake Medical Center, psoriasis is autoimmune and inflammatory in nature.

“Our immune system doesn’t recognize our own skin when we have psoriasis,” Dr. Ceballos-Lacuanan says.

“Normally our skin sheds within 28 to 30 days, but with psoriasis, it happens faster and it doesn’t really shed. The skin will accumulate and become dry scales. The immune system will not recognize this resulting in inflammation and redness.”

Dr. Ceballos-Lacuanan adds that psoriasis can affect anyone — young, old, male, and female. And although not contagious, the disease can be acquired by genetic inheritance.

“Psoriasis is a genetically inherited disorder that has various triggers, which include stress, prolonged sun exposure, immunodeficiency, and uncontrolled medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart problems,” she points out.

If you’re manifesting symptoms of psoriasis or want to know more about the disease, you can visit Westlake Medical Center. To get expert medical advice regularly, follow Westlake Medical Center at https://www.facebook.com/WestlakeMedCenterPH/ and

https://www.tiktok.com/@wmctiktok.

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Ants in urine? Might be Diabetes

If you see ants congregating around your urine, it likely means you have too much sugar in your system. Is it a definite sign of diabetes? Not necessarily.

“Not everyone who has ants in their urine is automatically diabetic,” notes Westlake Medical Center endocrinologist Dr. Andres Ebison Jr. “But when this happens it means the sugar level in the blood is already too high that it’s already spilling into the urine.” It might or might not be a sign of diabetes, so it’s best to consult a doctor right away.

Weight loss and numbing limbs

There are other signs to look out for to know if you have diabetes.

“These symptoms include excessive weight loss or unexplainable weight drop, excessive thirst or hunger, and uncontrollable urination, especially at night,” Dr. Ebison says. “They also include extreme fatigue after doing very little and having infections in various parts of the body.”

To those already living with diabetes, there are symptoms that might indicate they need to take care of themselves better or they need to seek medical attention.

Prickly sensation on the foot, and numbness of the legs and hands can be complications of diabetes, or what’s called diabetic neuropathy where sugar gradually damages the body’s nerves. To reduce symptoms of neuropathy, patients need to take their medicine on schedule, keep their blood sugar at target level, and regularly meet their doctor.

Affects the young and old

Diabetes is classified into three groups. Type 1 diabetes is the result of a damaged pancreas, the body’s main source of insulin. Type 2 diabetes, the most prevalent diabetes in the world, results when the pancreas is unable to sufficiently produce insulin or the body is unable to use insulin effectively. Gestational diabetes results when sugar levels increase among pregnant women. Once they give birth, the condition is expected to disappear.

“Diabetes doesn’t choose age. It can affect anyone, even children or newborns,” Dr. Ebison notes. “Children often get Type 1 diabetes, so they have to take medication, particularly insulin, for their entire life.”

If you’re manifesting symptoms of diabetes or want to know more about the disease, you can visit Westlake Medical Center. To get expert medical advice regularly, follow Westlake Medical Center at https://www.facebook.com/WestlakeMedCenterPH/ and at https://www.tiktok.com/@wmctiktok

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Diabetes management? “Apat dapat”!

Unsure of how to manage diabetes? Just keep in mind the “apat dapat” rule.

“First, modify your lifestyle. Second, exercise or engage in physical activity regularly. Third, take your medicine and insulin as prescribed. And fourth, meet your doctor and undergo laboratory tests if needed,” Westlake Medical Center endocrinologist Dr. Andres Ebison Jr. explains.

Among the four, lifestyle modification is the most important, according to Dr. Ebison. It includes having a proper diet, not smoking, and avoiding excessive alcohol drinking. He adds, “Patients also need to move often because they need to burn the food they eat.”

Pinggang Pinoy

While there is no perfect diet for people with diabetes, a good guide is the Department of Health’s “Pinggang Pinoy” which promotes proper food proportions. This prescribes that half portion of a 9-inch plate is filled with vegetables, 1/4 portion with meat serving, and the remaining 1/4 portion for rice or a carbohydrate source.

Diabetic patients can also have sugar-free foods or food products that won’t raise their blood sugar level. However, Dr. Ebison warns that just because something is branded as sugar-free doesn’t mean it’s okay to have it in excessive amounts.

“Consume them in moderation because some sugar-free products use sweeteners or sugar substitutes that can cause obesity and can lead to other health problems,” he says.

Meds are not enough

Medicines are important in treating diabetes, but they’re not enough. Regular monitoring of their blood sugar levels is also important. “Doctors use blood sugar levels as a basis for determining if a person has diabetes. Sugar levels also help us determine what kind of medicine to prescribe, or if we gave the patient the right medication dosage,” Dr. Ebison notes.

He added that a non-diabetic person should expect their fasting blood sugar to be less than 100 mg/dL while a diabetic patient who’s already taking medication should expect it to be 80 to 130 mg/dL. However, these targets depend on the age and health condition of a patient.

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Masakit ang batok: Does it automatically mean high blood?

You’ve probably heard it one too many times — when your nape hurts, it most likely means your blood pressure is on the rise.

It’s not necessarily always true.

In a recent interview, Dr. Raulito Co, a cardiologist at Westlake Medical Center, said that such discomfort, even vertigo, another possible sign of hypertension, could be the result of fatigue or something else entirely.

“One can’t quickly conclude they’re on the verge of developing hypertension with these supposed symptoms unless they have their blood pressure checked,” he added.

“Consulting a doctor remains the best way to know the real cause of your discomfort and to get the right treatment for it.”

However, Dr. Co, warns that consuming fatty, salty, and high-cholesterol foods can shoot one’s blood pressure up and trigger that sharp pain behind the neck. This is especially true for people already living with hypertension or high cholesterol.

“To maintain a normal blood pressure, people with hypertension should consistently take their medication and have a healthy diet,” he said. “They should also make it a habit to exercise regularly and have follow up check ups with their doctor.”

If you’re manifesting symptoms of hypertension or want to know more about the disease, you can visit Westlake Medical Center. To get expert medical advice regularly, follow Westlake Medical Center at https://www.facebook.com/WestlakeMedCenterPH/ and at https://www.tiktok.com/@westlakemedicalcenter.

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Hypertension: The inheritance nobody wants

Yes, hypertension can be inherited from parents.

That’s what Dr. Raulito Co, a cardiologist at Westlake Medical Center, noted in a recent interview.

Dr. Co stressed the importance of consulting a doctor, especially when hypertension symptoms begin to manifest. He said that the condition, if left untreated, can lead to many kinds of illnesses like heart disease, stroke, and kidney ailments.

He suggested that anyone who has a family history of hypertension and wants to lower their risk of contracting it should start leading a healthy lifestyle by eating right and engaging in proper exercise.

Simple activities like brisk walking and jogging, done for thirty minutes to an hour, are already very good for the heart, Dr. Co pointed out. He also noted that a healthy diet entails more than just consuming adequate amounts of vegetables. It’s also avoiding foods that are fatty, oily, and high in sodium.

He added that people already diagnosed with hypertension should take their prescribed medicines daily and lead a healthy lifestyle to maintain a normal blood pressure. They should also visit their doctor regularly for possible prescription adjustment or laboratory requests in case their cholesterol level needs checking.

Dr. Co encourages hypertensive women who saw their blood pressure spike during and after pregnancy to consult their doctor as their medication may need adjusting.

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