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Watsons now offering vaccination services in-store

There are more than 25 safe and effective vaccines that can stop diseases, protect health, and mitigate outbreaks. Below are three diseases that can be prevented by vaccines:

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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, four million deaths are prevented by childhood vaccination every year.[1] The COVID-19 pandemic further highlighted how important it is to be inoculated, and many updated their vaccinations to stay healthy.

There are more than 25 safe and effective vaccines that can stop diseases, protect health, and mitigate outbreaks.[2] Below are three diseases that can be prevented by vaccines:

Influenza

Influenza, or the flu, is a contagious respiratory illness that infects the nose, throat, and even the lungs at any time of the year.[3] It is marked by fevers, chills, coughing, a sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, and fatigue. It is transmitted through close contact with an infected person, or even touching objects contaminated by the virus.[4] Compared to the common cold, the flu is worse and its symptoms are more intense.[5] It causes mild to severe illness, and even death.[6] Up to 650,000 people worldwide die from the flu each year.[7]

This year, the dominant flu strain circulating the globe is Influenza A (H3N2) and it has been associated with more severe flu seasons. Meanwhile, subtype H3N2 is known to cause more severe illnesses in young children and older adults.[8]

Pneumonia

Pneumonia is a lung infection that causes the air sacs to be filled with fluid or pus.[9] Its symptoms include coughing, fever, sweating, chills, shortness of breath, chest pain, loss of appetite, fatigue, and nausea and vomiting.[10] Pneumonia is caused by a variety of factors such as viruses, bacteria, and fungi. It is the single largest infectious cause of death in children around the world.[11]

Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

Human Papillomavirus, or HPV, is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections in the world.[12] There are usually no symptoms and it goes away on its own, but the virus may cause painless growths or lumps around the genital area.[13] It is usually transmitted via sex or skin-to-skin sexual contact with an individual who has the virus. If untreated, HPV infections can cause cancer.[14]

Vaxx Office Campaign

Watsons continues to lead the way in promoting and providing access to holistic health and wellness solutions, expert care and advice, and a platform for health literacy. The global brand in health and beauty retail is offering vaccination services for the Influenza A (H3N2), pneumonia, and HPV in its network of more than 1,000 stores in the Philippines.

Aside from its in-store vaccination services, Watsons is launching its Vaxx Office campaign to capture public interest and raise awareness on the importance of timely vaccinations.

Vaxx Office features a series of trailers and posters for what appear to be movies with post-apocalyptic themes. The striking visuals of the campaign aim to highlight how routine vaccinations can keep the dangers of flu, cancer-linked HPV, and pneumonia at bay.

An exclusive screening of the trailers together with a movie block screening will be held with medical partners and the media before they go live in cinemas and on social media. Meanwhile, the mock movie posters will be situated just outside cinema theaters, underpasses, and on billboards all over Metro Manila.

“There are many diseases to watch out for, but advances in medicine have allowed us to protect ourselves through vaccination. Watsons is making it easier to protect ourselves by making immunization more accessible and affordable,” shared Jared de Guzman, Watsons Customer Director.

“We encourage everyone to get vaccinated to protect ourselves, our loved ones, and even the community. It is the safest and most effective way of stopping infectious diseases,” shares  shares Dr. Lulu Bravo, Executive Director, Philippine Foundation for Vaccination.

Customers interested in getting vaccinated at Watsons may schedule their inoculation for April 27 to 30 via the Watsons Health Hub online. Early registrants can enjoy 10% off their vaccine and Php 50 off on Php 500 worth of purchases of Watsons products.

To book a vaccination, please visit vaccination.watsons.com.ph/. For more information about Watsons’ products and services, download the Watsons app on the App Store or Google Play.


[1] Fast Facts on Global Immunization. (Updated 2022, Sep 22). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/globalhealth/immunization/data/fast-facts.html#:~:text=4%20million%20deaths%20worldwide%20are%20prevented%20by%20childhood%20vaccination%20every%20year. Accessed 21 Mar 2023

[2] Fast Facts on Global Immunization. (Updated 2022, Sep 22). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/globalhealth/immunization/data/fast-facts.html#:~:text=4%20million%20deaths%20worldwide%20are%20prevented%20by%20childhood%20vaccination%20every%20year. Accessed 21 Mar 2023

[3] Key Facts About Influenza (Flu). (Last reviewed 2022, Oct 24). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/keyfacts.htm#:~:text=Flu%20is%20a%20contagious%20respiratory,Flu%20Symptoms. Accessed 21 Mar 2023

[4] Flu (Influenza). (Last reviewed 2020, Aug 13). Penn Medicine, https://www.pennmedicine.org/for-patients-and-visitors/patient-information/conditions-treated-a-to-z/flu-influenza#:~:text=Most%20people%20get%20the%20flu,often%20confuse%20colds%20and%20flu. Accessed 22 Mar 2023

[5] Cold Versus Flu. (Last reviewed 2022, Sep 29). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/flu/symptoms/coldflu.htm#:~:text=Influenza%20(flu)%20and%20the%20common,%2C%20parainfluenza%2C%20and%20seasonal%20coronaviruses. Accessed 21 Mar 2023

[6]  Key Facts About Influenza (Flu). (Last reviewed 2022, Oct 24). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/keyfacts.htm#:~:text=Flu%20is%20a%20contagious%20respiratory,Flu%20Symptoms. Accessed 21 Mar 2023

[7] COVID-19 vs. the Flu. (Updated 2022, Jul 29). John Hopkins Medicine, https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus/coronavirus-disease-2019-vs-the-flu. Accessed 22 Mar 2023

[8] H3N2 Flu Strain: What to Know About the Deadly Outbreak in India. (2023, March 13). Julia Ries, https://www.healthline.com/health-news/h3n2-flu-strain-what-to-know-about-the-deadly-outbreak-in-india. Accessed 24 April 2023.

[9] What Is Pneumonia? (Last updated 2022, Mar 24). National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/pneumonia#:~:text=Pneumonia%20is%20an%20infection%20that,or%20fungi%20may%20cause%20pneumonia. Accessed 22 Mar 2023

[10] Pneumonia Symptoms and Diagnosis. (Last updated 2022, Nov 17). American Lung Association, https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/pneumonia/symptoms-and-diagnosis. Accessed 22 Mar 2023

[11] Pneumonia in children. (2022, Nov 11). World Health Organization, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/pneumonia#:~:text=Pneumonia%20is%20a%20form%20of,painful%20and%20limits%20oxygen%20intake. Accessed 22 Mar 2023

[12] Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine. (No date). Pan American Health Organization, https://www.paho.org/en/human-papillomavirus-hpv-vaccine. Accessed 22 Mar 2023

[13] Human papillomavirus (HPV). (Last reviewed 2022, May 27). National Health Service, https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/human-papilloma-virus-hpv/. Accessed 22 Mar 2023

[14] National Cancer Institute. (Updated 2023, Jan 31). National Cancer Institute, https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/infectious-agents/hpv-and-cancer. Accessed 22 Mar 2023.

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NewsMakers

5 Tips to upgrade your sleep

Sleep contributes to better brain function, memory, concentration and lower stress. According to the National Institutes of Health, most adults need 7-9 hours of sleep every night to achieve maximum health benefits.

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Good sleep isn’t just about waking up feeling rested and ready for the day. Quality sleep, and plenty of it, is important for your overall health. While you sleep, your body naturally recharges itself, which puts you at lower risk for cardiovascular problems and chronic conditions like diabetes, as well as improving your immune system.

Sleep also contributes to better brain function, memory, concentration and lower stress. According to the National Institutes of Health, most adults need 7-9 hours of sleep every night to achieve maximum health benefits.

If you’re falling short of the recommended amount of sleep, you may be able to make some adjustments that help you reap the health benefits of better rest. Learn what you can do to improve your sleep with these tips from the experts in safer, healthier sleep at Naturepedic.

Reduce Light Exposure
Your body’s natural circadian rhythms are closely aligned with light and dark. When your body senses light, it sends signals to your brain that it’s time to be awake. Light also suppresses your body’s production of melatonin, a hormone linked to sleep. Cutting back on bright lights and avoiding devices at least an hour before bed can tell your body it’s time to wind down, and sleeping in a dark room promotes better rest.

Invest in the Right Mattress
Your mattress plays a major role in your comfort through the night, so making sure it fits your needs is an important step toward getting better rest. Take control of your comfort with a quality mattress such as Naturepedic’s EOS (Ergonomic Organic Sleep) mattress, which is handcrafted and made without polyurethane foam, formaldehyde, flame retardants or fiberglass. The breathable layers of certified organic cotton, wool and GOTS-approved latex ensure better temperature regulation while naturally contouring the body. An added feature is the ability to customize each side of the bed by opening the zippers and adjusting the layered components for the perfect comfort combination.

Find the Right Sheets
Sheets that are too stiff, scratchy or otherwise unpleasant make it nearly impossible to settle in for a good night’s rest. Higher thread counts tend to be softer, higher quality sheets. However, you may need to experiment to find which material suits you best.

Set a Comfortable Temperature
When you’re too hot or cold, your mind tends to focus on those sensations rather than allowing you to slip into a slumber. Set your thermostat at a comfortable temperature, adding fans or adjusting the layers of bedding as necessary to achieve the perfect level of cozy comfort.

Use a Sound Machine
If you’re a light sleeper, noise can wreak havoc on your rest. Many people find sound machines offer two key benefits: They provide a soothing sound, such as rain or ocean waves, that allows you to relax and ease into slumber and constant background noise, so additional sounds are less disruptive.

Find more solutions for achieving better sleep at Naturepedic.com.

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What you should know about IBD

Two common conditions are irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). They’re often confused for one another, but these are actually two different GI disorders.

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It may not be something you like to talk about, but if you have gastrointestinal (GI) problems, your symptoms may be far more common than you think. According to data from the American Gastroenterological Association, 60-70 million people living in the United States have gut health concerns.

Two common conditions are irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). They’re often confused for one another, but these are actually two different GI disorders.

IBS is a syndrome; it is defined by a group of symptoms, does not cause inflammation and rarely requires hospitalization or surgery. IBD, on the other hand, is an umbrella term used to describe disorders that cause chronic inflammation of your GI tract.

The disease is more common than you may realize; a study led by the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation found nearly 1 in 100 people living in the U.S. have IBD. The two most common forms of IBD are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Understanding IBD Symptoms
Because it poses serious health risks and can cause permanent damage to your intestines, it’s important to be aware of what IBD is and recognize the symptoms. Your primary care doctor or gastroenterologist can help if you have concerns about these symptoms:

  • Intense, crampy pain that doesn’t go away in a day or two or has been present on and off for weeks or longer
  • A notable change in bowel movement frequency, whether more or less often
  • Frequent diarrhea over several weeks, or loose stools multiple times a day
  • Frequent constipation, or constipation alternating with diarrhea
  • Urgency on a regular basis or inability to hold back the bowel movement before reaching the bathroom
  • Blood with bowel movements
  • Mucus in your stool regularly or paired with pain or other symptoms
  • Always feeling as though you aren’t fully emptying your bowels

Other symptoms that may have a variety of causes but need extra attention especially if you notice them along with any of the symptoms above include pain outside of the gut, fatigue, loss of appetite and weight loss. In addition, children with IBD may have delays in growth and the onset of puberty.

Diagnosing IBD
No single test can confirm a Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis diagnosis. Your medical history and information obtained from diagnostic testing can exclude other potential causes of your symptoms, since gastrointestinal symptoms are common and can have a variety of causes.

Your first tests will likely include blood and stool laboratory tests. Further testing could include imaging studies of your gastrointestinal tract or a look inside your GI tract through an endoscope.

Identifying Treatment Options
Once an IBD diagnosis is confirmed, you can partner with your doctor to manage your disease. Treatment plans are highly personalized, as what works for one person may not for another. Medication and managing your diet and nutrition are two common treatment recommendations. In some cases, surgery can help improve your quality of life.

Clinical trials may also be an option for treating your IBD. Through clinical trials, researchers find new ways to improve treatments and quality of life. In fact, clinical trials represent the final stages of a long and careful research process to make new and improved treatment options for patients available.

However, an important part of clinical trials for IBD is patient participation. Without the enrollment of patients in clinical trials, new treatment options for IBD can be delayed or never become available.

Equally important to this process is having a diverse representation of patients that considers race, age or other categories. This helps researchers develop treatments that meet the needs of a vast IBD patient community.

If you’re interested in participating in a clinical trial, ask your doctor to help you find a trial that is right for you, and visit crohnscolitisfoundation.org to learn more about IBD and treatment options, including clinical trials.

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Unlocking the science of sleep: How rest enhances language learning

Getting eight hours of sleep every night helps the brain to store and learn a new language.

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Sleep is critical for all sorts of reasons, but a team of international scientists has discovered a new incentive for getting eight hours of sleep every night: it helps the brain to store and learn a new language.

A study led by the University of South Australia (UniSA) and published in the Journal of Neuroscience has revealed that the coordination of two electrical events in the sleeping brain significantly improves our ability to remember new words and complex grammatical rules.

In an experiment with 35 native English-speaking adults, researchers tracked the brain activity of participants learning a miniature language called Mini Pinyin that is based on Mandarin but with similar grammatical rules to English.

Half of the participants learned Mini Pinyin in the morning and then returned in the evening to have their memory tested. The other half learned Mini Pinyin in the evening and then slept in the laboratory overnight while their brain activity was recorded. Researchers tested their progress in the morning.

Those who slept performed significantly better compared to those who remained awake.

Lead researcher  Dr Zachariah Cross, who did his PhD at UniSA but is now based at Northwestern University in Chicago, says sleep-based improvements were linked to the coupling of slow oscillations and sleep spindles – brainwave patterns that synchronise during NREM sleep.

“This coupling likely reflects the transfer of learned information from the hippocampus to the cortex, enhancing long-term memory storage,” Dr Cross says.

“Post-sleep neural activity showed unique patterns of theta oscillations associated with cognitive control and memory consolidation, suggesting a strong link between sleep-induced brainwave co-ordination and learning outcomes.”

UniSA researcher Dr Scott Coussens says the study underscores the importance of sleep in learning complex linguistic rules.

“By demonstrating how specific neural processes during sleep support memory consolidation, we provide a new perspective on how sleep disruption impacts language learning,” Dr Coussens says. “Sleep is not just restful; it’s an active, transformative state for the brain.”

The findings could also potentially inform treatments for individuals with language-related impairments, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and aphasia, who experience greater sleep disturbances than other adults.

Research on both animals and humans shows that slow oscillations improve neural plasticity – the brain’s ability to change and adapt in response to experiences and injury.

“From this perspective, slow oscillations could be increased via methods such as transcranial magnetic stimulation to accelerate aphasia-based speech and language therapy,” Dr Cross says.

In future, the researchers plan to explore how sleep and wake dynamics influence the learning of other complex cognitive tasks.

“Understanding how the brain works during sleep has implications beyond language learning. It could revolutionize how we approach education, rehabilitation, and cognitive training.”

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