How do you stay healthy?

ANGELES CITY -- Have you ever had sore throat or a headache or probably a fever due to the sudden change of weather?

It's similar to being exposed under the sun for several hours then suddenly coming in an air-conditioned office or establishment, which our rural physicians said can make you sick.

Dr. Raymond John Nepomuceno, rural physician stationed at the Angeles City Health Office, said under hot weather, people could get allergic reaction, hypersensitivity, skin asthma and other diseases of the skin.

On the other hand, under cold weather, Nepomuceno said coughs and colds, sore throat, headache, body weakness and upper respiratory tract infection are the usual sickness people can get.

Dr. Hernand Tulud, also a rural physician, said humid weather in the Philippines brings about pathogens like fungi, bacteria and viruses that harm the body once it gets exposed.

Moreover, abrupt weather changes - from sunny to rainy - require the body to gather a lot of strength to adjust to the new temperature which sometimes lessens the immune level.

But, we're not all that helpless against natural changes. Doctors said there are always ways to protect ourselves against these body threats.
Nepomuceno and Tulud advice us to have adequate sleep, adequate nutrition and exercise.

However, Tulud said adequate sleep should also mean quality sleep where our mind and body truly gets proper rest.

Water intake can also be increased from the eight glasses dictum to 10-13 glasses.

"There's no need to worry because all of these liquids will come out through our urine, sweat and breathing," Tulud said.

In terms of adequate nutrition, Nepomuceno advices us to eat nutritious food like vegetables and fruits.

"Food supplements like Vitamin C may help us increase our defenses against sickness but proper diet is still the best defense," Nepomuceno said.
And more importantly, our rural health physicians advice us to get up on our feet and do some exercises.

Thirty minutes of walking or running in the morning partnered with proper diet won't hurt but instead will make us healthier.