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Medics: Lifestyle change prevents AIDS

BAGUIO CITY (May 24) — Stimulating the immune system and a change in lifestyle and behavior may prevent the onset of ailments and infections, including sexually transmitted diseases like the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) which causes the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).

Dr. Charles Cheng of the Filipino-Chinese Hospital said during a press conference at the Baguio Health Department that alternative treatments such as herbal preparations, moxibustion and acupuncture might help strengthen a person’s immune system, but quips that nothing replaces a healthy lifestyle.

Aside from Cheng, the city’s health providers remain alarmed by the existence of persons afflicted with the HIV/AIDS, despite a few number of persons reported with the virus.

HIV/AIDS Statistics

Records from the Baguio Health Department reveal that there are only 19 persons with HIV/AIDS (11 PWH; 8 PWA), 7 males from 1992 to 2005. Only one of these cases is presumed to be still alive. Eight of these were former overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and two foreigners.

Same report shows that in 2004, six persons were diagnosed with HIV and three in 2005. There are still no reports for 2006.

In the whole country, there are some 2,484 cases of HIV/AIDS reported from January 1984 to March 2006. An alarming 725 or 29% of these are full-blown AIDS cases. Of the AIDS cases, 284 died of AIDS-related complications, according to the National Epidemiology Center.

“We cannot be complacent with the statistics specially that the city is now a tourism capital and a lot of OFWs are coming back,” Cheng said.

Alarming but may be mitigated

Cheng still raises the alarm because the virus spreads very fast and there is still no sure cure for the disease, adding, “A vaccine against HIV/AIDS is still being looked for by health experts”.

Dr. Celia Flor Brilliantes, of the Baguio Social Hygiene Clinic quips that it is not very easy to identify infected persons. She said an HIV-sero-positive person shows no signs and symptoms.

After some 12 years, these may show signs and symptoms of a full-blown AIDS.

Brilliantes explains that AIDS is a group of signs and symptoms of the HIV infection, which show when resistance is low.

“Because HIV attacks the body when it is weakest, strengthening and stimulating the immune system may help alleviate the signs and symptoms in AIDS. It does not guarantee any cure, however,” Cheng admits, adding that herbal preparations supplement the body’s deficiency.

Cheng warns that acute immune diseases occur because the host body lacks immunity. He explains that when we increase our immunity by taking for example garlic, a known Chinese remedy for many ailments, we stop the attack of disease.

Aside from herbs, Cheng mentioned moxa, mugwort herb, Artemesia vulgaris, or moxibustion, which he said boosts the immune system. Accupuncture, according to Cheng, also stimulates the immune system. He also mentioned a local herb, pedped, usually utilized as a cigarette in many Cordillera provinces, as a stimulant.

Lifestyle, behavioral change

Brilliantes and Cheng agree that a change in lifestyle will also help booster immunity from diseases.

Cheng notes that people eat too many fatty and salty foods; drink a lot to the point of drunkenness and smoke heavily. He advise people to stay away from cigarettes and alcoholic drinks, and to get a lot of rest and sleep.

Cheng appealed for awareness to HIV/AIDS as he noted that it takes the government P35 thousand to treat one HIV/AIDS patient who eventually dies of complications.

“There is almost no treatment for this disease and when the couple die of HIV/AIDS, their children would be miserable and face all types of abuse as orphans. The disease is raging in Asia,” he said. # Lyn V. Ramo for NORDIS

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