Mosquito coil addiction, sleeplessness and chickenpox

Episode on April 11, 2008 Friday night after Saksi A different addiction In their never ending quest to reach that “high," some drug-addict kids have now said goodbye to shabu, solvent and marijuana, and hello to mosquito coil and cassava leaves! Emergency met some six to 12 year old children who used these materials to get stoned. And for as low as two pesos – definitely cheaper and more accessible than their usual narcotic fare -- mosquito coil and cassava leaves have now become their drugs of choice. Emergency investigates and discusses the effects of this different kind of addiction to the health of these children. Lack of sleep In this modern world where the usual 24 hours is not enough, it seems sleep has become a luxury. Take Wilfreda Penolio, for example. She’s a professor by day and a midwife by night. As if her brutal work schedule wasn’t enough, she still has to take care of a sick husband and their brood of nine when she gets home. With sleep in the least of her priorities, it’s no wonder she’s cranky most of the time, with high blood pressure to boot. Experts say one cannot make up for lack of sleep. Studies even say that lack of sleep does not only make one tired, it may even trigger various afflictions such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. Dangers of chickenpox Summer is a time of fun, frolic and freedom. But in the stifling heat, some diseases also have a field day – like chickenpox. Chickenpox is one of the known contagious diseases that are rampant during this hot season. Experts say the Varicella virus, which causes chickenpox, spreads more quickly in the heat of summer. Emergency takes a deeper look at chicken pox and how one could be protected from this contagious disease.

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Kakaibang adiksyon Out na raw ang shabu at marijuana…ang bagong kinahuhumalingang droga: katol at dahon ng kamoteng kahoy! Nakilala ng Emergency ang mga kabataang mula anim hanggang 12 taong gulang na gumagamit ng mga ito para ma-"high". Napakamura raw kasi ng mga ito at madali pang makuha kumpara sa solvent o iba pang ipinagbabawal na gamot. Sa halagang dalawang piso, may katol na sila na sisinghutin o kung walang-wala talaga, maaari raw silang humingi o mamulot sa palengke ng mga dahon ng kamoteng kahoy. Ayon sa kanila, kakaibang "high" daw ang epekto ng mga ito simula sa pagsindi hanggang sa pagsinghot. Ano kaya ang epekto ng usok ng katol at dahon ng kamoteng kahoy sa katawan ng mga kabataaang ito? Walang tulugan Mahigit sampung taon nang walang maayos na tulog si Aling Wilfreda Penolio. Sa dami kasi ng kaniyang ginagawa, parang kulang pa ang 24 oras. Propesor siya sa umaga at midwife naman sa gabi. Pag-uwi sa bahay, inaalagaan naman niya ang maysakit na asawa pati na rin ang siyam na anak. Dahil sa puyat, madalas nagiging maiinitin ang kaniyang ulo at nagkaroon na siya ng mataas na presyon ng dugo. Si Oli naman, mahigit dalawampung taon nang walang maayos na tulog. High school pa lang daw siya, madalas na siyang mapuyat. At hanggang ngayon, ang pabago-bagong schedule ng kaniyang trabaho bilang call center agent ay lalong hindi nakatutulong sa kanyang pagpapahinga. Ayon sa mga eksperto, hindi na raw nababawi ang puyat At hindi lang daw pagod ng katawan at pagpurol ng isipan ang maidudulot ng pagpupuyat kundi samu’t saring sakit tulad ng diabetes, hypertension at sakit sa puso. Peligro de Bulutong Ngayong tag-init, marami ang nagbabakasyon at nag-eenjoy sa ilalim ng araw. Pero ang ibang nakilala ng Emergency, hindi natutuwa: paano kasi, ang init ng panahon ang nagdala sa kanila ng makati at mahapding bulutong! Si Perla at ang dalawa pa niyang anak, dinapuan ng bulutong. Bukod sa abala at sakit ng katawan, nangangamba rin sila. Ang bulutong raw kasi,maaring makamatay kapag ipinag-walang bahala. May mga paraan kaya para hindi tayo mahawa?