Getting flu and pneumonia shots would eliminate the rise of flu-like diseases suffered by Filipinos during this cold weather, according to an expert.
&ldquo;Sa loob [kasi] ng tatlong taon marami satin ang hindi nakapag flu shots at pneumonia shots. Alam naman natin ang immune system inaatake yan ng virus at ng bacteria kapag mahina ang katawan natin,&rdquo; health reform advocate Dr. Tony Leachon told DZRH.
&ldquo;Since after the pandemic marami sa atin ang merong non-communicable dieases, yan ang natatamaan,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp;
Leachon also underscored the effect of pollution on a person&rsquo;s health, citing the recent <a href="https://dzrh.com.ph/post/motor-vehicles-identified-as-primary-source-of-haze-in-metro-manila" target="_blank" rel="noopener">smog</a> issue that was flagged as caused by motor vehicles.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Tingin ko dala rin yan ng ating pollution. Kaya ang dami ngayong merong non-Covid o respiratory tract infection pero not necessitating hospitalization. Ang mga nao-hospital ay yung mga vulnerable na pasyente,&rdquo; the health expert said.
Leachon clarified that more than getting flu and pneumonia shots as the months of October to December mark the &ldquo;flu season&rdquo; following the clusters of people, it was crucial to recall the primary measures used during the pandemic.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Babalik tayo sa basics ng ating pagf-facemask at yung basic measures na ginamint natin during the pandemic. Yung&nbsp; washing of hands, yung distancing.&nbsp; Ngayon yung indooor quality ng bahay natin at ventilation inaayos natin.&rdquo; he said.
He also noted that flu tends to take a toll on immunocompromised individuals.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Ang flu kasi at pneumonia inaatake niyan [kung] sinong may hypertension, diabetes, asthma, sila yung nadadali. Yung mga admissions ngayon napapansin ko ay yung mga may edad,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp;
But for people who were yet to have their shots, Leachon said there were other solutions to ease the flu symptoms.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Una muna pag may respitaroy tract infection, iru-rule out muna natin ang covid. Kasi kung Covid at kayo ay vulnerable, mag-antiviral drug kayo. Now kung negative kayo then you have to bed rest, isolate pa rin, inom ng maraming tubig, vitamin c, and then [eat] fruits. Then after that magpa-flu shots ka na,&rdquo; he said.
Exercising and basking under the sun would also strengthen one&rsquo;s immune system against diseases, according to Leachon.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Ang foundation ng energy ng tao nasa physical enery eh. Isa sa pinakamalakas na mag-protect ng tao ay pagpapawis at pag-expose sa araw. Pag hindi ka nakapag-exercise marami sa mga tao ang sakitin kaya yan ang dapat nating gawin sa ngayon para patibayin ang ating resistensya,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp;&nbsp;
The Department of Health (DOH) earlier stated that flu-like illnesses have increased to 45 percent compared to last year&rsquo;s with about 151,375 cases to date from October 9 to 13.

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Flu, pneumonia shots to combat hike in flu-like illnesses – expert