Philippines Health Issues – Breakdown Maintenance
I think most of us understand the term “breakdown maintenance”? We all know those with cars that only get serviced when they stop working? The car sees the mechanic when a bit falls off it that can’t be easily stuck back on, or if it stops on the side of the road and won’t start again. Well, medical treatment in the Philippines is often breakdown-maintenance too, and these Philippines health issues can lead to similar problems in Filipino people which you as part of an Australian Filipino relationship will come face to face with soon enough.
Yes, I did an article here recently on the topic of Filipinos and doctors. If you haven’t read it, I suggest you do for a bit of background. I’m extending this topic here, as a plea to try to ensure your wife and her family take some better care of themselves before you find yourselves attending a funeral. Breakdown maintenance of human beings leads to short lives, because it’s often too late when the problem is finally diagnosed.
Filipinos and Health Maintenance
I’m often inspired to write articles by what I see happening around me. In this case, our extended-family here had another funeral to attend just over Christmas. She would have been 60 this year. Left behind a husband, three kids (youngest 19 I think), 8 grandkids. All could have been avoided with the occasional checkup rather than waiting for disaster.
And will she be the last untimely death in our extended family? Probably not. Was this the only death in the last few years that could have been avoided? No, definitely not! We lost Mila’s very close sister in 2012. She was only in her mid-40’s, and should have had many years ahead of her.
Recent cause of death? Stroke! Why? High blood pressure. “High blood”. Hypertension. No maintenance medication program. Death in 2012? Kidneys shut down. Why? Unmaintained hypertension again. They sort-of knew this, but never did anything about it.
Mila has a 62 year old auntie. Goes to see our doctor a few times a year when she comes to visit. Our doctor tells her to take maintenance medication for high blood pressure. Does she? No. Says that anti-hypertensive drugs will “damage the liver”. I’ve been taking them for 15 years, and my liver function is fine. Two relatives who didn’t are now in the cemetery. I think maybe it’s worth the risk.
Filipinos in Hospital
Think about how often your own relatives in the Philippines go to the hospital. Not so uncommon, right? How about you? OK, I had a couple of bouts with kidney stones in…..maybe 2003? Two occasions. Spent two separate nights in Emergency enjoying the benefits of analgesia whilst waiting for some stones to pass, then I went home. Had my tonsils out when I was 10 years old, back in the days when they seemed to like doing that. Needed the occasional thing stitched up over the years, and that took place generally in the Emergency section. Other than that? Me and hospitals are not so familiar, and I think that’s the case for most Aussies.
In the Philippines? When the human machine breaks down and someone collapses, they end up in the hospital. I would say many would stare at you blankly if you asked who their family doctor was! Some of them seem to spend a few days to a week there every year or so, then go home to wait for it to happen again. Scared into doing something to prevent it from happening again? Not likely!
Filipinos and Doctors and Chronic Conditions
Most know what “chronic” refers to. Those things that don’t normally get better. Hypertension. Diabetes. Chronic good-looks, like I have. Most of these (other than the handsomeness) can be managed and maintained by medication and possibly diet and/or lifestyle changes, and whilst far from ideal most find they can lead comfortable lives when on maintenance programs under the direction of a doctor.
And yes, I know that many are short of money, and medication plus doctors cost money. But families losing mothers and/or fathers usually means the loss of an income and/or a child-carer. That costs a whole lot more, and leaves kids without the parent they need and deserve. There are competent doctors everywhere, and not all maintenance medications are top-shelf priced.
After Irene died in 2012, I got Mila to check her various siblings when she could. Discovered that most of them had hypertension issues, with some very serious. Some are taking medication regularly, and have benefited. Others take it sometimes, then stop when they feel better. So whilst it’s far from perfect, it’s better than it was.
Suggestions for your relatives in Philippines
Suggest that you consider getting your 25 – 30+ relatives in Philippines checked for the following:
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- Chest xrays for Tuberculosis. Even for kids. Our local hospital charges P280.00 only!
- Pap smears for ladies
- Mammograms (40 years +)
- And anything else they’ve been ignoring for years
Jeff is registered migration agent who has been helping couples with visas to Australia ... Jeff is the owner / operator of Down Under Visa. If you would like to SUBSCRIBE, please click HERE.
I consider this one of the most important issues you have raised, Jeff, and I think I know what constitutes a large part of the answer – in a word, exercise. Over almost forty years of being married to one, I have had occasion to meet hundreds of Filipinas. The astonishing fact is that only one of them, one mark you, possessed the habit of regular exercise, and she didn’t exactly strain herself at it. Of course, I hasten to add that lack of exercise is a global problem, especially in developed countries. However, there does seem to exist in the Filipino psyche what amounts to a cultural aversion to it. Indeed, our Filipina friends here seem to consider it an activity for the great unwashed. Unless an imperative, usually monetary, exists, the prospect of training for its own sake is curiously repulsive. My wife’s relations in the Philippines ride jeepneys and tricycles for journeys of a few hundred metres. Husbands here are severely admonished if the car is parked further than a few metres from the destination. Park in a clear street and walk a few blocks ? Not on your life !
Okay, well, enough criticism, because I believe this cultural lack of exercise is killing the women we love. It predisposes them to metabolic syndrome and a host of other insidious consequences; in fact, it is probably much worse than poor diet and lack of check-ups. I know because I am seeing terrible outcomes for older Filipinas all around me, all of whom have scarcely moved their bodies in thirty years. How do we get them moving ? It’s difficult, but we must try to give them a healthy old age and a chance to enjoy their grandchildren, among many other things. I don’t really like gyms but if your wife does, and it provides incentive, then encourage her. Go for longer walks with her when shopping and leave the car at home. Buy some home apparatus, perhaps an exercycle, weights, springs, bullworkers (no, those things are not just for men). Tell her what a difference it makes to her appearance, that goes down well and it is quite true. Even milder activities such as gardening are excellent, if your wife likes growing things, and most Filipinas do. Get them on to the spade work as well as planting and harvesting.
Am I perhaps exaggerating the issue ? No, I really don’t think so. I honestly believe lack of exercise is a major killer of Filipinas.
how to solving the Philippines Health Issues ?
I think the most important issue that you mention. But the question s rise how we can solve this problem? I want to say that the lack of exercise is one of the major issues.
I love my wife of six years very much. However, from the first time I met her I was aware that she was obsessed with her health, attending various doctors several times per week. When she first came to Australia, at her request I immediately took her to my doctor and he was astonished at the vast number of prescriptions she had. She insisted that they were all neeeded for her various illnesses. Eventually we found a Filipino doctor, who ran a few tests and then (horror of horrors) told her she was very well. This has never gone down very well with my wife. She has been told to change her lifestyle, however, is reluctant to do so and says that when in the Philippines, doctors will give her whatever pill she asks for and always the maximum strength. I’m not sugggesting that doctors receive commission from the medications they provide, however, the drug companies in the Philippines put on lavish all costs paid functions in the top resorts for doctprs every year. Not allowed in Australia. I know a number of other Australian men married to Filipinos and they all report the same thing. A week without visiting a health provider is an event.
Philippines SUCKS!
They are the most useless & stupid (shit) country (& their ugly & dirty people).
Filipinos are scum, dumb morons & gangster assholes.(Ugly government & people)
All Filipinos must be removed from this face of this planet.
Philippines & Filipinos (forever) SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS & SUCKS!
(P.S.Couples SUCKS!)
(GO & DIE, Filipinos!)