WHY IS HOME BLOOD PRESSURE MONITORING VITAL IN HYPERTENSION CONTROL?
A short talk by the Philippine Heart Association, Philippine Society of Hypertension, and Pfizer Collaborate to Further Manage the Condition in the Philippines

From L-R: Dr. Alberto Atilano, President, Philippine Society of Hypertension (PSH); Jing Castañeda, News Anchor, ABS-CBN Integrated News and Current Affairs; Dr. Jorge Sison, President, Philippine Heart Association (PHA); Dr. Grace Brizuela, Medical Manager, Pfizer

One of the major health issues in Asia is hypertension. It has a high prevalence rate but poor level of awareness and control reported in many countries in the region makes the condition not known and given the proper medical attention it needs.

Home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) has been validated as an accurate and reliable measure of blood pressure because of the following reasons:

1. It can help guide hypertension treatment

2. identify masked and white-coat hypertension.

Despite its benefits, there has been limited research into home blood pressure monitoring in Asia.

In observance of World Hypertension Day, the Philippine Heart Association (PHA), the Philippine Society of Hypertension (PSH), and Pfizer, have come together to fortify their commitment in raising awareness and promoting hypertension prevention, detection, and control among Filipinos, including measures that they could take in their own homes.

The value of HBPM or Home Blood Pressure Monitoring:
In a nationwide survey conducted in 2013, it was indicated that despite a high treatment rate of 75% among adult patients diagnosed with hypertension, adequate blood pressure control rate was low at 27%

Dr. Jorge A. Sison, PHA President, in a discussion held at the Edsa Shangri-La recently, validated that, “There are several factors that contribute to the current hypertension burden in Asia and the Philippines. This includes the current diet that most Filipinos eat - - restaurant and processed food, sugar drinks, etc; the relative physical inactivity, increasing rate of smoking, and increasing number of people who are beyond their ideal weight. This is only in addition to one’s inherent genetic disposition to develop hypertension.”

There is growing acknowledgment for the role of HBPM to evaluate and guide management of hypertension. Aside from being a simple tool for measuring blood pressure, HBPM is also recommended by guidelines to obtain reliable BP recordings because readings are taken in an environment that approximates one’s daily activities and exposures.

Home systolic BP (SBP) <135 mm Hg and diastolic BP (DBP) <85 mm Hg are typically considered normal.

Sison added, “HBPM is performed in the Philippines, but not routinely, and there are no published data on the use of HBPM in the country. HBPM is currently used to investigate the status of BP control in patients with known hypertension who are taking treatment but with uncontrolled BP on follow-up. Some specialists use HBPM to make a diagnosis of hypertension in conjunction with clinic BP. Potential barriers to the use of HBPM include the cost and availability of HBPM devices, with only around 25% of the population with hypertension currently having access to such devices. Another barrier is the lack of trust among patients regarding the accuracy of their digital BP devices.”

Dr. Sison’s discussion of the Pfizer-funded research reveals that the burden of hypertension is shared by neighboring countries in Asia. And through the collaborative work of experts from these 12 countries, consensus statements have been formed which includes the recommendation to use HBPM as an additional tool to diagnose hypertension. By gaining a better understanding of a patient’s blood pressure pattern, the opportunity to appropriately manage the patient is enhanced, therefore increasing the chance of achieving BP control and reduce occurrence of complications like stroke and heart attack.

Hypertension control initiatives

Dr. Alberto A. Atilano, PSH President, said, “High blood pressure is a silent killer. It is the number one contributing risk factor for global death, causing many cardiovascular complications.” He explained that people often don’t know they have high blood pressure because there are no symptoms.

In line with PSH participation in the global initiative called May Measurement Month, which is spearheaded by the International Society of Hypertension, Dr Atilano shared how the local society is reaching out to all Filipinos to encourage screening for hypertension.

Working together

Pfizer is committed to advancing collaborative efforts to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with a wide range of chronic diseases – not just hypertension – for people to live better, healthier lives.

Some of the doctors present during the talk are the following (in no particular order) : Dr. Erric Cino from PHA, Dr. Debbie Oña from PSH, Dr. Baby Leus from PHA, Dr. Dolly Banzon from PSH, Dr. Nannette Rey from PHA, Dr. Bimbo Diaz from PSH

According to Pfizer Medical Manager and internal medicine specialist Dr. Grace Brizuela, “Our efforts to positively impact patient outcomes would not be possible without our partnership with organizations like PHA and PSH. By collaborating on common objectives to advance public health and supporting programs that create solutions for communities and stakeholders, Pfizer strengthens its commitment to help improve the lives of the patients we serve.”

Below are some guidelines in using Home Blood Pressure Monitoring:

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MLQU is now at Home in Quezon City

On August 19, 2016, coinciding with the 138th birth anniversary of the former President of the Philippine Commonwealth Manuel Luis Quezon, Manuel L. Quezon University or MLQU formally launched its victorious move to the city named after the late former president. This day, called “Quezon is Home” featured the symbolic move and unveiling of the late former president’s portrait done by National Artist in Painting, Fernando Amorsolo, to continue the legacy of MLQU from Quiapo, Manila to Quezon City. Quezon City and MLQU celebrate August 19 as Quezon Day in accordance with Republic Act 6741.

The MLQU Quezon City campus or MLQU School for Professional Advancement and Continuing Education (MLQU SPACE) is located near the MRT Kamuning Station along EDSA. Led by New San Jose Builders’(NSJBI) Chairman Dr. Rizalino Acuzar and MLQU president and NSJBI co-chairman Dr. Isagani Germar, the event was graced with Quezon City officials and guests.

Pioneering Programs to mark the QC campus expansion

MLQU has partnered with distinguished groups in introducing pioneering programs as it enters the city’s roster of esteemed academic institutions.

Chamber of Real Estate and Builders’ Associations, Inc (CREBA)

The Chamber of Real Estate and Builders’ Association, the largest real estate umbrella organization in the Philippines and MLQU has signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will provide students of MLQU who want to have a career in real estate management, training modules. CREBA and MLQU’s training modules aim to have these students learn real estate law in relation to commercial, rental and private properties.

BLOOMBERG AND East West Educational Specialists, Co. Inc. (EWES)

Bloomberg and EWES are collaborating on these learning initiatives:

• Bloomberg EWES Certified Financial Markets Professional Program
• Bloomberg EWES Faculty Development Programs
• Bloomberg Professional Service Practicum Program which includes international trip exposures to integrate the Bloomberg terminal application into the EWES course curriculum
Aside from the collaborative learning initiatives mentioned above, MLQU and East West will be conducting certification programs and review classes for the different programs and courses for the students and graduates of MLQU in accordance with the standards and requirements of the Commission on Higher Education, Bloomberg LP, Chartered Institute for Securities and Investments, and the Securities and Exchange Commission.

American Concrete Institute (ACI) and Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines (ASEP)

MLQU partnered with ACI and ASEP in order to give more boost in the Architecture and Engineering programs of the university. ACI and ASEP have programs that aim to develop the students and professionals’ knowledge and practice in structural engineering.

ACI has been in the country since 1995 to advocate for concrete quality and the uplift meant of the concrete industry. Ellen Chua, president of ACI-Philippine chapter said, “we aim to provide students, academe, practitioners and professionals the advanced knowledge and technology in solving and upgrading the quality of the construction industry in the Philippines. Our collaboration with MLQU shall focus on the training and certification of professionals for them to be equipped with international standards allowing them to be on top.”

Established in 1961, ASEP is a leader in the practice of structural engineering. “The main objective of the program in partnership with MLQU is to explore and impart actual applied practice in the industry like how to do the actual design and how to use the proper tools in the design,” according to Danilo Domingo, ASEP Vice President.

NEW SAN JOSE BUILDERS, Inc (NSJBI) supports MLQU in helping Filipinos achieve their dreams

It was in 2014 when property developer New San Jose Builders, Inc. (NSJBI) acquired ownership of the 69yo Manuel L Quezon University. Together, MLQU and NSJBI dreamed about helping their students achieve better lives through their education by improving and upgrading the school’s facilities and expanding and providing opportunities for learning.

It was in 2015 when MLQU opened its School for Professional Advancement and Continuing Education (SPACE) at the Victoria Sports Tower along EDSA in Quezon City.

Victoria Sports Tower is a project of NSJBI. It has 5 floors (34, 180 sqm) of sports and social club features with the most advanced indoor sports facilities, business amenities, wellness and fitness centers, residential units, and luxurious hotel-like lobby. The building offers MLQU students a conducive learning environment.

MLQU continues to expand with the opening of another campus at the nearby Timog Avenue within the coming years to be able to offer more college courses to the Filipino students.

Visit MLQU SPACE for more information and inquiries about the latest certification programs and offering. Contact number is 683-2327 local 122 or 129.
Visit the website at MLQU.edu.ph.
Official Facebook page is mlquofficial

Being the world’s largest publisher and distributor of more than 600 original titles annually, Scholastic continues to pursue different initiatives because it is committed in helping build a nation of readers. In its effort to create a new generation of successful readers, Scholastic, with its two latest projects will harness the power of the Internet.

Scholastic Asia President Frank Wong says, “Scholastic Asia knows the importance of reading in nation-building. Much has been said about how technology has become a challenge for raising a new generation of readers. At Scholastic, we view challenges as opportunities, and have developed two key literacy programs which utilize the benefits of internet technology. These are Literacy Pro and Literacy Pro Library.”

Scholastic Literacy Pro is an online monitoring program which provides teachers the following features: accurate and timely reports on their students’ progress and performance. These information give the teachers research-based insights for them to make informed teaching and learning decisions. It promotes the student’s growth in reading by developing an individualized reading plan, with corresponding teacher reports.

Literacy Pro has a three-pronged plan to creat successful readers involves the following action points:

• ASSESS : a student’s reading progress is measured on a regular basis through a LitPro Test. The results give the teacher a fast and accurate assessment tool for evaluating his performance.

• INFORM : LitPro enables the teacher to have access to data and reports which also includes Lexile Reading Proficiency, to better understand a student’s learning needs. This paves the way for the facilitating further reading skills development. Scholastic developed the Lexile Framework for Singapore schools which allows the teacher to determine the reading level of the students.

• DEVELOP : A student is encouraged to read more when he or she is given the right books according to his or her individualized reading plan. Depending on the student’s reading level and proficiency, the Lexile Framework if able to find the right books to read.

The Scholastic Literacy Pro Library is an ebook library which gives readers of different proficiency levels unlimited access to more than 650 fiction and nonfiction ebooks.

The benefits of the Scholastic Literacy Pro Library are as follows:

• There are 150 new titles every three months and LitPro quizzes for all titles.
• Readers will surely have a great time browsing ebooks of different genres with complementing photos and illustrations.
• A word-by-word read aloud feature help younger readers master pronunciation while promoting listening comprehension.
• A glossary feature instantly links readers to the definition of difficult words.
• Audio recorder which lets students practice fluency and a note pad which promotes writing skills. Students may also receive instant feedback from their teachers through the audio recorder.
• The Scholastic Literacy Pro Library also has a search and assign feature that helps teachers find the right books for each and every student.

This one-of-a-kind library may be accessed by students at home, in school, or anywhere with Internet access.

The following schools are among the first educational institutions that implemented this groundbreaking programs from Scholastic: MGC New Life Academy in Bonifacio Global City, De La Salle – Zobel in Alabang, Muntinlupa City and Makati Hope Christian School in Makati City.

More schools are scheduled to join their ranks as early reports have produced positive results among young readers in the aforementioned schools.

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For more info on Scholastic products and programs, email educteam@scholastic.com.ph, you may also contact (02) 944READ (7323) or visit http://scholastic.asia/en today.