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Posts by AU IT Support Palmer:

being allergy aware is nothing to sneeze at

Being Allergy Aware is nothing to Sneeze At

Have you ever been around someone who is constantly sneezing, coughing, and seemingly reactive to their environment? Or maybe it’s you, reacting to food, artificial additives, or the grass in the park or the flowers that are blooming. Chances are, it’s allergies. Allergies happen when our body’s immune system has a negative reaction to a foreign substance, usually something that doesn’t cause allergies in the majority of the population. Allergic reactions can manifest in the form of eczema, asthma, hay fever and hives on the body. An allergy can be mild, causing slight irritation or side effects, or can be more severe, requiring life-saving medical intervention.

In the Philippines, National Allergy Day will be celebrated on July 11, with the aim of raising awareness about the allergies that can affect the lives of adults and children. The day will incorporate a huge Facebook Live Event that everyone can freely access. There will be a number of key speakers, including allergists and doctors who specialise in treating allergies. You can register for the free event, and come away with a wealth of knowledge about allergies, their causes, and treatments. This live event also provides the opportunity to have your allergy-related questions answered by the experts, all from the comfort of your home!

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So you might be asking yourself, what are the things that I might be allergic or intolerant to? The most common allergies that affect Filipinos are mould, dusts mites, pollen, fish and pet related allergies, but surprisingly, studies have shown that up to 50% of all Filipinos are suffer from lactose intolerance, meaning that they are allergic to, or have a negative reaction to lactose, the sugar that is found in all dairy products. Lactose intolerance has a high rate of transference between parents and children. If one parent is lactose intolerant then the child has a 60% chance of also being lactose intolerant, but if both parents are lactose intolerant then their children have a 100% chance of having the same intolerance.

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For people who are curious about any discomfort they experience that might be related to their consumption of dairy products, the Lactose Intolerance DNA Test from EasyDNA Philippines can provide an insight and peace of mind as to what is causing their symptoms. The test will establish whether you carry a certain gene mutation which makes you unable to produce the enzyme which helps to digest lactose. The test analyses the LCT gene, which encodes the instructions our body needs to make Lactase. Lactase helps to speed up the process of converting lactose into simpler sugars. If this gene is mutated, then not enough lactase is produced to break down lactose, causing gut pain, discomfort, bloating and indigestion.

Your results will arrive in a timely manner, and will provide:

  • Whether you carry a genotype that places you at a high or low risk of being lactose intolerant
  • A list of symptoms that you may have, and ones to be aware of
  • A comprehensive description of lactose intolerance and how it affects people globally
  • Advice on diet, changes you might need to make to your lifestyle, and details about counselling services and professional advice.

There is no need to live in fear of developing an allergy, or suffer the mental health side effects that allergies can cause. Become educated about allergies this July, and remember, allergies are serious and are nothing to sneeze at!

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Your Prostate Health: A Delicate but Important Issue

Did you know that in the Philippines, cancer kills a staggering 300,000 people each year? Cancer doesn’t discriminate, and can affect anyone at any time, but unfortunately, many cancers are caused by negative lifestyle choices such as an unhealthy diet, smoking, lack of exercise, and the over use of alcohol. Some cancers, however, are linked to family history and have a genetic tie, meaning that if a member of your family has had a particular type of cancer, then your predisposition to developing that cancer is higher.

Cancer is the 3rd biggest killer of Filipinos, making it a health priority for the health system, communities, individuals and families. One of the most lethal cancers that only affects men is prostate cancer. It is one of the top 6 types of cancer found in men in the Philippines. June marks Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, a time to shine a light on this particular type of cancer, and to raise awareness of the symptoms and treatments available.

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There are a number of symptoms that could indicate prostate cancer in men, including:

  • Difficulty urinating
  • A noticeable increase in urination
  • Pain or a burning sensation when passing urine
  • Blood in the urine of semen
  • Pain in the back, hips or pelvis area

So is there a link between your genetics and prostate cancer? Interestingly, there seems to be familial link between prostate cancers sufferers, which indicates that it may be inherited. It is important to note that most cases of prostate cancer manifest without any family history, but those with a family history of the disease have an increased risk of developing it. This indicates that there is an inherited gene mutation which causes the cancer in the male members of some families.

Although a detection test isn’t available, men can discover if they have a predisposition to developing prostate cancer.

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Easy DNA Philippines offers the Genetic Predisposition Health Test. This test analyses your unique DNA, and provides vital information about your susceptibility to developing prostate cancer. Additionally, the test provides results that will reveal your genetic predisposition to developing 33 other diseases and conditions, enabling you to take control of your health future, and make any changes that will improve your health and potentially extend your life. Your results will comprise of a personalised report, which ranks prostate cancer (and all other diseases and conditions on the list) according to your lifetime risk of developing that disease. You will either be ‘high’, ‘medium’ or ‘low’ risk, so it is easy to remain cognisant of your assessed risk.

The test is a painless and easy to use home DNA kit, which you can do form the comfort of your own lounge room. After ordering, you will receive everything you need to take the test yourself, including oral swabs, sterile envelopes and full instructions, as well as return details. You will receive your personalised report in a timely manner, providing peace of mind.

In addition to the Genetic Predisposition Health Test, men can take control of their health on many levels, to try and minimise the risk of developing prostate cancer.

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Cutting down on red meat and dairy products, increasing your intake of fresh vegetables and fish, quitting smoking and increasing your daily exercise will all contribute to a healthier disposition all round, in addition to reducing your potential of developing prostate cancer.

It’s time for men to take control of their health, and become aware of the simple things they can do everyday to help prevent deadly diseases.

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Safe Motherhood Week – Let’s Protect Our Favourite Females

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Ermat. Mother. Mum. One thing that everyone in the world has in common is that they have a mother. They give birth, care for, and love us for our whole lives. There are almost 4 billion women in the world right now as you read this, making up approximately half of the global population. 
43 million of these women are mothers.

In the Philippines, there are around 55 million women, but sadly, a high proportion of these women have limited access to basic health care and medical facilities.

Each year, the 2nd week in May is Safe Motherhood Week, which is dedicated to raising awareness about a woman’s health and nutritional needs during pregnancy.  It is the vision of the Filipino government for Filipino women to have full access to the vital health services that can make their pregnancy and delivery safer.

The World Health Organisation reports that around 7 women die every day from pregnancy-related complications. Geographical limitations, caused by many families living in remote mountain or coastal regions which prevent them from physically accessing the maternal and post-partum health care required, and large differences in income levels, mean that the Philippines sadly has a higher Maternal Mortality Rate than many neighbouring countries. With limited access to health care, more than two-thirds of deaths occur during the post-partum period.

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So what exactly is safe motherhood? It is said that there are four key pillars to safe motherhood:

  1. Access to effective family planning – ensuring that couples and individuals have the information needed to plan and space out their pregnancies
  2. Antenatal care – ensuring that pregnancy related complications are detected and resolved as soon as possible
  3. A clean and safe delivery – with trained birth assistants and access to clean facilities and equipment
  4. Essential obstetric care – available to all who need it.

Pregnancy is often a worrisome and uncertain time for many expectant mothers. First time mothers often do not know what to expect from labour, delivery, and the post-partum period, and non-first time mothers may have had a traumatic experience with previous pregnancies, deliveries, and post-partum.

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EasyDNA Philippines is dedicated to providing expectant mothers with peace of mind surrounding their impending arrival, and has a suite of DNA tests that can give an insight as to the chance of their newborn developing a condition or disease.

One of our most popular tests is the Prenatal Peace test. The Prenatal Peace genetic screening test is non-invasive, requiring no amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling. A standard blood draw is all that is required to undertake the DNA test, which screens for 18 genetic conditions. It should be mentioned that this does not replace a diagnostic test, but if you are in any way concerned that your unborn baby might have a genetic condition, then a screening test can provide much needed peace of mind.

Another popular test is the Newborn Genetic Test with NOVA. Nova is a newborn screening test that determines a baby’s risk for 50 inherited disorders, as well as providing personalised genetic information on the metabolism of 20 drugs. This test offers the most comprehensive and accurate newborn screening test, with over 99.99% accuracy.

EasyDNA Philippines is committed to providing the best pre and postnatal care to Filipino mothers, and coupled with the Safe Motherhood Week initiative, women can take comfort in the fact that there are many avenues out there that will help to ensure a safe, healthy and successful pregnancy, birth and postpartum journey.

Gear up for the best version of you – World Health Day 2021

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Every year since its inception in 1948, World Health Day is celebrated and recognised on 7 April. In 2021, the aim is to come together to build a fairer, healthier world. This can be on a wide-scale level, or on a closer level, with more personal goals to improve our own health and wellbeing.

We all know that around the world, and closer to home, there are people for whom living a healthy, prosperous, and safe life is a rarity, if not an impossibility, entirely as a result of the conditions in which they are born into. In the Philippines, more than 17 million people live in poverty, unable to meet their basic life needs. Poverty includes a lack of access to clean water, fresh air, and adequate medical and health services. Many of the things that lead to a person becoming marginalised and poverty-stricken are 100% preventable.

So, where do we start? How do we become our own health hero, especially after 2020 brought us so many change and challenges?

EasyDNA Philippines has a comprehensive suite of health and wellbeing tests that can help you to see where you are health-wise, and guide you in the right direction to create a healthier and happier version of yourself.

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These include tests that will advise you on the best sports, activities and eating for your unique DNA, a test that tells you how susceptible you are to a variety of diseases and conditions, a test to see if you are lactose intolerant, and even a children’s behavioural tendencies test.

NUTRIFIT

Want to improve your health, but don’t know where to start? The Nutrifit test analyses your unique DNA, assessing over 110 genetic variations that affect personal metabolism and physical characteristics. By analysing your genes, we can equip you with a set of unique guidelines that can help you on your path to optimal health and fitness. We can also recommend the types of physical activities that suit you best or what to approach with caution. With many of us staying within the confines of our homes at the moment, it is good to know the best way to keep ourselves active and fit. Your results will include guidelines that are tailored just to your DNA.

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LACTOSE INTOLERANCE TEST

People who are lactose intolerant cannot process the lactose (sugar) in dairy foods. They experience extreme discomfort, bloating, gas and diarrhoea. The Lactose Intolerance DNA Test will establish whether you carry certain a gene mutation which makes you unable to produce the enzyme which helps digest lactose.

GENETIC PREDISPOSITION TEST

By looking at your DNA profile, the Genetic Predisposition Test will allow you to establish whether you have a genetic predisposition toward developing any one of 34 diseases and conditions, whether you are at high risk for developing a particular disease, and your estimated lifetime risk compared to the average population. This test can reveal your predisposition of developing conditions related to ageing, cancer, cardiovascular disease and immunity.

CHILDREN’S DNA DISCOVERY

Sometimes it’s hard to believe that our children carry the same DNA as us. They are individual, quirky, amusing and entertaining. Do they get this from Mum, or Dad? The Children’s DNA Discovery test provides information on how your children’s genes influence who they are. Answer your questions about their athleticism, height (or lack of it), their eyesight, learning patterns and risk taking tendencies.

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It may seem like a small thing to do, but being the healthiest version of yourself during a time when there is a huge burden on the healthcare system can actually help a lot. A healthy you doesn’t need to go to the doctors or to the hospital, freeing up space for people who are desperately in need of medical attention. So, this World Health Day, start your health journey from the comfort of your own home, and prepare to be surprised at the healthier, happier version of yourself and your family that will result from EasyDNA’s health and wellbeing DNA tests.  

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National Women’s Week – Celebrating everything female.

What makes up half of the world’s population, and comes in a range of sizes colors, ages, and races? Why it’s women of course! In the Philippines, women also make up half of the population, which makes National Women’s Month all the more important and special. What better way to celebrate by participating in an event that highlights the many achievements, discusses continued empowerment, and commits to bettering women all across the country?

Sometimes, women are so busy working hard to makes the lives of their loved ones happy and healthy, that they sometimes forget and neglect their own wellbeing. National Women’s Month, which all throughout March each year, is a time to reflect on the women in our lives, and for women to address their own issues and concerns about their place in the world.

The last 12 months have been like nothing we’ve ever experienced, with the COVID-19 pandemic posing many challenges and opportunities for women all over the Philippines. This year, National Women’s Month has a strong focus on how women have thrived during these unknown times. Understandably, many of the events surrounding National Women’s Month are being held online this year, with a number of forums and interactive seminars to be held via the Philippine Commission on Women’s (PCW) Facebook Page.

There are a number of more targeted actions you can take to ensure you are living your best life. Often, our unique genetic makeup is responsible for a lot of the way we feel, how we respond to stressful situations like the pandemic, and how we live our lives. A simple and painless DNA test could hold the answer to our health and wellbeing questions, and provide us with valuable knowledge about how to be happy, healthy, resilient, and strong women.

For women who want to optimize and improve their health, the Nutrifit range of tests is a must. EasyDNA Philippines’ Nutrifit DNA test analyses your unique DNA to give you a comprehensive snapshot of a number of essential things that will help you get the best out of your body in 2021!

Your results will arrive in a timely manner and will include a personalized guide that will see you kicking health goals in 2021 and beyond.

Your guide will include:

  • Lifestyle and Dietary recommendations
  • Coloured and explanatory display of your genetic results
  • Food nutrition tables, including nearly 200 different foods along with their caloric values, cholesterol content, and contents of vitamins and minerals, allowing you to effectively plan your meals

Your results will also include information about your:

  • metabolism (alcohol, caffeine, and lactose)
  • personal needs for macro and micronutrients
  • individual response to physical activity, and what activity suits you best
  • susceptibility to high cholesterol, high blood sugar, weak bones, obesity

For those women who might have some concerns about which diseases and conditions they have a predisposition to, the Genetic Predisposition Health Test uses your DNA profile to establish whether you have a genetic predisposition toward developing any one of 34 diseases and conditions, including breast, colorectal, bladder, lung, and skin cancer. The test will also provide results about your level of risk of developing other diseases, as well as your estimated lifetime risk compared to that of the average population.

Knowing your level of a genetic predisposition toward developing any of the above conditions can help you live a longer, healthier life.

For the women who have become pregnant during the pandemic, the Prenatal Peace genetic screening test is non-invasive, requiring no amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling. A standard blood draw is all that is required to undertake the DNA test, but it should be mentioned that this does not replace a diagnostic test. This test provides peace of mind for expectant mothers.

March is the month for everyone to take the time out of their busy lives to show appreciation for the people who have loved, nurtured and cared for us the most during this pandemic: women!

Vector illustration on the theme of National Down Syndrome awareness month observed each year during October.

Celebrating in a different way: National Down Syndrome Consciousness Month

Even though we might belong to the same family and share genetic material, we are all very different. Everyone is made up of a combination of genes, some from our mother, and some from our father, and this combination makes us the unique people we are. Genes carry information that determines what characteristics are inherited from our parents, such as the colour of your hair, how tall you are, and the colour of your eyes.
Genes are the basic units of heredity. They consist of DNA, which is part of a larger structure called a chromosome. Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes. Sometimes, the things that make us different from everyone else are caused by a genetic anomaly. For reasons unknown to us, an error occurs at the cell division stage when a child is conceived. If the chromosomes do not split into equal halves, the new cells can have an extra chromosome (47 total) or have a missing chromosome (45 total), resulting in a genetic condition.

Down Syndrome is the most common of the 6000 genetic disorders found worldwide, and it is probably the most recognized. Named after Dr. John Langdon Down, the first physician to identify the condition in 1862, Down Syndrome occurs when an extra chromosome 21 is present in the DNA structure and can occur in people from all races, cultures, and social backgrounds.

February is National Down Syndrome Consciousness Month, aimed to raise awareness about the needs and abilities of people with Down Syndrome. We are all unique individuals, with differing looks, health needs, and intellectual abilities, the same can be applied to a person with Down Syndrome. In the Philippines, Down Syndrome is quite prevalent, with 1 in every 800 babies born with the condition. Many people are unaware that most young people with Down Syndrome enjoy a very typical life, with a range of support needs that can be minimal or more complex, depending on the individual.

As Down Syndrome is a genetic condition, there is a screening test available for expectant parents who are interested in discovering if their unborn child may have the condition. The test also screens for 17 other genetic conditions and provides accurate results in a timely manner.
The Prenatal Peace genetic screening test from EasyDNA Philippines is non-invasive, requiring no amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling. A standard blood draw is all that is required to undertake the DNA test, but it should be mentioned that this does not replace a diagnostic test. If you are in any way concerned that your unborn baby might have a genetic condition such as Down Syndrome, then a screening test can provide much-needed peace of mind for parents to be.

National Down Syndrome Consciousness Month focuses on busting the common myths surrounding people with this condition. Did you know that people with Down Syndrome often lead very fulfilling lives? They attend schools, have a wide range of talents, are emotional like anyone else, and participate in many regular social activities.

Of course, the COVID-19 virus has made celebrating and socializing near impossible for many Filipinos, with many areas still in lockdown. The Philippines has had more than 470,000 confirmed cases and more than 9000 deaths. During the awareness month, people are encouraged to keep in touch with their friends via electronic channels, using live video calls and various messaging apps. Friends can still be social and keep in touch, it’s just a different way of having fun. How about a live cooking competition, or doing an art activity with friends?

This February, let’s focus on the ability of the people in our community, and the gifts that they bring to everyone they meet. It’s time to celebrate individuality, and Down Syndrome is no exception.

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Make 2021 The Year To Put Your Health First!

You know how it gets, life is busy. You have work, a family, financial responsibilities, and little time to just take a step back from it all. Being an adult is exhausting, and sometimes it’s hard to see a light at the end of the tunnel. Some of us spend the majority of our time caring for the health, wellbeing and comfort of others, and unfortunately, end up neglecting our own health and wellness. Isn’t it time that you took some time out to focus on yourself, and your health needs?

Given the current health climate around the world, it’s only natural to feel increasingly worried about your susceptibility to various illnesses and conditions. From this, many Filipinos want to educate themselves about what diseases they may be genetically more predisposed to, and what measures they can take to help prevent these sometimes deadly diseases.

Are you genetically more likely to develop bowel cancer, heart disease or glaucoma? Amazingly, the answer is in your DNA, and you can discover your predisposition to these any many more conditions with a home DNA sampling kit from EasyDNA Philippines.

The Genetic Predisposition Health Test from EasyDNA Philippines uses your DNA profile to establish whether you have a genetic predisposition toward developing any one of 34 diseases and conditions, including breast, colorectal, bladder, lung, prostate and skin cancer. The test will also provide results about your level of risk of developing other diseases, as well as your estimated lifetime risk compared to that of the average population.

Some of the conditions that the Genetic Predisposition Test screens for include:

  • Immune diseases including Lupus, Coeliac Disease, Psoriasis, Multiple Sclerosis, Grave’s Disease.
  • Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases including Heart Disease, Intracranial Aneurysm, Atrial Fibrillation, Peripheral Arterial Disease, Venous Thromboembolism.
  • Age related conditions such as Alzheimer’s Disease, Osteoporosis, Macular Degeneration
  • Cancers including Bladder, Breast, Bowel, Skin and Lung.
  • General health conditions including Obesity, Type 1 and 2 Diabetes, Gallstones and Migraines.

Knowing your level of genetic predisposition toward developing any of the above conditions can help both you live a longer, healthier life. If you have a family history of a particular disease, the Genetic Predisposition DNA Health test will tell you if you have inherited the same tendencies, and enable you to take the necessary steps to prevent its onset.

After examining your genetic profile, EasyDNA Philippines creates a personalised report, ranking each condition against your estimated lifetime risk, which will be either high, medium or low.
High risk conditions are the ones where extra care should be taken by you: by requesting more frequent screening diagnostics of the disease, or by making the necessary lifestyle adjustments. These can be simple measures that you implement into your everyday lives, such as wearing sun protective clothing to avoid skin cancer, adjusting your diet to combat obesity, or giving up smoking to decrease your chances of developing lung cancer.

The changes you make may seem insignificant and small, but they might just help to save your life. The Genetic Predisposition Health Test is a wonderful investment in your health future. There’s no time like now to prioritise the most important person you know: You!

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Celebrating 10 Years of DNA Testing!

Happy birthday to EasyDNA Philippines! This December EasyDNA hits double digits, marking 10 years of service to the Filipino community and beyond. Ten years in business is a significant milestone in any industry, but in a business as competitive as genetic testing, it’s a testament to hard work, great client relations, a brand that is built on trust and scientific advances, and above all, accurate and timely results.

Owner/Operator of EasyDNA Philippines spoke recently of his pride in the company. “We started our business ten years ago with a small office in Angeles City. Now we have more than twenty collection centres throughout the Philippines. We could not have done this without the support of our clients and our staff providing quality service.”

During a year that has seen the COVID-19 virus take centre stage all over the world, many businesses have had to reassess their marketing strategies, their client service techniques, and their continued delivery of products. Sadly, many businesses have had to make the heartbreaking decision to shut down either temporarily or permanently.

During the pandemic, EasyDNA Philippines has continued to provide exemplary customer service in a safe way. EasyDNA has had a decided advantage, with much of their clientele already ordering a range of DNA tests online, without the need for face to face contact. Having performed more than 300,000 individual DNA tests on thousands of valued clients, the laboratory scientists have maintained COVID safe practices to ensure the continuation of service during these unprecedented times.

One of the most popular tests requested by clients is the Home Paternity Test. As the name suggests, a paternity test provides results as to whether or not a man is the biological father of a child. The ‘home’ part of the test is exactly that. Clients order the Home Paternity Test online, and receive everything they need to undertake the test from the comfort of their own lounge room. Could it get any easier? Amazingly, yes! Once tested, results are sent with the highest confidentiality back to you, and to anyone else you nominate.

During these already trying times, EasyDNA understands that a paternity test can be a very stressful event in one’s life, and staff are available to assist in any way they can. The staff at EasyDNA Philippines have been trained to answer questions promptly and efficiently. Our managerial team has a minimum of seven years’ experience in the field of DNA testing. Assuring our client’s peace of mind during a difficult time is a priority. With EasyDNA Philippines, you can count on accurate, confidential results that reveal the true paternity of your child. It should be noted that the results received from a Home Paternity Test have no legal validity, and are best suited to those who want peace of mind and reassurance. They cannot be used in court cases or other legal proceedings.

After ten years of service to the Philippines, it is definitely cause for celebration for EasyDNA staff and their valued customers. Here’s to another ten years of strong client relationships, a wide range of DNA testing services, and timely, accurate results. Happy Tenth Birthday, EasyDNA Philippines!

EasyDNA NOVA Blog November20

It’s National Children’s Month! Celebrate Our Most Precious Assets!

Children. They come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. They keep us awake when they’re babies and again when they’re teenagers. They amuse us and frustrate us all in the space of 5 minutes, and we never stop teaching, nurturing, and loving them.

In November the Philippines is celebrating National Children’s Month, and this year, the theme is ‘Together promoting the rights of every child during the pandemic period!’
2020 has been tough on everyone, but children especially have been affected in so many ways. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the home and school environments of so many children, making the places that they are meant to thrive in, ones of restriction and exclusion.
Children have been learning from home, isolated from friends, and closed off from the vital support networks that are available outside the house. This year the aim of National Children’s Month is to promote the protection of all children and their rights, as well as offering support to parents and caregivers on how to care for children and themselves during the pandemic.

We all want the best for our precious children when they reach school age, but did you know that there are things you can do to protect your child from the time they are a newborn? Amazingly, it can be as simple as a DNA test to check for your baby’s risk of developing 50 inherited disorders. The NOVA Newborn Genetic Test is the first step you can take as a caring, loving parent who only wants the best for their newborn. The NOVA test guarantees 99.9% accuracy and is the most comprehensive test of its kind currently on the market.

A 2014 study revealed that the top five birth defects in the Philippines were Down syndrome, defects of the large intestine, foot deformities, multiple congenital anomalies, and other malformations of the intestine. Currently, all Philippines-born babies are screened for five common conditions including congenital hypothyroidism, cystic fibrosis, amino acid disorders including phenylketonuria, organic acidemias, and fatty acid oxidation defects.

The NOVA test screens for disorders that are in a prevalence rate of occurring in 1 in every 400 births. Doing a test at the newborn stage can mean an early diagnosis, early intervention, and prompt treatment, all of which are vital in helping you provide the best life possible for your child. The test consists of a simple blood test, which is performed by a pathologist. After analysis in our state of the art laboratories, your results will be returned to you in a timely manner.

They say that knowledge is power, and being informed about your newborn’s risk of developing conditions during their childhood is the first step in ensuring they have the best start in life.
There are many online and events happening during National Children’s Month, all of which are aimed at increasing knowledge and educating parents and carers of our most treasured young people. The Council for the Welfare of Children has further details.
Let’s celebrate our children during National Children’s Month!

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Keep Abreast of Changes to Your Body – Breast Cancer Awareness Month

We all have them. They can be big or small, firm or soft, we can show them off or keep them hidden. Even men have them! Yes! We’re talking about breasts, and more specifically, breast cancer. Did you know that breast cancer is the most common cancer amongst Filipino women, with 3 in every 100 women developing breast cancer before the age of 75? Shockingly, breast cancer is also the most common cancer for women worldwide, with more than 2 million new cases recorded in 2018 alone.

Breast cancer is often thought of as a women’s disease, but did you know that men can also develop breast cancer? Unsurprisingly, this can have an equally as devastating effect on the life of the patient and his family.

So what exactly is breast cancer, and how can we detect and help to prevent it? Breast cancer occurs when the cells within the breast begin to grow abnormally, and have the potential to spread to other parts of the body, generally via the lymph nodes.
Breast cancer most often begins in the cells of the lobules, which are the glands that produce milk, or the ducts, the passages through which milk passes from the lobules to the nipple. Many cases of breast cancer present as a lump or a change to the breast tissue, and are found either by self-examination, or after consultation with a doctor. The cause of breast cancer is largely unknown, but there are some factors that increase the chance of it developing:

  • Being female – women are 100 times more likely to develop breast cancer than men
  • Old age – the biggest risk factor
  • Being overweight – particularly after menopause
  • Alcohol – more than 2 standard drinks per day increases the risk
  • The oral contraceptive, or HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) medications.

Another important risk factor to consider is your family history of breast cancer. Your risk is increased if you have a family member who has had a breast cancer diagnosis. There are a number of inherited defective genes that have been identified as increasing the risk of breast cancer. These are known as Breast Cancer Gene 1 (BRCA1) and Breast Cancer Gene 2 (BRCA2).

In the Philippines, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, aiming to highlight the importance of self-examination, early detection, and general awareness about breasts and breast cancer. EasyDNA Philippines understands the importance of this awareness month, and suggests the Genetic Predisposition Test for those who are curious about their genetic susceptibility to this terrible disease.

The Genetic Predisposition Test gives peace of mind about breast cancer and 34 other common conditions. Our scientists analyse your unique DNA, checking against the markers associated with the onset of 34 diseases and conditions. The test is easy and painless, requiring only oral swabs. Your DNA samples will be analysed, and the results returned to you in a timely manner.

So take the month of October to look after your breasts. Check for any abnormalities, seek a second opinion from a professional, and take charge of your health future. Put your breast foot forward and be proactive with a Genetic Predisposition Test to discover if you have a genetic susceptibility to breast cancer.  

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