Friday, March 13, 2009
OFW healthwise
OFW's work, toil and labor, we remit our earnings to our family, we live, we breath. Like the rest of world, we ail, we feel, we hurt. The fact is: the saddest moment in an OFW's life abroad is when they get sick and no one is there to take care of them. Getting sick makes you feel more alone, depressed and wanting to go home.
My Pinoy friends in Saudi are no longer young and most of us, in late 30's and early 40's already frequent Saudi clinics as often as we go to laundry shops for our beddings (meaning, twice a month).
Here are our common ailments:
- Heart problem
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- High cholesterol
- Ashtma
- Rheumatism
A longitudinal study on aging said that “aging is distinct from disease, and the effects of disease and aging are also distinct and specific.” The study claims that:
- our personalities change very little after age 30;
- people who are social, generous, goal oriented and emotionally stable (meaning aged) report higher levels of happiness and lower levels of depression throughout their lives;
- older people are as flexible as younger people (for they) can make lifestyle, dietary and household changes when necessary;
- although older adults usually face more health related challenges, they seem to be less stressed out
I realized that as we grow old (especially the OFWs), we tend to take care of ourselves more. We are more watchful of what we eat. We seriously, diligently take our vitamins and maintenance medicines. We are more conscious of our health.
That, I believe, is a perk we get in working abroad. What say you?
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hindi po ako makarelate...
dahil sa bagong kawala pa alng ako sa Pinas, barely a year..
the more im alone... the more i sulk in de[pression, the more i eat na rin without thinking na rin if its not good for my ehalth or what...
"bata" pa nga kase..hehehe
health is wealth im ur partner in health lol visit ka sa botika ko lol
Hi Nebz, I like your line....very Saudi...LoL.
So what say me? Mumkin...Yanih...
In the bustle of taking care of everything - our work and our remittances back home, we sometimes forget to take care of ourselves. As you clearly pointed out, taking care of one's health especially for an OFW is a must. It's no longer an option. It should be our way of life. That's the only way we can live longer and live better!
By the way, of the 6 common ailments you listed, I'm in 1 and the other 2 are nearing the borderline. I need to be a health buff to be out of risk...I eat a lot of fruits, drink skimmed milk or if not available go for low fat milk, leafy veggies and salads, fish diet, etc... Tell me what to do with the shrimps, Jewel and Galaxy? Waaah!
haha! When you're being bombarded with the foods like Broasted, Kafsa,& Laham, definitely you'll grow your belly, and raise your cholly.
Thanks for the reminder.
I miss your post so im catching reading the previous entries.
Tama ka we tend to learn how to take care of ourselves pag nasa abroad tayo.
Hindi ko pa rin pagpapalit yung care sa Pinas pag nagkasakit ka.
Thanks for droping by pare.
"Global Pinoy's work... we REMIT OUR EARNINGS to our family..."
Sige ingatan nalang po ang SARILING kalusugan, naniniwala pa rin akong HEALTH iS WEALTH. o",)
pag OFW ka.. no one will take care of u as much as ur family do... kaya kailangang-kailangan na ok ang health natin most of the time. Cautious tayo dahil we dont wanna go back to Phils due to illness at kasabay nun na guguho ang kinabukasan ng mga umaasa saten.
sana lang maintindihan ng family natin sa Pinas na pag vacation time na... pwede ng uminom ng beer, at kumain ng litson dahil susmiyo... minsan lang naman un! hehehehe! (of course im referring to OFW from the Gulf areas!)
Purihin ka kaibigang Nebz for reminding us the importance of being healthy, being an OFW our assets are our education, professional skills at ang ating health, laging magkasama yan.
I'm in my late 40s & blessed with a healthy body but I am more conscious nowadays and seriously focusing to a healthier life style. Who wants to get sick, sabi nga nila, walang karapatang magkasakit ang mahirap.
Salamat po sa dalaw!
Yanah: Bata ka pa nga pero it's good to have a good start. Baligtad naman tayo. If I'm homesick, I don't eat.
Mightydacz: Sige ba. I'm sure may pwesto ka sa Quiapo. Hehe.
NJ: Shrimps can be used for vege salad. Jewel and Galaxy? Ipasalubong sa mga bata. Mag fruits ka na lang instead of chocolates. Buti na lang I never craved for chocolates or anything sweet. Ilokano kasi kaya mahilig sa gulay.
Mr Thoughtskoto: Sabagay, totoo ka nga. Siguro weekly din ung broasted ko, kabsa once a month, laham siguro mga once every three months.
Ron: Ay di oo naman. Kapag may sakit ako sa Pinas, nandyan na ang orange juice at sopas ng nanay ko. dito sa saudi if I'm ill, I cook my own soup kahit nanginginig na ako sa lagnat. Nakakaawa naman tayo pag nagkakasakit malayo sa ating tahanan.
RJ: Panindigan ba talaga ang term na global pinoy? Especially sa ating nagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa, health is really our wealth.
Azel: True. I've seen a lot of Pinoys na umuwi because they were ill na. Dahil nung bata pa sila, they didn't take care of themselves. Sa awa naman ng Diyos, I never drink, I don't eat fatty foods tsaka my whole family is into veges kaya okay lang kahit bakasyon. Siguro din dahil ang mga tauhan sa bahay namin e masyadong bata (kaya kailangan masustansya ang pagkain) at masyadong matatanda (kaya kailangan walang kolesterol ang luto).
The Pope: Dahil sa panahon ngayon, mahal ang magkasakit. Kahit pa OFW tayo. The saddest part that could happen to us is ung lahat ng inipon natin, napunta lang sa pagpapagamot. Nakakapanghinayang d b? Kaya dapat we should be extra conscious ngayon pa lang. (I have a friend in his 50's na kaya lang bumalik sa Saudi ay dahil sa health insurance nya. Bah, malaki yata ang natitipid nya ngayon. Sa Pinas siguro, aabutin ng PHP15k per month ang gastos nya. E d2, covered sya ng insurance kaya free ang medications, tests and consultation. Sensible decision db?).
hala! kaya pla hindi ako nakakapasyal dito ay hindi kita nailagay sa blogroll ko, pasensya na po...pero oks na nailagay na po kita.... :)
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pero sana hindi lang mga OFW ang maging maiingat sa kalusugan no?... kahit ang mga pinoy dito sa pinas dapat maging maiingat din...hindi lang dapat ang mga nasa edad 30s, 40s ang mag-iingat...dapat mas bata mas dapat ng mag-ingat...
ahehehe...sinasabihan ko pala ang sarili ko... pero minsan kasi nahihirapan talaga ako umiwas sa mga food...yun kasi ang nakasanayan ko noon...kaso nga hindi naman na ako masyado active physically... hayysss... minsan talaga mahirap idisiplina ang sarili....
Siguro pati mental health ay naaapektuhan minsan..lalo na yung may mga pamilyang OFW. May kakilala ako na sobrang na-depressed at na-homesick daw sa Saudi kaya walang ginagawa kundi makipag-usap sa cellphone--pero wala naman palang connection yung phone--parang imaginary lang ang kausap.
I think kahit hindi OFW talaga yatang yan ang mga pangunahing sakit ng mga Pinoy. At pag tumatanda na ay bumabagal pa ang metabolism natin. Tapos yun high blood pressure kung ayaw at sa gusto natin kung nasa lahi natin ay makukuha at makukuha talaga natin, lahi pa naman namin ang sakit na ito, traydor na sakit na pumapatay sa karamihan. Minsan napapaisip nga ako eh,kahit gaano nga ang pag-iingat mo kung yang traydor na sakit na ang dumapo sa atin parang mababalewala lahat ng paghihirap natin, parang nakadikit na sa katawan natin at hinihintay na lang natin na umatake. Hay buhay talaga....parang life hehehe
"for ofws abroad! this are the must buys in Philippine
provinces! check this out--www.takeithome.ph"