Kidney problem is no.1 ailment in Region 1
BEWARE BAGOONG-EATERS
KIDNEY problem was found to be the number one ailment among residents in Region 1, based on records of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).
Lilian Oliver, medical specialist of PhilHealth Regional office 1, said records of hospital confinement show that majority of the patients covered by PhilHealth underwent dialysis, a medical procedure for those suffering from renal complications.
Oliver added that Region I in fact registered the highest number of kidney problems in the country.
Olivar hinted that this could be associated with the diet of the Ilocanos and Pangasinenses, particularly the predominance of salty food and eating with bagoong (fish paste).
In Dagupan City, Lingayen and Binmaley, some households produce bagoong in big quantitiess for household use or for commercial trade.
“This is only my theory. Although I am a doctor by profession, I am not from the Department of Health whose doctors are in the best position to make the confirmation,” Olivar said during the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkasters ng Pilipinas forum last week.
The other most common ailments found by PhilHealth to be prevalent in the Ilocos region include hypertension, upper respiratory disease, and gastro enteritis.–LM
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