Thanks...and for the rep Jake.
Whilst living in Philippines never had any problems with tap water for boiling to make tea or cleaning teeth, always drank bottled water even the big bottles that were delivered never had any problem with that either!
That's the words of my doctor here, that I should not drink tap water at all,
I asked, "what if it's boiled?" His words: "No matter how many times you boil the water it will still not be safe for you to drink". I didn't ask anymore on that.
Yes, boiling does kill bacteria, but it doesn't boil away the high mineral content, which can, I believe, give you stones, and it certainly wouldn't boil away pollutants. So this is what I will assume the doctor was referring to.
The brother-in-law was diagnosed with kidney stones just a few weeks ago, he was told not to drink the tap water any more.
In any case, even boiled and if it had low mineral content, I still wouldn't drink it, when I've seen all the polutants that the people dump in the rivers. Washing clothes and bathing, does put me off just the same
My 1st 3 months in Manila I did feel unwell at times, due to the heat, and adjustment to food.
With the heat, the dehydration, I had to combat, I took water with me everywhere. I also found a drink called Gaterade, it is very good for coping with dehydration, and is a pleasant drink, in different flavours you can get in most supermarkets. I recommend it, worth you trying
This thread was first posted while I myself was in the Philippines, and in the meantime, helpful advice has been given by several members .
Have a look at post 8 in this thread :-
http://filipinaroses.com/showthread....550#post492550
There’s some evidence that allergies are more common nowadays because of more limited childhood exposure to " bugs ". Active immunity can be acquired by natural disease and by vaccination. The two mechanisms complement each other – it’s not possible or desirable to become immune " naturally " to every disease, as some ( like rabies and hepatitis B ) are too serious. Immunity is explained in this thread :-
http://filipinaroses.com/showthread....-your-immunity
I know of no good evidence that kidney stones are caused by local water issues, either " hard " or " soft " water. Most stones contain calcium, and are commoner in men than women. The main cause is INSUFFICIENT water – when the urine is concentrated, so they more commonly form in dehydration, warm climates, or at high altitude. The precise mechanism why they form is actually not known – except in a small number of cases where there is an underlying medical condition, as a side-effect of medicines, and there may be a family history. There is more information here :-
http://www.patient.co.uk/health/kidney-stones
Was "ill" for a short time on my last trip over although it was very mild flu. Not sure what the cause was - perhaps it was the AC again. This made me ill on a trip to the Phils in 2011 - and I'm hardly ever poorly.
My thoughts are the humidity here is the cause of a lot of chest complaints. Perhaps Doc will put me right on that.
Humidity is a measure of water vapour in the air. Relative humidity ( RH ) shows how close the air is to being saturated ( % water vapour, compared to how much there COULD be at that temperature ). Warm air can hold more water vapour than cold air. High RH is uncomfortable - near saturated air affects our body’s cooling mechanism of sweating and can’t evaporate the sweat from our skin. In prolonged heat and high RH, without precautions such as drinking enough water, heat exhaustion may occur and progress to heatstroke ( far more serious ).
Some warm areas, like the Sahara desert, have LOW RH - little available water to evaporate.
In cool temperatures, if RH is high that especially makes us cold, and shiver - the cold temperature of the air is conducted to the skin. RH in the UK may be high or low.
RH is LOW in aircraft cabins, which may cause dryness of the mucous membranes and skin. If passengers are otherwise fit and well, internal dehydration is not a problem, but alcohol and caffeine may dehydrate unless sufficient water ( or similar fluids ) are taken.
Although quality of aircraft cabin air is controlled, infection may be transmitted between passengers - usually by coughing, sneezing, or touching. Obviously unwell passengers, especially with fever, should delay travel until they have recovered.
In-flight medical emergencies are uncommon ( 1:600 flights in a recent study ) - most are related to fainting, respiratory symptoms, or nausea/vomiting. People with active chest infections, including TB, should be treated before flying - others, such as asthmatics and chronic bronchitics, should also be seen beforehand by their doctor.
Extremely hot OR cold temperatures may affect health - worsened by high RH. Heat stroke or hypothermia are NOT the only risks, which include existing cardiovascular, respiratory and other illnesses; some medications; and age ( elderly or very young ).
Heatwaves - periods of abnormally hot and usually humid weather, are among the most dangerous natural hazards. They appear to be increasingly frequent. Air conditioners - at home, work, or in vehicles - have advantages ( cooling and filtering out atmospheric pollutants ), but also disadvantages -low RH with mucous membrane irritation and breathing difficulties; perhaps also colds and chest infections including, uncommonly, Legionnaires’ disease/pneumonia.
A very informative post once again Alan, thank you
We are still in the extreme heat of this El Nino thing.. We have A/C here in this native house of ours but rarely turn it on as there is no need..Heatwaves - periods of abnormally hot and usually humid weather, are among the most dangerous natural hazards. They appear to be increasingly frequent. Air conditioners - at home, work, or in vehicles - have advantages ( cooling and filtering out atmospheric pollutants ), but also disadvantages -low RH with mucous membrane irritation and breathing difficulties; perhaps also colds and chest infections including, uncommonly, Legionnaires’ disease/pneumonia.
The way Filipino`s build houses here is crazy IMO.. Its similar to how I would design a solar oven.. Most of them are sick...Sick of high bills.
We are still in the extreme heat of this El Nino thing.. We have A/C here in this native house of ours but rarely turn it on as there is no need..Heatwaves - periods of abnormally hot and usually humid weather, are among the most dangerous natural hazards. They appear to be increasingly frequent. Air conditioners - at home, work, or in vehicles - have advantages ( cooling and filtering out atmospheric pollutants ), but also disadvantages -low RH with mucous membrane irritation and breathing difficulties; perhaps also colds and chest infections including, uncommonly, Legionnaires’ disease/pneumonia.
The way Filipino`s build houses here is crazy IMO.. Its similar to how I would design a solar oven.. Most of them are sick...Sick of high bills.
It rained lightly yesterday for 5 mins..The soil sucked it up and then it evaporated!!!
Thanks for Rep.
I'm totally ignorant when it comes to things like this, but am very curious as we'll be extending our house in the near future.
One thing I intend to do is replace the existing wooden trusses with metal ones to eliminate the potential problem with termites, but can you explain to me the advantage of insulation. In my mind, hot air rises and therefore any insulation will prevent heat loss, which is great here but surely the opposite of what we want in the Philippines
June is the start of the rainy season but you guys in the Central Visayas probably don't see much of a difference do you because the deluges are confined to the northern half of the Philippines? Isn't Terpe in Manila now? If the drought continues perhaps he can send down some water.
Mindanao is in serious problems with drought conditions.
Can't remember we had a decent downpour.
Here in QC we also haven't seen any rain since we arrived here May 6
Temperatures are significantly lower than we experienced in Davao.
The El Nino effect is predicated to end soon and be followed by La Nina.
Oh dear !!
Just about to shoot off to the airport to catch a plane to Manila ... but,
Insulation works both ways. It stops thermal transfer... whether heat (beating down on the roof, as in the tropics, or trying to exit via the roof, as in winter here in the UK) or cold... as in a fridge, or an airconditioned space.
Good ventilation is also important in hot countries, to create a cool breeze blowing through, where there is no air-conditioning. It also pushes the heat OUT.
Well insulation is fine but my house doesn't have any because my roof is nipa..
Best advise I can give is install a ridge vent for the whole length of roof and large open eves..My eves are two meters wide at points so that the sun can never touch the walls.
If your "wooden trusses" are still in good shape,why not just give them a couple of coats of Solignum or Woodsaver?
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)