FIVE WAYS GIGABIT INTERNET CAN FUTURE-PROOF YOUR HOME
In the age where home devices and technologies are becoming more advanced, we’re always on the lookout for new ways to make our homes smarter than ever. The next step for an even more powerful and efficient smart home setup is naturally internet that’s faster, more reliable, and can handle all the devices that work for you. That’s possible through Gigabit Fiber — it’s the talk of the town, and word gets around fast that this Gigabit internet has come to the Philippines, thanks to PLDT Home.
Gigabit internet means connections with a speed of at least 1,000 Mbps or 1 Gbps. This ultra-fast internet speed allows for uninterrupted streaming and browsing, quick downloading and uploading, and is significantly 10 times faster than the average broadband connection.
It also allows for a seamless and responsive smart home. Commands sent from your smartphone to devices connected in your home — such as lights, security cameras, and thermostats — are executed almost instantaneously.
Here are five ways gigabit internet enables us to have a more secure, convenient, and smarter home lifestyle.
Seamless integration of IoT devices. Gigabit internet makes sure there’s no lag or interruption in how the whole smart-home ecosystem (also known as the Internet of Things) works. Whether it’s smart locks, smart appliances, or wearable devices, they’re all integrated into the home ecosystem ensuring that they can communicate effectively with each other and with the homeowner, creating a cohesive, smart-home experience.
Improved home security. Homeowners can access and control their smart-home devices from anywhere when they’re online. They can monitor their surveillance systems via high-definition video streaming in real time regardless of their location. Because of ultrafast home internet, they can respond quickly to security threats, whether it’s at the front door or surrounding areas, download high-definition images and send commands through their devices at an instant speed.
Future-proofing smart home investments. As smart-home devices become more complex, gigabit internet provides solutions for newer devices. Homeowners can confidently invest in new devices and technologies for the foreseeable future and beyond, knowing that their internet infrastructure can support their future-ready, smart-home ecosystem.
Smooth streaming and gaming for the whole family. Streaming high-definition movies and TV shows has never been better, especially now that platforms like Netflix, HBO Go, Lionsgate Play, NBA League Pass, and more are all providing must-watch content for everyone in the family. With gigabit internet, streaming is buffer-free and smooth. Online gaming, on the other hand, is greatly improved with faster gameplay and downloads of game updates, ensuring more chances of having fun and winning.
Sufficient bandwidth for multiple devices at home. You can all use your devices simultaneously even when each requires a large bandwidth. Listen to Spotify on your smart speakers, do video calls at the same time, review your security cameras, download or upload files. You won’t even notice because every activity is running smoothly.
Now that you know how Gigabit internet fully powers an all-around smart home ecosystem, it’s time to prepare for the next generation of fiber. Make your smart home the best and fastest it can be when PLDT Home’s Gigabit Fiber internet expands to more homes in the Philippines this year.
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Just because you’re skinny doesn’t mean you’re healthy. While there are higher risks for heavier people, thinner individuals are not immune to health issues, particularly heart diseases, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. “Remember, your physique doesn’t dictate what your health ‘numbers’ — blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels — are,” reminds Dr. Louella Santos, president of the Philippine Lipid and Atherosclerosis Society (PLAS).
While some of us are familiar with cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, very few know what dyslipidemia is.
“Having dyslipidemia means that there’s something wrong with your cholesterol levels,” Dr. Santos explains. “And when we talk about cholesterol, it’s a summation of different components.”
Total cholesterol is a breakdown of three components in your fasting lipid profile: triglycerides, good cholesterol (HDL or highdensity lipoprotein), and bad cholesterol (LDL or low-density lipoprotein).
“A lot of people get confused with triglycerides,” observes Dr. Santos. “Triglycerides are the fat that you get out of whites — white rice, bread, pasta and potatoes.”
Good cholesterol (HDL) helps eliminate bad cholesterol in the body. We get it from fish, nuts, and regular exercise. Bad cholesterol (LDL), which one gets mostly from red meat and processed food, is bad for the body.
“If your triglyceride level is high, that’s what we call dyslipidemia,” explains Dr. Santos.
Simply put, dyslipidemia refers to abnormal, unhealthy levels of cholesterol in the body. When too much bad cholesterol circulates in the blood, it causes build-ups of fatty plaques along the walls of your arteries, which can clog and disrupt the normal blood flow to the heart.
CHOLESTEROL CONTROL AND HEART HEALTH
If dyslipidemia is left unchecked, this could lead to debilitating and fatal conditions like heart attack, stroke, and other severe complications.
“Cardiologists are fixated on cholesterol control because we believe that doing so could prevent cardiovascular diseases,” explains Dr. Santos during the “Heart 2 Heart Talk on Optimal Cholesterol Control” held recently at the Mactan Ballroom of Edsa Shangri-La Manila.
Organized by healthcare company, Organon Philippines, the talk is aimed at raising awareness about effectively managing dyslipidemia and how Filipinos can protect their heart from the long-term impacts of high-cholesterol levels.
Dr. Santos was joined by Dr. Myla Gloria Supe, cardiologist; Dr. Pipin Kojodjojo, cardiologist from Singapore; Desmond Ho, associate director for marketing, Organon Southeast Asia; and Emmanuel Tiglao, country director, Organon Phils.
Recent statistics from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) have shown that heart disease accounts for 124,182 cases or more than 18 percent of all deaths across the country, claiming more lives than any other illness.
Alarmingly, the data reveals that millions of Filipinos as early as 20 years old are unknowingly suffering from high cholesterol levels, which put them at even higher risk for developing a heart disease.
According to the 8th National Nutrition Survey, one out of every two Filipinos have borderline high cholesterol levels, making dyslipidemia a hidden public threat in young adults and people who are at the height of their career.
What’s interesting to note is that Filipinos in general have low HDL (good cholesterol) and high triglycerides.
“We’re not sure if it’s genetic or having low HDL is something Filipinos have inherently,” notes Dr. Santos. “Add to that, our main staple is white rice. And so, if we don’t modify our diet, we’re building a nation of patients with insulin resistance, diabetes, and heart diseases.”
WHO ARE VULNERABLE?
Chronic stress, poor lifestyle habits like smoking and drinking, and inactivity increase cholesterol levels even in people in their 20s and 30s. And since dyslipidemia shows no clear symptoms at first, many young adults remain unaware of the silent damage accumulating in their arteries over time.
“Patients with dyslipidemia don’t feel anything. There are no symptoms, unlike high blood pressure. And a lot of Filipinos don’t even bother checking their lipid profile. They don’t know what numbers they should go after,” Dr. Santos adds.
And so, regardless of age, physique or family history, getting a complete cholesterol test is critical to optimizing health and catching high cholesterol early.
So when's the best time to have your cholesterol checked?
“In patients with no risk factor, meaning, no family history of stroke or heart attack, and diabetes, the recommended age for screening is 45 years old. That means at 45, you should get a yearly lipid profile regardless of symptoms,” explains Dr. Santos. “Those with known risk factors should talk to their doctors and see if there’s an indication to get an early lip- id profile screening.”
FINDING THE SHOE THAT FITS
As a preventive cardiologist, Dr. Santos says that diet and lifestyle modifications are cornerstones in treating dyslipidemia. “But sometimes when diet and lifestyle modifications are not enough to manage their LDL, we do have to resort to medical therapy. For patients who already had an episode — a heart attack or stroke — we need to aggressively lower their LDL levels with meds to push their numbers down. There are new molecules that are being developed now where they combine medications in a single pill for ease of compliance,” explains Dr. Santos. Cholesterol-lowering drugs include statins, cholesterol absorption inhibitors, and PCSK9 inhibitors, among others. “When we talk about LDL, your goal is dependent on your risk. Every person will have a different goal. Understand that in treating LDL, it’s finding the shoe that fits. That’s why it’s important to have your lipid profile interpreted by your doctor,” adds Dr. Santos. Also, staying faithful to your medication routine and taking cholesterol control to heart could save you and help you live a more fulfilling life free from complications.