Tags: Physical Wellness
By Anna Valmero
TAGUIG CITY, METRO MANILA— Two in ten Filipino adults aged 20 years and above are at risk of coronary artery disease (CAD), especially those with symptoms of chest pain, according to a recent survey.
This alarming problem affects about 11,000 Filipino adults, said senior science research specialist Charmaine Duante of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute.
Symptoms of angina include chest pain or discomfort and feeling of tightness or heaviness in the chest. Pain may also occur on the shoulders, arms, neck, jaw, or back, and may even feel like indigestion.
Heart attack occurs when the heart muscles are deprived of oxygen and become damaged, which can lead to serious problems and even death.
Here are some tips to lower your risk of suffering a heart attack:
Lower sugar and overall food intake. A person who eats too much and does not exercise easily gains weight and makes the heart work double time due to excess fat deposits in the body. As much as possible, eat based on your body needs and limit buffets and eat-all-you-can promos.
Exercise and move around. Any form of physical activity such as walking, stretching and even house chores could help the body burn calories. Spending 15 minutes for exercise daily can lower the risk for cancer, according to this report. If your work requires you to sit down for eight hours in front of the computer, make sure to take exercise breaks in between.
Limit alcohol and avoid smoking or second-hand smoke. Too much alcohol can cause liver problems and infertility. Adding smoking or exposure to second-hand smoke in the equation also doubles your health risk, this time mainly for respiratory diseases. Beware of highly polluted areas such as busy main roads, too.
See the doctor for annual checkups. Take advantage of the company’s required annual physical exams to see your doctor and inquire about your health. Pay particular attention to your blood cholesterol and blood sugar levels to determine your risk for heart diseases and diabetes, as well as in your urine test to determine is you are susceptible to renal failure.
De-stress and maintain a positive attitude. Stress can cause aging. Down to the microscopic level, stress can cause the telomeres—which are responsible for cell reproduction—to shrink down. Shorter telomeres means the body has less capacity to regenerate itself, said Dr. Michael Klentze, president of Klentze Institut in this report. Keep a positive attitude and instead of sweating the small stuff, divert your attention to positive things in life.
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