Payo ng cardiologist

PROTECT YOUR HEARTDid you know that the fastest way to die is from a heart attack? When the heart stops beating, the brain and all internal organs die.
The usual cause of the blockage inside the heart's small arteries (coronary arteries) is a waxy, fatty substance called plaque. Fatty foods, smoking, diabetes and stress can lead to a buildup of these plaques over several years.
This common heart condition is medically called coronary heart disease, coronary artery disease or simply heart disease. They all mean the same thing.
If left untreated, this condition can lead to a heart attack (called a myocardial infarction). In a heart attack, the heart's artery or arteries are completely blocked by the plaque, and usually a blood clot.
PREVENTION TIPS:
1. Control and reduce your risk factors for having heart disease. Treat and control high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. Take your maintenance medicines religiously.
2. Quit smoking and avoid exposure to second-hand smoke.
3. Lose weight if you are overweight. Know your ideal body weight and try to get close to it.
4. Eat red foods (such as fruits) and green foods (such as vegetables) for your heart. Limit eating pork and beef. Reduce sugar and sweets in the diet.
5. Limit your alcohol intake. One drink a day may be okay, but two or more drinks a day can harm your heart, liver and brain. If you're not a drinker, don't start.
6. Get a regular check up from your doctor and ask what exercise is best for your age and condition.
Remember that heart disease does not happen in a day, a week or a year's time. It occurs because of several years of unhealthy lifestyle. Take the necessary steps to reverse it now!
Heart Disease Risk Factors
Code Word: SEX-HDL coined by Dr. Ramon Abarquez
1. Smoking avoid
2. Eat healthy
3. eXercise
4. treat High blood pressure
5. treat Diabetes
6. treat Lipids or high cholesterol

BEST WAYS TO PROTECT YOUR KIDNEYS
By Dr. Willie T. Ong (Internist and Cardiologist)
Most people know how to protect the heart, but do you know how to care for your kidneys? The kidneys' job is to help remove various toxins (drugs and food wastes), and expel them through the urine.
As we grow older, our kidneys will also start to age. A problem with kidney disease is that majority of patients have no warning symptoms.
Some time ago, we interviewed Dr. Elizabeth Montemayor, a nephrologist at the Philippine General Hospital. Here are 10 ways to protect your kidneys:
1. Limit your salt intake -- Too much salt is not only bad for your blood pressure, it's also bad for your kidneys. Many die of kidney disease, which can be partly attributed to a high salt intake and fondness for fish sauce, soy sauce, plain salt and salted fish. Even instant noodles, chips and nuts are teeming with salt. The problem with salt is that it encourages the body to retain water, and can increase your blood pressure (which damages the kidneys).
2. Don't load up on high protein foods such as meat and steaks --A high protein diet makes the kidneys work twice as hard. Pretty soon, your kidneys could get tired and some of the weaker kidney cells can die. A friendly reminder to people on a high-protein Atkin's Diet or South Beach Diet. The time-tested doctor's advice of moderation in everything will serve you well. Eat a balanced diet of rice, vegetables, fish and fruits and you can't go wrong.
3. Keep your blood pressure at 130/80 or lower -- If your blood pressure is above 140 over 90, this can cause kidney damage within five years. The kidneys are said to be "happiest" with a blood pressure of 130/80 or lower. To help control your blood pressure, you should limit your salt intake, reduce weight and take medicines for high blood pressure, if needed.
4. Keep your blood sugar below 120 mg/dl -- Diabetes and high blood pressure are the two leading causes of kidney failure. A person with uncontrolled diabetes for 5-10 years may develop significant kidney damage. Consult your doctor and keep your blood sugar under control with diet, exercise and maintenance medicines.
5. Drink 8 glasses of water a day -- Doctors usually advise people to take in 8 glasses of water a day, but this really depends on your age and condition. If you're sweating a lot and work outdoors, you may need to drink more than 8 glasses a day. However, if you are above 65 years of age, you may do well with just 6 glasses a day. Drinking enough water also prevents the formation of kidney stones.
6. Watch your intake of pain relievers and other drugs -- Taking pain relievers like mefenamic acid, ibuprofen and the coxibs (like celecoxib) for a prolonged period of time may cause kidney damage. Because of this, we should limit taking these medicines to only a week, or just take them as needed. For those with chronic arthritis, try to look for other ways to relieve the pain such as using a hot water bag, pain reliever ointments, or the safer paracetamol tablet.
7. Be careful with tests and procedures using contrast dyes -- Some tests, like CT Scans and MRIs, and angiograms, use a contrast dye which helps doctors delineate the organs better. The problem with such dyes is that they can cause kidney damage. To be safe, I would strongly advise you to consult a kidney specialist before undergoing such procedures.
8. Don't drink too much Vitamin C -- Excess vitamin C (ascorbic acid) can lead to the formation of kidney stones in predisposed individuals. If you need to take vitamin C, a dose of 500 mg or less is safer.
9. Don't rely on food supplements to protect your kidneys -- The above tips are so far the best tips to care for the kidneys.
10. Get a kidney check-up --Simple tests, such as a complete blood count, BUN and creatinine, and a urinalysis are the first screening tests for the kidneys. Finding a trace of protein in the urine can alert the doctor of possible kidney disease.

Anemia: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment
By Dr. Willie T. Ong (LIKE and SHARE)
Do you feel weak and tired sometimes? Do you lack energy? Do people say that you look a bit pale? If so, then I suggest we check for anemia.
Anemia is a common condition wherein the body lacks red blood cells or the cells cannot carry enough oxygen. The usual type of anemia we encounter is iron-deficiency anemia or IDA.
In some individuals, mild cases of iron-deficiency anemia may have no symptoms. However, for other people, they can develop fatigue (tiredness), pale skin, coldness of hands and feet, shortness of breath, palpitation, chest pain, dizziness and even fainting spells. If you don't have enough oxygen in your red blood cells, your heart has to work harder to get enough oxygen circulating in the body.
Risk Factors for Iron-Deficiency Anemia:
1. The two common causes of iron-deficiency anemia are blood loss and poor diet. When a person has any kind of bleeding, the body will need to produce more red blood cells. For this process, your body needs enough iron. When the body’s iron stores are depleted, the person will develop iron-deficiency anemia. In women, common causes of bleeding are heavy and prolonged menstruation, after childbirth and the presence of uterine problems. Other possible causes of blood loss are a bleeding ulcer, parasitic infection (worms), urinary tract bleeding and colon cancer, Regular use of aspirin or pain relievers may likewise lead to stomach bleeding.
2. A diet low in iron predisposes to iron-deficiency anemia. For example, strict vegetarians may not have enough iron in their meals. Meat and fish are excellent sources of iron. As a substitute, vegetarians can eat more iron-fortified breads and cereals, dark green leafy vegetables, beans and tofu.
3. Poverty itself is a risk factor for anemia.
4. Women and teenage girls who are menstruating are at higher risk for anemia as compared to men.
5. Many pregnant women have iron-deficiency anemia because mothers need double the amount of iron for themselves and the fetus. Thus, all pregnant women are advised to take iron supplementation with folic acid during pregnancy to prevent premature birth and congenital abnormalities.
6. People with kidney disease, stroke, cancer and other illness are prone to develop anemia.
Diagnosis of anemia is simple. We just need a complete blood count. If your hemoglobin and hematocrit levels are low, then you have anemia.
Depending on your doctor’s suspicion on the cause of the anemia, he or she may request for tests to detect possible sources of bleeding. If the cause of the anemia is not obvious, the doctor may check for a peripheral blood smear (to see what your red blood cells look like) or test for iron levels in the blood.
Treatment:
1. If bleeding is the cause of the anemia, then the approach is to find and stop the cause of bleeding. Severe iron-deficiency anemia may require a blood transfusion and iron injections done in the hospital.
2. Taking iron supplements can improve iron levels within a month or two. Your doctor will decide the right dose for you. However, too much iron can cause side effects such as dark stools, stomach irritation and constipation. Try to eat more vegetables and fruits like papaya and grapes to soften the stools.
3. Increase dietary intake of iron. For meat sources, the highest levels of iron can be found in beef liver, beef, pork, chicken, turkey, fish, oysters and clams. For non-meat sources, we have spinach, green leafy vegetables, potatoes with skin, iron-fortified breads and cereals, beans, peas and dried fruits like prunes and raisins.
4. Together with a high-iron diet, taking in vitamin C rich foods can help the body absorb iron. Excellent sources of vitamin C are citrus fruits like oranges, pineapple and grapefruits. Vegetables like tomatoes, cabbage, potatoes and spinach also have vitamin C.
5. Follow a healthy lifestyle. Get more sleep and drink enough water. Stop smoking and limit alcohol intake. Remember that iron-deficiency anemia is an easily treatable condition. The challenge is in finding it early.

FIRST AID FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
By Dr. Willie T. Ong
Some cases of high blood pressure have no symptoms whatsoever. That is why high blood pressure is regarded as a silent killer. However, there are patients who develop symptoms such as headache, nape pain, dizziness, flushing of the face, palpitation and nose bleeding.
For classification purposes, a person has mild hypertension if the systolic BP is between 140 to 159 mm Hg or the diastolic BP is between 90 to 99 mm Hg.
Try these tips: (a) lose weight and exercise, (b) reduce salt and fat intake and (c) stop smoking and limit alcohol intake.
By contrast, those with higher BPs need maintenance medicines.
First Aid For High Blood Pressure:
1. Make sure that the blood pressure reading is correct especially if the patient has no symptoms such as headache or chest pains.
2. Keep the patient relaxed. To calm the patient, you can instruct him to breathe slowly and deeply. Sometimes, slow breathing can already lower the blood pressure.
3. If the patient has maintenance medicines for high blood pressure, let him take it.
4. You can usually give the patient medicines for high blood pressure in the following circumstances: (1) If the blood pressure is over 140/90 and the patient has symptoms such as headache, dizziness, or chest pains, and (2) If the blood pressure is 160/100 or higher.
5. The usual first aid medicines doctors give to lower the blood pressure include (1) Clonidine 75 mcg, one tablet orally or (2) Captopril 25 mg, one tablet orally. These medicines can also be place and dissolved under the tongue for faster action. But for most cases, taking it orally is good enough. Consult your doctor first.
6. Take note that not all cases of high blood pressure should be given medications. Sometimes there are external causes of high blood pressure such as anger, tension or pain. Just make the patient more relaxed and the BP will go down.
Finally, see your doctor for a check-up.

Allergy, Cough and Sneezing
Allergy is our body and immune system's reaction to harmful substances, such as pollen, dust, mold and animal fur.
Here are the tips depending on your allergy:
1. Plant pollen – Wear a face mask when outdoors. Close windows and doors to keep pollen from entering the house. Don't leave clothes hanging outside. Pollen can stick to clothing, Also take a shower and change clothes if you are from outside or travel. Rinse with saline solution with “nasal spray” to expose the cold and remove the irritation of your nose.
2. Dust and Mold - Limit exposure or exposure to dust. Avoid the buildings that are being built. When cleaning the house do it once a week. Wear a mask when cleaning or just have someone do it. Wrap blankets and pillows to prevent dust. It's best to replace some tools with leather as they don't hold dust easily. Use an exhaust fan in the kitchen and bathroom to keep mold out. Clean the humidifiers often. This will help prevent mold and bacteria from building up in your appliances.
3. Fur of Pets - Select Pets. Avoid taking care of furry animals. Don't let dogs or cats in your house especially your room. If fostering a fur baby is unavoidable make sure it is outside the house. Bath the pet every week. Use an eraser to help keep the feathers there.
See your doctor if symptoms don't go away with these steps. A doctor's prescription medication can reduce or prevent your allergy.