Q: My blood pressure has been normal for more than 6 months, do I have to continue taking my blood pressure pills?
A: There are some exceptions where high blood pressure has turned normal after low-salt diet and exercise, but in general, once a hypertensive, always a hypertensive, meaning high blood pressure is for life. So, yes, you have to continue taking you blood pressure pills for life. Dieting and daily exercise are helpful in maintaining, not only in helping control blood pressure but also in aiding in the treatment of diabetes and in prevention of heart attack and stroke.
Q: I am only 36, otherwise healthy, and already having problem with sex. Can Viagra help?
A: Male erectile dysfunction (inability to have effective erection for successful sex) is not uncommon in young men, even in their 20s, due to stress and/or some psychological problems. It is, of course, more prevalent among those who are in their sixties and older. Depending on the cause of the problem, chances are “anti-impotent” pills, like Viagra, Cialis, Levitra, can help, even among most diabetics. But any of these “sex pills” should not be taken by men who are on any nitrite heart pills, like nitroglycerine sublingual or oral, Imdur, etc. because severe drop in blood pressure can occur. You must first consult your physician before taking any of these pills.
Q: I have been trying to lose weight for years, and practically do not eat, and yet I have not succeeded. Why?
A: We maintain our body weight and body mass by burning the calories we take in. In simple terms, calorie output must be equal to (the same as) calorie intake. If we eat more calories than we burn, there will be excess calories remaining in our body, which translates to a weight gain. When one does not eat, one will lose weight, guaranteed. This was what happened to ALL the prisoners of all wars (WWI, Korean, Vietnam , etc.), no exception. I cited this popular medical fact because of your statement that said you “practically do not eat.” Besides calorie control by dieting, physical exercise is most valuable. Drinking a tall glass of water (hot or cold) before each meal and staying away from carbohydrates (rice, bread, soft drinks, cookies, ice cream, etc) are a part of an effective strategy to weight management. I suggest you weigh yourself naked once a week to monitor your progress. This has been found to be a good incentive in weight control.
Q: Since natural is healthier, can I stop taking my insulin shot and take ampalaya pills instead since you said ampalaya pills lower blood sugar?
A: An emphatic “NO!” That would be dangerous. People have died from doing exactly just that. When one has insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), his/her body needs insulin to metabolize glucose (sugar) properly. None of the diabetic pills will help, much less ampalaya pills. This substance from ampalaya (bitter melon) has been found to lower blood sugar among diabetics who are NOT insulin-dependent, but its potency is not enough to control the blood sugar by itself in 99% of the cases. Mild diabetes, which responds somewhat to dieting and exercise, might be helped by ampalaya pills in controlling blood sugar level in this specific scenario. But not with ampalaya pills alone and by itself. Before stopping any medications or taking new medications, it is prudent to consult your physician.
Q: Is it true that eating the burned part of BBQ pork is unhealthy?
A: Yes, that’s true. Eating the burned (charcoal-black) part of any food (pork, beef, fish, etc) has been linked to cancer of the pancreas. And eating red meat in general is associated with a higher risk of developing cancer of the colon, breast, prostate, etc. The healthier alternatives are fish and white meat of chicken, minus the skin which is loaded with cholesterol.
Q: Why is vitamin D in and vitamin E out?
A: Vitamin E used to be highly recommended for cardiovascular health, but medical evidences of the past decades did not show any significant benefit from it for that purpose. Some believe vitamin E is good for breast-health. vitamin D, specifically D3, is “very in” today. Several studies showed that among people taking high dose (2000 IU) of vitamin D there was a decrease in the rate of at least 18 types of cancer and autoimmune diseases, including diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and 40% less risk for multiple sclerosis. Statistical analysis estimates that thousands of cancer deaths could be avoided in the United States , tens of millions globally, each year if everyone gets enough vitamin D.
Q: Is coffee good or bad for us?
A: For those coffee addicts, the good news is that drinking 4 to 6 cups of coffee lowers the risk for the development of diabetes (Type2), Alzheimer’s, and it also boosts the immune system, increasing resistance to diseases. Those who cannot tolerate caffeine, whose sleep is impaired by it or who develops fast heart beat after drinking regular coffee, should stay away from regular coffee.
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Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indiana and chairman of cardiac surgery from 1997 to 2010 at Cebu Doctors University Hospital, where he holds the title of Physician Emeritus in Surgery, is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Philippine College of Surgeons, and the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society. He is the chairman of the Filipino United Network – USA, a 501(c)(3) humanitarian foundation in the United States. Email:[email protected]
