THE current trend in medicine when it comes to diet is extreme reduction in carbohydrate intake, like rice, bread, desserts, and sweets (candy, ice cream, etc.), and total abstinence from any and all forms of soft drinks, because they increase the risk for the development of Metabolic Syndrome, among adults, and especially children. Avoiding foods high in lectins and glutens is important.
For protein, more on wild-caught (not farmed) fish, like salmon, mackerel, tuna, sardines, shrimp, crab, lobster, scallop, and oysters (preferably cooked). Tilapia and catfish are high in Omega 6 and supposedly high in lead and other chemical contaminations. For meat,
pork is also red meat and is less preferred for its high fat and purine contents. Healthier items include chicken, lean red meat, grains, nuts (pistachios, pecans, walnuts), avocados, green leafy vegetables, broccoli, asparagus, various spices, and moderation in fruits (organic berries are wonderful fruits). As always, watching your caloric intake is vital. And do not forget about daily physical exercise, like brisk walking, Tai Chi, Tai Bo, or more strenuous ones you might prefer.
Silent killer
Since blood pressure was measured for the first time by Stephen Hales in 1773, hypertension (high blood pressure) has, to this day, remains one of the commonest diseases in the human race, and continues to be a silent killer of man. More than 110 million people in the United States have high blood pressure (140/90 or higher). About 20 percent (one in five) of people who have hypertension do not know they have it. Thirty percent have pre- hypertension. This is an important personal, family, and public health issue because of the morbidity, complications and mortality associated with hypertension. About 1,000 individuals in the United States die from the complications of hypertension each day. In 2022, there were 685,875 Americans who died from it.
The good news is this illness is a modifiable health risk, and the power is within us and our attending physicians, because modern medicine has available for all of us effective drugs, and pill-combinations to help control our blood pressure to prevent heart attack and stroke. If not treated properly and promptly, hypertension could lead to severe, and even fatal, complications like heart failure, end-stage kidney failure, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease. Besides pills, daily exercise, low-cholesterol, low-carbohydrate and low-salt diet, abstinence from cigarettes and moderation in alcohol intake are fundamental parts of the effective regimen for blood pressure control.
The classification of blood pressure readings for adults aged 18 and older is as follows: Normal – Systolic lower than 120, diastolic lower than 80; Prehypertension – Systolic 120- 139, diastolic 80-99; Stage 1 – Systolic 140-159, diastolic 90-99; Stage 2 – Systolic equal to or more than 160; diastolic equal to or more than 100. This is based on the average of 2 or more readings taken at each of 2 or more visits, after the initial screening.
Since hypertension today can easily be controlled by living a healthy lifestyle and taking pills, it does not make sense for us not to avail ourselves of the modern progress in medical therapeutics and end up with a heart attack or stroke. More often than not, as far as our health is concerned, the ball is on our court. How we play the game will determine our future score.
Cloned ‘food’safe
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration reported that milk and meat from some cloned animals (cattle, pigs and goats, but not sheep) in the United States are safe to eat. The FDA has not found any risk or danger to humans for consuming these “cloned” food products, and most likely not to require any special labeling for them.
Remedial therapy
Individuals taking Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI) pills for gastro-esophageal reflux (GERD), like Nexium, Prilosec, Prevacid, etc., have reduced stomach absorption of Folic acid and Vitamin B 12. In view of this, physicians prescribing PPI medications also add Folic acid and B 12 in the treatment regimen. Another sample of remedial therapy is co-prescribing CoQ10 for those on cholesterol-lowering drugs, statins, because statins also act to lower the body’s natural CoQ10 as a side-effect. The other is adding medications like Losartan and Bystolic, to protect the kidneys for those taking Metformin for diabetes.
Eye test for stroke
Can a simple peek at the eyes help in making a diagnosis? An Australian clinical study reports that “a simple eye test (fundoscopy) might predict the likelihood of stroke.” Persons with “retinopathy,” a condition where the arteries of the retina of the eye becomes weak or damaged by high blood pressure or diabetes, which is a tell-tale sign of an increased risk of stroke development. “People who have tiny lesions on the back of the eye are two to three times more likely to suffer a stroke or stroke-related death, within 7 years, independent of other risk factors,” according to the research, published in Neurology Journal. The eye findings correlate well and reflect the blood vessel changes in the brain.
Drug interaction
A warning from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was issued, informing healthcare professionals and the public that “taking ibuprofen for pain relief may interfere with the benefits of aspirin taken for heart disease.” This non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) ibuprofen could render the desired anti-platelet effect of low-dose aspirin (81 mg once a day) less effective for cardio-protection and stroke prevention. Other NSAID pills should be regarded as having the same effect on aspirin as ibuprofen. Occasional use of this NSAID may have minimal risk. The FDA recommends that even in this situation, the NSAID should be taken at least 8 hours after aspirin is taken to avoid interaction. Acetaminophen and narcotics do not interfere with aspirin’s anti-platelet effects, says the report. We suggest persons who are now taking these two drugs consult with their physicians.
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The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
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Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest
Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, Health
Advocate, medical missionary, newspaper columnist, and chairman of the Filipino
United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. He
was a recipient of the Indiana Sagamore of the Wabash Award in 1995, presented by
then Indiana Governor, U.S. senator, and later a presidential candidate, Evan Bayh.
Other Sagamore past awardees include President Harry S. Truman, President George
HW Bush, Muhammad Ali, Astronaut Gus Grissom, scientists, and educators
(Source: Wikipedia). Websites: www.Today.SPSAtoday.com,
www.feuMedAlumni.org; Amazon.com (“Where is My America?”); Email:
[email protected].