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by Dr. Philip S. Chua.
August 20, 2011
In majority of cases, sudden death from heart disease in low-risk group is surprisingly common. Of course, among the high risk group (those who are smokers, with high blood pressure, diabetes, high blood cholesterol, irregular heart rhythm), the incidence of sudden cardiac death (SCD) is much more frequent.
Sudden cardiac death is defined as “unexpected death from a cardiac etiology after cardiac arrest within 1 hour of the onset of acute symptoms,” like chest pains, severe shortness of breath, or collapse. Every year, there are more than 3 million SCDs around the world, including the one in every 1000 persons in the general population in the United States, which statistic is similarly true in other parts of the globe. Arrhythmias — irregularities of the heart rhythm called ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF) — are the most common causes among 80% who had severe coronary heart disease, and the rest among those with ischemic (lack of blood supply leading to) cardiomyopathy (heart muscle damage).
Studies have been conducted to find out how to protect all these patients, both high and low-risk groups. This 13-year review of clinical data revealed that “statins have been shown to reduce VT/VF and sudden cardiac death only in subjects with underlying coronary artery disease or ischemic cardiomyopathy.”
The findings suggest that taking statins (cholesterol-lowering drugs) lowers the risk for sudden cardiac death among those with stable coronary heart disease, compared to those with the same medical condition not on any statin drug.
However, all the medications to lower cholesterol will not provide the optimum benefit to the body unless a low-fat- high fiber diet and daily exercises are part of the whole healthy lifestyle regimen.
Antimicrobial Pesticide
Hospitals and other institutions use antimicrobial pesticides (sanitizers, sterilizers, disinfectants), suppress or destroy harmful bacteria on inanimate objects and surfaces. In the United States, there are about 5000 antimicrobial pesticides in the form of sprays, gases, powders or liquids.
In a 5-year study (2002-2007) in four States across the USA, there were 401 acute illnesses affecting workers handling the pesticides in healthcare facilities. Some of the symptoms included eye irritation, throat pain, cough, shortness of breath, skin rash, acute asthmatic attacks. One person in this series died.
While the use of these chemicals for cleaning in public places and at home is common place and taken for granted, the danger they pose are real and could be serious in the long run, especially for children.
Magnets: A Scam
One of the most preposterous health claims in the various marketing media is the effectiveness and healing power of magnets (wristbands, bracelets, anklets, necklace, belts) for a multitude of medical conditions. This is nothing but a scam. It is unfortunate that some people are gullible, falling easy prey to unscrupulous vendors of modern “snake oil.” Living a healthy lifestyle is all we need to prevent illnesses and stay healthy.
Overweight and breast cancer
The obesity hormone called Leftin is linked to an increase risk of breast cancer among women. Regular consumption of saturated fats and greater body fats lead to higher level of leftin. A study at the Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston shows that women who switch to low-fat, high fiber diet can reduce their leftin level and their risk of developing breast cancer. Leftin level might be a marker for breast cancer. A diet of red meats is associated with many forms of cancers, besides cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.
Fast Food Salads
Most, if not all the fast food chains, have joined the band wagon, offering salad on their menu for the health-conscious customers. Are you safer eating these salads? Maybe not, says the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, which came out with a report rating 34 salads from seven restaurants (from Wendy’s to Subway). The study showed these salads are no better than their burger because of their high-fat dressing, toppings of cheese and fried croutons. The PCRM report stated that the “Crispy Chicken Bacon Ranch Salad at McDonald’s packs more fat and calories than a Big Mac.”
Green leafy vegetable salad with oil and vinegar dressing, minus all the fatty trimmings is obviously the healthier way to go.
Alcohol and heart disease
The effect of various forms of alcoholic drinks on heart disease was conducted on 38,000 men ages 40-75, followed up for 12 years, in the largest and best designed research at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. The findings revealed the consumption of beer, liquor, red wine, 3 to 7 times a week, lowered the risk for heart disease compared to those who drank less often. Among these, Red wine was deemed most beneficial for its antioxidant flavanoid called resveratrol, which is cardio-protective. The researchers postulated that this substance raise the level of the HDL (good cholesterol) and thins the blood, preventing clot formation in the arteries. But to obtain the benefit from the alcohol, it must be taken not more than once a day (not more than 12 ounces of beer, 1.5 ounces of 80-proof liquor or 5 ounces of wine).
Drinking more than this, or doing it more often, has been found to lead to alcohol addiction and cause damage to the liver and the brain. #
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