Heart don't give up on me!

CEBU, Philippines - In 2003, our company doctor noticed that I had a resting heart rate of under-60 beats per minute (bpm). “Should I worry?” was my initial query.

She replied that she sees it normal for somebody like me – who climbs mountains for a hobby – to have slow resting heart rate. This is true because even professional cyclist Miguel Indurain was reported to have a resting heart rate of 28 beats per minute just like most of trained athletes or young healthy individuals.

An explanation read that “because trained hearts can pump enough blood in each contraction, this allows for a low resting heart rate.”

Seven years after, an annual medical checkup result gave the impression I have sinus bradycardia. Yes, it’s Greek to me! That’s why I had to resort to Wikipedia, most especially that the tapped healthcare provider, sadly, failed to explain it to me (or should I say it never had the heart to bother?)

In Greek, bradykardia means “heart slowness.” Sinus has something to do with the “heart rhythm that originates from the sinus node or a tissue located in the right atrium of the heart.” Though it is seldom symptomatic until the rate drops below 50 bpm, it comes with a warning that it may cause cardiac arrest in some patients. This is because “those with bradycardia may not be pumping enough oxygen to their heart and sometimes results in fainting, shortness of breath, and if severe enough, death!”

10 simple things I failed to do for my heart

Risk of developing a heart ailment is high among individuals, like me, who have obviously maltreated their hearts for a long time by:

1.Leaving out on healthy food intake. While it’s true that I eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables daily, as recommended by the World Heart Federation, I still sink my teeth into processed foods. Junk foods which often contain high levels of salt are still part of the munchies.

2.Not taking to heart an active lifestyle. Doctors advise to indulge even in a 30-minute activity that can help prevent heart attacks and strokes. But I’m already contented with domestic chores for an exercise, and climbing mountain peaks every once in a while. I do brisk walking, sometimes, only to be exposed more to the dangers of street smog and unsafe roads.

3.Though I said never to tobacco. Developing greater risk of coronary heart disease is a fact if I smoke, so I am resolved not to. And that I could halve the risk if I continue to avoid. But geez! As a commuter, the risk triples with your exposure to secondhand smoke passed on by buttheads who likewise take public conveyance. Worse, the driver who has the “no-smoking sign” posted within a few inches from his head is the first one to ignore public health.

4.A hearty doubt to monitor my numbers. It was recommended that I visit a healthcare professional who can measure my blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose levels, together with waist-to-hip ratio and body mass index. Once I’m aware of the overall risk, I was told that I can develop a specific plan of action to improve my heart health. But the least that I would be up to is an appointment with a doctor, because nowadays what dances in my head is the number of pharmaceuticals funding this doctor’s trips abroad in the guise of symposia. Need I mention the number of medical reps he/she has developed “diplomatic ties” with?

5.Weight wot? Weight loss, especially together with lowered salt intake, leads to lower blood pressure. High blood pressure is the number one risk factor for stroke and a major factor for approximately half of all heart disease and stroke. My two cents worth: I’ll trim down anyway if joblessness strikes. Making sense of the last morsels on the table would dignify the struggle. How about the ob-gyne’s instruction to come back for hypertension management after giving birth? Nah! Can’t she understand I can’t afford to hire a nanny while I’m out there playing guinea pig?

6.Gulp course. Restrict the amount of alcoholic drinks that you consume. Excessive alcohol intake can cause your blood pressure to rise and your weight to increase. Thank heavens, I’ve made a sane stand against the booze. But wait — where’s my Flaming Ferrari? Hik!

7.Smoke-free environ push. Demand a tobacco ban. Ensure your workplace is 100-percent smoke-free. Support the adoption of smoking. Encourage your employer to provide help to those wanting to quit tobacco. My quick reply: I can’t even rally a simple upgrade on my aging computer, you nuts? You want the Unified Smokers Bang-Bang Club in here to gang up on me, (so I could suffer more than the body malaise associated with heart disease)?

8.Workplace exercise. Include physical activity in your work sked – cycle to work if this is possible, take the stairs, exercise or go for a walk during your lunch breaks, and encourage others to do so too. The absence of an elevator allows me to take the three landings leading to my workstation, so that’s a tick on the health check. But cycling? Hmmm…where is the bike lane? It’s never a government priority! Flyovers are!

9.Healthy options. Ask for healthy food at your work canteen, or find nearby cafés or restaurants that serve healthy meals. Yes, I made sure I would eat healthy ones, so I eat at home; because the last time I bought food from this decent-looking food court near the workplace, taosios (tausi or fermented black beans) were added to the pinakbet. However, the “ingredients’ long and taut legs” made me wonder if the chef’s gone gourmet.

10.Stress-free, supposedly. Whilst stress has not been shown to be a direct risk fact for heart disease and stroke, it is related to smoking, excessive drinking and unhealthy eating. So, does this mean I have to stop reporting to work? Hee hee…or should I set the neighbor’s videoke station on fire? Har! Har!