The heart of the matter

When we hear about someone who dies due to a heart ailment, I’m certain most of us are no longer caught in dead shock. Cardiovascular diseases, most especially cardiac arrest, are anything but a novelty to Filipinos. They are commonly referred to as silent killers, or “traitors,” as many would call them. A lot of families I know have a long history of strokes and heart attacks among their kin. Taking things on a global perspective, around one third of the annual mortality rate can be attributed to heart and blood vessel disorders.

Do you realize that cardiovascular disease is currently the number one health threat among women here and abroad and not breast cancer, as often perceived by many? This research-supported fact, which I myself must confess, is shocking as it is quite disturbing, entered my consciousness a few days ago during one of those commercial breaks while waiting for the late night news.

To prove that there’s truth to what I saw and heard, my trusted cardiologist-friend lent me a health brochure after I told her I was still in denial that a woman’s heart is the most fragile organ to date. As I scanned the brochure, one statement practically jumped out of the page — that cardiovascular disease is the dreaded upshot of the real silent killer: high blood pressure which usually comes without warning — no signs, no symptoms. Figuratively speaking, if high blood pressure “runs in your blood,” there is a possibility that it will be passed on to you sooner or later in life. It hits mostly pregnant women at their final trimester, the fifty to sixty-something set on menopause, and nowadays, even teenage girls. It then struck me as I remembered a close friend whose daughter’s BP is already 140/100 at age 16! Her mom and her maternal aunts are actually “high blood” (using the local expression), and no wonder she is, too, despite her very young age.

Another treacherous ailment is high blood cholesterol which is characterized by severe blockage of the arteries. Bad cholesterol (there’s good cholesterol which is the healthy counterpart) appears like fat that develops into plaque leading to blood clots when it ruptures, causing stroke when it clogs a brain vessel, and a heart attack when it clogs a heart vessel.

Heart disease makes its presence known the moment a person feels an on-and-off discomfort in the center of the chest, body pain accompanied by nausea, sweating and vomiting, shortness of breath and sudden fatigue or anxiety. Reaching that point calls for an immediate appointment with a health professional. There are increased chances of getting a stroke or cardiac arrest if no medical attention is done at this stage.

Then it dawned on me — heart problems can also be blamed on stress, and women, at most times, are into a lot of that. Working women deal with physical and mental stress … in my case, deadlines. And let’s not forget financial stress due to the economic crunch — investment letdowns, price inflation. Throw in other stress-triggering factors like traffic jams, getting stranded somewhere due to heavy rains and floods and not being able to get a call through on your cell phone for one reason or another. Moreover, vice — first and second-hand smoke, alcoholic drinks, obesity and no exercise contribute to heart diseases.

There are steps to take against the harmful effects of cardiovascular diseases, like drinking six to eight glasses of water everyday, eating less salty foods, and having regular checkups by your doctor.

And the market today is awash with so many products that are aimed at averting the ill effects of heart disease. I got this tip from my doctor: look for a good quality supplement that contains both fiber and antioxidants. I recently wrote about positive reviews on Ensure, a breakthrough product recommended by doctors, and the wonders it did to a female acquaintance of mine. I’ve been taking Ensure, so, God willing, I think I’ll be a long way from writing finis.

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Although not Americans, concerned Filipino women look at the candidates in the American electoral process with respect to their views on issues affecting women’s rights and reproductive health. American feminist Gloria Steinem has written an article which has been forwarded by Sham of ARROW, and forwarded to me by Rowena Alvarez on the Republican Party’s choice of Sarah Palin as its vice-presidential nominee.

John McCain, writes Steinem, “may have chosen Palin out of chain-envy, or a belief that women can’t tell the difference between form and content, but the main motive was to please right-wing ideologues; the same ones who nixed anyone who is now or ever has been a supporter of reproductive freedom. If that were not the case, McCain could have chosen a woman who knows what a vice president does and who has thought about Iraq; someone like Texas senator Kay Bailey Hutchison or Senator Olympia Snowe of Maine. McCain could have taken a baby step away from right-wing patriarchs who determine his actions right down to opposing the Violence Against Women Act.”

Steinem continues: “Palin’s value to those patriarchs is clear: She opposes just about every issue that women support by a majority or plurality. She believes that … creationism should be taught in public schools but disbelieves global warming; she opposes gun control but supports government control of women’s wombs; she opposes stem cell research but approves ‘abstinence-only” programs, which increase unwanted births, sexually transmitted diseases and abortions.

“…American women, many of whom may suffer because of having two full-time jobs than from any other single injustice, finally have support on a national stage from male leaders who know that women can’t be equal outside the home until men are equal in it. Barack Obama and Joe Biden are campaigning on their belief that men should be, can be and want to be at home for their children.”

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