Heart-ening news

I am yielding my space today to Ann Montemar-Oriondo.

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First for the bad news.

Did you know that the 2000 DOH Health Indicators showed that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality among Filipinos? Blame it on the stress brought about by an increasingly fast-paced lifestyle characterized by unhealthy eating habits and lack of exercise.

And now for the good news, especially for those suffering from narrowed arteries that could lead to fatal heart attacks. Johnson & Johnson last week formally introduced the Cypher Sirolimus-Eluting Stent in the Philippines.

"We are looking at exciting times," noted cardiologist Dr. Fabio Posas during the Cypher launch held at the EDSA Plaza Hotel. The chairman of cardiovascular research of St. Luke’s Heart Institute and editor-in-chief of the Philippine Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine, Dr. Posas elaborated on Cypher’s potential for helping improve the cardiovascular health of Filipinos.

Co-speaker Dr. Gregorio Martinez, Jr., director of The Medical City’s Cardiovascular Catherization Laboratory, in turn used plastic models to demonstrate how the Cypher is inserted into a coronary artery.

To understand how Cypher works, one must first imagine an artery as a tube whose inside walls are lined by three layers of cells. In time, especially in hypertensive patients or those who have a high intake of fats and who lead a sedentary lifestyle, atherosclerosis occurs–fatty deposits, fibrous tissue and calcium accumulate in the blood vessel walls, causing the artery to narrow and reducing blood flow to the heart. This constriction or narrowing of the blood vessel is called stenosis.

Patients with coronary artery disease who need to have their arteries "unclogged" undergo angioplasty. Or depending on the case, they may need to undergo bypass surgery. Angioplasty is a procedure where a catheter is inserted into a blood vessel to enlarge it and thus improve blood flow. In bypass surgery, on the other hand, an artery is taken either from one’s arm or leg and grafted to a clogged artery as a bypass.

One-fourth of the 1.3 million who do undergo angioplasty worldwide annually, however, experience restenosis or the recurrence of narrowing in the blood vessel. To prevent restenosis, Dr. Posas explained, Cypher has a distinctive feature–its stent (a small, metallic scaffolding used to open a coronary artery and which prevents re-collapse) is coated with an immuno-suppressant called Sirolimus, a naturally-occurring antibiotic used to prevent renal transplant rejection. Unlike other drugs in coated stents, Sirolimus does not kill cells; instead, it stops cell growth. In the treated artery, it prevents the formation of scar tissue, thus also preventing restenosis.

Also present at the launch was the first Filipino on whom the Cypher was used, businessman, writer and TV host Larry Henares, who joked that he had unexpectedly made medical history when Makati Medical Center’s Dr. Carlo Santos Ocampo used the Cypher on his coronary arteries last year. Asked to convince the audience about using Cypher, Larry in his trademark naughty humor bellowed, "I am 78 years old and I can still do it (sex) three times a week!"

To be sure, as with all medical breakthroughs, only time will validate the long-term benefits of Cypher. For now, looming as an alternative to conventional angioplasties and an option to costly bypass operations, Cypher has offered a new heart-ening glimmer of hope for Filipinos affected by coronary artery disease.

(For inquiries on angioplasty procedures using Cypher, Filipinos may approach cardiologists in any of the following hospitals: Asian Hospital and Medical Center; Chinese General Hospital; Makati Medical Center; Philippine General Hospital; Philippine Heart Center; St. Luke’s Medical Center; The Medical City; and the University of Sto. Tomas Hospital)

Two for comfort

With their ready smiles and friendly dispositions, it’s quite easy to see why Alex Compton and Danny Seigle have magnetized fans. But even those with only a vague interest in basketball may easily be won over once they discover that there’s more to the duo than their impressive on-court performance and stats.

For one thing, there’s substance between the guys’ ears–Alex has a degree in Human Development and Family Studies from Cornell University, Danny in Academic Sociology from Wagner College in New York. For another, the duo share an altruistic side which they prefer to keep private, even if the media might mention it from time to time. Generally unknown is that Alex spends a lot of time "hanging out" and playing basketball in a shelter for street children, while Danny helps conducts camps for kids. For Alex and Danny, there is obviously more to life than the hard court.

"In anything I do," shares the Philippine-born Alex, inevitably revealing the secret of his success, "my heart has to be in it. If it’s not in your heart to do something, then don’t do it."

"I always try to enjoy life," the Pennsylvania-raised Danny, a forward of the Philippine Basketball team, says in turn. "Problems will always come but I don’t dwell on them."

Because Alex and Danny personify young men who are comfortable with who and what they are–the kind of guys other guys might well aspire to be– Victor Te, president/CEO of Mansfield International, makers of top Filipino underwear brands Hanford and Hartmann, asked the duo to be Hartmann’s latest product endorsers.

"We got Alex and Danny because besides being successful, they project a good image of Hartmann as a global brand that is proudly Philippine-made.

Filipino males now are a lot more fashion-conscious and sensitive about quality and fabrics. Hartmann offers them underwear made of 100 percent US cotton. We even have a special line that has antibacterial properties. Our priorities are comfort and affordability."

Interestingly, in their Hartmann ads, Alex and Danny are not shown in revealing shots that seem to be de rigeur with underwear brands. Instead, they are portrayed casually going about daily activities. This was deliberate because, as Victor explains, Hartmann emphasizes comfort above all. "(The pictures) are less about sex than intimacy," he adds. "They want to (make a statement that) ‘Comfort is confidence’."

"When I tried their products," Alex says of Hartmann, "I said, ‘This is cool!’ I really liked them and I’m glad (I’m not in a position where) I don’t have to act as if I do."

"I heard nothing but good things from Alex about the underwear–that they’re comfortable and stylish," says Danny. "And I agree!"

So what’s next for the guys after they have added "underwear endorsers" to their long list of achievements?

"I don’t know what I’ll do 10 years from now," says Alex, "but whatever it will be, you can be sure I’ll be passionate about it."

"Even after basketball," Danny ends, "I’ll still be involved with athletes."

Grand Home Sale

Shop at Sta. Lucia East Department Store and Home Gallery from Sept. 9 to Oct. 6 and avail of great bargains and discounts at the ‘Grand Home Sale.’ The sale offers the lowest interest rates and payment scheme offered by Citibank, Diners, Unicard, BPI, RCBC and Visa card.

Loads of prizes await every shopper in the ‘Window of Prizes’ promo. Every P500 worth of Home products purchased from Home Gallery and Sta. Lucia East Department Store entitles a customer to bring home a prize from sponsors Forty Winks, NAV’s Furniture, Sunnex, Ultima, Melawares, Shining Marketing and Home Center.