Saturday, May 9, 2015

HEART TO HEART


Dr. Adolfo Bellosillo
For many years, we have heard and read several  information on keeping the heart in good condition. Health conscious friends and relatives have shared those tips in small talks or via the social media  where everyone is free to publish information, verified or not.  To help us discern fact from myth on heart care, Philippine Rotary held a discussion with Dr. Adolfo Bellosillo, a cardiologist at the Makati Medical Center and founding president of the Foundation for Lay Education on Heart Diseases that disseminates public information on prevention of cardiac ailments.

 You need to exercise at least an hour daily to keep the heart healthy.

MYTH

“Not necessarily,” says Dr.Bellosillo, considering that there are people whose hectic schedules won’t allow them to hit the gym daily. On the other hand,  Dr. Bellosillo says this should not be an excuse to ditch exercise or live a sedentary lifestyle which makes one prone to stroke and heart attack. To maintain a healthy heart, he recommends allotting 30 minutes , three times a week at least, for exercise.

The heart expert also suggests exercises that  1) involve  alternate contraction and relaxation of the body’s big muscles such as legs and arms; 2) increase heart rate at a desired level; and  3)something one could do regularly  like running and dancing.
However, Dr.Bellosillo cautions that there are some forms of exercise that could be harmful, especially if one has a heart problem. “We do not recommend exercises that will put muscles in a prolonged contraction like chinning bar and water skiing because these increase blood pressure,” he says. 

Men are more prone to heart disease than women.

MYTH

“Actually, the risk is almost the same in both genders depending  on the kind of heart disease,” the good doctor emphasizes.  He further elucidates that  during the early years, the risk of atherosclerotic heart disease, the build-up of plaques in the blood vessels that lead to stroke and heart attack, is higher in men than in women. However,  when women reach the age of menopause, the incidence of heart attack becomes almost equal with men and, worse, when women have a heart attack, it is more fatal. “The reason for this is, probably, because women are protected during their childbearing years by their hormones,” Dr. Bellosillo, who have served as resource speaker  in several health symposiums in the country and across the globe,  explains.

Margarine is better than butter

MYTH

Dr. Bellosillo observes many people accept  as  true gospel  that margarine is a healthier choice than butter, because margarine  is made from vegetable oils and higher in polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats (“good” fats) in comparison to butter which is made from animal fat which contains cholesterol and high levels of saturated fat.  However, he warns that  there are some margarines that contain trans fat that, like saturated fat, increases blood cholesterol levels and the risk of heart disease. In addition, trans fat lowers high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or "good" cholesterol levels.  Thus, Dr. Bellosillo cautions not to consume much of margarine.

Aspirin can help lower risk of heart attack.

FACT 

The heart expert points out that heart attack is usually triggered when platelets in the blood suddenly aggregate which blocks blood flow.  He says, studies have shown that aspirin diminishes  the tendency of platelets to aggregate, therefore it helps lower the risk of heart attack. Though, Dr. Bellosillo advises about the proper intake of aspirin. “While I strongly advocate that almost all heart medications should be taken on an empty stomach for better absorption, however, aspirin should not be taken before a meal because it has an irritating effect to the stomach and one can develop gastritis.” He advises that it is best to take the said drug late in the evening because it will help prevent platelet aggregation which happens at 4 a.m.

 Eat only fat-free foods to protect your heart.

MYTH

This is a misconception, the cardiologist expounds, that drive some people to become too much conscious of their fat intake, prefering to eat fat-free food products only. “One needs fats for other purposes in the body. It helps in the integrity of the membrane of cells. The body also needs it in the production of hormones and other chemicals. Cholesterol can be harmful only if it is in excess,” says Dr. Bellosillo.

 Red wine is good for the heart.

MYTH

“On  certain occasions where liquor is being served, preferably, one  should go for red wine but should not make it a practice to have wine regularly because it has negative effects on other organs like the liver,” Dr. Bellosillo recommends. Compared to white wine, he says,  red wine contains more antioxidants that protect cholesterol from oxidation. On the other hand, the downside is that alcohol has harmful effects on other organs of the body.

Hypertension can be cured.

MYTH 

According to Dr.  Bellosillo many people have  misapprehension  that hypertension is curable, but the fact is that it is a lifetime disease. “There are no medications and surgical procedures that can cure hypertension that is why one with this condition needs  regular intake of medicines to be protected from persistently elevated blood pressure.”

Sex can keep the heart healthy.

MYTH

People like to hear that sex is good for the heart, but the wisdom of the heart specialist claims that, actually, it depends on how one does it.  For Dr. Bellosillo sex can be considered as a work out, and  most likely, If one is physically active during sexual intercourse, there are health benefits . However, he cautions that sexual activity is not as good as aerobics or jogging. “There are  qualifications for a physical activity to have a good effect on the heart. First, it must use the big muscles in alternate contraction and relaxation. Second, it must be done regularly.  Lastly,  it must raise one’s heart rate to a desired level for 30 minutes. “ Based on research, the good doctor clarifies that the desired heart rate during sexual intercourse is only reached during orgasm. “Can orgasm last for half an hour? Based on that argument, sex  is not a good form of exercise to keep the heart healthy,” says  the veteran cardiologist.

Dr. Bellosillo further advises that having sex in the morning can be dangerous for individuals who suffer from hypertension and coronary heart disease due to the phenomenon called Circadian Variation. “If one has a coronary heart disease or hypertension, moments that will make one’s  heart beat fast and hard must be avoided because the heart will require more oxygen which will not easily pass through. Studies have shown that in the mere process of waking up in the morning, one’s adrenal glands are already being stimulated to secrete hormones called adrenaline and nor-adrenaline. These hormones are notorious for making one’s heart beat faster and harder, so how much more if one  exercises or engages in sexual intercourse,” he says. However, he prescribes to  those who can’t really resist, to take their medication  beforehand.

 It is ok to consume fast foods as long as you exercise.

MYTH


The heart specialist reveals that fast foods, like hotdog, hamburger and French fries, usually contain a lot of saturated fats, such that even if one does  exercise but  eats too much of these kinds of food, one’s cholesterol level will still go up. “Whatever the beneficial effect of exercise on one’s body is nullified by excessive intake of saturated fats which are present in fast foods,” explains Dr. Bellosillo.  He advises that it is important to know one’s risk factors and work on them.


Dr. Bellosillo and me
(Published in Philippine Rotary magazine May 2015 issue; photos by: Carmen Dela Cerna)