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| Dr. Adolfo Bellosillo |
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
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.
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| Dr. Bellosillo and me |
