A heart-to-heart talk with Dr. Noel Rosas

MANILA, Philippines – Heart disease may be the number one cause of death among Filipinos (according to a Department of Health statistics website), but the good news is, it doesn’t take much to have a healthy heart. Dr. Noel Rosas, a cardiologist of the Makati Medical Center, says regular aerobic exercise, coupled with sensible eating habits and a clean, stress-free lifestyle, is enough to promote weight loss, lower your blood pressure and blood sugar levels, and elevate HDL (good cholesterol) while lowering LDL (bad cholesterol).

Begin a lifetime love affair with your heart. Dr. Rosas, who is also in the advocacy committee of the Philippine Heart Association, answers questions about the most hard-working muscle of the body.

Can negative emotions put you at risk of coronary heart disease?

DR. NOEL ROSAS: Emotional stress has so much impact on the cardiovascular system. During this state, particularly negative emotions prompt the surge of catecholamine such as adrenaline. This can reach such high levels that it causes the sudden increase in blood pressure, which may eventually damage the target organs.

Is alcohol really good for the heart?

Alcohol, in limited amounts, is okay. Red wine is preferred because studies have shown that it increases good cholesterol.

Are overweight persons the only ones at risk of a heart attack?

While being overweight is just one of the risk factors for cardiovascular disease, a person who isn’t overweight doesn’t mean he/she doesn’t have other risk factors associated with heart disease. The only advantage of a person who is not overweight or obese is he/she is not exposed to insulin resistance, which is a key factor in diabetes development.

Is drinking coffee bad for the heart?

There is no study to support the claim that coffee is bad for the heart.

Does coughing help when you’re having a heart attack?

Coughing does not help an individual who is having a heart attack. Instead, get bed rest and remove yourself from a stressful environment during the acute phase of a heart attack.

Is it true that eating eggs (which are rich in cholesterol) raises your risk of heart disease?

Eating eggs, particularly the yolk, will increase your bad cholesterol, which is a risk factor.

Does stress reduction help lower heart disease?

Yes, stress modification has a great impact in lowering heart disease. When you manage or reduce stress, you eliminate the surge of adrenaline which, if it routinely surges, has a detrimental effect on the vascular tree.

Do vitamins help prevent heart disease?

Large-scale, randomized studies and trials have shown that vitamins, particularly vitamin E, have no beneficial effect in lowering the incidence of heart disease or preventing it.

Can sex trigger a heart attack in men?

Based on studies, you don’t exert much effort in sexual activity to affect the function of the heart — unless if the coronary circulation is already compromised.

Does your heart stop beating when you sneeze?

The heart pumps continuously and doesn’t stop wherever you are or whatever you’re doing. It is only death that can make the heart stop.

* * *

For more information, visit Makati Medical Center’s Weight Wellness Center. Call its 24/7 hotline at 8888-999 or visit the Makati Med website at www.makatimed.net.ph.