Heart disease leading killer of Indonesians<\/p>\n
By D. Amidi<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Gone are the days when heart disease was a rare
\naffliction in Indonesia and people generally succumbed to old age
\nand its enfeebling shortcomings. In the 1950s, many people in
\nIndonesia died quiet and natural deaths. But it was a lot more
\npeaceful in the capital back then; no frustration from traffic
\nproblems like nowadays, for instance.<\/p>\n
Frustration is one of the sources of stress which, in most
\ncases, is harmful to man's most vital organ, the heart.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, it would be impossible to lead a completely
\nstressless life. Stress, in the good sense of the word, is
\nnecessary to fulfill one's ambitions. However, that is another
\nstory.<\/p>\n
Rapid advances in the economy and business over the last two
\ndecades have, in general, not fostered a healthy lifestyle.
\nExecutives, young and old alike, are leading increasingly more
\nsedentary lives, in which natural actions such as walking and
\nrunning have become almost uncommon.<\/p>\n
Most people are familiar with the businessman who takes a few
\nsteps to his car in the morning and, upon arrival at his office
\nbuilding, walks a few steps to enter the elevator, gets out on
\nfloor \"x\" and heads for his office a few meters away. In his
\noffice overlooking the busy Jl. Sudirman, the business executive
\nsettles down for the better part of the day in his comfortable
\nchair.<\/p>\n
Stress, lack of movement and a faulty diet are major factors
\nfound among an increasing number of people affected by coronary
\nheart disease in the country. So much so, a household survey held
\na few years ago in Jakarta strongly indicated the disease's rise
\ninto first place over other killer maladies in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Although age does play an important factor in contracting the
\naffliction, it is no longer unusual to find young people who have
\nbecome vulnerable to heart attacks because of a much more
\nbreathtaking lifestyle than their older contemporaries had led.<\/p>\n
With the country's economic advancement, today's executives
\nare putting in more work hours and have less rest and recreation
\ntime than businessmen in the 1950s, for instance.<\/p>\n
The disease often strikes men aged 30 years and up. It rarely
\naffects people under 30 years.<\/p>\n
Hypertension (high blood pressure) could also eventually lead
\nto heart disease. People with blood pressure readings ranging
\nbetween 150\/100 or 150\/95 are likely candidates for a coronary
\nheart attack. People with higher blood pressure readings than
\nthose just mentioned usually suffer a stroke instead of a heart
\nattack.<\/p>\n
Hypertension patients should watch their weight. They should
\navoid doing exhausting work which will put a strain on their
\nheart. This especially will be the case if one is overweight.<\/p>\n
Smoking also accelerates plaque formation, which is caused by
\ncarbon monoxide and dioxide gasses and the nicotine of
\ncigarettes.<\/p>\n
Diabetes Mellitus patients suffering from unmanageable blood
\nsugar levels, even with oral medication or insulin treatment, are
\nin all likeliness vulnerable to an imbalance of carbohydrate
\nmetabolism, which in turn raises triglyceride counts. This
\ncondition is a potential danger to the heart of a diabetic
\npatient.<\/p>\n
Genetics<\/p>\n
Aside from the aforementioned factors, genetics, the
\nhereditary factor, also comes into play as one of the causes of
\nheart disease. Research in Europe has strongly suggested that
\nheart disease in many cases was traceable to a long-running
\nfamily condition. There is also what is known as the X-factor,
\nindicating that a high iron content in the body could lead to
\ncoronary heart disease, according to a Norwegian research study.<\/p>\n
Heart attacks are mainly of the angina pectoris or
\nmyocard infarct type. The first affliction is caused by the
\nnarrowing of one or more branches of the coronary blood vessels,
\nand is accompanied by pains in the chest.<\/p>\n
Myocard infarct is a severely painful attack, lasting more
\nthan 20 minutes. It is accompanied by shortness of breath and
\ncold sweat. In such a condition, the narrowed blood vessel has
\nbeen totally obstructed, preventing blood from reaching the heart
\ntissues.<\/p>\n
Prevention<\/p>\n
Are there preventive measures to keep heart disease away?
\nPhysical exercise goes a long way in the prevention of cardiac
\ndiseases. However, people aged 35 years and older are better off
\nexercising in the evening instead of in the morning. This is
\nbecause most heart attacks have occurred in the early morning
\nhours. Research has disclosed that blood tends to clot easier in
\nthe morning hours, approximately between 4 a.m. and 9 a.m., which
\nis caused by low fibrinolitic action.<\/p>\n
Before taking up exercising, it is recommended to take a
\ntreadmill test first at a cardiac unit.<\/p>\n
A healthy diet of reduced fatty foods could decrease people's
\nchances of ending up with clogged arteries. Limit intake of
\ncarbohydrates like rice, bread and noodles. Eat more high fiber
\nfoods like cereals and seaweed.<\/p>\n
For those who already suffer from heart disease, heavy
\nexercise would not be commendable. Regular medication under the
\nsupervision of an expert is recommended.<\/p>\n
Hypertension patients should not exercise before their blood
\npressure is under control.<\/p>\n
Diabetics with blood sugar readings in excess of 140 mg after
\na two-hourly meal should regularly monitor their blood sugar
\nlevels.<\/p>\n
Blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels should be regularly
\nmonitored in a heart disease prevention plan, except for those
\nwho are aged 70 or over.<\/p>\n
Smokers should check this habit right away.<\/p>\n
Last but not least, pray to lessen stress. You would be
\nsurprised to find what praying can do to calm down a stressful
\nmind. Be grateful for the daily enjoyments God is bestowing upon
\nyou.<\/p>\n
What to do in case of a heart attack? In case of an acute
\nmyocardial infarct, the patient should be kept very still.
\nMovements would only widen the extent of the infarct, which could
\nlead in turn to heart failure and cardiac arrest.<\/p>\n
In case of a heart attack, the patient should be taken to a
\nhospital and enter the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).<\/p>\n
Myocard infarct patients who are not immediately treated in an
\nintensive care unit would have their life expectancy reduced by
\nas much as 85 percent. The mortality rate decreases to 42 percent
\nwhen such a patient is entered into an ICU.<\/p>\n
The writer is a cardiologist attached to several major
\nhospitals and a modern health clinic in the heart of Jakarta.<\/p>",
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