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Dr Liza Wong, (M.D, Ph.D), Specialist Cardiologist, Al-Futtaim HealthHub
Dr Liza Wong, (M.D, Ph.D), Specialist Cardiologist, Al-Futtaim HealthHub

Take simple steps to improve blood pressure, sugar and lipid levels significantly.

By Dr Liza Wong

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Published: Tue 29 Sep 2020, 11:09 AM

Last updated: Tue 29 Sep 2020, 1:18 PM

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, according to the World Health Organisation. Common examples of cardiovascular diseases are heart attacks and strokes. These occur because of fatty depositions on the inside of blood vessels, causing obstruction and insufficient blood flow to the organs (eg heart and brain). If the obstruction of the blood vessel becomes severe, oxygen deficit will occur in the organ and eventually this can cause significant damage to the organ, leading to heart failure, paralysis, cognitive impairment and even death. Stroke can also be caused by bleeding (haemorrhage).

What are symptoms of a heart attack or stroke?
Common symptoms of a heart attack are chest pain or discomfort and pain in the jaw, arms or shoulders. In addition, some people might feel shortness of breath, dizziness, profuse sweating, nausea or vomiting. Not everybody has the same symptoms and women can feel different (less typical) symptoms then men. Although not every chest pain means someone is having a heart attack, people who experience these symptoms are advised to get in touch with their doctor.

Symptoms of stroke can be weakness, numbness or paralysis of the face, arm or leg. Sometimes a stroke will present itself with less obvious symptoms like changed speech or difficulty to speak, loss of balance or dizziness, confusion, severe persisting headache or fainting.

These are only the most common symptoms. Should anyone have doubts about having cardiovascular disease, then they should contact their doctor.

What are the risk factors for a heart attack and stroke?
The risk of acquiring cardiovascular disease can be reduced significantly by modifying cardiovascular risk factors, which strongly depend on a person's lifestyle. Classical cardiovascular risk factors are high blood pressure, diabetes, use of tobacco, obesity, hyperlipidemia and sedentary lifestyle.

Being overweight, not exercising regularly, smoking and following an unhealthy diet can lead to high blood pressure, diabetes and hyperlipidemia. Reversely, by maintaining a healthy body weight, exercising regularly, cessation of tobacco use and following a healthy diet, a person's blood pressure, sugar and lipid levels can improve tremendously.

A healthy body weight means one's body mass index (BMI) is between 20 and 25 kg/m2, and waist circumference for men should be The recommendation for exercise is to do moderate intense exercise for at least 150 minutes a week or vigorous exercise for at least 75 minutes a week. Examples of moderate intense exercise are brisk walking, jogging or slow cycling and examples of vigorous exercise are running, cycling fast >15km/h or playing single tennis.

Since high blood pressure and high cholesterol frequently don't lead to any symptoms, it is advised by the American Heart Association that persons over the age of 20 years get their blood pressure checked once every two years and their cholesterol once every four to six years. If the blood pressure and/or cholesterol values are abnormal, the treating doctor will advise on how to proceed with the check ups and treatment.

Visit website www.healthhubalfuttaim.com, or call 800-2344 to book an appointment with Dr Liza Wong.


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