Dearly departed

I was up in Genting for an off-site meeting when i heard about the news......"What! how? when?"

The festive and happy mood changed abruptly to a solemn one. My ex-director has passed on at a tender age of 52.

We weren't really that close but interacting with and working for him was really a privilege as most of us looked up to him as a mentor and father figure.

"Heard that it was due to a heart attack" replied my colleague.

Heart problem (CVD) is the number one killer in Malaysia. Genetics, ageing and certain diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure are common risk factors.

Modifiable risk factors (factors that you can control and change) such as stress, food intake and lifestyle changes could help reduce the risk. Many people have suffered from heart attack or stroke and survived it, only to face complications such as paralysis and lost of quality of life. Others, are not so lucky ..........they passed on.

Health tips on managing CVD:

1. Maintain ideal body weight (check your BMI from my last few posts)
2. Do not smoke
3. Limit alcohol consumption (as not to go overboard)
4. Exercise (helps lose weight, relieves stress and keeps the heart healthy)
5. Diet (go for more grains, vege and fruits...reduce intake of red meat, animal products and saturated fats)
6. Go for regular check-ups
7. If you noticed that you are having unexplained chest pains that radiate to the neck, shoulders and back, see a doctor immediately
8. Supplement your diet with Omega-3 fish oil (Omega-3 exerts anti-inflammatory actions and helps keep the circulatory system healthy by reducing blood pressure and blood lipids)
9. Manage stress wisely. Indulge in your favourite hobby such as listening to the music, yoga, reading, going for movies ...........(i am starting to enjoy more quiet activities such as fishing and my husband is into birding nowadays)
10. Be extra careful if you are suffering from high blood sugar, hypertension, obesity (esp around the waist), high cholesterol and TG levels which are collectively known as Syndrome X. Practising steps 1 to 9 may reduce your risks for CVD