Erectile disfunction and CV diseases
BY PHILIP S. CHUA M.D FACS, FPCS
Erectile disfunction and CV diseases
PHILIP S. CHUA M.D FACS, FPCS
‘It is best for us to lower not only our daily carbo intake but also our intake of saturated fats.’
ERECTILE dysfunction (ED) is a strong predictor of death from all causes and of heart attack, stroke, and heart failure in men with cardiovascular disease (CVD)," according to a German study, published in the Circulation, a journal of the American Heart Association.
Men who have CVD and inability to have effective erection, compared to men with CVD but without ED, were "twice as likely to suffer death from all causes and 1.6 times more likely to suffer the composite of cardiovascular death, heart attack, stroke, and heart failure hospitalization," according to this research at the University of Saarland, Germany.
The report stated more specific data: these men "were 1.9 times more like to die from cardiovascular disease; twice likely to have a heart attack; 1.2 times more likely to have a stroke; and, 1.2 times more likely to be hospitalized for heart failure."
The lesson from the study is that men with erectile dysfunction should be checked for possible cardiovascular disease, just like those with high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol level, as risk factors for cardiovascular diseases.
Green tea for arthritis
Green tea, believe it or not, is good for rheumatoid arthritis, by harnessing the body’s immune defense system, thanks to its polyphenol content, an antioxidant. This study infers that young people drinking green tea may lessen or delay the onset of arthritis in later life.
Warning for those taking blood thinners, like Coumadin or heparin. Green tea contains a small amount of vitamin K that could interfere with the effectiveness of those anticoagulants.
Tai Chi for better sleep
If your sleep is usually light and you toss and turn at night, try doing Tai Chi, the slow motion, meditative exercise, developed by a martial art in China more than 2500 years ago. This is quite popular in Asia, where people, young and old, many octogenarians, assemble at a park and do tai chi, like a group ballet. Tai Chi also improves stability and balance, which helps reduce falls, especially among the elderly. During the exercise, the mind is focused on anything soothing and calm, inducing happy thoughts. This is both a physical and mental exercise regimen.
Vitamin D3 vs. cancer
Vitamin D, preferably D3, is a fabulous drug that has been relegated to the background as "just a vitamin like the others." In the past decade or so, its popularity catapulted when research showed that D 3 to be good for back pains, reduces risk for the onset of diabetes, and, more impressively, it lowers the risk of the development of cancer, like colon cancer. While our body produces Vitamin D, when exposed to the sun, the amount we get is not sufficient. The medical recommendation is a Vitamin D3 supplemental pill of 2,000 to 5,000 units daily, taken with the largest meal of the day for better absorption.
Massage reduces depression
Body massage, which made the spa business boom in many countries around the world, including the Philippines and its Asian neighbors, relieves stress and, even more importantly, eases depression. The soothing and mood uplifting effects could be due to the release of a natural body hormone called endorphins, which act like opium or morphine, stimulated by intimate physical touch and manipulation. The relief of anxiety and depression has been found to be comparable to the medical effect of anti-depressant medications.
‘Dirty’ and ‘clean’ produce
Organic foods are becoming more and more popular, and the more people choosing organic produce, the cheaper they will become in the future. Since using pesticides and other chemical in farming is universal, concerns abound about the health hazards these chemicals used on fruits and vegetables may cause, especially cancer. Organic produce are those where no pesticides and chemicals were used on the produce. The ones where chemicals are used are called "dirty" and those where no chemicals were utilized are labeled "clean." The dirty produce includes cherries, peaches, potatoes, nectarines, apples, strawberries, celeries, blueberries, spinach, bell peppers, imported grapes, kale, peaches. The "clean" ones are sweet corn, honeydew melon, sweat peas, cantaloupes, asparagus, watermelon, avocado, pineapple, cabbage, grapefruit, onions, sweet potatoes, mangoes, kiwi, eggplant. Basically, those with protective skin are "clean." When it comes to the produce that are "dirty," organic is the safer and healthier choice.
Fats also raise sugar level
Almost everyone knows that high saturated fat diet of red meat or egg yolk causes heart disease, but not many realize that eating fatty foods also raises the blood sugar level and the risk for the development of type 2 diabetes.
Insulin, which our body normally produces, is needed for blood sugar to enter the cells, for all the vital organs to work well, using sugar as the energy or fuel. When the body develops resistance to insulin, the sugar is unable to enter the cells, so blood sugar accumulates in the blood stream, causing hyperglycemia (high blood sugar level, as seen among diabetics), and body cells are damaged by abnormally high blood sugar as time goes by.
Eating fatty foods leads to the conversion of fats into ceramide, a chemical that accumulates in the muscles, causing insulin resistance, preventing sugar from entering the cells, thus cutting off the fuel or energy supply to them. Instead, the sugar floods the blood stream, elevating the blood sugar level, essential source of energy that could not be harnessed, blocked by ceramide.
Therefore, it is best for us to lower not only our daily carbo intake but also our intake of saturated fats, and maintaining our ideal caloric requirement, if we want to avoid heart disease and diabetes. Among those already with heart disease and/or diabetes, this discipline and control will also provide great benefits by warding off preventable complications, which are always worse than the diseases themselves.
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