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Tag: Lifestyle

  • Who Is Yan Liu? LPGA Golfer’s Personal Lifestyle and Professional Life Explored

    Who Is Yan Liu? LPGA Golfer’s Personal Lifestyle and Professional Life Explored

    Chinese sensation Yan Liu was born on July 7, 1997, in Beijing. With almost $250,000 in earnings in 2024, she has shown glimpses of her ability with some impressive performances. Her best round this season was a 66 that she shot during the Kroger Queen City Championship. ​

    She has been playing golf since she was 11 years old and turned pro when she was 19. She has credited her coaches for developing her interest in golf. She initially joined the Ladies European Tour and later went back to China. She went on to win her first professional title at the 2019 Hong Kong Ladies Open.

    How has Yan Liu’s career been so far?

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    Her first career win came in wire-to-wire fashion at the Four Winds Invitational in 2022. She also won the 2022 Redtail Women’s Championship that year, making it her first American win. She claimed that the win helped build her confidence and made her realize she could be successful on the LPGA Tour. She was elated after the win, as she said, “My first American win means a lot. I’m really proud of myself. This Tour and this tournament really help build my confidence so I can know I can make it to the LPGA Tour.”

    While playing on the Epson Tour in 2022, Liu managed four top-10 finishes. She also made 17 cuts in 21 starts, which established her as a rising star. This helped her secure an LPGA Tour Card for the 2023 season. She is ranked 94th in the CME Globe rankings in 2024. In 2023, Liu had a standout performance at the ShopRite LPGA Classic, where she finished solo in third place. This was the best result of the season for her.

    Although her first season was tumultuous, she did finish in the top 25 multiple times. Her season highlight has to be her hole-in-one that she shot during the 2024 Kroger Queen City Championship. This event also raised donations for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital by donating $20,000 for every ace. The initiative raised close to $300,000 for the hospital this year alone.

    Yan Liu’s personal life explored

    Although not much is known about her personal life, it seems like Liu likes working out, with her Instagram having a photo of her performing a very difficult stretch. She also regularly thanks the course staff after events for their efforts, which shows her compassion and empathy.

     

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    Her quiet yet confident demeanor on the course and her interviews show her mental strength. During her win at the 2022 Four Winds Invitational, Liu was in a three-way playoff after she lost her lead with bogeys on the 15th and 17th holes. She overcame a pressure situation by birdieing the 18th hole, forcing a playoff that she ultimately won. While discussing her journey in the LPGA in 2023, Liu made a statement saying, “I’m a generally shy person. [My coach] was able to show me how I could be expressive and outgoing on the course.”

    It is also important to note that Liu has also had to go through drastic cultural differences she must have had to face when making the switch to the LPGA. Calling it a “24-hour job,” she explained that her rigorous training, extensive travel, and strict diet were making her feel like she was “on her own in a new environment.” By overcoming such challenges early in her career, she seems to have developed a resilient mind and also gained the ability to adapt to changes. This is an important skill to have given how dynamic golf is as a sport.

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    What do you think of Yan Liu’s prospects? Let us know in the comments!

     

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  • Volkswagen T-Cross review: Tiny crossover with old-school charm, Lifestyle News

    Volkswagen T-Cross review: Tiny crossover with old-school charm, Lifestyle News

    In a world of electric this and digital that, it can be refreshing to come across something that reminds you of the analogue era, where you might have to actually do things yourself rather than get a computer to do it for you.

    The Volkswagen T-Cross does give off a bit of that old-school vibe while still having enough modern niceties to make it relevant in today’s age.

    What’s new on the T-Cross?

    As you can tell from the opening paragraph, the T-Cross is not exactly a new model, having been on sale here since 2019. The car has been given a very mild facelift to keep it updated, but in many ways it certainly feels its age.

    The changes are very minor, to say the least. There are new bumpers front and rear, which add a bit of length to the car. The lights are new as well, and look pretty fancy when they are illuminated at night. But other than that, the T-Cross looks pretty much the same as before.

    Inside, the T-Cross has a redesigned dashboard, with new touch-sensitive controls for the climate control system, as well as a new eight-inch infotainment screen.

    They’re subtle revisions, but Volkswagen has also opted to use higher-quality materials for the interior, which does elevate the cabin’s ambience somewhat.

    Is that it?

    Pretty much, but you’ll soon realise that much of the appeal of the T-Cross is that it doesn’t feel too caught up in the modern-day tech race, where everything is electric and controlled via a large screen.

    Purists might be delighted to find a traditional gear selector stick, along with a *gasp* manual handbrake lever, things that were common in cars 20 years ago but are increasingly rare now.

    Even the attempt at digitalisation, in the form of the infotainment screen, feels like a throwback. The eight-inch touchscreen is small by today’s standards, with many newer cars boasting huge screens that can rival those on laptops.

    But size doesn’t really matter in this case, because ultimately the T-Cross offers an intuitive and user-friendly experience with an infotainment system that’s easy to use and navigate.

    It also comes with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, as well as a pretty cool Beats audio system, which is all you need really for in-car entertainment.

    The rest of the car is as simple as it gets. There’s a decent amount of space at the back for two adults, perhaps three at a squeeze, and not much else.

    The boot offers a handy 385 litres’ worth of carrying capacity, which is not the largest, but there’s a neat trick where you can push the rear seats forward and enlarge the boot space to 455 litres.

    How does it drive then?

    Again, the T-Cross doesn’t boast anything fancy under the bonnet. The car is powered by a 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine that produces 114hp and 200Nm of torque. Fast, the T-Cross certainly is not, with 0-100km/h coming in a leisurely 10.3 seconds.

    Because there isn’t much power, you do have to push it quite a bit to make meaningful progress. But that also means that it is eager to rev to the redline, giving it an excitable and peppy demeanour that is reminiscent of some low-powered small cars from the 1990s.

    Ultimately though, the T-Cross is still an SUV, and while it handles with a good amount of liveliness and agility thanks to its compact size, the overall sensation is one of stability and surefootedness, without coming across as too enthusiastic.

    Similarly, the ride quality can mostly be described as competent. It is a bit firm, and the car can get unsettled if you go over a large bump quickly, but in most circumstances the T-Cross copes well enough to offer a comfortable driving experience.

    Should I buy one?

    That really depends. For those who feel that today’s modern cars, with their barrage of digital information and tech features, are overwhelming, the T-Cross offers a throwback of sorts with its simplistic setup and lack of frills.

    At the same time, it doesn’t feel too antiquated, with just enough modern features to make life that little bit more pleasant.

    It’s not perfect of course, but in many ways the T-Cross feels like a nice bridge between new age and old school, and sometimes just keeping things simple is good enough for some people.

    ALSO READ: Volkswagen ID.4 GTX review: More power but at a price

    benjamin.chia@asiaone.com

    No part of this article can be reproduced without permission from AsiaOne.

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  • Poor most hit on fertility front due to lifestyle issues: IVF specialist | Company News

    Poor most hit on fertility front due to lifestyle issues: IVF specialist | Company News

    Baby

    Smoking/tobacco chewing stands as another lifestyle choice with major implications for reproductive health, Dr Murdia highlighted

    4 min read Last Updated : Sep 22 2024 | 2:51 PM IST


    Infertility is not just a medical condition but a crisis fuelled by lifestyle choices, with infertility rates soaring particularly in lower-income groups and tier 2 and 3 cities where access to healthcare is limited, a top IVF specialist said.


    Dr Ajay Murdia, the man behind one of India’s largest fertility chain, Indira IVF, said while advancements in assisted reproductive technologies like In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) offer hope, it is a reality that the underprivileged who are hit hard.


    “Infertility rates are soaring, particularly in lower-income and tier 2 and 3 cities, where access to healthcare, nutrition, and education is limited,” Dr Murdia, founder and chairman of Indira IVF, told PTI.

     


    “Infertility is no longer just a medical issue; it’s a crisis fuelled by lifestyle choices that hit the underprivileged hardest. Without action, even advancements like IVF will remain out of reach for many,” he said.


    Lifestyle factors such as obesity, poor diet, smoking, and chronic stress, which are often exacerbated in marginalized communities due to lack of resources and awareness, are increasingly recognised as significant contributors to infertility.


    These issues go beyond personal health; they represent barriers to conception that have a more pronounced impact on those with fewer means, Dr Murdia stated.


    “Lifestyle choices in economically weaker sections, compounded by limited access to quality healthcare, are emerging as a central factor in the fertility crisis. The habits we often overlook, particularly in less affluent areas, are now influencing the capacity to conceive,” he noted.


    The scope of this crisis becomes evident when examining the startling statistics surrounding obesity and its impact on fertility.


    The World Health Organization reports that one in eight people worldwide is classified as obese,a condition that dramatically raises the risk of infertility.


    Obese women are three times more likely to struggle with infertility compared to those maintaining a healthy weight, while for men, every additional 9 kg beyond their ideal weight raises their risk of infertility by 10 per cent.


    These trends are often exacerbated in less affluent areas, where healthcare support and lifestyle interventions are scarce, he said.


    Smoking/tobacco chewing stands as another lifestyle choice with major implications for reproductive health, Dr Murdia highlighted.


    Studies show that female smokers have a 54 percent higher chance of delayed conception over a year compared to non-smokers, and men who smoke more than 20 cigarettes a day experience a 19 percent decline in sperm concentration, he said.


    This not only reduces the chances of natural conception but also complicates assisted reproductive technologies, such as IVF where smokers may require nearly twice as many cycles to achieve pregnancy, he said.


    These findings, published by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and the National Library of Medicine, underscore the severe impact of smoking on fertility and the necessity of public health strategies to address this issue.


    “Late marriages and delayed family planning in tier 2 and 3 cities add to the fertility crisis. While technology helps, the natural decline in fertility with age poses challenges many are unprepared for,” Dr Murdia said.


    The consequences of these lifestyle factors in lower-income communities extend beyond physical health, he said adding infertility can place an enormous emotional and psychological burden on individuals and families, leading to anxiety, depression, and strained relationships.


    This burden is often magnified for those in underprivileged areas, where social stigma around infertility is more pronounced and mental health support is limited, he highlighted.


    Addressing this growing fertility crisis requires a comprehensive approach that integrates medical advancements with proactive lifestyle changes and targeted support for underprivileged communities.


    Dr Murdia advocated increased awareness and education, particularly in tier 2 and 3 cities, stating, “By making informed lifestyle choices and enhancing access to affordable healthcare, we can create a more supportive environment for natural conception, especially for those who need it most”.


    “It is crucial to act now to ensure that dreams of aspiring parents are not dictated by their economic or social status.The urgency to address lifestyle factors, particularly among the poor and underprivileged, cannot be overstated. Ensuring a hopeful future for all aspiring parents, regardless of their economic standing, begins with the choices we make to support and promote reproductive health in every community,” he said.

    (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

    First Published: Sep 22 2024 | 2:51 PM IST

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  • Poor most hit on fertility front due to lifestyle issues: IVF specialist | Company News

    Poor most hit on fertility front due to lifestyle issues: IVF specialist | Company News

    Baby

    Smoking/tobacco chewing stands as another lifestyle choice with major implications for reproductive health, Dr Murdia highlighted

    4 min read Last Updated : Sep 22 2024 | 2:51 PM IST


    Infertility is not just a medical condition but a crisis fuelled by lifestyle choices, with infertility rates soaring particularly in lower-income groups and tier 2 and 3 cities where access to healthcare is limited, a top IVF specialist said.


    Dr Ajay Murdia, the man behind one of India’s largest fertility chain, Indira IVF, said while advancements in assisted reproductive technologies like In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) offer hope, it is a reality that the underprivileged who are hit hard.


    “Infertility rates are soaring, particularly in lower-income and tier 2 and 3 cities, where access to healthcare, nutrition, and education is limited,” Dr Murdia, founder and chairman of Indira IVF, told PTI.

     


    “Infertility is no longer just a medical issue; it’s a crisis fuelled by lifestyle choices that hit the underprivileged hardest. Without action, even advancements like IVF will remain out of reach for many,” he said.


    Lifestyle factors such as obesity, poor diet, smoking, and chronic stress, which are often exacerbated in marginalized communities due to lack of resources and awareness, are increasingly recognised as significant contributors to infertility.


    These issues go beyond personal health; they represent barriers to conception that have a more pronounced impact on those with fewer means, Dr Murdia stated.


    “Lifestyle choices in economically weaker sections, compounded by limited access to quality healthcare, are emerging as a central factor in the fertility crisis. The habits we often overlook, particularly in less affluent areas, are now influencing the capacity to conceive,” he noted.


    The scope of this crisis becomes evident when examining the startling statistics surrounding obesity and its impact on fertility.


    The World Health Organization reports that one in eight people worldwide is classified as obese,a condition that dramatically raises the risk of infertility.


    Obese women are three times more likely to struggle with infertility compared to those maintaining a healthy weight, while for men, every additional 9 kg beyond their ideal weight raises their risk of infertility by 10 per cent.


    These trends are often exacerbated in less affluent areas, where healthcare support and lifestyle interventions are scarce, he said.


    Smoking/tobacco chewing stands as another lifestyle choice with major implications for reproductive health, Dr Murdia highlighted.


    Studies show that female smokers have a 54 percent higher chance of delayed conception over a year compared to non-smokers, and men who smoke more than 20 cigarettes a day experience a 19 percent decline in sperm concentration, he said.


    This not only reduces the chances of natural conception but also complicates assisted reproductive technologies, such as IVF where smokers may require nearly twice as many cycles to achieve pregnancy, he said.


    These findings, published by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and the National Library of Medicine, underscore the severe impact of smoking on fertility and the necessity of public health strategies to address this issue.


    “Late marriages and delayed family planning in tier 2 and 3 cities add to the fertility crisis. While technology helps, the natural decline in fertility with age poses challenges many are unprepared for,” Dr Murdia said.


    The consequences of these lifestyle factors in lower-income communities extend beyond physical health, he said adding infertility can place an enormous emotional and psychological burden on individuals and families, leading to anxiety, depression, and strained relationships.


    This burden is often magnified for those in underprivileged areas, where social stigma around infertility is more pronounced and mental health support is limited, he highlighted.


    Addressing this growing fertility crisis requires a comprehensive approach that integrates medical advancements with proactive lifestyle changes and targeted support for underprivileged communities.


    Dr Murdia advocated increased awareness and education, particularly in tier 2 and 3 cities, stating, “By making informed lifestyle choices and enhancing access to affordable healthcare, we can create a more supportive environment for natural conception, especially for those who need it most”.


    “It is crucial to act now to ensure that dreams of aspiring parents are not dictated by their economic or social status.The urgency to address lifestyle factors, particularly among the poor and underprivileged, cannot be overstated. Ensuring a hopeful future for all aspiring parents, regardless of their economic standing, begins with the choices we make to support and promote reproductive health in every community,” he said.

    (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

    First Published: Sep 22 2024 | 2:51 PM IST

    Source link

  • Museveni at 80: Is it his lifestyle to thank for longevity or our cash?

    Museveni at 80: Is it his lifestyle to thank for longevity or our cash?

    President Museveni turned 80 this month. In a world where someone somewhere dies every minute — and for someone who took great risks to pursue state power — that is no mean feat. Many people will not live to be 80.

    Mr Museveni, who now celebrates his birthdays publicly, something he was not doing 15–20 years ago, told his grandchildren that they need to steer clear of alcohol and tobacco consumption to have good health. “If your health is good,” he said, “you can do a lot of things. “The President is right about the dangers of alcohol and tobacco use. 

    The World Health Organisation says more than 8 million people die from tobacco use every year while alcohol consumption contributes to 2.6 million deaths each year as well as to the disabilities and poor health of millions of people. Tobacco can also be deadly for non-smokers, and second-hand smoke exposure is blamed for adverse health outcomes, causing 1.2 million deaths annually. Mr Museveni neither smokes nor drinks. 

    But achieving longevity and having good health extends far beyond not being a smoker or an alcohol consumer. Access to top-flight healthcare is a major contributing factor. And for Mr Museveni, this is not a problem at all. He is in the happy position of never having to worry about medical bills because the taxpayer has his back. Think about this. Every single day, the State House spends Shs2.8 billion. This money can pay (every day) the salaries of 7,000 police officers earning Shs400,000 each. It is almost inconceivable that someone with access to this kind of money can fail to ward off any health challenges. They can afford the luxury of consulting a doctor anytime. 

    By contrast, a Ugandan who does not smoke, does not drink, like Mr Museveni, but is paid a meagre salary, which cannot meet medical bills, will not be able to consult a doctor even if they have to. Many educated Ugandans know that women, for example, have to go for breast cancer screening and men aged 50 and above have to be tested for prostate cancer. But they live from hand to mouth, and there is no government health facility that provides this service for free. 

    The taxpayer has to raise some money if they want these tests done. If Mr Museveni has done tests for prostate cancer and any other diseases that afflict people in middle age, he has used taxpayers’ money, of course. And he uses taxpayers’ money to have a medical team that accompanies his convoy when he is traversing Uganda. 

    Consequently, while Mr Museveni can tell Ugandans that he owes his longevity to a lifestyle that has shunned alcohol and tobacco use, the truth is that the taxes we pay (to which he has unfettered access and total control) have played a major part.I doubt that Mr Museveni would be hale and hearty at 80 if he lived like the vast majority of Ugandans: living in poverty, ignoring aches and pain in the body because there is no money to consult a doctor, having one meal a day, living near a garbage dump (think Kiteezi), etc. 

    Ugandans should heed Mr Museveni’s advice about tobacco and alcohol, but they also need to take note of this: Countries with the highest beer consumption per capita — Czech Republic, Germany, Austria and Ireland — have a higher life expectancy than Uganda. This means if you consume alcohol but you have a robust healthcare system and public health policies, you can mitigate negative health effects.

    Mr Namiti is a journalist and former Al Jazeera digital editor in charge of the
    Africa desk
    [email protected] @kazbuk

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  • Ground Floor Coffee which operated out of Pasir Ris HDB flat finds permanent home ‘a stone’s throw away’, Lifestyle News

    Ground Floor Coffee which operated out of Pasir Ris HDB flat finds permanent home ‘a stone’s throw away’, Lifestyle News

    Home-based business Ground Floor Coffee has made its comeback, shortly after announcing the closure of its operations last month.

    The coffee joint had made quite a stir when it first opened its doors (or windows, in their case) to customers in June 2022, selling coffee out of their ground-floor Pasir Ris HDB flat.

    Their brews not only drew a long queue — quite an unusual sight in the quiet HDB estate — but also went viral for its unusual concept.

    So it was not surprising that many were dismayed when its owner Adhwa Hasif announced the closure of their home-based business with the last day on Aug 18. No reasons were given at the time for the sudden decision.

    Subsequent posts on their Instagram page, however, hinted at a comeback.

    A video posted to page on Sept 20 showed “Ground Floor Coffee” stickers being pasted on plastic cups within what looked like a shop space.

    Excited responses from followers ensued: “Is this what I think it is?” 

    The same day, another video confirmed that they had found a more permanent, albeit separate, “home” for their business.

    “No matter what knocks you down in life, get back up and keep going. From Pasir Ris to the world,” stated the caption, which saw a “For Rent” sign being replaced by one which read “FOR GFC (Ground Floor Coffee)”.



    To a query which asked if the shop would still be in Pasir Ris, the account owner replied that it was “a stone’s throw away”.

    After the suspense, it was finally revealed yesterday (Sept 21) that the cafe is situated at East Village mall #01-53, located at 430 Upper Changi Road, near Simpang Bedok.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/DALzHskyJz3/?img_index=1

    The business also held its official opening yesterday. According to their Instagram bio, they are open Tuesdays to Sundays from 10am to 8pm.

    From what has been shared on social media, however, the shop is still primarily a takeaway outfit with no seats available for dining in.

    And while the location being a stone’s throw away from Pasir Ris is debatable, what’s not is the response to the opening, with many excitedly congratulating Hasif and his wife on their achievement.

    The takeaway coffee business is the brainchild of Hasif, a freelance photographer and self-taught barista.

    Speaking to AsiaOne two years ago, Hasif had shared how what began as a passion turned into a business operating out of his home window and which regularly sold out every day.

    “I honestly didn’t expect anything. I didn’t plan to make this as a business actually!”

    But life evidently had other plans.

    AsiaOne has reached out to Ground Floor Coffee to find out more.

    ALSO READ: ‘Savour 1 last brew’: Oriole Coffee + Bar to close after 16 years, will have 1-for-1 full-pint beer promotion

    candicecai@asiaone.com



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  • Prevent coronary heart disease through healthy lifestyle choices

    Prevent coronary heart disease through healthy lifestyle choices

    On World Heart Day, which will be observed on September 29, heart specialists from around the world will come together to discuss and pool their resources to drastically reduce the upward surge in heart diseases around the globe.

    The Sunday Observer spoke to Consultant Cardiologist Teaching Hospital, Kuliyapitiya, Dr. Wasantha K. Abeywickrama to find out more about these diseases, what had caused this frightening health trend once a disease of the elderly, but now affecting younger persons, and how they can be prevented. We also raised the questions as to why a separate day was needed to discuss these issues amidst so many other equally important and serious health topics.

    Excerpts.

    Q: Cardiovascular disease (CVDs) is now on the increase. How far should we be concerned about this unhealthy trend?

    A: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death globally, taking an estimated 17.9million lives each year worldwide. It is the leading cause of death in most developed countries and with a prevalence that is rapidly increasing in resource limited developing countries as well. The majority of CVD deaths are due to heart attacks and strokes, and one third of these deaths occur prematurely in people who are under 70 years of age.

    Dr. Wasantha K Abeywickrama Consultant cardiologist, Teaching Hospital Kuliyapitiya

    Dr. Wasantha K Abeywickrama
    Consultant cardiologist,
    Teaching Hospital Kuliyapitiya

    Healthy lifestyle habits lower the heart disease risk by 50 percent. The awareness of this number one killer is unsatisfactory globally. That’s why it is necessary to increase awareness among people worldwide. Although we cannot limit it to a single day, it is still necessary to set aside a special day for it.

    Q: What is its significance to the Sri Lankan community as a whole?

    A: On par with the world, in Sri Lanka too, coronary artery disease is the leading cause of death and strokes are the third cause of death. More than 20 percent of deaths are due to cardiovascular diseases.

    These deaths are increasing as result of increasing ageing population in Sri Lanka. These days we noticed an increasing trend of having heart attacks and strokes among young people as well.

    Therefore, it is very important to increase the awareness among our community amidst the economic crisis and unavailability of adequate resources.

    Q: How close is Sri Lanka to achieving the goal of World Health Day 2024 in educating the people on abstaining from unhealthy lifestyles and diets that lead to untimely deaths caused from heart attacks and related diseases like strokes?

    A: I feel that this is not satisfactory and we need to do more on educating the general public and even our health workers.

    Q: Since awareness-raising is the key as you rightly pointed out, and many people are still ignorant of even some of the basic facts about heart disease explain to us what Cardiovascular disease is.

    A: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a group of disorders of the heart and blood vessels. They include:

    Coronary artery disease – diseases of the blood vessels supplying the heart muscle. Cerebrovascular disease – diseases of the blood vessels supplying the brain. Peripheral arterial disease- disease of blood vessels supplying arms and legs. Other than that, it includes rheumatic heart disease and congenital heart diseases. Out of these, our main concern is coronary artery disease/ coronary heart disease, as it is a condition affecting your coronary arteries which supplies blood to your heart.

    Q: How does it occur?

    A: It occurs when a coronary artery blocks or narrows because of a build up plaque. Plaque is made up of fat, cholesterol, and other materials.

    Q: So who is most at risk of developing a heart disease?

    A: People who are aged 65 years or older are much more likely than younger people to suffer a heart attack,stroke. We as south Asians have a greater risk for it. And also, people who are having diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure), high cholesterol, obesity and people who are smokers.

    Q: Is this something that has happened overnight, or over a period of time?

    A: Actually, this process happens over a period of time (20 years) and this process of coronary artery narrowing is called atherosclerosis. In this process, plaques are built up in the walls of coronary arteries as well as other vessels. This plaque is made up of deposits of cholesterol and other substances in the artery. Plaque buildup causes narrowing of the lumen of the arteries over time which in turn can partially or totally block the blood flow.

    Q: How could increased high blood pressure, increased blood sugar levels, being obese or overweight also lead to heart damage?

    A: Compared with people without diabetes, those with diabetes have a higher prevalence of coronary heart disease (CHD), have a greater extent of coronary ischemia, and are more likely to have a myocardial infarction (MI) and silent myocardial ischemia. Both type I and type II diabetes are powerful and independent risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD), stroke, and peripheral arterial disease.

    Atherosclerosis accounts for virtually 80 percent of all deaths among diabetic patients. Prolonged exposure to hyperglycemia is now recognised as a major factor in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in diabetes. Hyperglycemia induces a large number of alterations at cellular level of vascular tissue that potentially accelerate the atherosclerotic process.

    The physical stress of hypertension on the arterial wall also results in the aggravation and acceleration of atherosclerosis, particularly of the coronary and cerebral vessels. Moreover, hypertension appears to increase the susceptibility of the small and large arteries to atherosclerose.

    Q: I have heard that many risk factors to heart diseases can be controlled or modified. What do you consider as the main risk factors for heart disease and which of them can be controlled? If so, how? Through modifying lifestyle?

    A: There are risk factors for heart disease that you have control over and others that you don’t.

    Uncontrollable risk factors for heart disease include

    Being male
    Older age
    Family history of heart disease
    Being postmenopausal

    Heart disease risk factors that you can control revolve around lifestyle. These include

    Smoking
    Unhealthy cholesterol numbers (see below)
    Uncontrolled high blood pressure
    Physical inactivity
    Obesity (having a BMI greater than 25)
    Uncontrolled diabetes
    Uncontrolled stress, depression, and anger
    Poor diet
    Alcohol use

    The most important behavioural risk factors for heart diseases and stroke are unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, tobacco use and harmful use of alcohol. The effects of behavioral risk factors may show up in individuals as raised blood pressure, raised blood glucose, raised blood lipids, and overweight and obesity.

    Cessation of tobacco use, reduction of salt in the diet, eating more fruit and vegetables, regular physical activity and avoiding harmful use of alcohol have been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

    Q: You mentioned that obesity is a risk factor. In Sri Lanka we now see a sharp rise in obesity among young and old alike. So could you please tell readers how being overweight can affect them.

    A: Overweight and obesity are defined by the World Health Organization as abnormal or excessive fat that accumulate and present a risk to health.

    Q: Can obesity be measured? If so, how?

    A: It is measured in body mass index (BMI), which is a person’s weight (in kilograms) divided by the square of his or her height (in meters). A person with a BMI of 30 or more is generally considered obese. A person with a BMI equal to or more than 25 is considered overweight.

    Cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality and morbidity has been shown to be elevated in those who are overweight, particularly with central deposition of adipose tissues. Obesity may be associated with hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, or insulin resistance, and elevated levels of fibrinogen and C-reactive protein, all of which increase the risk of CVD events.

    Here are three ways that obesity contributes to heart disease.

    It changes our cholesterol levels while it increases bad cholesterol (LDL), decreases the good high density lipoproteins and it leads to high blood pressure and poor glycemic control.

    Q: How does high cholesterol lead to heart disease?

    A: With high cholesterol, you can develop fatty deposits in your blood vessels. Eventually, these deposits grow, making it difficult for blood to flow through your arteries. Sometimes, those deposits can break suddenly and form a clot that causes a heart attack or stroke.

    Factors that increase the risk of developing high cholesterol levels include too much fat in the diet, obesity,and insufficient exercise. A genetic form of high cholesterol known as familial hyperlipidemia is often difficult to control, even through diet and medication. Excessive alcohol intake can raise LDL cholesterol and also contribute to heart disease. Smoking can lower the HDL cholesterol and modify other types of cholesterol to bad forms.

    Q: Can medicinal drugs also lead to heart disease?

    A: Some drugs can increase cholesterol, including estrogen and birth control pills and antidepressants. Some diseases, including diabetes, hypothyroidism, kidney disorders, and polycystic ovarian syndrome, are associated with high cholesterol.

    Q: Smoking cigarettes and other tobacco related items is said to be the main or one of the leading causes for heart disease according to new studies. What do you say?

    A: Smoking has a large impact on heart disease and stroke. Smoking causes these effects by several mechanisms such as causing long term increase in blood pressure, increasing the heart rate , increasing the process of atherosclerosis and damaging the blood vessels and also by reducing the amount of oxygen that reaches the tissues.

    Passive smoking can cause coronary artery disease and stroke. Also, it poses health hazards to pregnant women, infants and young children as well.

    Q: Currently we are seeing a rapid inflow of illegal hard drugs into the country. The common opinion of specialists is that using certain drugs increases risks of heart disease? If so, cite a few commonly used.

    A: Some drugs and chemical substances can cause MI, and their mechanisms can be different: from a direct toxic effect on cardiomyocytes to probably the most common mechanism, which is vasospasm. There are cases of MI caused by chemotherapeutics. Also it is well known that the risk of MI after using such substances like ecstasy, methamphetamine, LSD, cocaine, heroin, cannabis and volatile substances (propane-butane).

    The consumption of recreational drugs has reached epidemic proportions targeting mainly young people. Drug use is commonly associated with complications, including an increased risk of premature death. In particular, recreational drugs have profound effects on cardiovascular function.

    Q: We are now living in a fast paced age driven by the pressure of performing par excellence in our work place, school. Could this stress lead to heart disease?

    A: According to the studies many psychosocial factors such as anger, anxiety, depression and stress have association with coronary artery disease.

    Anger cause increased production of stress hormones called catecholamines. These increase blood pressure and play a role in forming artery clogging plaque.

    Q: Alcohol? Can excessive alcohol intake lead to heart disease? If so, how?

    A: Heavy drinking, on the other hand, is linked to a number of poor health outcomes, including heart conditions. Excessive alcohol intake can lead to high blood pressure, heart failure or stroke. Also, it can cause cardiomyopathy, a disorder that affects heart muscle and rhythm abnormalities.

    Q: How important is a healthy nutritious diet to laying the foundation for healthy hearts?

    A: It’s very important. Healthy food choices can extend longevity and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension and it helps with weight management and improve health related quality of life.

    Q: If one wants to prevent a likelihood of heart disease what is the advice you will give? What are the key factors to preventing heart disease?

    A: 50-80 percent of premature heart attacks and strokes are preventable. That’s why preventive measures are so important. Healthy diet.regular physical activity, not using tobacco products are keys for prevention. Checking and controlling risk factors for heart disease and stroke such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and high blood sugar is also very important.

    Q: If detected and treated early can their harmful impacts be reduced or eliminated?

    A: If you have the gumption to make changes to your lifestyle, yes you can indeed reverse coronary artery disease.

    Q: Treatment-wise how do you treat a heart patient? Is it a blanket treatment for all or tailor made for each specific need of every patient?

    A: It is tailor-made treatment to suit individual conditions. We follow evidence based practice and the current recommendation which are published international guidelines.

    Q: Now that we have moved towards a hi-tech age, what are the most recent interventions for diagnosis/ treatment available for Lankan heart patients?

    A: Cardiac catheterisation and angiogram which is a diagnostic and therapeutic procedure.

    In this procedure a catheter is gently guided to the heart. X-rays help guide it. Dye flows through the catheter. The dye helps blood vessels show up better on the images and outlines any blockages. Andstents are placed to the blockages to reestablish the flow. New technique called Drug coating balloon (DCB) used to remove the block rather than putting stent

    Rotablation can be used to remove the calcium in the plaque coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) ; these are non-invasive methods to visualize the heart and blood vessels.

    Q: Any do’s and Don’ts for our readers on how to avoid or minimise risks of heart problems?

    A: 

    Do’s

    Regular exercise as a daily routine about 30 minutes

    Adequate sleep

    Maintain healthy weight

    Manage stress

    Get done regular screening tests

    Have good glycemic control if you are a diabetic

    Attend to health care early if you have chest pain, epigastric pain or short of breath

    Don’ts

    Don’t smoke or use tobacco and consume alcohol

    Don’t bottle up frustration and depression

    Don’t neglect Diabetes

    Most importantly, don’t assume that you are not at risk.

    Don’t assume that you are having gastritis when you have chest pain



    Source link

  • Prevent coronary heart disease through healthy lifestyle choices

    Prevent coronary heart disease through healthy lifestyle choices

    On World Heart Day, which will be observed on September 29, heart specialists from around the world will come together to discuss and pool their resources to drastically reduce the upward surge in heart diseases around the globe.

    The Sunday Observer spoke to Consultant Cardiologist Teaching Hospital, Kuliyapitiya, Dr. Wasantha K. Abeywickrama to find out more about these diseases, what had caused this frightening health trend once a disease of the elderly, but now affecting younger persons, and how they can be prevented. We also raised the questions as to why a separate day was needed to discuss these issues amidst so many other equally important and serious health topics.

    Excerpts.

    Q: Cardiovascular disease (CVDs) is now on the increase. How far should we be concerned about this unhealthy trend?

    A: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death globally, taking an estimated 17.9million lives each year worldwide. It is the leading cause of death in most developed countries and with a prevalence that is rapidly increasing in resource limited developing countries as well. The majority of CVD deaths are due to heart attacks and strokes, and one third of these deaths occur prematurely in people who are under 70 years of age.

    Dr. Wasantha K Abeywickrama Consultant cardiologist, Teaching Hospital Kuliyapitiya

    Dr. Wasantha K Abeywickrama
    Consultant cardiologist,
    Teaching Hospital Kuliyapitiya

    Healthy lifestyle habits lower the heart disease risk by 50 percent. The awareness of this number one killer is unsatisfactory globally. That’s why it is necessary to increase awareness among people worldwide. Although we cannot limit it to a single day, it is still necessary to set aside a special day for it.

    Q: What is its significance to the Sri Lankan community as a whole?

    A: On par with the world, in Sri Lanka too, coronary artery disease is the leading cause of death and strokes are the third cause of death. More than 20 percent of deaths are due to cardiovascular diseases.

    These deaths are increasing as result of increasing ageing population in Sri Lanka. These days we noticed an increasing trend of having heart attacks and strokes among young people as well.

    Therefore, it is very important to increase the awareness among our community amidst the economic crisis and unavailability of adequate resources.

    Q: How close is Sri Lanka to achieving the goal of World Health Day 2024 in educating the people on abstaining from unhealthy lifestyles and diets that lead to untimely deaths caused from heart attacks and related diseases like strokes?

    A: I feel that this is not satisfactory and we need to do more on educating the general public and even our health workers.

    Q: Since awareness-raising is the key as you rightly pointed out, and many people are still ignorant of even some of the basic facts about heart disease explain to us what Cardiovascular disease is.

    A: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a group of disorders of the heart and blood vessels. They include:

    Coronary artery disease – diseases of the blood vessels supplying the heart muscle. Cerebrovascular disease – diseases of the blood vessels supplying the brain. Peripheral arterial disease- disease of blood vessels supplying arms and legs. Other than that, it includes rheumatic heart disease and congenital heart diseases. Out of these, our main concern is coronary artery disease/ coronary heart disease, as it is a condition affecting your coronary arteries which supplies blood to your heart.

    Q: How does it occur?

    A: It occurs when a coronary artery blocks or narrows because of a build up plaque. Plaque is made up of fat, cholesterol, and other materials.

    Q: So who is most at risk of developing a heart disease?

    A: People who are aged 65 years or older are much more likely than younger people to suffer a heart attack,stroke. We as south Asians have a greater risk for it. And also, people who are having diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure), high cholesterol, obesity and people who are smokers.

    Q: Is this something that has happened overnight, or over a period of time?

    A: Actually, this process happens over a period of time (20 years) and this process of coronary artery narrowing is called atherosclerosis. In this process, plaques are built up in the walls of coronary arteries as well as other vessels. This plaque is made up of deposits of cholesterol and other substances in the artery. Plaque buildup causes narrowing of the lumen of the arteries over time which in turn can partially or totally block the blood flow.

    Q: How could increased high blood pressure, increased blood sugar levels, being obese or overweight also lead to heart damage?

    A: Compared with people without diabetes, those with diabetes have a higher prevalence of coronary heart disease (CHD), have a greater extent of coronary ischemia, and are more likely to have a myocardial infarction (MI) and silent myocardial ischemia. Both type I and type II diabetes are powerful and independent risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD), stroke, and peripheral arterial disease.

    Atherosclerosis accounts for virtually 80 percent of all deaths among diabetic patients. Prolonged exposure to hyperglycemia is now recognised as a major factor in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in diabetes. Hyperglycemia induces a large number of alterations at cellular level of vascular tissue that potentially accelerate the atherosclerotic process.

    The physical stress of hypertension on the arterial wall also results in the aggravation and acceleration of atherosclerosis, particularly of the coronary and cerebral vessels. Moreover, hypertension appears to increase the susceptibility of the small and large arteries to atherosclerose.

    Q: I have heard that many risk factors to heart diseases can be controlled or modified. What do you consider as the main risk factors for heart disease and which of them can be controlled? If so, how? Through modifying lifestyle?

    A: There are risk factors for heart disease that you have control over and others that you don’t.

    Uncontrollable risk factors for heart disease include

    Being male
    Older age
    Family history of heart disease
    Being postmenopausal

    Heart disease risk factors that you can control revolve around lifestyle. These include

    Smoking
    Unhealthy cholesterol numbers (see below)
    Uncontrolled high blood pressure
    Physical inactivity
    Obesity (having a BMI greater than 25)
    Uncontrolled diabetes
    Uncontrolled stress, depression, and anger
    Poor diet
    Alcohol use

    The most important behavioural risk factors for heart diseases and stroke are unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, tobacco use and harmful use of alcohol. The effects of behavioral risk factors may show up in individuals as raised blood pressure, raised blood glucose, raised blood lipids, and overweight and obesity.

    Cessation of tobacco use, reduction of salt in the diet, eating more fruit and vegetables, regular physical activity and avoiding harmful use of alcohol have been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

    Q: You mentioned that obesity is a risk factor. In Sri Lanka we now see a sharp rise in obesity among young and old alike. So could you please tell readers how being overweight can affect them.

    A: Overweight and obesity are defined by the World Health Organization as abnormal or excessive fat that accumulate and present a risk to health.

    Q: Can obesity be measured? If so, how?

    A: It is measured in body mass index (BMI), which is a person’s weight (in kilograms) divided by the square of his or her height (in meters). A person with a BMI of 30 or more is generally considered obese. A person with a BMI equal to or more than 25 is considered overweight.

    Cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality and morbidity has been shown to be elevated in those who are overweight, particularly with central deposition of adipose tissues. Obesity may be associated with hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, or insulin resistance, and elevated levels of fibrinogen and C-reactive protein, all of which increase the risk of CVD events.

    Here are three ways that obesity contributes to heart disease.

    It changes our cholesterol levels while it increases bad cholesterol (LDL), decreases the good high density lipoproteins and it leads to high blood pressure and poor glycemic control.

    Q: How does high cholesterol lead to heart disease?

    A: With high cholesterol, you can develop fatty deposits in your blood vessels. Eventually, these deposits grow, making it difficult for blood to flow through your arteries. Sometimes, those deposits can break suddenly and form a clot that causes a heart attack or stroke.

    Factors that increase the risk of developing high cholesterol levels include too much fat in the diet, obesity,and insufficient exercise. A genetic form of high cholesterol known as familial hyperlipidemia is often difficult to control, even through diet and medication. Excessive alcohol intake can raise LDL cholesterol and also contribute to heart disease. Smoking can lower the HDL cholesterol and modify other types of cholesterol to bad forms.

    Q: Can medicinal drugs also lead to heart disease?

    A: Some drugs can increase cholesterol, including estrogen and birth control pills and antidepressants. Some diseases, including diabetes, hypothyroidism, kidney disorders, and polycystic ovarian syndrome, are associated with high cholesterol.

    Q: Smoking cigarettes and other tobacco related items is said to be the main or one of the leading causes for heart disease according to new studies. What do you say?

    A: Smoking has a large impact on heart disease and stroke. Smoking causes these effects by several mechanisms such as causing long term increase in blood pressure, increasing the heart rate , increasing the process of atherosclerosis and damaging the blood vessels and also by reducing the amount of oxygen that reaches the tissues.

    Passive smoking can cause coronary artery disease and stroke. Also, it poses health hazards to pregnant women, infants and young children as well.

    Q: Currently we are seeing a rapid inflow of illegal hard drugs into the country. The common opinion of specialists is that using certain drugs increases risks of heart disease? If so, cite a few commonly used.

    A: Some drugs and chemical substances can cause MI, and their mechanisms can be different: from a direct toxic effect on cardiomyocytes to probably the most common mechanism, which is vasospasm. There are cases of MI caused by chemotherapeutics. Also it is well known that the risk of MI after using such substances like ecstasy, methamphetamine, LSD, cocaine, heroin, cannabis and volatile substances (propane-butane).

    The consumption of recreational drugs has reached epidemic proportions targeting mainly young people. Drug use is commonly associated with complications, including an increased risk of premature death. In particular, recreational drugs have profound effects on cardiovascular function.

    Q: We are now living in a fast paced age driven by the pressure of performing par excellence in our work place, school. Could this stress lead to heart disease?

    A: According to the studies many psychosocial factors such as anger, anxiety, depression and stress have association with coronary artery disease.

    Anger cause increased production of stress hormones called catecholamines. These increase blood pressure and play a role in forming artery clogging plaque.

    Q: Alcohol? Can excessive alcohol intake lead to heart disease? If so, how?

    A: Heavy drinking, on the other hand, is linked to a number of poor health outcomes, including heart conditions. Excessive alcohol intake can lead to high blood pressure, heart failure or stroke. Also, it can cause cardiomyopathy, a disorder that affects heart muscle and rhythm abnormalities.

    Q: How important is a healthy nutritious diet to laying the foundation for healthy hearts?

    A: It’s very important. Healthy food choices can extend longevity and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension and it helps with weight management and improve health related quality of life.

    Q: If one wants to prevent a likelihood of heart disease what is the advice you will give? What are the key factors to preventing heart disease?

    A: 50-80 percent of premature heart attacks and strokes are preventable. That’s why preventive measures are so important. Healthy diet.regular physical activity, not using tobacco products are keys for prevention. Checking and controlling risk factors for heart disease and stroke such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and high blood sugar is also very important.

    Q: If detected and treated early can their harmful impacts be reduced or eliminated?

    A: If you have the gumption to make changes to your lifestyle, yes you can indeed reverse coronary artery disease.

    Q: Treatment-wise how do you treat a heart patient? Is it a blanket treatment for all or tailor made for each specific need of every patient?

    A: It is tailor-made treatment to suit individual conditions. We follow evidence based practice and the current recommendation which are published international guidelines.

    Q: Now that we have moved towards a hi-tech age, what are the most recent interventions for diagnosis/ treatment available for Lankan heart patients?

    A: Cardiac catheterisation and angiogram which is a diagnostic and therapeutic procedure.

    In this procedure a catheter is gently guided to the heart. X-rays help guide it. Dye flows through the catheter. The dye helps blood vessels show up better on the images and outlines any blockages. Andstents are placed to the blockages to reestablish the flow. New technique called Drug coating balloon (DCB) used to remove the block rather than putting stent

    Rotablation can be used to remove the calcium in the plaque coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) ; these are non-invasive methods to visualize the heart and blood vessels.

    Q: Any do’s and Don’ts for our readers on how to avoid or minimise risks of heart problems?

    A: 

    Do’s

    Regular exercise as a daily routine about 30 minutes

    Adequate sleep

    Maintain healthy weight

    Manage stress

    Get done regular screening tests

    Have good glycemic control if you are a diabetic

    Attend to health care early if you have chest pain, epigastric pain or short of breath

    Don’ts

    Don’t smoke or use tobacco and consume alcohol

    Don’t bottle up frustration and depression

    Don’t neglect Diabetes

    Most importantly, don’t assume that you are not at risk.

    Don’t assume that you are having gastritis when you have chest pain



    Source link

  • Prevent coronary heart disease through healthy lifestyle choices

    Prevent coronary heart disease through healthy lifestyle choices

    On World Heart Day, which will be observed on September 29, heart specialists from around the world will come together to discuss and pool their resources to drastically reduce the upward surge in heart diseases around the globe.

    The Sunday Observer spoke to Consultant Cardiologist Teaching Hospital, Kuliyapitiya, Dr. Wasantha K. Abeywickrama to find out more about these diseases, what had caused this frightening health trend once a disease of the elderly, but now affecting younger persons, and how they can be prevented. We also raised the questions as to why a separate day was needed to discuss these issues amidst so many other equally important and serious health topics.

    Excerpts.

    Q: Cardiovascular disease (CVDs) is now on the increase. How far should we be concerned about this unhealthy trend?

    A: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death globally, taking an estimated 17.9million lives each year worldwide. It is the leading cause of death in most developed countries and with a prevalence that is rapidly increasing in resource limited developing countries as well. The majority of CVD deaths are due to heart attacks and strokes, and one third of these deaths occur prematurely in people who are under 70 years of age.

    Dr. Wasantha K Abeywickrama Consultant cardiologist, Teaching Hospital Kuliyapitiya

    Dr. Wasantha K Abeywickrama
    Consultant cardiologist,
    Teaching Hospital Kuliyapitiya

    Healthy lifestyle habits lower the heart disease risk by 50 percent. The awareness of this number one killer is unsatisfactory globally. That’s why it is necessary to increase awareness among people worldwide. Although we cannot limit it to a single day, it is still necessary to set aside a special day for it.

    Q: What is its significance to the Sri Lankan community as a whole?

    A: On par with the world, in Sri Lanka too, coronary artery disease is the leading cause of death and strokes are the third cause of death. More than 20 percent of deaths are due to cardiovascular diseases.

    These deaths are increasing as result of increasing ageing population in Sri Lanka. These days we noticed an increasing trend of having heart attacks and strokes among young people as well.

    Therefore, it is very important to increase the awareness among our community amidst the economic crisis and unavailability of adequate resources.

    Q: How close is Sri Lanka to achieving the goal of World Health Day 2024 in educating the people on abstaining from unhealthy lifestyles and diets that lead to untimely deaths caused from heart attacks and related diseases like strokes?

    A: I feel that this is not satisfactory and we need to do more on educating the general public and even our health workers.

    Q: Since awareness-raising is the key as you rightly pointed out, and many people are still ignorant of even some of the basic facts about heart disease explain to us what Cardiovascular disease is.

    A: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a group of disorders of the heart and blood vessels. They include:

    Coronary artery disease – diseases of the blood vessels supplying the heart muscle. Cerebrovascular disease – diseases of the blood vessels supplying the brain. Peripheral arterial disease- disease of blood vessels supplying arms and legs. Other than that, it includes rheumatic heart disease and congenital heart diseases. Out of these, our main concern is coronary artery disease/ coronary heart disease, as it is a condition affecting your coronary arteries which supplies blood to your heart.

    Q: How does it occur?

    A: It occurs when a coronary artery blocks or narrows because of a build up plaque. Plaque is made up of fat, cholesterol, and other materials.

    Q: So who is most at risk of developing a heart disease?

    A: People who are aged 65 years or older are much more likely than younger people to suffer a heart attack,stroke. We as south Asians have a greater risk for it. And also, people who are having diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure), high cholesterol, obesity and people who are smokers.

    Q: Is this something that has happened overnight, or over a period of time?

    A: Actually, this process happens over a period of time (20 years) and this process of coronary artery narrowing is called atherosclerosis. In this process, plaques are built up in the walls of coronary arteries as well as other vessels. This plaque is made up of deposits of cholesterol and other substances in the artery. Plaque buildup causes narrowing of the lumen of the arteries over time which in turn can partially or totally block the blood flow.

    Q: How could increased high blood pressure, increased blood sugar levels, being obese or overweight also lead to heart damage?

    A: Compared with people without diabetes, those with diabetes have a higher prevalence of coronary heart disease (CHD), have a greater extent of coronary ischemia, and are more likely to have a myocardial infarction (MI) and silent myocardial ischemia. Both type I and type II diabetes are powerful and independent risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD), stroke, and peripheral arterial disease.

    Atherosclerosis accounts for virtually 80 percent of all deaths among diabetic patients. Prolonged exposure to hyperglycemia is now recognised as a major factor in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in diabetes. Hyperglycemia induces a large number of alterations at cellular level of vascular tissue that potentially accelerate the atherosclerotic process.

    The physical stress of hypertension on the arterial wall also results in the aggravation and acceleration of atherosclerosis, particularly of the coronary and cerebral vessels. Moreover, hypertension appears to increase the susceptibility of the small and large arteries to atherosclerose.

    Q: I have heard that many risk factors to heart diseases can be controlled or modified. What do you consider as the main risk factors for heart disease and which of them can be controlled? If so, how? Through modifying lifestyle?

    A: There are risk factors for heart disease that you have control over and others that you don’t.

    Uncontrollable risk factors for heart disease include

    Being male
    Older age
    Family history of heart disease
    Being postmenopausal

    Heart disease risk factors that you can control revolve around lifestyle. These include

    Smoking
    Unhealthy cholesterol numbers (see below)
    Uncontrolled high blood pressure
    Physical inactivity
    Obesity (having a BMI greater than 25)
    Uncontrolled diabetes
    Uncontrolled stress, depression, and anger
    Poor diet
    Alcohol use

    The most important behavioural risk factors for heart diseases and stroke are unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, tobacco use and harmful use of alcohol. The effects of behavioral risk factors may show up in individuals as raised blood pressure, raised blood glucose, raised blood lipids, and overweight and obesity.

    Cessation of tobacco use, reduction of salt in the diet, eating more fruit and vegetables, regular physical activity and avoiding harmful use of alcohol have been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

    Q: You mentioned that obesity is a risk factor. In Sri Lanka we now see a sharp rise in obesity among young and old alike. So could you please tell readers how being overweight can affect them.

    A: Overweight and obesity are defined by the World Health Organization as abnormal or excessive fat that accumulate and present a risk to health.

    Q: Can obesity be measured? If so, how?

    A: It is measured in body mass index (BMI), which is a person’s weight (in kilograms) divided by the square of his or her height (in meters). A person with a BMI of 30 or more is generally considered obese. A person with a BMI equal to or more than 25 is considered overweight.

    Cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality and morbidity has been shown to be elevated in those who are overweight, particularly with central deposition of adipose tissues. Obesity may be associated with hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, or insulin resistance, and elevated levels of fibrinogen and C-reactive protein, all of which increase the risk of CVD events.

    Here are three ways that obesity contributes to heart disease.

    It changes our cholesterol levels while it increases bad cholesterol (LDL), decreases the good high density lipoproteins and it leads to high blood pressure and poor glycemic control.

    Q: How does high cholesterol lead to heart disease?

    A: With high cholesterol, you can develop fatty deposits in your blood vessels. Eventually, these deposits grow, making it difficult for blood to flow through your arteries. Sometimes, those deposits can break suddenly and form a clot that causes a heart attack or stroke.

    Factors that increase the risk of developing high cholesterol levels include too much fat in the diet, obesity,and insufficient exercise. A genetic form of high cholesterol known as familial hyperlipidemia is often difficult to control, even through diet and medication. Excessive alcohol intake can raise LDL cholesterol and also contribute to heart disease. Smoking can lower the HDL cholesterol and modify other types of cholesterol to bad forms.

    Q: Can medicinal drugs also lead to heart disease?

    A: Some drugs can increase cholesterol, including estrogen and birth control pills and antidepressants. Some diseases, including diabetes, hypothyroidism, kidney disorders, and polycystic ovarian syndrome, are associated with high cholesterol.

    Q: Smoking cigarettes and other tobacco related items is said to be the main or one of the leading causes for heart disease according to new studies. What do you say?

    A: Smoking has a large impact on heart disease and stroke. Smoking causes these effects by several mechanisms such as causing long term increase in blood pressure, increasing the heart rate , increasing the process of atherosclerosis and damaging the blood vessels and also by reducing the amount of oxygen that reaches the tissues.

    Passive smoking can cause coronary artery disease and stroke. Also, it poses health hazards to pregnant women, infants and young children as well.

    Q: Currently we are seeing a rapid inflow of illegal hard drugs into the country. The common opinion of specialists is that using certain drugs increases risks of heart disease? If so, cite a few commonly used.

    A: Some drugs and chemical substances can cause MI, and their mechanisms can be different: from a direct toxic effect on cardiomyocytes to probably the most common mechanism, which is vasospasm. There are cases of MI caused by chemotherapeutics. Also it is well known that the risk of MI after using such substances like ecstasy, methamphetamine, LSD, cocaine, heroin, cannabis and volatile substances (propane-butane).

    The consumption of recreational drugs has reached epidemic proportions targeting mainly young people. Drug use is commonly associated with complications, including an increased risk of premature death. In particular, recreational drugs have profound effects on cardiovascular function.

    Q: We are now living in a fast paced age driven by the pressure of performing par excellence in our work place, school. Could this stress lead to heart disease?

    A: According to the studies many psychosocial factors such as anger, anxiety, depression and stress have association with coronary artery disease.

    Anger cause increased production of stress hormones called catecholamines. These increase blood pressure and play a role in forming artery clogging plaque.

    Q: Alcohol? Can excessive alcohol intake lead to heart disease? If so, how?

    A: Heavy drinking, on the other hand, is linked to a number of poor health outcomes, including heart conditions. Excessive alcohol intake can lead to high blood pressure, heart failure or stroke. Also, it can cause cardiomyopathy, a disorder that affects heart muscle and rhythm abnormalities.

    Q: How important is a healthy nutritious diet to laying the foundation for healthy hearts?

    A: It’s very important. Healthy food choices can extend longevity and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension and it helps with weight management and improve health related quality of life.

    Q: If one wants to prevent a likelihood of heart disease what is the advice you will give? What are the key factors to preventing heart disease?

    A: 50-80 percent of premature heart attacks and strokes are preventable. That’s why preventive measures are so important. Healthy diet.regular physical activity, not using tobacco products are keys for prevention. Checking and controlling risk factors for heart disease and stroke such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and high blood sugar is also very important.

    Q: If detected and treated early can their harmful impacts be reduced or eliminated?

    A: If you have the gumption to make changes to your lifestyle, yes you can indeed reverse coronary artery disease.

    Q: Treatment-wise how do you treat a heart patient? Is it a blanket treatment for all or tailor made for each specific need of every patient?

    A: It is tailor-made treatment to suit individual conditions. We follow evidence based practice and the current recommendation which are published international guidelines.

    Q: Now that we have moved towards a hi-tech age, what are the most recent interventions for diagnosis/ treatment available for Lankan heart patients?

    A: Cardiac catheterisation and angiogram which is a diagnostic and therapeutic procedure.

    In this procedure a catheter is gently guided to the heart. X-rays help guide it. Dye flows through the catheter. The dye helps blood vessels show up better on the images and outlines any blockages. Andstents are placed to the blockages to reestablish the flow. New technique called Drug coating balloon (DCB) used to remove the block rather than putting stent

    Rotablation can be used to remove the calcium in the plaque coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) ; these are non-invasive methods to visualize the heart and blood vessels.

    Q: Any do’s and Don’ts for our readers on how to avoid or minimise risks of heart problems?

    A: 

    Do’s

    Regular exercise as a daily routine about 30 minutes

    Adequate sleep

    Maintain healthy weight

    Manage stress

    Get done regular screening tests

    Have good glycemic control if you are a diabetic

    Attend to health care early if you have chest pain, epigastric pain or short of breath

    Don’ts

    Don’t smoke or use tobacco and consume alcohol

    Don’t bottle up frustration and depression

    Don’t neglect Diabetes

    Most importantly, don’t assume that you are not at risk.

    Don’t assume that you are having gastritis when you have chest pain



    Source link

  • Freddie Flintoff met Tony Blair after night on booze and partied until 6am with Oasis before leaving party lifestyle behind

    Freddie Flintoff met Tony Blair after night on booze and partied until 6am with Oasis before leaving party lifestyle behind

    Andrew Flintoff, affectionately known as Freddie, had quite the career on and off the cricket field, with many of his stories legendary.

    However, as he prepares to start life as the England Lions coach, those days of partying are over for a variety of reasons.

    Flintoff epitomised everything great about English cricket

    4

    Flintoff epitomised everything great about English cricketCredit: AFP – Getty

    As a player, the Preston-born all-rounder was captivating and could deliver moments of magic from nowhere.

    He became a modern-day icon, and he used to enjoy his fair share of partying and celebrating.

    Flintoff displayed great promise as a cricketer early into his career, but drinking was with him from very young.

    In his autobiography, Ashes to Ashes, he admitted that one day he turned up to practice ‘smelling of booze’.

    Then, when on tour at the age of 17, Flintoff consumed ten pints of Guinness.

    Gradually, as his senior career progressed, Flintoff mainly only drank to celebrate, with a few evenings going down in legend.

    One in particular will always be fondly remembered by England fans because it was the night Flintoff and co won the 2005 Ashes.

    That series, which England won 2-1, is widely regarded as the greatest ever.

    After sealing the win at The Oval, the England players partied all night before heading off to Downing Street the day after for a meeting with the Prime Minister, Tony Blair.

    Then, a rooftop bus parade through the centre of London culminated in a huge celebration in Trafalgar Square with 250,000 fans.

    Flintoff was worse for wear during the 2005 celebrations

    4

    Flintoff was worse for wear during the 2005 celebrations
    Flintoff had been drinking for a day-and-a-half by the time the bus parade started

    4

    Flintoff had been drinking for a day-and-a-half by the time the bus parade started

    Speaking to talkSPORT in 2023 about those celebrations, former England bowler Steve Harmison recalled the team’s boozing.

    He said: “Freddie and I didn’t leave the hotel bar.

    “Freddie was one of the only ones who kept drinking all the way through. I think I left at 6:45am, but nobody slept.

    “It was a great celebration. Freddie tried to sing Suspicious Minds in front of 250,000 people. He got the first line out before they cut the microphone, which is a shame because the big lad can sing, but not after a night-and-a-half on the sauce.”

    Inspiring Andrew Flintoff speech has fans tipping him for future England Cricket role

    Along with those legendary 2005 scenes, Flintoff also enjoyed a wild night with Oasis and Kasabian in 2009 after delaying an operation to take part in the Ashes.

    England won the first Test in Cardiff, and Flintoff headed to London for a quiet drink in The Landmark hotel, but it turned into carnage.

    Flintoff stayed up all evening with the two British bands.

    Speaking about that experience to The Sun, he said: “The night was certainly wild, like something you would imagine in the early Seventies with the Rolling Stones.

    “Everyone was hammered, the staff were trying to calm it down, guests were complaining. Looking back, part of me was celebrating a great Test match and part wanted to forget about my knee and let off steam.”

    Flintoff went to bed at 6am before heading to see a specialist at 8am, where he was told he would need an operation, and that marked the end of his Test career after four years of constant injuries.

    Adding to his initial story, he said: “I was hammered and my career was ending.”

    Flintoff enjoyed a great night with the Gallagher brothers before finding out some crushing news

    4

    Flintoff enjoyed a great night with the Gallagher brothers before finding out some crushing news

    It also marked a turning point in Flintoff’s relationship with drinking.

    With no more reasons to celebrate with his teammates, the all-rounder realised that he was drinking to hide his real feelings.

    He said: “When I was drinking, the problem lay in the cover-up.

    “I was boozing to try to change the way I felt and that’s when it became a problem. If I latched on, I would get into drinking, and not just for one session. It would go on for weeks and that couldn’t continue.”

    So, he quit and has been sober for years, and despite enjoying some great nights, he’s happier to be off the booze.

    Keep up to date with all the latest news and interviews on the talkSPORT Cricket YouTube channel.

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