Kaori Tonaki writes:
1) Mr. O has some risk factors for another
myocardial infarction such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, being
overweight. First, he needs to reduce his cholesterol level. The results
of his cholesterol test are not positive. His LDL (so called "bad
cholesterol") level is 173 mg/dl, and the HDL (so called "good
cholesterol") level is 26 mg/dl. These levels mean that total cholesterol
and LDL levels are elevated and levels of HDL are low. Along with fat,
cholesterol circulates in the blood and builds up in the walls of the arteries
and can slow or block the flow of blood. This condition is called atherosclerosis.
Furthermore, without sufficient oxygen to the heart, this may cause chest
pain called "angina", or if the blood supply is cut off, there
is heart muscle injury and a "heart attack", possibly resulting
in sudden death. Therefore, he should reduce total cholesterol level to
less than 200mg/dl (LDL level ---less than 130 mg/dl, HDL level---higher
than 35 mg/dl).
Second, he had better lose weight because he is almost 20 kilos overweight.
Being overweight may also increase his blood cholesterol level.
Third, he has to stop smoking because smoking is said to prevent the flow
of blood. Also, it is said that nearly one-fifth of deaths from cardiovascular
diseases are attributable to smoking. Fourth, Mr. O's elder brother died
of heart disease five years ago. Because genetic factors affect blood cholesterol
level and can determine how much he can lower level by diet and risk of
heart disease, he has to be careful of his health.
Finally, The relative risk of coronary heart disease (heart attack) associated
with physical inactivity ranges from 1.5 to 2.4, an increase in risk comparable
with that observed for high cholesterol, high blood pressure or cigarette
smoking. Consequently, he needs to do exercise regularly.
2) To get quick treatment for a heart attack can be lifesaving. When he
experiences one or more symptoms of a heart attack, first, he had better
sit down and lie down. If symptoms persist for 2 minutes, he needs to call
a local emergency telephone number and say he may be having a heart attack.
And, he had better leave the phone off the hook so that medical personnel
can locate his address if he should become unconscious. Or, if he can get
to the hospital faster by car than by ambulance, he had better have someone
drive him. Then, if he has nitroglycerin tablets, he should take up to
three pills one every 5 minutes. In short, it is important that he gets
to the hospital and see a doctor as soon as possible.
3) On improving his health outlook within the next few years, he has to
go to hospital and see a doctor. And then, he had better have his medicine
to lower blood pressure prescribe by a doctor. There are many types of
this medicine. Quite often people respond very differently to these medicines.
Thus patients must go through a trial period to find out which medicines
are most effective while causing the fewest side effects. Also, it is important
to stay on medicine.
4) If he wants to develop ways to prevent the occurrence of another heart
attack, I want to advise him to change his life style. First, he should
reduce eating cholesterol and fat, because cholesterol consumed in foods
is unnecessary to our body's proper functioning. (But cholesterol is essential
to human life.) Also, saturated fat raises his blood cholesterol level
more than anything else he eats. Food high in cholesterol or saturated
fat are egg yolks, whole milk products, sausage and so on. In addition,
vegetable oils, such as palm, palm kernel, and coconut oil, contain no
cholesterol but are high in saturated fat. So, he had better eat vegetables,
fish, seaweed, and so on.
Second, he has to do regular and moderate exercise. This reduces LDL levels
and increases HDL levels. So, I'd recommend walking because this way that
fat in body is easily oxidized and decomposed. In this way, regular physical
activity may help control his weight and is associated with a reduced risk
of heart disease and lower blood pressure. Finally, he should quit smoking
because it prevents the blood from flowing.
If he carries out and continues these suggestions, he can solve his problem
related to heart disease, I think.
| Click the BACK button to return to the student index.|