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Sunday, January 01, 2006
Dumaguing: Happy healthy new year
By Dr. Victor Dumaguing
To your health
HOPE springs eternal! Every New Year brings an opportunity to change, to notify, tom improvise, to make amends; efforts that would eventually sum up to a better person in each one of us.
The change may be superficial or in a more cosmetic sense, just a different hairdo, or a neon green spike on the hair, or maybe a brace on one's teeth. Or it could be on the psychological side; less grouchy employees, more polite with the boss or being more punctual in attending appointments or meetings.
However, the fact that our column deals with health issues, we will try to zero in the more common problems which ordinary mortals like you and me, grapple with, in terms of the will power and disciple to pursue a healthier lifestyle. We shall be dealing with day-to-day struggle with these problems, the ups and downs as well as the moments of transient victory and the frustration that grips us when we slide back. We will dish out the facts and we leave it to our dear readers, the decision or ultimate judgment on what direction they will follow for 2006.
Smoking is one of the most troublesome habits to kick. Despite the warnings in big bold letter accompanying the attractive picture of Malboro man walking into the sunset (or is it just the horse now?) and the growing strict policies on No Smoking, still people from all walks of life savor that smoke as evidenced by that of contentment in their faces as they suck on their cigarettes making it appear as if that smoke is for their pulmonary rehab. Rates of smoking among women in Asia and Africa have been rising.
A noted cancer specialist at the Northwestern Hospital in the United States said that "attacking the rising use of tobacco among women is one of the greatest disease prevention opportunities in the world today" The concern is, very substantial and real.
Female smokers are more likely than men to develop adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer. Cigarette smoke contains very harmful gases and chemicals that include carbon monoxide, arsenic, cyanide and other carcinogenic (cancer-causing) particles. COPD or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is another major concern of smokers. Chronic bronchitis gives the smoker a pestering, on and off, dry, unproductive cough, till the coughing hurts the ribs and the throat. Pulmonary emphysema patients have dyspnea or difficulty of breathing especially when lying down so that they may need two or even three pillows to prop up their head during sleep.
On the cosmetic side, dermatologists all over the world are one in saying that smokers form wrinkles earlier with red, almost blood-shot eyes to boot. Dentists, too, join the fray by saying that nicotine stains the teeth as well as a contributing source of halitosis (bad breath). And in the context of the rising prevalence of tuberculosis, pulmonologists all warn that smokers are more susceptible to the disease.
Alcohol, or more specifically ethyl alcohol or ethanol, is quite popular in Baguio and in the Cordilleras with that rather peculiar reason for its consumption -"keeps me warm against the cold". Valid or not, that argument may not hold water anymore of the consumption goes beyond what our livers can handle.
Alcohol is the result of fermentation process of fruit juices or carbohydrate-based foods like potato (vodka) grapes (champagne) pulp of cactus (tequila) rice (tapuey). Once inside the body, alcohol starts to nerve functions, which explains why our reflexes are slowed own (very critical when someone is driving) and our motor or movement faculties are sluggish.
In order to prevent alcohol from depressing the brain further, the liver detoxifies the alcohol-process which produces a metabolite called acetaldehyde, a substance related to formaldehyde and formalin. This acetaldehyde can accumulate depending on the amount of alcohol intake, thus it will now harm e liver, eventually resulting to liver cirrhosis in male alcoholics, there may be gynecomastia or enlargement of the breast, an indication that their cirrhotic liver can no longer detoxify the otherwise normal amounts of female hormones their body produces.
Obesity or overweight is rather a paradox in a developing country like that Philippines. As there are disturbing statistics on malnutrition, there is also the appealing figure on obesity.
Latest FNRC (Food and Nutrition research Council) reports show that about 21% of Filipinos have excess weights, with 11% of Filipinos on the obese scale. In India and China, obesity is the number one cause of sudden increase in blood pressure. Heart attacks and stroke are also common and let us forget that obesity is almost always a sparring partner of most type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.
Indeed, obesity is no longer just a cosmetic problem with people making fun or teasing people bursting at the seams or as to how many weighing scale they have dismantled. Obesity is serious and real health problem.
Diet and physical activities are the mainstay in weight control regimen. Fruits and vegetables provide more than just the vitamins and minerals we need. Being fibrous, they adhere to some of the fact we eat and thus are not absorbed. Moreover, their fiber would absorb water in the colon, creating roughage or bulk, making defecation a daily, successful endeavor. Should you fry, try to stay on the vegetable oil side, probably canola oil being on the op of the list. Olive oil, safflower and sunflower oils would also be good. Cut down on rice because it produces metabolites that may be shifted towards the synthesis of triglycerides, another fat, which is as bad as cholesterol.
Burn those excess weights through three sessions of 15 minutes each of brisk walking per day. Jogging is good for young healthy individuals but not for middle-aged overweight adults whose excess weight may all the more harm their ankles and knees aggravating their "rayuma" pains. And don't forget the eight glasses of water. They help detoxify your body of metabolic waste, clear up your skin and cleanse your kidneys.
Eat right, look bright and feel great! Happy Healthy New Year.
(January 1, 2006 issue)
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