Lower BP may be good for you
Reducing systolic blood pressure limit to 120 mm Hg from the currently recommended target SBP level of 140 mm Hg appears beneficial if there is no underlying diabetes, previous stroke or kidney disease. SHOULD we
Younger hearts at risk
Advances in medicine over the last decade have reduced deaths from heart disease. However, death from heart disease continues to be the top or second highest cause of death in most countries, and in the
Blood thinners: when is it safe to stop?
If you are diagnosed with significant narrowing of the major heart arteries, it is more likely that you will undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) rather than open heart bypass graft surgery. PCI is a procedure
From Pariah to Acceptance
The use of chelation for the treatment of heart disease had been considered as bordering on quackery. Chelation started about a century ago, when it was used to treat metal poisoning, by administering a drug
A coffee a day…
It is not uncommon for many people to ask their doctors whether coffee consumption is good for health, especially if they have heart disease or are pregnant. The recent 2015 USA Dietary Group Advisory Committee
Mind what you eat
The Scientific Report of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) which was submitted to the US government in February 2015 provided a comprehensive review of the impact of diet on health. While its relationship
Tuck in all you want – for a hefty price
No more cholesterol restriction in latest dietary guidelines Earlier this month, I was forwarded an email by a friend which stated “The truth is finally out - concerns about eating food with high cholesterol is
Treadmill Results Not Conclusive
If you are in your early thirties and have a negative treadmill test, does it mean that you have absolutely no heart disease? Well, the answer is not so simple. Mr A was 32 years
Proactive Stance Against Strokes
With an aging population, strokes assume greater importance, as it not only causes major permanent disabilities but it can potentially create social burdens within a family framework as it will tie down the caregivers. Understanding
Get Healthier In A Heartbeat
As we grow older our heart and vessels undergo age related changes. Understanding these changes and the factors that predispose to these factors can lead to a healthy heart even as we advance to our
Questions from the heart
Last week, I gave a talk on ensuring a healthy heart at a public symposium organised by Business Times and Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital. The responses to some of the common questions from the public
Heart surgery for those below 50
Relatively young adults with heart disease will have to consider both the risk of complications and the long-term outcomes If you have severe narrowing of the main heart arteries which compromises the blood flow to