The heart of a mother (and all those who stood up to become mother figures) is truly a heart of a champion. As homage to their unique role to our lives, we should also take care of them more especially their health.
Mothers have played an enormously important part in our lives. Moms have loved and cared for us since the minute we were born. They've put in 9 months of careful living to bring us into this wonderful world. They are there to guide, support, and teach us important lessons as we grow. It's no surprise that they are given the monickers "ilaw ng tahanan" (light of homes). They are the ones that light up our houses by bringing happiness in happy moments and consolation in sad ones.
According to a Statista Research, the leading cause of mortality among females in the Philippines is
Ischemic Heart Disease. Ischemic Heart Disease happens when nutrients and oxygen are deprived from our heart muscles due to abnormalities among arteries such as plaques and fatty deposits.
Without the needed vital resources, the heart becomes weaker. This may have been brought about by the change in lifestyle amongst Filipinos which is now more closely classified similar to Western Pattern Diet (WPD) that is high-fat and high-sugar foodstuff.
Aside from healthy lifestyle modifications, that is recommended to fight against heart attacks and other complications, one can help conduct surveillance against heart diseases.
Here are simple and cost-efficient tests you can perform to check the status of your heart:
1. Blood Pressure Monitoring
Blood pressure measurement is usually done with a sphygmomanometer and a stethoscope. It
measures the pressure exerted by your blood among the blood vessels as they circulate around your
body. It gives us a picture of the conditions of our blood vessels. Higher blood pressures indicate poor
health probably due to obstructions along vessels.
2. Lipid Profile Test
This test is done on a person’s blood to determine its lipid content. There are two types of cholesterol,
the good one (HDL) and the bad one (LDL) which levels can be determined through this test. High
concentration of cholesterol in our blood poses a risk for developing plaques that clog our blood vessels.
3. Fasting Blood Glucose
Another test to help check for metabolic syndrome is the blood glucose test usually done after fasting
for a period of time. High blood glucose levels predisposes a person to a sequence of events that leads
to worsening of heart damage. Diabetes, a condition where blood sugar levels are persistently high,
causes changes in our body that subsequently destroy heart cells.
4. Electrocardiogram
The heart beats in regular rate and rhythm. That rate and rhythm can be checked through an ECG test
where leads are placed on your chest and impulse signals are recorded through a period of time. Abnormal rates as well as rhythm indicate that the proper signaling and communication between heart
cells are disrupted. As the abnormal pattern persists over time, the heart tries to compensate thereby
resulting to more abnormalities
5. Echocardiogram
The heart has four chambers guarded by valves. The synchronized opening and closing of these valves
gives us the regular rate and rhythm of our heart. The Echocardiogram test looks into the status of each valves giving us a better look of cardiac health especially if analyzed along with an ECG.
Other cardiac tests are available to specifically monitor and assess the physiologic capacities of our heart. For purposes of accessibility and economical-convenience, the aforementioned tests are highly recommended. It is important to note, though, that if a person shows signs of emergency such as extreme chest pain, loss of consciousness and palpitation, a visit to the emergency room is a must.
There is no better way to say thank you to the person who takes good care of our hearts by also taking
of their heart. Cardiac health can never be overemphasized especially in our times where lifestyle and
genetics greatly predispose not only women but all Filipino people with cardiac problems.