CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA) -- There are basic rules on how to take care of your heart; one very important is to get enough sleep, said Dr. Debra Urbina, an adult cardiologist and electrophysiologist at the Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) during the Talakayan sa PIA Konsultayo series episode at SM City CDO Uptown.

“Sa isa ka adlaw eight hours or one-third sa atong adlaw dapat tulog ta ana para maka-recharge pud atong heart [In one day, eight hours or one-third of our day should be spent sleeping so that our heart can recharge],” she said.

Diet is also very important, particularly a well-balanced and healthy diet, as Urbina shared.  

She explained that, just like “Pinggang Pinoy, or Filipino plate,” half of our plate should include vegetables, fruits, and only one-fourth carbohydrates such as rice and sugar, while the other one-fourth should include protein, which consists of meat, fish, and chicken.

The third tip is exercise. Regular exercise on a daily basis, such as 20–30 minutes of aerobic exercise or three to five times a week, plus muscle training, if possible, is very good, the doctor said.

Another tip is to avoid smoking and alcohol. “So iwas sigarilyo, iwas sa inom, alcohol, maka-cause pud siya og heart enlargement, abnormal heart rhythms [Avoid smoking, drinking alcohol, it can cause heart enlargement and abnormal heart rhythms],” she said.

Lastly, if there are symptoms, it is important to proceed with a checkup.

Among the symptoms of heart problems is the ability to wheeze. When climbing the stairs or walking a long way, he is wheezing, which is not usual, so that is a sign that you may have heart disease.

The second symptom is chest pain.

“When you go for a walk or when you are tired or stressed, your chest suddenly hurts, especially if it lasts for a long time. It seems to disappear when you rest, so it is possible that it is a symptom of a heart problem,” the doctor shared.

Some have a big stomach, their feet are swollen, or some feel like they are drowning when they lie down, so those are also symptoms of the heart.

Meanwhile, some experience that their heartbeats suddenly become faster, irregular, palpitate, or others have slow heartbeats, dizziness, or loss of consciousness, which are common symptoms of heart disease.

Second, if you have noticed that you have high blood pressure, diabetes, or high blood sugar, it is very important to have a baseline heart checkup.

Today, as young as 30, 40, or even 20 already experience heart attacks. “We really advise them, especially those with strong family histories, that it is very important to get a baseline for the heart,” Urbina said. (JMOR/PIA-10)