Behavioral mistakes that can damage your health!

Behavioral mistakes that can damage your health!

Rewrite by: Dr.Weka Gunawan, MPH, Ph.D

1.      

      1. Carrying a heavy bag!

Often we bring the tools to makeup, face soap, face cream, sun-block, mukena, and a variety of stationery and books in one bag. It's practical, but it is not good for the health of your muscles.

Lugging a heavy load around can really take its toll on your health by causing back spasms, disc degeneration, neck problems, arthritis, and poor posture. Spring clean your handbags and manbags, and possibly consider trading them in for a smaller version.

2.     2.  Spending too long exercising

It is common to think that the more time we spend on the exercise bike, the better. The truth is, too much of a good thing can be counterproductive and that goes for exercise too. Working your body too hard can lead to abnormal hormonal changes (which can trigger weight gain), a weaker immune system, muscle damage, shin splints, and knee, foot, or back problems. Whilst it is important to reap the benefits of exercise for a healthy lifestyle, don’t go overboard; expecting abs like Arnold Schwarzenegger on week two of your workout routine isn’t going to happen and it isn’t going to be healthy.

3.     3. Scrimping on sleep

You’ve crammed everything you can possibly fit into twenty four hours and more, when suddenly you look at the clock and it’s way past the time you hoped to go to bed and closer to the time you need to get up for work. Scientific research has proven that we look less attractive when we’ve had little sleep, but droopy eyelids and pasty skin are the least of our worries when it comes to our habit of scrimping on sleep. No matter how healthy you are, how much you exercise, or how much you weigh, getting too little shut-eye can seriously affect your health. Scientists studied 5,600 people of a healthy weight and size for three years and found those who skipped sleep quadrupled their risk of stroke and heart disease. Fix a specific time to go to bed and stick to it.

4.    4.  Silent worrying

You worry about the meeting at work, you worry about putting the bins out, you worry that you might forget to feed the cat, and it’s really getting you down. Whilst stress can be positive in helping to keep you alert and avoid danger, too much of it can be detrimental to your health. Endless worrying eventually leads to distress which causes headaches, high blood pressure, an upset stomach, chest pain, and sleep deprivation.  Whilst it’s natural to worry when you have a deadline looming, panicking too much about petty things needs to be sorted. When you’re worrying, ask yourself a few simple questions and answer them as honestly as you can. Will you still be worrying about this in a couple of week’s time? Can this problem be easily resolved? If you can’t let it go, tackle the problem head on until it is resolved. If you can learn how to control your worrying, you’re well on your way to a happier, healthier lifestyle.

5.   5.   Stopping medicines suddenly

Most of us are guilty of this one; we are feeling much better and stop taking our medication, but suddenly end up feeling a whole lot worse. How often do you consider the health risks of this? Depending on the medicine you are taking, going ‘cold turkey’ can cause all sorts of health risks which range from mild, to moderate, or serious. Discontinuing your medicine suddenly can cause mild headaches, rapid return of the illness that you were treating, and seizures, to name only a few. Abruptly stopping certain medications can be life threatening, so keep taking it until your doctor tells you to stop, and when you do get the ‘all clear’ take medical advice when you’re discontinuing them.

Well, it's a bit of advice from me, Dr.Weka hopes you all stay healthy!

The Benefits of Apple Cider, is that true?

THE BENEFITS OF APPLE CIDER

Rewrite by: Dr.Weka Gunawan, Family Health Specialist

Faculty of Medicine, National University of Malaysia

What Is Apple Cider Vinegar?

Vinegar is a product of fermentation. This is a process in which sugars in a food are broken down by bacteria and yeast. In the first stage of fermentation, the sugars are turned into alcohol. Then, if the alcohol ferments further, you get vinegar. The word comes from the French, meaning "sour wine." While vinegar can be made from all sorts of things -- like many fruits, vegetables, and grains -- apple cider vinegar comes from pulverized apples.

The main ingredient of apple cider vinegar, or any vinegar, is acetic acid. However, vinegars also have other acids, vitamins, mineral salts, and amino acids.

Apple Cider Vinegar: Cure for Everything?

While long used as a folk remedy, apple cider vinegar became well known in the U.S. in the late 1950s, when it was promoted in the best-selling book Folk Medicine: A Vermont Doctor's Guide to Good Health by D. C. Jarvis. During the alternative medicine boom of recent years, apple cider vinegar and apple cider vinegar pills have become a popular dietary supplement.

Look on the back of a box of supplements -- or on the Internet or in the pages of any one of the many books on vinegar and health -- and you'll find some amazing claims. Apple cider vinegar is purported to treat numerous diseases, health conditions, and annoyances. To name a few, it's supposed to kill head lice, reverse aging, ease digestion, and wash toxins from the body.

Most of these claims have no evidence backing them up. Some -- like vinegar's supposed ability to treat lice or warts -- have been studied, and researchers turned up nothing to support their use. Other claims have been backed up by studies, but with a catch: vinegar may work, but not as well as other treatments. For instance, while vinegar is a disinfectant, it doesn't kill as many germs as common cleaners. And while vinegar does seem to help with jelly fish stings -- an old folk remedy -- hot water works better.

Scientific Evidence of Apple Cider Vinegar Benefits

But there are some medical uses of vinegar that do have promise, at least according to a few studies. Here's a rundown of some more recent ones.

·         Diabetes. The effect of vinegar on blood sugar levels is perhaps the best researched and the most promising of apple cider vinegar's possible health benefits. Several studies have found that vinegar may help lower glucose levels. For instance, a 2007 study of 11 people with type 2 diabetes found that taking two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar before bed lowered glucose levels in the morning by 4%-6%.

·         High cholesterol . A 2006 study showed evidence that vinegar could lower cholesterol. However, the study was done in rats, so it's too early to know how it might work in people.

·         Blood pressureand heart health. Another study in rats found that vinegar could lower high blood pressure. A large observational study also found that people who ate oil and vinegar dressing on salads five to six times a week had lower rates ofheart disease than people who didn't. However, it's far from clear that the vinegar was the reason.

·         Cancer . A few laboratory studies have found that vinegar may be able to kill cancer cells or slow their growth. Observational studies of people have been confusing. One found that eating vinegar was associated with a decreased risk of esophageal cancer. Another associated it with an increased risk of bladder cancer.

·         Weight Loss . For thousands of years, vinegar has been used for weight loss. White vinegar (and perhaps other types) might help people feel full. A 2005 study of 12 people found that those who ate a piece of bread along with small amounts of white vinegar felt fuller and more satisfied than those who just ate the bread.  

While the results of these studies are promising, they are all preliminary. Many were done on animals or on cells in a lab. The human studies have been small. Before we will truly know whether vinegar has any health benefits, much larger studies are needed.

How Should Apple Cider Vinegar Be Used?

Since apple cider vinegar is an unproven treatment, there are no official recommendations on how to use it. Some people take two teaspoons a day (mixed in a cup of water or juice.) A tablet of 285 milligrams is another common dosage.

Apple cider vinegar is also sometimes applied to the skin or used in enemas. The safety of these treatments is unknown.

What Are the Risks of Apple Cider Vinegar?

On the whole, the risks of taking occasional, small amounts of apple cider vinegar seem low. But using apple cider vinegar over the long term, or in larger amounts, could have risks. Here are some things to keep in mind. 

·         Apple cider vinegar is highly acidic. The main ingredient of apple cider vinegar is acetic acid. As the name suggests, it's quite harsh. Apple cider vinegar should always be diluted with water or juice before swallowed. Pure apple cider vinegar could damage the tooth enamel and the tissues in your throat and mouth. One study found a woman who got an apple cider vinegar supplement stuck in her throat suffered lasting damage to her esophagus. In addition, vinegar has been known to cause contact burns to the skin.

·         Long-term use of apple cider vinegar could cause low potassium levels and lower bone density. If you already have low potassium or osteoporosis, talk to your health care provider before using apple cider vinegar.

·         Apple cider vinegar could theoretically interact with diuretics, laxatives, and medicines for diabetes and heart disease. 

·         If you have diabetes, check with your health care provider before using apple cider vinegar. Vinegar contains chromium, which can alter your insulin levels.

Using apple cider vinegar supplements -- instead of the liquid itself -- adds another layer of risk. You just can't be sure what you're really getting. Unlike medicines, supplements are not regulated by the FDA. They aren't routinely tested for effectiveness or even basic safety. A 2005 study looked at the ingredients of eight different brands of apple cider vinegar supplements. The researchers found that:

·         The ingredients listed on the box did not reflect the actual ingredients.

·         The ingredients varied a great deal between different brands.

·         The recommended dosages varied a great deal between brands.

Most disturbing, the chemical analysis of these samples led the researchers to doubt whether any of these brands actually contained any apple cider vinegar at all.

Parents and their importance to determine the education of their children in school

Pemerintah Malaysia meminta para orangtua memberi tumpuan lebih pada pendidikan anak-anaknya, terutama di pre-schools dan elementary schools.

oleh: Dr.Weka Gunawan, MPH


Ini sebenarnya catatan lama. Namun baru saya sadari saya tak pernah membaginya di blog ini. Padahal ini menarik karena yang mengatakannya adalah Datuk Seri Idris Jala, seorang yang diberi amanah mengemudikan kendaraan ekonomi Malaysia menuju negara maju dengan pendapatan tinggi pada tahun 2020. Rasanya luar biasa berada dalam satu seminar dan duduk di sampingnya saat seminar ekonomi di Kedutaan Besar Republik Indonesia (KBRI) Malaysia Kuala Lumpur beberapa waktu lalu.

Pemerintah Malaysia meminta semua orangtua

untuk lebih berperan dalam pendidikan anak-anak mereka!

 

oleh: Dr.Weka Gunawan

 

Malaysia menekankan pentingnya pendidikan bagi pencapaian negara maju berpendapatan tinggi pada tahun 2020. Demikian disampaikan CEO the Performance Management and Delivery Unit (PEMANDU), Datuk Seri Idris Jala yang juga seorang menteri di kantor Perdana Menteri Malaysia. Idris Jala adalah salah satu tokoh utama yang diberi amanah oleh Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib untuk melakukan program transformasi ekonomi Malaysia (ETP). Transformasi haruslah holistik, katanya. Tidak dapat kita fokus hanya pada segmen tertentu saja. Idris Jala adalah keturunan dayak Kelabit (salah satu suku asli yang ada di Sarawak). Seperti umumnya Sarawakian yang bukan dari etnis Melayu, Idris Jala adalah seorang Kristiani yang taat.

Datuk Seri Idris Jala membentangkan program transformasi ekonomi Malaysia (ETP)

 

Datuk Seri Idris Jala & CSP Wekadigunawan (Dr.Weka Gunawan)



 

            Malaysia mengalami kesukaran dalam menentukan kualitas pendidikan terutama di peringkat tadika (pre-schools) dan sekolah dasar (elementary schools). Di peringkat pra-sekolah banyak sekali kasus dilaporkan tentang anak-anak yang diabaikan oleh para pengasuh dan pengajarnya.  Juga di tingkat sekolah rendah, masih banyak guru yang melakukan tindakan kekerasan kepada anak murid mereka. Maka, Idris Jala menekankan pentingnya orang-tua juga turut memantau perkembangan anak-anak mereka, sehingga tak seratus persen menyerahkan tanggung-jawab sepenuhnya kepada sekolah.

 

            Di Indonesia kita juga mengalami hal yang sama. Terutama keluarga-keluarga yang tiang ekonomi rumah-tangganya ditandu oleh suami-istri. Ayah dan ibu sibuk bekerja hingga petang. Sehingga anak-anak lebih banyak menghabiskan waktunya di luar rumah atau sekolah. Anak-anak yang belum bersekolah diasuh dan ’dididik’ oleh pembantu atau baby sitter. Tak jarang, anak-anak ini diperlakukan tidak semestinya (child abuse) oleh para pembantu tersebut. Muncul kemudian di kota-kota besar seperti Jakarta, Surabaya misalnya, TPA atau Tempat Penitipan Anak, tetapi sekali lagi jarang sekali yang mempekerjakan orang-orang yang benar-benar terlatih dan berjiwa kasih sayang. Masih saja para pengasuh itu pilih kasih dalam merawat anak-anak itu. Selain itu biaya yang dikenakan bagi balita yang dititipkan sangat mahal padahal umumnya dikelola oleh yayasan-yayasan yang dengan mudah memperoleh sumbangan dari banyak pihak baik swasta atau pemerintah.

 

            Pemerintah Malaysia percaya bahwa memberi tumpuan pada pendidikan pra-sekolah akan menjadi fondasi kuat bagi terciptanya sumber daya manusia yang hebat di masa yang akan datang. Idris Jala membentangkan cetak biru program pendidikan Malaysia 2013 – 2015. Beliau juga menggunakan sistem ranking pada sekolah-sekolah untuk usia dini dan sekolah dasar. Band 1 adalah yang terbaik dan band 7 adalah yang terburuk. Diharapkan dengan sistem ranking ini sekolah-sekolah usia dini dan sekolah dasar menempa diri dan berusaha meraih prestasi sebaik-baiknya.

 

            Untuk sektor kesehatan, mereka yang lanjut usia diberikan perhatian ekstra. Tidak hanya anak-anak dan kaum perempuan saja. Mereka yang sudah berusia emas ini diharapkan tetap sehat dan produktif karena mereka adalah tempat anak-anak muda meminta nasihat dan umumnya kaum tua ini sudah banyak makan asam-garam kehidupan.

------------------------------------------------------------

 

Sekedar berbagi, suatu hari bersama Datuk Seri Idris Jala. Banyak orangtua yang berilusi bahwa anak-anaknya akan gembira jika berlimpah uang, padahal esensinya adalah orangtua wajib mendidik anak-anak mereka! Tidak semata-mata menyerahkan pendidikan pada orang lain meski mereka membayarnya. Anak-anak yang tinggal di Pesantren yang masih mempunyai orangtua lengkap  saya sarankan untuk kerap mengunjungi oragtua mereka. Supaya hubungan tetap hangat sebagai keluarga. Insya ALLAH.

Dr.Weka Gunawan, Faculty of Medicine - National University of Malaysia.

Dengue Fever (Demam Dengue)

Dengue Fever
oleh: Dr.Weka Gunawan, MPH (CSP Wekadigunawan)


Musim hujan.....! Penyakit dimana-mana...Kuala Kangsar di negeri Perak, Batu Pahat Johor dan beberapa daerah lain di Negeri Sembilan Malaysia mengalami banjir teruk...
Selain sakit perut dan sakit pernafasan maka kita sebaiknya mewaspadai juga Dengue!

Apa itu demam Dengue?

• Demam Dengue disebabkan oleh virus Dengue
• Virus Dengue dibawa oleh nyamuk Aedes, jenis Aedes aegypti dan Aedes albopictus

Siapa saja yang dapat diserang virus ini?

• Siapa saja! Manusia dewasa, anak-anak, remaja bahkan bayi!

Gejala-gejala yang dirasakan saat Dengue menyerang?

• Demam tiba-tiba dengan suhu badan mencapai 38 derajat Celcius (jika suhu bayi lebih dari 37 derajat celcius sebaiknya waspada).
• sakit kepala dan terasa keras dan pegal di belakang bola mata.
• Sendi-sendi kaki dan tangan terasa sakit
• badan pun terasa sakit
• terjadi ruam-ruam merah (karena Dengue dapat menyebabkan perdarahan/haemorhagic, maka sering juga disebut Demam Berdarah).

Gejala-gejala dibawah ini adalah tanda bahaya jika Dengue menyerang!

• Muntah-muntah
• Sakit perut (nyeri)
• Kepala sakit dan merasa gelisah
• Pucat dan tubuh dingin saat disentuh
• mengalami sesak nafas (susah bernafas)
• Perdarahan: tampak ruam-ruam merah pada kulit, terjadi perdarahan pada hidung dan gusi, muntah darah, kotoran buang air besar berwarna hitam, perempuan mengalami perdarahan pada vagina.

Apa yang harus kita lakukan?

• Anda tidak harus menunggu tanda-tanda yang parah untuk membawa diri ke rumah sakit atau bertemu dokter. Segera bawa ke dokter jika demam tinggi.

Catatan: Saya harap siapa saja yang mengambil sumber dari blog ini, tolonglah sebut nama blog ini ya. Anda tak perlu membayar apapun dari blog ini. Tapi demi menjunjung tinggi etika dalam penulisan di alam maya. Tolonglah menghargai penulisnya. Terimakasih. Hanya kepada ALLAH-lah kita semua berserah diri.

CHIKUNGUNYA DISEASE

WHAT IS CHIKUNGUNYA

by: Dr.Weka Gunawan

(Family Health Specialits)

Saya masih teringat kejadian beberapa tahun silam, ketika saya terkejut mendengar kabar Galuh, saat itu berusia sekitar 9 tahun, putri kedua pak Untung dan bu Heni, (mereka berdua dosen di Universitas Mataram) telah meninggal dunia. Saat itu bulan ramadhan. Badan saya gemetar, karena saya sempat mengenal Galuh saat saya berkunjung ke Mataram, Lombok pada tahun 2002. Airmata saya mengalir deras dan doa saya panjatkan agar kedua orangtua Galuh dan dua saudaranya yang lain tabah menghadapi ini. Galuh sendiri insya ALLAH telah menari-nari di surga dengan pandangan kasih dan cinta ALLAH SWT. Kematian Galuh menurut dokter karena chikungunya. Diare hebat menyebabkannya dehidrasi dan ketika dibawa ke dokter untuk diinfus sudah terlambat. Galuh sayang, tante tulis ini untuk mengenang engkau yang meski sekejap telah membuat tante bahagia. Al-Fatihah untukmu.

APA ITU CHIKUNGUNYA?

Chikungunya adalah penyakit menular. Penyebabnya virus Chikungunya yang disebarkan melalui gigitan nyamuk Aedes yang juga menularkan virus Dengue yang menyebabkan demam berdarah.

MASA INKUBASI

3 sampai 12 hari (setelah digigit nyamuk baru tampak gejalanya)

GEJALA YANG DIALAMI PENDERITA

- demam tinggi hingga suhu 38derajat C atau lebih (biasanya 1 hingga 7 hari)

- sakit kepala

- mata merah

- lemah

- muntah

- sakit sendi terutama di ujung jari, pergelangan tangan dan rasa ngilu pada tulang.

- lemah

PERAWATAN

- Jika demam jangan tunggu sampai esok baru memberikan obat, segera minum obat penurun panas yang mengandung parasetamol.

- jika muntah berlebihan dan beberapa kasus ada yang disertai diare maka minumlah yang banyak, oralit boleh dan lebih baik segera dibawa ke rumah sakit untuk diinfus.

- minumlah jus buah-buahan segar untuk meningkatkan imunitas. Mengapa? Chikungunya disebabkan oleh virus, dan itu hanya dapat dicegah oleh vaksin (sampai sekarang belum ada untuk penyakit ini) dan peningkatan kekebalan tubuh (imunitas). Nah, vit C dalam buah-buahan merupakan faktor penting dalam peningkatan imunitas tubuh.

PENCEGAHAN

- Jangan sampai digigit nyamuk. Bersihkan wilayah sekitar rumah dan sekolah dan kantor-kantor dari semua hal yang menyebabkan pembiakan nyamuk.

- makan makanan bergizi (tak harus susu ya :-))

- berolah-raga dengan teratur.

Itu saja sementara dari saya. Semoga pesan ini bermanfaat untuk anda semua. Salam sehat dari saya.

(Weka Gunawan, (nama untuk penulisan artikel ilmiah dengan CSP Wekadigunawan) adalah seorang dokter dalam bidang kesehatan keluarga, penulis buku Merpati di Trafalgar Square dan Keren tanpa Narkoba, mengajar dalam bidang Anatomi & Histologi di Fakultas Kedokteran Universitas Airlangga 1991 - 1993, mengajar di Fakultas Kesehatan Masyarakat Universitas Indonesia dan pernah memimpin Fakultas Kesehatan Masyarakat UIEU sebuah Universitas swasta di Jakarta Barat (2002 - 2006), pernah menjadi wartawan televisi sekaligus pembaca berita dan pewawancara televisi di TVRI, RCTI, Trans TV selama kurun waktu 1989 - 2002; Meski bidang yang paling dikuasainya adalah Isu-isu Kesehatan tetapi Weka Gunawan, juga reporter Istana (yang mendapat kartu hijau dalam ujian Litsus kala pemerintahan H.M.Soeharto hingga ibu Megawati Soekarno Putri) setelah itu Weka memutuskan untuk menemani putri semata wayangnya dengan menjadi dosen saja. Tetapi menulis sudah ia tekuni sejak sekolah menengah pertama. Tulisan-tulisannya pernah dimuat di harian Surya, Jawa Pos, Republika, Koran Tempo dll) .

KIDS are your ENERGY

KIDS are your energy..they are 'amanah' from God!

by: Weka Gunawan

Thanks God. AlhamduLillah...Today is Mother's day, May 13. Researches documented that love and hugs and kisses can make your life longer... That is related with stabile blood level, healthy heart and increase our immune system.

 Our kids are amanah from God

May ALLAH leads us to teach them correctly

Aamiin.

These photos are from mbak Ita Gibbons

We miss tante Ita...

So, start now give your love ones, hugs and kisses...

Love,

w e k a

CORONARY HEART DISEASE

Coronary heart disease

By: Dr.Weka Gunawan, MPH

We heard about heart attack almost every day. We found out that the disease is very common in our community. Is there any help can reduce the attack? What should to do to minimize the risk? As family health specialist, I write you about the heart disease from some sources. I wish this article can give you all some useful information. Insya ALLAH.

The Definition of Coronary artery disease; Arteriosclerotic heart disease; CHD; CAD

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a narrowing of the small blood vessels that supply blood which is contains oxygen to the heart. CHD is also called coronary artery disease.

The Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death in developed countries for men and women.

Coronary heart disease is caused by the clogs in the arteries to your heart.

• Fatty material and other substances form a clog on the walls of your coronary arteries. The coronary arteries bring blood and oxygen to your heart.
• This build up causes the arteries to get narrow.
• As a result, blood flow to the heart can slow down or stop at all.

A risk factor for heart disease is something that increases your chance of getting it. You cannot change some risk factors for heart disease, but others you can change.

The risk factors for heart disease that you CANNOT change are:

• Your age. The risk of heart disease increases with age.
• Your gender. Men have a higher risk of getting heart disease than women who are still getting their menstrual period. After menopause, the risk for women is closer to the risk for men.
• Your genes. If your parents or other close relatives had heart disease, you are at higher risk.
• Your race. African Americans, Mexican Americans, American Indians, Hawaiians, and some Asian Americans also have a higher risk for heart problems.

Many things increase your risk for heart disease/ Predisposing factors:

• Diabetes is a strong risk factor for heart disease.
• High blood pressure increases your risks of heart disease and heart failure.
• Extra cholesterol in your blood builds up inside the walls of your heart's arteries (blood vessels).
• Smokers have a much higher risk of heart disease.
• Chronic kidney disease can increase your risk.
• People with narrowed arteries in another part of the body (examples are stroke and poor blood flow to the legs) are more likely to have heart disease.
• Substance abuse (such as cocaine)
• Being overweight
• Not getting enough exercise, and feeling depressed or having excess stress are other risk factors.

Symptoms

Symptoms may be very noticeable, but sometimes you can have the disease and not have any symptoms.

Chest pain or discomfort (angina) is the most common symptom. You feel this pain when the heart is not getting enough blood or oxygen. How bad the pain is varies from person to person.

• It may feel heavy or like someone is squeezing your heart. You feel it under your breast bone (sternum), but also in your neck, arms, stomach, or upper back.
• The pain usually occurs with activity or emotion, and goes away with rest or a medicine called nitroglycerin.
• Other symptoms include shortness of breath and fatigue with activity (exertion).

Women, elderly people, and people with diabetes are more likely to have symptoms other than chest pain, such as:

• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Weakness

Signs and tests

Many tests help diagnose CHD. Usually, your doctor will order more than one test before making a diagnosis.

Tests may include:

• Coronary angiography/arteriography -- an invasive test that evaluates the heart arteries under x-ray
• CT angiography -- a noninvasive way to perform coronary angiography
• Echocardiogram
• Electrocardiogram (ECG)
• Electron-beam computed tomography (EBCT) to look for calcium in the lining of the arteries -- the more calcium, the higher your chance for CHD
• Exercise stress test
• Heart CT scan
• Magnetic resonance angiography
• Nuclear stress test

Treatment

You may be asked to take one or more medicines to treat blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol levels. Follow your doctor's directions closely to help prevent coronary artery disease from getting worse.

Goals for treating these conditions in people who have coronary artery disease:

• Blood pressure less than or equal to 140/90 (even lower for some patients with diabetes, kidney disease, or heart failure)
• Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels less than or equal to 7% for people with diabetes
• LDL cholesterol level less than or equal to 100 mg/dL (even lower for some patients)

Treatment depends on your symptoms and how severe the disease is. Your doctor may give you one or more medicines to treat CHD, including:

• ACE inhibitors to lower blood pressure and protect your heart and kidneys
• Aspirin, with or without clopidogrel (Plavix) or prasugrel (Effient) to help prevent blood clots from forming in your arteries
• Beta-blockers to lower heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen use by the heart
• Calcium channel blockers to relax arteries, lower blood pressure, and reduce strain on the heart
• Diuretics ("water pills") to lower blood pressure and treat heart failure
• Nitrates (such as nitroglycerin) to stop chest pain and improve blood flow to the heart
• Statins to lower cholesterol

NEVER ABRUPTLY STOP TAKING ANY OF THESE DRUGS. Always talk to your doctor first. Stopping these drugs suddenly can make your angina worse or cause a heart attack.

Your doctor may refer you to a cardiac rehabilitation program to help improve your heart's fitness.

Procedures and surgeries used to treat CHD include:

• Angioplasty and stent placement, called percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs)
• Coronary artery bypass surgery
• Minimally invasive heart surgery

LIVE A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

Some of the risks for heart disease that you CAN change are:

• Do not smoke or use tobacco.
• Get plenty of exercises, at least 30 minutes a day on at least 5 days a week (talk to your doctor first).
• Maintain a healthy weight. Men and women should aim for a body mass index (BMI) between 18.5 and 24.9.
• Get checked and treated for depression.
• Women who are at high risk for heart disease should take omega-3 fatty acid supplements.
• If you drink alcohol, limit yourself to no more than one drink per day for women, and no more than two drinks per day for men.

Nutrition is important to your heart health, and it will help control some of your heart disease risk factors.

• Choose a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
• Choose lean proteins, such as chicken, fish, beans, and legumes.
• Eat low-fat dairy products, such as 1% milk and low-fat yogurt.
• Avoid sodium (salt) and fats found in fried foods, processed foods, and baked goods.
• Eat fewer animal products that contain cheese, cream, or eggs.
• Read labels, and stay away from "saturated fat" and anything that contains "partially-hydrogenated" or "hydrogenated" fats. These products are usually loaded with unhealthy fats.

Expectations/Prognosis the Disease

Everyone recovers differently. Some people can maintain a healthy life by changing their diet, stopping smoking, and taking medications exactly as the doctor prescribes. Others may need medical procedures such as angioplasty or surgery.

Although everyone is different, early detection of CHD generally results in a better outcome.

Calling your health care provider

If you have any risk factors for CHD, contact your doctor to discuss prevention and possible treatment.

Immediately contact your health care provider or go to the emergency room if you have:

• Angina or chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Symptoms of a heart attack

Thankyou for reading this article. You can leave some comments below to enrich the article. Thankyou. (Dr.Weka)