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IN
the last issue of
Life & Health
,
our four cardiologists—Habib Bassil,
MD; Said Iskandar, MD; Janardhan
Srinivasan, MD; and Gareth Titus,
MD—answered common questions
about heart health. Now they are
back to provide more answers on
how to keep your ticker ticking.
Q.
Is red wine good for the heart?
A.
Dr. Bassil:
It is important for
patients with diabetes and hyperten-
sion to avoid the use of any alcohol.
A.
Dr. Iskandar:
If you don’t drink,
this isn’t a recommendation to start
drinking alcohol. Too much can make
you gain weight and raise your blood
pressure and triglyceride level.
A.
Dr. Titus:
Red wine consumed
in moderate amounts raises your
good cholesterol level, which slows
clogging of the arteries with choles-
terol plaque.
Q.
What should people do if they
have risk factors of heart disease?
A.
Dr. Bassil:
Diet, lifestyle
changes—losing weight and regular
exercise at least 30 minutes five to
seven days a week—and medications
are the first line.
A.
Dr. Srinivasan:
Under the
supervision of their doctor, they can
control their adjustable risk factors.
A.
Dr. Titus:
They should see their
doctor to discuss screening for heart
disease.
Q.
Why is cholesterol important?
A.
Dr. Iskandar:
There are two
types of cholesterol in the blood.
LDL is called bad cholesterol be-
cause if it is too high, it can lead to
buildup and blockage in your arter-
ies. HDL, also called good choles-
terol, helps remove cholesterol from
the body, preventing it from building
up in your arteries.
A.
Dr. Titus:
Too much cholesterol
P A R T 2
Let us keep your ticker ticking at HRHS
with risk factors for them.
Q.
How often should a person
get checked for the risks of heart
disease?
A.
Dr. Bassil:
At least once a year.
If you have multiple risk factors for a
heart attack or stroke, you may need
to see your doctor multiple times a
year.
A.
Dr. Srinivasan:
An annual
physical should include blood work
to check for diabetes, kidney disease
and cholesterol.
A.
Dr. Titus:
Your primary care
doctor will refer you to a cardiologist
when appropriate.
For more information on
Halifax Regional Health System’s
Center for Cardiovascular Services,
visit
www.hrhs.org
.
HEART HEALTH
A.
Dr. Srinivasan:
Some warning
signs of strokes are:
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sudden weakness of one side of the
body
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slurring of speech
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tingling or numbness on one side
of the body
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facial droop or visual disturbances
affecting one eye.
Q.
Does taking an aspirin a day
prevent heart attacks?
A.
Dr. Bassil:
Because of the possi-
ble side effects of aspirin, you should
always check with your doctor before
you start taking aspirin every day.
A.
Dr. Iskandar:
If you have had
a heart attack or stroke, aspirin can
help lower the risk of a second one.
A.
Dr. Titus:
Taking an aspirin a
day prevents heart attacks in people
will lead to clogging of the arteries,
increasing your risk of heart disease.
Q.
What are the warning signs
of a heart attack or stroke?
A.
Dr. Bassil:
Some warning
signs of heart attacks include:
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chest pain, pressure, tightness or
heaviness
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unexplained shortness of breath
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unexplained fatigue
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unexpected episodes of
indigestion.
A.
Dr. Iskandar:
Other signs in-
clude nausea, light-headedness, and
breaking out in a cold sweat.
life and health
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7
Habib
Bassil, MD
Said
Iskandar, MD
Janardhan
Srinivasan, MD
Gareth
Titus, MD