Heart surgeon reminds public to watch waistlines for health

A heart surgeon on Monday reminded the public to also be wary of their waist measurement as bigger sizes could increase the risk of heart problems.

According to Dr. Avenilo Aventura Jr., people should not just maintain a normal blood pressure, body mass index, and sugar level to ensure a healthy heart, but also sustain a normal waist measurement.

“Waist circumference should be about 33 inches less for women, and below 37 inches in men. A waist measurement of more than 34.5 inches in women and more than 37 inches in men is considered a substantially increased health risk,” the doctor said during a forum of the Philippine Heart Association (PHA).

Cardio-epidemiologist Dr. Liberty “Petite” Yaneza explained that obesity can lead to metabolic disorders or even heart failure, a condition when the heart can no longer pump enough blood and oxygen to support other organs in the body.

“We are becoming hypertensive also. Nagiging madami [‘yung ating] cholesterol, tapos nagiging diabetic po tayo. So lahat ‘yan pwede maging burden sa puso, lalo na sa ugat din po natin. Kaya there is a clear or direct cause if you are obese leading to heart failure,” she said.

(We also become hypertensive too. Our cholesterol gets high, and we become diabetic. So all that can be a burden on the heart. So there is a clear or direct cause if you are obese leading to heart failure.)

“Ang heart failure naman parang ano lang siya, naapektuhan lang siya dahil sa mga ginagawa din natin. ‘Yung tayo ay nagiging hypertensive, tayo ay diabetic, o kaya ay naging lumaki tayo, lumalaki po ‘yung mga waist natin,” she added.

(Heart failure is just a result of what we do. When we become hypertensive, diabetic, fatter, or our waists are getting bigger.)

Yaneza also warned that patients with heart problems, or are hypertensive or diabetic are at more risk of developing heart failure, or eventually advanced heart failure, a condition that could no longer be addressed by conventional treatments.

To prevent such heart problems, the doctor urged everyone to ensure that their blood pressure and sugar levels are well-controlled, that they exercise regularly, and stop vices like smoking and drinking alcohol. —NB, GMA Integrated News