I AM a near fatal heart attack survivor and I want to tell my readers that there is life after a heart attack.
The quality of life and the limitations you will experience will depend on your will power to survive. I had my heart attack sometime in year 2010 and till this day I am still up and alive writing this column every week, doing my daily home chores, and enjoying my more limited social life.
This much I can write about, my survival is the result of the unconditional love and care of my only son Francis and his wife, Cecile, here in Davao. My only daughter, Hattie, and her family live in Metro Manila, Fairview, Quezon City. My friends and relatives also help a lot in my existence today. I walk around with the help of my cane.
I admit that I am weaker now compared to my full strength before my heart attack. I thank God for this for being alone is one guarantee that someone cannot survive after a near fatal heart attack.
In the news written by Ms. Juliet Revita, it's said that Cardio Vascular Disease (CVD) is still the leading cause of mortality in our country. Thus I will delve further on the program of Doctor Arnold Pasia.
The Philippine Hearts Association (PHA) is celebrating the annual Heart Month celebration launched on February 11 and 12 aimed at increasing the level of awareness of all Dabawenyos.
Doctor Pasia planned to start the activities at the Davao City National High School to improve the knowledge of the public concerning the basic life support and survival measures through the cardiopulmonary resuscitation trainings on wheels and wings. Selected able students are trained so that the school is ready to meet emergencies when they happen.
Quick responses can save lives while a delay in giving medical assistance can be fatal.
All citizens of Davao should participate in the programs.
For this year, the Philippine Heart Association Inc.-SMC Davao President Doctor Pasia said they are capable of attending to the needs of 500 to 1,000 patients for free. There would be some 30 cardiologists from different hospitals in Davao. February 12 from 6 a.m. to 12 noon will be medical services as fasting blood sugar screening, cholesterol screening, electro cardiogram, and bone screening. Both pedia (children) and adults may avail of these services.
Other activities include a Zumba fitness marathon and a poster making contest for high school students. These are very commendable because everyone is given an opportunity to understand the significance of a healthy lifestyle. Essay writing on the theme of the program may be given too to let students write original impressions of the programs’ benefits. Exercise is a must for the hearts health. This lowers blood pressure, increases high density lipoprotein or the good cholesterol.
Death-causing CVD may be in the form of heart attack, hypertension, stroke, and congestive heart failures. There are more males involved because of their vices as smoking, drinking alcoholic liquors, unhealthy diets, sedentary life styles, obesity, and high cholesterol. All these can predispose them to suffer heart attacks.
I congratulate Doctor Pasia for expertly preparing this crafted program for this year's celebration of Heart Month. He also reminded all patients that after treatment and they are cured, they will stop taking their medications. These medications most often should be taken throughout their life time.
As it's Valentine's Day, do you know that St. Valentine was a priest and martyr? He is not fiction. He is the patron saint of lovers.
He was persecuted arrested and beaten to death by Emperor Claudius in Rome. Valentine means valor. For many centuries lovers had prayed to him for courage and strength when facing difficulties in their love affairs.
Sending love letters and flowers is based on this legend. Birds have long abstinence from love making during the long wintertime and can only find their partner on St. Valentine's Day.
Happy Valentine's Day to all my readers of my column today.
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