If you are keen and have queries, please contact Coach Rameshon at 9100 4369 or you can email him at m.rameshon@gmail.com or swift.rameshon@gmail.com. Please refer to website http://flexifitness.com.sg (for more information on him and his programmes)
By Murugiah Rameshon
Bsc (Hons) Degree in Physical Education, Loughborough University (1992-1994)
Masters in Education (University of Western Australia, 2005-2008)
Heart Disease - Rise in Young Chinese Singaporeans of having heart disease later on in life.
An article was written in Yahoo news By Health Xchange | Fit to Post Health – Sun, Sep 9, 2012
In Singapore, currently, cancer occupies first place for highest deaths. Second place goes to Heart disease. This survey has been serially done by the Ministry of Health, Health Promotion Board.
Our topic for today will be on heart problems, the second-highest killer in Singapore. In the past, it was found that Indians occupy as the highest group to be at risk as compared to Malays and Chinese In recent years, the number has increased in the Malay population in Singapore.
Very recently, it has been found that the Chinese population in Singapore has seen an increase in heart risk. In the past, this was not so. As you can see, this figure has been on the increase as young Chinese who usually fancy eating out at fast-food chains like MacDonalds. I have seen myself seeing students eating in MacDonalds and they tend to frequent this place often as compared to eating in healthy food stalls in normal food courts.
Article by Health Exchange.
According to a joint study by the University of Minnesota's School of Public Health (UM) and National University of Singapore's (NUS) Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, a person's age, smoking status and level of physical activity may have less of an impact on one's risk of developing coronary heart disease — when compared to a Western fast food diet.
The joint UM-NUS study of 52,584 Singaporean Chinese men and women, aged 45 to 74, was conducted over 16 years starting in 1993. The findings were published online on 2 July 2012 by the American Heart Association.
Higher risk of coronary heart disease for fast food lovers
In the study, participants who ate fast food more frequently were younger, physically more active, had a lower incidence of high blood pressure and smoked less.
Due to their demographics, "you would expect this group to have a lower risk of developing coronary heart disease. Instead, these study participants had a higher incidence of coronary heart disease, suggesting a strong association between frequent intake of Western fast food and coronary heart disease" says Dr Ho Kay Woon, consultant, Department of Cardiology, National Heart Centre Singapore (NHCS).
How bad is Western fast food for the heart?
The study showed that eating even one Western fast food once a week could increase a person's risk of dying from coronary heart disease (also called coronary artery disease) by 20 per cent.
The risk increases to 50 per cent for those who eat Western fast food two to three times a week, and to 80 per cent for those who eat it four times or more a week. Eating fast food two times or more a week could also increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus by 27 per cent.
What makes Western fast food so unhealthy?
A Western fast-food diet is typically high in calories, sodium, trans-fat, and low in dietary fibre. Such a diet, predominantly featuring processed meat and refined carbohydrates has been associated with the development of diseases such as coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome, says Ho.
Related article: Why is dietary fibre so important?
Examples of popular Western fast food in Singapore are: pizzas, burgers, fries, hot dogs, deep-fried chicken and fast-food sandwiches. Limit intake of local fast food for a healthy heart
Ho lists local favourites such as fried kway teow, roti prata, fried dough fritters, preserved canned food (with high salt content) and processed meat like luncheon meats as equivalent to Western fast foods.
"These local foods have a similar unhealthy nutritional profile and are also expected to be associated with adverse cardiometabolic conditions. The key is eating in moderation," says Ho.
What are the early signs of possible heart disease?
Typically, coronary heart disease presents with chest discomfort or tightness that comes with exertion. The discomfort will be relieved after a period of rest and recur when exertion is resumed, explains Ho.
Sudden, severe gripping chest pain, which may be associated with sweating or nausea, may indicate a heart attack. The pain usually persists for more than 30 minutes. However, some patients may present with less typical symptoms such as breathlessness on exertion or gastric discomfort, especially in diabetic patients.
Causes of premature coronary heart disease
A study by Tambyah et al. (Singapore Medical Journal 1996; 37:31-33) identified the characteristics of patients aged below 40 who were admitted for acute myocardial infarction (heart attack).
- 84 per cent of them smoked
- 56 per cent had high cholesterol
- 20 per cent had a family history of premature coronary disease
- 19 per cent had high blood pressure
- 16 per cent had diabetes mellitus
Note:
By Narayanan
Rameshon has taught in Hwa Chong Institution, plus several schools, and Republic Polytechnic as well. He has won many accolades and he was awarded Merit Award for 1991 marathon performance in breaking the national record of Singapore, at that time. He has made 22 male athletes do a marathon in sub-3hrs. He has made 7 female runners do sub-4 hours for the marathon, as well. He was inducted to the ‘Roll of Honour’ by the then College of Physical Education, organised by Singapore Olympic Academy, in 1998, for breaking the National record repeatedly 4 times, till he did 2hr 24min 22sec).
He also has a Coaching group and he trains them on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7pm at Botanic Gardens. Those interested can call him at 91004369 for coaching assistance, to improve performance. There is also personal training that he does for many in a week. You can e-mail him at swift.rameshon@gmail.com.
By Narayanan
Rameshon has taught in Hwa Chong Institution, plus several schools, and Republic Polytechnic as well. He has won many accolades and he was awarded Merit Award for 1991 marathon performance in breaking the national record of Singapore, at that time. He has made 22 male athletes do a marathon in sub-3hrs. He has made 7 female runners do sub-4 hours for the marathon, as well. He was inducted to the ‘Roll of Honour’ by the then College of Physical Education, organised by Singapore Olympic Academy, in 1998, for breaking the National record repeatedly 4 times, till he did 2hr 24min 22sec).
He also has a Coaching group and he trains them on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7pm at Botanic Gardens. Those interested can call him at 91004369 for coaching assistance, to improve performance. There is also personal training that he does for many in a week. You can e-mail him at swift.rameshon@gmail.com.
