FURTHERMORE
By Gerry Moran
I read with great interest last week my fellow columnist Paul Hopkin’s column. Paul (also the Editor of this newspaper) had open heart surgery 15 years ago for a congenital defect which, in midlife, had caught up with him. Next month, Paul, because of wear and tear, will go under the knife again for some ‘mending’. (And I wish you well with that, sir).
As Paul knows only too well, heart disease is Ireland’s No. 1 killer. Approximately 10,000 people die each year from cardiovascular disease (CVD) which is the most common cause of death in Ireland accounting for, roughly, one third of all fatalities in this country. Furthermore, 22% of premature deaths (under 65 years of age) are from CVD. With that in mind here’s a little quiz worth taking – for your heart’s sake!
(Answers at end of column)
1. What causes a heart attack?
high cholesterol b) blocked artery c) high blood pressure d) overweight.
2. Arteriosclerosis is also known as
heart attack b) heart failure c) hardening of the arteries d) angina.
3. On average, how many times does your heart beat each day?
a) 1000 b) 10,000 c) 100,000 d) 1,000,000.
4. What factors increase your chances of heart and circulatory disease?
a) high blood pressure b) overweight c) high cholesterol levels d) all of these.
5. Smoking increases your risk of dying from coronary heart disease by a) 50% b) 60% c) 70% d) 80%.
6. Exposure to second-hand smoke increases your risk of heart disease by
a) 5% b) 10% c) 15% d) 25%.
7. High blood pressure is a risk factor for heart disease. What is the main symptom?
a) occasional nausea b) dizziness c) irregular pulse d) none of the above.
8. Which of the following is considered a normal blood pressure reading?
a) 90 over 60 b) 120 over 80 c) 140 over 90 d)180 over 110.
9. Which type of cholesterol is bad for your heart?
a) LDL-cholesterol b) HDC-cholesterol c) all cholesterol.
10. Which substance found in oily fish can help maintain a healthy heart?
a) lycopene b) saturated fats c) trans fats d) omega 3 fatty acid.
11. How much physical activity a day can help protect your heart?
a) 10 minutes b) 20 minutes c) 30 minutes d) 60 minutes.
12. How long does it take for a smoker’s risk of heart disease to return to that of a non-smoker, after quitting smoking?
a) 5 years b) 10 years c) 15 years d) 20 years.
Some hearty laughs!
A little light relief wouldn’t go astray after all that. A GP died and went to Heaven where he met God who granted him one question. So the GP asked: “Will we ever, ever reform our health service?”
“Great question”, God replied. “The answer is yes – but not in my lifetime.”
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Doctor: “The best thing you could do is give up smoking, drinking and wild women.”
Patient: “What’s the second best?”
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Patient: Doctor, do you mind if I get a second opinion?
Doctor: Of course not, come back tomorrow
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Doctor: “Go over to the window and stick your tongue out.”
Patient: “Why?”
Doctor: “Because I hate the guy who lives opposite.”
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Answers: 1. a, b c & d are risk factors. 2. c 3. c. The heart also pumps 5000 gallons of blood around your body each day. 4. d. Other factors include diabetes, smoking, poor diet, lack of exercise and having a history of heart disease. 5. b. 6. b 7. d. People who suffer from blood pressure may not display any symptoms which is why it’s necessary to have your blood pressure checked regularly by your doctor. 8. b 9. a 10. d 11. c 12. c
