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It is only about the size of a
grapefruit. Yet in an average person's lifetime, it pumps
life-giving blood throughout the body an incredible two billion
times or more! No man-made device comes close to it. Yes, it's the
unparalleled human heart.
Diabetes, unfortunately, raises the stakes for heart disease or
coronary heart disease (CAD). CAD is a "modern" disease. Before the
1900s, heart disease was relatively uncommon. Automation and the
industrial revolution made everyday chores and work less strenuous.
The ubiquitous automobile, too, made walking "unfashionable". What
became fashionable was a rich diet and easy availability of food.
With obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels and
smoking as contributing factors, it's no wonder then that CAD is on
the rise. And the perfect reason for us all to heed dietician Amy's
"10 commandments" on avoiding a heart attack.
How high is the risk of heart disease, especially in a diabetic?
Just how high is high if you have all the "bad" factors?
The 10-year risk of a 60-year-old man with total cholesterol of 250
mg/dl, high density lipoprotein or the so-called "good cholesterol"
of 30 mg/dl with blood pressure reading of 180 mm Hg ( the upper or
systolic reading) and in a smoker to boot is over 30%.
Compare this with someone without similar risk factors and a
non-smoker and the risk is less than 6%! Alarming statistics indeed
but cold, hard facts.
In this issue, we bring to you a new regular feature on yet another
precious asset - our sight. Look out for the
My Eyes column on page
18 where we will focus on everything about the eye in diabetes.
Dr Yeo Kim Teck
Managing Editor,
DMLife
Senior Consultant,
Singapore National Eye Centre
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