VOLUME 9 • ISSUE 2 • FEBRUARY 2015
A SLICE OF ORANGE Refreshing Your Health
WHEN YOUR HEART SKIPS A BEAT • Pumped up • The heart gone haywire • Arrhythmias in the workplace • Keeping your pace • Getting an ECG
When your heart skips a beat THE MAIN JOB OF YOUR HEART IS TO BEAT. IS YOURS DOING A GOOD JOB? The Month of Love is upon us again, and it is again time to pay special attention to the one organ that goes “lub-dub” during this time. Even though we have attributed romantic love to the heart, feelings of romance actually
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emanate from the brain. The heart’s main purpose is to pump life-giving blood to every other part of the body. Without the heart, blood will stop flowing through our blood vessels and to every other organ of the body, and we die within minutes.
A SLICE OF ORANGE
VOLUME 9 • ISSUE 2 • FEBRUARY 2015
GETTING AN ECG An ECG (electrocardiogram) is a medical test that measures the faint electrical signals that flow through the different chambers of the heart. It is a commonly used test to detect various heart diseases, including arrhythmias, enlargement of the heart, and other heart diseases. The electrical signals are detected by electrodes that are attached to the patient’s chest and limbs. The measured electrical signals are then recorded on strips of paper. The recorded signals are then examined and interpreted by a cardiologist (heart
PUMPED UP
the way the electrical pulses flow through
The heart is essentially a hollow muscular
the heart. These changes can be measured
pump divided into 4 chambers: 2 upper
through an electrocardiogram, better known
chambers (atria) that receive blood from the
as an ECG.
otherwise healthy patient. To minimize
body, and 2 lower chambers (ventricles) that
There are many different kinds of ar-
this from happening, only get an ECG
push blood back out. After the atria receive
rhythmias. The most common ones are those
upon the request of a physician.
the blood, they push the blood to the ven-
with abnormal rates, especially those with
tricles, which then pump the blood back.
fast rates (more than 100 beats per minute).
These chambers also contain one-way
These kinds of arrhythmias can produce a
valves to ensure that blood flows in only one
sensation of pounding of the chest, or pal-
1. Avoid drinking cold water before
direction. The heart sounds we hear (“lub-
pitations. A fast heart rate is not necessar-
dub”) are caused by the closure of these
ily an arrhythmia. The heart beats faster to
2. Avoid coffee, tea, soft drinks, and
valves, much like the sound of a door slam-
cope with greater demands from the body,
other caffeine-containing drinks on
ming shut.
such as in the case of exercise. However, a
the day of your test.
These two sets of pumps need to be
fast heart rate may also be caused by ar-
well-coordinated. The atria need to pump
rhythmias due to medications (e.g., some
first, and then the ventricles. The chambers
cold medications, caffeine), hyperthyroid-
communicate with each other through elec-
ism, anemia, electrolyte imbalances in the
trical pulses, ensuring the chamber’s regular
blood, and heart disease. This type of ar-
rhythm.
rhythmia can be dangerous especially if it is accompanied by other symptoms such as
THE HEART GONE HAYWIRE
chest pain, anxiety, sweating, confusion, or
The adult heart needs to beat at a regular
difficulty of breathing.
pace, beating 60 to 100 times per minute.
Any changes beyond these are called ar-
normal (less than 60 beats per minute). This
rhythmias. These can be changes in either
can be normal for exceptionally fit people,
the rate or the rhythm of the heartbeat. These
such as athletes. However, for most people,
abnormalities are usually due to changes in
this can be due to an underlying heart dis-
The heart rate may also be lower than
doctor). In some instances, an ECG may show falsely abnormal results in an
When getting an ECG, here are some important reminders:
the test.
3. Avoid exercise before taking
the test.
4. Continue taking any medications
prescribed to you, especially those
prescribed for heart disease, unless
your physician has advised you to
stop taking them temporarily.
A SLICE OF ORANGE
VOLUME 9 • ISSUE 2 • FEBRUARY 2015
ease. People with low heart rates should be
heart muscles where the electrical pulses
KEEPING YOUR PACE
seen by a doctor, especially if it is accom-
flow through, thus also affecting heart rate
panied by dizziness or chest pain.
and rhythm.
mentioned factors, it is prudent for everyone
to take steps to prevent arrhythmias from de-
The third kind of arrhythmia is when the
Because of the risk posed by the afore-
change is in the heart’s rhythm. Instead of
veloping in the first place.
being regular (“lub-dub”, pause, “lub-dub”,
• Monitor yourself. Make it a habit to mon-
pause), the heart beat becomes irregular
itor your pulse every month. Also, monitor
(e.g., ”lub-dub”, pause, “lub-dub”, long
your blood pressure, which can also affect
pause). These types of arrhythmias can be
your heart health.
a sign of an underlying heart disease that
• Eat a wide variety of fruits and vegeta-
should be seen by a doctor. In addition, the
bles, which are rich in healthy electrolytes
irregular heart beat may cause complica-
Caffeine is another common workplace
tions, such as blood clots and stroke (brain
risk factor for arrhythmia. Just like stress,
• While eliminating caffeine could be next
attack).
caffeine can also overload your heart and
to impossible to some, limit intake to two
Very severe arrhythmias can be fatal,
affect your heartbeat. Also, it can alter the
cups per day. Consider switching to tea.
and may require hospitalization, special
level of electrolytes in the blood, which can
• Moderate alcohol intake, which could
medications, and sometimes, the use of elec-
then disrupt the electrical signals regulating
lead to electrolyte imbalances.
tronic pacemakers implanted into the heart.
heartbeat.
• Use medications, such as cold medi-
Shift work in itself may not necessarily
cations, only when needed. Avoid illegal
ARRHYTHMIAS IN THE
cause arrhythmias, but the stress involved
drugs, which can tax the heart.
WORKPLACE
with coping with shifting schedules and the
By following these, and addressing the
Office workers can have certain risk factors
caffeine people chug down to stay awake
other risk factors for heart disease (e.g.,
that could predispose them to arrhythmias.
can predispose to arrhythmias. Furthermore,
blood sugar and cholesterol; tobacco use),
The first one is stress. Work stress and other
shift work has been related to hypertension
you can keep your ticker ticking for many
forms of stress can push your heart rate into
and other heart diseases, which in turn can
more Valentines to come.
overdrive. The stress can also damage the
predispose to arrhythmias.
such as potassium.
ActiveLink is an employee benefits management firm focused on corporate healthcare benefits. Our thrusts are to deliver a cost-efficient HMO plan and to ensure successful implementation through excellent customer service support and the use of our benefits portal (www.benefitsmadebetter.com). CONTACT US TODAY! Email us at inquiries@activelinkbenefits.com or call us at 8174606, and let us know when we can share our strategy. Let us help you make your benefits better!
Looking to enhance your corporate healthcare benefits? E-mail us at benefits@activelinkbenefits.com. The information in this newsletter is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Consult a doctor for all matters relating to your health, particularly for symptoms that may require diagnosis or medical attention. © 2015 ActiveLink
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A Slice of Orange
is a newsletter designed to help clarify basic health information and offer juicy tips on uplifting your health.
Editorial team Alvin Delfin Christine Llenes-Delfin Ivan Olegario, MD