IT IS BETTER LATE THAN NEVER

All of us are living on "borrowed time" in this world without knowing when our time will be up. So, make the best of it all while we can. There is a saying which states that "prevention is better than cure". As a matter of prevention, we should consume more vegetables, fruits, grains and fish with less intake of Salt and meat and end up with regular daily exercises to dispel the toxins in order to promote better blood circulation in the body. Like an old Chinese saying that "HEALTH IS BETTER THAN WEALTH." It is indeed very true if we look down deep inside us. I know of an unfortunate rich person who was crippled by a STROKE which restricts his physical movements is always confined to a bed or in a wheel-chair. Even though he has so much wealth yet he is unable to enjoy it.

Coronary Heart Disease which is known as the "SILENT KILLER" is now the leading cause of death in many Asian countries and is the KILLER of some seven million worldwide each year.

Just a few words of awareness shared with us by Jim Hutchison.

SEVEN WAYS TO AVOID HEART DISEASE.

!. Quit Smoking.
Cigarette accounts for 20 per cent of all cardiovascular deaths. But if you quit, your risk of Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) drops by a whopping 50 per cents within 12 months. In 15 years, risk of dying from CHD drops to nearly the same as non-smokers.

2. Eat more vegetables, fish and grains.
Foods high in saturated fat and cholesterol can raise levels of cholesterol in the blood and plug arteries. For every ten per cent above acceptable levels, risk of CHD increases by 20 per cent.

3. Reduce the intake of SALT.
Foods high in sodium (such as soy sauces and monosodium glutamate) contribute to high blood pressure, increasing the risk of stroke. High blood pressure is often symptom-less, making it crucial to have a simple blood-pressure test.

4. Get Active.
Two million deaths a year are attributed to physical inactivity. People who exercise - even as little as three ten-minute bouts of vigorous activity a day - can decrease their risk of heart attack by 40 per cent.

5. Reduce stress.
Mounting evidence suggests that job-related stress is a risk factor for heart disease. Find time to relax.

6. Don't forget your kids. "Heart disease does not happen overnight - it takes years for coronary arteries to block up. That means parents are the first line of defence in protecting their children from heart disease later in life by serving healthy food at home and limiting junk food. Helping children maintain a healthy weight by encouraging physical activity instead of letting them sit in front of the computer ot TV means they are likely to carry healthy habits into adulthood.

7. Get a checkup.
This is an advice which is valid for everyone - especially if you have a close relative who died from heart disease or stroke before age 60. You, too, could be at RISK.