Michael Jackson in 1984 (courtesy of Wikipedia)
If you’re anything like me, you’re shocked that this past Thursday, Pop Superstar Michael Jackson went into cardiac arrest and died. Many people feel that Michael Jackson was too young to go. I think it was tragic!
On occasions like this, the temptation is often there to ask, “Could Michael have been saved?” I know I asked that question. Another more relevant question might be, “Could what happened to Michael happen to me?” Your immediate reaction might be, “No, I’m not addicted to pain killers or meds”. It’s not a bad question to ask though.
As a pharmacist (in Delta, BC), I frequently see men and women who haven’t treated their bodies as they should. They haven’t been exercising as much as they should, watching their cholesterol intake, taking vitamins or supplementing what’s missing from their diets and they wind up having a heart attack. I see the lucky ones on the other end, and it’s not pretty.
So, here’s what you can do about it so you don’t wind up like Michael Jackson, and “leave” before your time. This is my top 7 tips of preventative advice for you:
1) Have a low-fat diet. (Pay attention to the type of fat in your diet)
2) Eat lots of fruits and vegetables
3) If you’re overweight or obese lose weight
4) Quit smoking
5) Exercise to improve your heart health (Ask your doctor what type of exercise is appropriate for you)
6) Treat related conditions (if you have them):
A) High blood pressure
B) High cholesterol
C) Diabetes
7) Take a good supplement containing CoQ10, it’s one of the main things that keeps your heart ticking. (I have what I believe to be the best supplement in my pharmacy in Delta at 80th and Scott Road). I’ll have a link for you shortly if you’d like to purchase one online.
If you have any questions or comments, please post them below. I’ll get to them just as soon as I can.
To Your Health,
Alan Glasser, Pharmacist
Marks Pharmacy, Delta, BC
