The Project: Kuwait

Heart Surgeon Dr. Mohammed Albanna Discusses lifestyle, Potential side effects of E-cigarettes , Heart Disease Prevention, Steroids and Blood Vessels blockages, And why exercising could save your life!

April 28, 2019 Mahdi Aloun, Dr. Mohammed Albanna Season 1 Episode 43
The Project: Kuwait
Heart Surgeon Dr. Mohammed Albanna Discusses lifestyle, Potential side effects of E-cigarettes , Heart Disease Prevention, Steroids and Blood Vessels blockages, And why exercising could save your life!
Show Notes

Time Stamps:

0:40 – Dr. Mohammed Albanna is a great heart surgeon in the community who was trained in Canada and the United Kingdom.

2:56 – He describes the condition of heart health in Kuwait based on the inactive and unhealthy lifestyles that many people live. This leads to an increased risk of coronary artery disease caused by lack of sufficient oxygen and nutrients. In fact, heart disease is the #1 killer in the world, with 17 million heart disease-related deaths every year.

6:41 – Genetics do play a huge role in people’s predisposition to heart disease, especially for people of Southeast Asian descent like many in Kuwait. It has been found that these populations have smaller coronary arteries than people from other regions of the world.

8:15 – The biggest key to avoiding heart disease is prevention. The American Heart Association recommends 30 minutes of cardio every day but no more than 2 hours per day. The simple act of walking can be very impactful if the heart rate gets above 100.

10:38 – Dr. Albanna describes athletes heart syndrome and its physical impacts on the athlete.

13:25 – Next, he explains hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) which is like athlete’s heart but caused by a genetic mutation. He recommends that all athletes have regular check-ups including EKG testing to determine if they have this mutation.

17:18 – Dr. Albanna emphasizes the importance of a healthy and balanced lifestyle.

18:40 – Mahdi asks about stents and how people with stents should exercise after their procedures. Dr. Albanna recommends a cardiac rehab program for anyone with any type of heart issue but especially those who have had procedures to correct an issue.

22:30 – Stents should be taken as a warning sign that the person needs to make some lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking, developing an exercise routine, and making better food choices.

26:21 – Mahdi points out that some athletes think that they can continue smoking if they make up for it with their workouts. This could not be farther from the truth because smoking can lead to heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, and so many other diseases regardless of your fitness habits.

28:55 – E-cigarettes are new to the market and becoming trendy, but the nicotine in them is just as addictive as that in regular cigarettes, so these should be avoided. The only benefit of e-cigarettes is when someone is trying to quit smoking by intentionally choosing how much nicotine they consume.

30:16 – Dr. Albanna says that most people should be able to take care of themselves into their 80s, so when he has surgery patients in their 50s or 60s, they are very young to be having heart issues.

31:33 – Heart attacks have 3 causes: (1) narrowing or blockage causing the heart to not be able to keep up with demand, (2) a smaller blockage that causes abnormal matter to enter the bloodstream, or (3) vessel dissection, common with people who take steroids.

34:49 – Steroids make the blood vessel walls thinner, so when an athlete stresses their heart during an intense workout, they are at higher risk of vessel dissection or shredding.

36:31 – Mahdi is put at ease when Dr. Albanna tells him that he has not sustained irreversible damage from his 1-month stint of taking Winstrol.

37:13 – People can slow down the buildup in their arteries by exercising, eating well, and having regular checkups.

38:06 – Athletes are prone to atrial fibrillation (A-fib) or excessive electrical activity in the heart, which manifests as quivers rather than beats of the heart and can lead to blood clots. He especially advises athletes to have diagnostic tests to determine if they have A-fib.

43:02 – Walking 30 minutes per day and eating a handfulof raw nuts in the morning can reduce your risk of

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