Even when nursing a broken heart, one must strive to live healthy to avoid heart problems later on, cardiologists advised Filipinos going over a romantic breakup.
Philippine Heart Center cardiologist Iris Garcia made the advice during a virtual health forum on Tuesday, noting the "indirect" link between emotional heartbreak and heart illness.
"It's related to stress. Isn't it that when you are broken-hearted it seems that your heart is stressed? When one is stressed it leads to unhealthy lifestyle and habits. We tend to eat unhealthy comfort food," Garcia explained during the "How to Heal a Broken Heart?" virtual health forum organized by the Philippine College of Physicians and Philippine Heart Association.
"So what will happen? Too much intake of fatty, unhealthy food, including sweet food such as chocolates, can lead to diabetes, high cholesterol, or hypertension," she pointed out.
The Medical City cardiologist Luigi Pierre Segundo, likewise urged "emotionally heartbroken" Filipinos to make sure that their hearts remain healthy when emotionally heartbroken.
"You risk a little heartbreak romantically but hopefully don't break the heart's health, making sure it's healthy," Segundo said.
To take care of one's heart, Garcia asked Filipinos to make it a habit to eat five servings of fruits and vegetables everyday.
She pointed out that two grams of added salt is only allowed per day, adding that doing away from smoking and sugared drinks will help reduce the risk of heart disease.
Moreover, the cardiologist suggested that Filipinos should limit their time in front television, computer, or mobile phone screens to just two hours per day.
She said doing an hour of exercise per day will also significantly lower the risk of heart disease.