A simple test to predict heart attack at Rapha Health Institute

It was first time to go to the fourth floor of Greenbelt 5 in Makati City and I didn’t know that in this “wellness level” away from the restos and retail shops of the mall is this one-of-a-kind clinic specializing in age reversal, the prevention of diseases and longevity.

The clinic is called Rapha Health Institute and it is owned by the world-renowned US-trained cardiologist, Dr. Cris Enriquez and his wife Dr. Linda, also US-trained and former assistant clinical professor at Yale University School of Medicine. It’s good that they’ve set up shop in the Philippines to preach the gospel of healthy living among Filipinos. Their treatments and therapies are commendable because they seek to prevent diseases without resorting to drugs or surgery.

I came to the clinic with the hubby because we wanted to try their arterial stiffness test. Amazing but true. I am told this simple, non-invasive test can predict whether or not you’re vulnerable to a heart attack within the next ten years. The doctor puts a flexible cuff on your arm like what happens when your blood pressure is being taken. The cuff is tightened then loosened as the test finishes and pulse waves are shown on the computer which the doctor interprets to be my arterial stiffness index (ASI). At the end of the test, I was glad that my ASI of 35 was within the range and that I was at a low risk for artery disease. There was a disclaimer of course that the “correlation is not absolute and can only be interpreted in light of other risk factors.”

If a normal person like me can find the arterial stiffness test useful, the more it is recommended for those who have been experiencing chest pains, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeats and other ills.

According to Dr. Enriquez, cardiovascular ailments are still the leading cause of death in the Philippines. I do know it from the number of acquaintances who have succumbed to strokes, heart attacks or went under the knife for triple heart bypass surgery or angioplasty.

The doctor notes that invasive procedures are not necessary. Most of the time, one’s risk for heart disease can be reversed through lifestyle modification, change in diet, and safe techniques like chelation therapy. The latter entails the infusion of intravenous fluid with all kinds of vitamins and minerals to restore circulation and remove toxic metals from the body.

According to Dr. Cris: “Most cardiologists would rather have you have an angioplasty or a bypass surgery when there is a blockage to your circulation than try a less invasive treatment of chelation, diet, exercise, and stress management.”

It was enlightening short session talking about health with a noted cardiologist. Caring for our body is one thing we shouldn’t delay or take for granted. I’ve made a mental note to visit Rapha Health again soon!