MODULE 6

1. Carrots

Carrots are believed to be beneficial for the eyes. However, to trace back this notion’s origin, it will
tell us that it is generally a myth credited to the rather brilliant denial of the secret of British Royal
Air Force during World War II about them using radar, their newfound technology, to target and
shoot down enemy planes. They said that eating carrots has helped to improve the visual accuracy
of British pilots, especially at night.

Though it‘s been identified as a myth, carrots do help in improving one’s eyesight as they
contain beta-carotene and lutein. Yellow carrots contain the most lutein while orange ones are
especially high in beta carotene. Beta-carotene is a precursor of vitamin A or retinol which belongs
to the family of retinoids. Vitamin A is needed to form rhodopsin, the light-sensitive pigment of our
eye cells that helps us see in dimly lit environments (i.e. during night). Thus, vitamin A deficiency
can lead to poor vision at night.

2. Professional divers are subject to increased pressure as they descend to the bottom
of the ocean. Sometimes this pressure can lead to damage to the ear and loss of
hearing. Describe the normal mechanisms that adjust for changes in pressure,
suggest some conditions that might interfere with pressure adjustment, and explain
how the increased pressure might cause loss of hearing.

As divers go deeper under the ocean, the water pressure will increase. They can feel this increased
pressure on their middle ear which includes the tympanic membrane (eardrum) as it is “squeezed”
by the increasing hydrostatic pressure outside. As a result, they experience the sense of deafness
known as “ear barotrauma” – the discomfort in the middle ear caused by environmental pressure
changes. To compensate for this, they can safely “equalize” the pressure by opening the normally
closed eustachian tubes to allow higher-pressure air from the throat to enter the middle ears.
Eustachian tubes can be opened either by pinching the nose and blowing gently (Valsalva
Maneuver) or by using the throat muscles to pull your eustachian tubes open by swallowing. By
doing so, outside air passing through the tube will keep the pressure in the middle ear equal to that
of the water pressure. However, if there is a blockage in the tube causing it to malfunction or a
pressure difference occurs across the eardrum, loss of hearing may occur.

When skin divers descend into the ocean, they experience rapidly increased water pressure.   Within seconds,
they can suffer from excruciating pain in their ears due to the unequal pressure inside and outside of their
eardrums.  They must equalize this pressure by blowing hard through their nose.  By doing this, they are
making a short-term acclimatization to the changed environment.
MODULE 8
With the ceaseless proliferation of COVID-19 cases around the world, efforts to find not only
its cure but its association to other factors have also been persistent. The study concluded that
blood type A shows an increased risk of contracting COVID-19 as compared to type O which showed
decreased risk. Even though this was not peer reviewed, I agree to this finding as other studies
concluded the same.
The Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology in Christian-Albrechts-University indicated that
people with type A blood were associated with having a 45 percent higher risk of contracting the
virus. While, Barnkob et. al. supported the latter by specifying that blood group O is significantly
associated with reduced susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection. This is consistent to a research
done back in 2005 about SARS which concluded the same notion about blood group O.
Nevertheless, these studies were not done to impose fear or equanimity as the researchers
themselves stated that ABO blood typing is currently not to be considered prognostic.

MODULE 9
What do you think are the reasons why heart disease is the leading cause of death in our
country? Defend your answer by citing other studies/articles. (20 pts)

The Department of Health (DOH) and World Health Organization (WHO) identified the
disease of the heart as the leading cause of death in the country as 120,800 cardiovascular disease
(CVD) related deaths (19.83% of total deaths) were reported by WHO in 2018. The factors that
contribute to CVDs include the following: food consumption, smoking, alcohol intake, stress level,
sedentary lifestyle, and genes.

Food consumption
Poor quality diets are high in refined grains and added sugars, salt, unhealthy fats and
animal-source foods; and are low in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, fish and nuts. The
prior are all associated to increased risk of developing CVDs (Anand et. al., 2015). DiNicolantonio
and OKeefe (2017) stated that a diet high in added sugars is associated to an increased prevalence
of [type 2] diabetes, which in turn increases the risk of heart disease and stroke because of insulin
resistance. Likewise, obesity, cause by spiking blood sugar levels, may then cause atrial
enlargement, ventricular enlargement and atherosclerosis. On the other hand, a 5 g per day higher
salt intake (2000 mg of sodium) is associated with a 17% greater risk of total cardiovascular
disease, and crucially a 23% greater risk of stroke Cappuccio (2013). Sodium, or salt, when
present excessively in the body, makes the body retain more fluid. Thus, causing blood volume and
blood pressure to rise and eventually may weaken the heart and damage arteries, leading to heart
failure and other heart diseases. Harvard Health Publishing published an article on 2017
indicating that foods rich in trans fats increases the amount of harmful LDL cholesterol in the
bloodstream while reducing beneficial HDL cholesterol. LDL cholesterol gets in the walls of arteries,
causing atherosclerosis, leading to heart attacks and strokes. Further, the Department of Science
and Technology’s Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) on 2016, stated that, more
Filipinos face increased levels of higher cholesterol in the recent years as the Filipino diet is tilted
more toward meat consumption. Red meat contains high content of saturated fat; when solidified, it
blocks the arteries which may cause a heart attack.

Smoking
The study of Punzalan et. al. in 2014 was done in an effort to correlate the factors of CVD to
the socio-demographic profile of Filipinos in 2014. They have identified smoking as one of the risk
factors associated to employed Filipinos and those who have reached at least a primary level of
education. The most common manifestations of tobacco-related CVD include myocardial infarction,
angina, stroke, aortic aneurysm, and peripheral artery disease. Heart failure, chronic kidney
disease, and atrial fibrillation are also emerging as global health issues (Roy et. al., 2017).

Alcohol intake
Although moderate consumption of alcohol (1-2 drinks/day) benefits the body by lowering
the risk for CVD like coronary heart disease and ischemic stroke, studies have generally identified
that heavier alcohol consumption is positively associated with risk of atrial fibrillation, heart
failure, hypertension, cerebrovascular diseases, cardiomyopathy and hemorrhagic stroke (Medina
et. al., 2016; Larsson et. al., 2020).

Stress levels
Psychosocial stress, such as depressive symptoms, loss of interest, living alone and financial
stress were associated with increased CVD risk as well as all-cause death despite of optimal medical
secondary prevention treatment (Hagstrom et. al., 2018). The University of Rochester Medical
Center stated that high levels of cortisol produced from long-term stress can increase risk for CVD
factors like blood cholesterol, triglycerides, blood sugar, and blood pressure. Stress can also cause
changes that promote the buildup of plaque deposits in the arteries (atherosclerosis).

Sedentary lifestyle
Sedentary lifestyle encompasses one’s behavior and physical inactivity but it is one of the
leading modifiable risk factors worldwide for cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality.
Sedentary behavior includes reading, computer use, watching television, office work, and cell phone
use – a typical Filipino lifestyle in all honesty.
As one is confined to less, if not totally nothing, physical activity, it is more likely for a
person to develop the risks for CVD with a similar risk rate to cigarette smoking, high blood
pressure, and elevated cholesterol (Kim, 2018). The promotion of healthy lifestyle choices across
all age groups, race, and ethnicities, like eating a well-balanced diet, exercising regularly, managing
weight, and avoiding smoking may substantially lessen the risk of CVD by improving lipids, blood
pressure, and other risk factors (Chiuve et. al., 2017).

Genes
Diseases which are hereditary and genetically linked are prevalent in the country. As such,
cardiovascular disease is no exemption, which encompasses a range of conditions extending from
high blood pressure to coronary heart disease. The University of Ottawa Heart Institute averred
that genetics can influence the risk for heart disease in that genes control every aspect of the
cardiovascular system; from the strength of the blood vessels to the way cells in the heart
communicate. Genetic conditions are caused by a variation (mutation) in one or more genes passed
from generation to generation (Cirino and Ho, 2013). They further implied that most genetic heart
conditions are inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern. For example, a genetic variation can
change the way a particular protein works, thus the body processes cholesterol differently,
increasing the likelihood of blocked arteries.

MODULE 10

What are the various substances influence blood pressure? List at least 5 and explain each.
(20 points).

The following substances influence one’s blood pressure:

1. Acetaminophen – helps relieve pain by blocking pain signals within the central nervous
system (brain and spinal cord). It also reduces fever by its action on the heat-regulating
center of the brain. However, an article in Circulation reported that it has slightly increased
the blood pressure of patients with coronary artery disease. Thus, it should only be used in
the lowest effective doses for the shortest possible time.
2. Corticosteroids - are used to provide relief for inflamed areas of the body. They are often
used as part of the treatment severe allergies or skin problems as they lessen swelling,
redness, itching, and allergic reactions. They are also used to treat asthma or arthritis.
Prednisone, a type of corticosteroids, raises blood pressure in that it causes the body to
 retain fluid. Excess fluid in the circulation can cause an increase in blood pressure as the
heart is forced to work harder and can also make breathing harder.
3. Nicotine - is notably known to be a dangerous and highly addictive stimulant found in
plants like tobacco which increases the risk for heart disease and heart attack. It is addictive
because it triggers a reaction in the brain's reward system or the structures responsible for
pleasurable sensations. Yet, it also provides benefits such as increasing the speed of sensory
information processing, easing tension and sharpening the mind. However, the nicotine in
cigarettes and other tobacco products makes blood vessels narrower, makes the heart beat
faster, and increases blood pressure.
4. Antidepressants – The study done by Hildrum et. al. in 2011 concluded that symptoms of
anxiety and depression are associated with decrease in blood pressure. Ironically, some
antidepressants which work to improve mood, promote better sleep, and increase one’s
appetite and concentration by balancing neurotransmitters which affect mood and
emotions in the brain, are linked to hypertension. Venlafaxine, bupropion, and desipramine
are examples of antidepressants known to cause hypertension by affecting the levels of
certain neurotransmitters, known as catecholamines, which regulate not only mood but
blood pressure as well. On a brighter note, there exist antidepressants known as selective-
serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) that do not cause high blood pressure as a side effect
such as sertraline, citalopram, fluoxetine, and paroxetine.
5. Caffeine - is a natural stimulant most commonly found in tea, coffee, and cacao plants. It
works by stimulating the brain and central nervous system. When it reaches the brain, the
most noticeable effect is alertness, thus one will feel more awake and less tired. Caffeine is a
common ingredient in medications to treat or manage drowsiness, headaches, and
migraines. However, it can increase one’s blood pressure, especially of a not regular coffee
drinker, for around three (3) hours as evidenced by the review of 34 studies done by
Chrysant in 2016. The review revealed that in general, drinking anywhere between 200 to
300 mg. of caffeine can raise your systolic blood pressure by 8 mm Hg while boosting your
diastolic blood pressure by 6 mm Hg.