This is Mr. Jose Miguel Arroyo, popularly known in this country as the First Gentleman, being the husband of our second female president. His popularity stems lately more from speculations (and rumors and more rumors) of his notoriety, of him meddling in government contracts, of which he should NOT have a part of. But as I said, these are speculations. No one has been bold enough to present credible evidence to substantiate the hurled accusations.Two years ago, after being diagnosed with aortic aneurysm, he underwent a delicate surgical operation. Either because he had excellent doctors, or because his nine lives haven't been exhausted yet, he emerged from this ordeal as a triumphant winner. He's still having weekly rehabilitation sessions in the hospital until now, but his doctors can attest to his magnificent recovery.
Recently, he's making the headlines again because senators want to question him again on his alleged involvement on contracts entered into by the government years ago. 'Problem is, he does not want to be questioned and "grilled" in the Senate. His doctors support this claim. I am not his doctor, but I know most of his doctors, and I can only agree on their professional opinion that any stress brought upon him by the senate questioning can, and might be fatal for Mr. Arroyo.
He even had --- what I think is --- an accurate assessment of his overall condition, and how he abhors being classified, if ever, as a statistical mortality figure:
Indeed, stress kills. And if one can avoid stress, why not? Different people have different sets of stressors. Also, people have varied ways of reacting to these stressors. What may stress you might not affect me at all, and vice-versa.
Reaction to stress depends on both a person's psychological and emotional states. Not everyone can handle it as good or better than some who breeze through it daily.
'Thing is, just like allergens, if you know the culprit, you know best how to avoid it. For Mr. Arroyo and his doctors, the answer is simple. Avoid direct questioning. It will only raise blood pressures, and heaven knows what might happen next.
The relationship between psychological stress, cardiovascular stress activity, and the resulting thickness of carotid arteries (those large blood vessels on the sides of your neck) has been established in both adults and children in medical studies.
Stress can erode our healthy well-being over time. Sure, we might try our best to avoid it. We might even force ourselves to smile even when there's nothing to be happy about, but sooner or later, stress catches up, and seizes us when we least expect it.
The gossipy barbers in my favorite barbershop say that where there's smoke, there's usually fire. They mince no words in concluding that the past must be catching up with the president's husband. But again, that is speculation, and "hearsay," as what Mr. Arroyo said in the news item.
A doctor's job is to offer measures to lengthen his patient's life. A barber? Well, he tries to make you look good when things look bad. He also entertains you with gossip materials. Hahahaha. I digress.
A patient, of course, wants to live as long as he wants. Avoiding all kinds of stress is a possible solution. But it is most difficult to achieve.
