Dr. Edgar H. Tan, a consistent honor student graduated Bachelor of Science major in Biology cum laude from Silliman University in 1982. A Faculty Silver Medal Awardee and graduated cum laude when he earned his Medical Degree from Cebu Doctors' College of Medicine in April of 1986.

He spent one year of post graduate internship at the prestigious Philippine General Hospital from May 1, 1986 to April 30, 1987 and subsequently passed his Philippine Medical Licensure Exam rank #15 in August of 1987. He pursued further training in Internal Medicine from 1989-1993 under the New York Medical College Program where he served as the Administrative Chief Medical Resident for one year. He subsequently did his Fellowship Training in Clinical/Invasive Cardiology under the consortium of Metropolitan & New York Medical College Program from 1993-1996. After his medical training in New York he practiced Internal Medicine/Invasive Cardiology in the State of South Carolina from 1996-1997 with privileges at Marlboro Park Hospital Bennettsville SC & McLeod Regional Medical Center in Florence SC. He holds an active medical license in the State of South Carolina from 1996 up to the present. He decided to come back to Cebu and practice his profession starting February 1998. His foresight at keeping his US medical license active inspite of practicing medicine outside the US has come handy for US expats currently in the Philippines wanting medical care recognized by US HMO's.

Dr. Tan is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine, American Board of Cardiovascular Disease and Philippine College of Physicians. He is also trained and certified in the field of Nuclear Cardiology. He is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians, American College of Cardiology and Philippine College of Physicians. His extensive background comes handy by making available the highest standard of US quality medical care right in the heart of Cebu City.

He is affiliated with Cebu Doctors' University Hospital, where he is currently the Section Head of Cardiology Department. He is also affiliated with UCMed and Perpetual Succour Hospital. His practice includes General Internal Medicine & Adult Clinical/Interventional Cardiology. He has admitting privileges at the University of Cebu Medical Center, Cebu Doctors' University Hospital & Perpetual Succour Hospital.

His office is located at Cebu Doctors' University Hospital Medical Arts Building 1, Suite 203-B, OsmeƱa Blvd. Cebu City Philippines. His office hours are 9am-12pm Mon-Sat. and 2pm to 5pm except Wed. and Sat. Tel: (032) 412-5136.

Email:EdgarTan62@yahoo.com or EdgarTanMD@gmail.com

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Top 5 important information about Hypertension

I frequently meet patients being treated for Hypertension but inadequately informed or shall I say inadequately educated about their disease condition. This lack of important information can lead to a chain of problems like noncompliance to medications and therefore poor control of blood pressure. These are the top FIVE issues that are often overlooked by many physicians taking care of their hypertensive patients.

1. Hypertension must be understood as equal or above 140/90mmHg taken at rest. Elevated blood pressures taken during stressful situations i.e. emotional, mental or physical stress should not be qualified as these are stressors associated with a normal (physiologic) increase in BP. Normally BP returns to normal when the stress condition has been resolved.

2. Hypertension has a genetic predisposition in more than 90% of the time. In short, this is a genetic problem that we inherit from our parents and blood related relatives.

3. Since hypertension is an inherited disease, doctors can only prescribe medications to control and NOT CURE. It is in this light that your medicine therefore, needs to be taken for life in most cases. BP control is very important as it has been shown to reduce the risk of Congestive Heart Failure, Stroke and Heart Attack.

5. You must ask your doctor the most common side effect that is unique to the drug you are taking. Doctors often miss out on this information which I consider as vital. I have seen so many patients coming to see me for a simple side effect that would have prevented undue stress to them had they been forewarned. Example: Leg swelling is common for Calcium Channel Blockers, or electrolyte imbalance with diuretics and headache for ARB's (Angiotensive Receptor Blockers) not to mention cough that may affect roughly about 10% of patients taking ACE-Inhibitors.

If you have more questions about your condition feel free to ask your physician on your next visit to your doctors office.

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