This article is written in conjunction with World Heart Day 2021
Most of us are shocked by the increasing number of heart-related deaths among young people which occurred while playing sports or sleeping. These include famous athletes, celebrities, and even close family members who were still in their prime years.
According to data by the Department of Statistics Malaysia in 2020, ischemic heart disease consistently remained as the number one cause of death in Malaysia for 16 consecutive years, from 2005 to 2020. The Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG), Primary and Secondary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in 2017 states that the average age for heart patients in Malaysia was 58 years old, compared to our neighbouring countries Thailand and Singapore at 63 and 68 years old respectively. Recently, the trend of death at a young age due to heart disease is becoming increasingly worrying.
The increasing number of young heart attack patients, as early as 18 years old, is a common phenomenon in hospitals or clinics throughout Malaysia. I once treated a 27-year-old man who was undergoing military training, but subsequently suffered a heart attack. Another case was an 18-year-old male patient with class three obesity who had a history of a heart attack and high blood pressure. A 28-year-old female patient complained of abdominal pain, but ECG readings showed signs of coronary artery disease. Finally, a 25-year-old chronic smoker male who had a heart attack was rushed to the operation theatre for an angioplasty procedure due to sudden chest pain.
Signs and symptoms of coronary heart disease are chest pain, pain that spreads to the hands, profuse sweating, lethargy, nausea, vomiting, and difficulty breathing. For those who have one of these symptoms, it is necessary to go for further examination with a doctor immediately.
If you have experienced any early signs of heart disease, you are advised to seek medical attention immediately. You can prevent a heart attack from happening by identifying it at an early stage. For young patients who experience a heart attack, the chances of recovery are very good if they seek early treatment and do not have any comorbidities such as diabetes and high blood pressure. The doctor will identify risk factors, examine signs of heart attack, conduct investigations and diagnose before scheduled follow-up treatment is given. Therefore, patients are advised to adhere to medication intake and attend follow-up examinations after treatment is given. Among the treatments given to people diagnosed with heart attack include optimal medical therapy, revascularization treatment such as percutaneous coronary intervention, angioplasty, and heart bypass surgery.
Adopting a healthy eating habit is an effective way to prevent heart disease. Eating wisely is to reduce oils and fats in food. It is important to eat more fruits and vegetables. All these can help to reduce the risk of blockages in heart vessels. Plan your diet according to the calorie count to avoid risk of obesity. Get used to maintaining sugar levels by drinking more plain water than sugary drinks to prevent diabetes. If you have problems, get help from a nutritionist to prevent diseases caused by poor and unhealthy nutrition.
Exercise is often neglected due to our busy lifestyle. Routine physical activities can reduce the risk of heart disease by 20-30% by lowering bad cholesterol levels and at the same time, maintain body weight. It is recommended that we exercise for 150 minutes a week so that our body is always healthy and fit.
In addition to diet and physical activities, avoid smoking or vaping to prevent heart attacks. Smoke and chemicals in cigarettes will cause further damage to the heart and blood vessels. Smoking not only harms oneself but also the loved ones around us. Seeking help from a smoking cessation clinic that offers advice and treatment options will help smokers quit this bad habit forever.
Heart disease is also associated with the stress level experienced by an individual. Stress can cause hormonal imbalances and disrupt the physiology of the whole-body system. Imbalanced hormones such as cortisol, catecholamine, and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) in the body will affect the function of the cardiovascular system in our body.
In conclusion, the increasing trend in heart disease will be a burden for the country if it is not addressed. Bad eating habits, being obese, having chronic illness, leading either a sedentary or stressful lifestyle, as well as smoking are key risk conditions for your heart.
Dr Ahmad Luqman Ahmad Shuhaili is the President of Malaysian Heart Health Association (MyHeart). MyHeart is an NGO which focuses on the importance of heart health and a healthy lifestyle. For more information: www.myheart.com.my
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