LETTERS: Every day, 51 Malaysians die of ischaemic heart disease. That's two lives every hour.
Heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death in Malaysia. Data from the Statistics Department show that 18,515 out of 166,507 fatalities last year were attributed to ischaemic heart disease.
It's alarming to note that heart disease is the primary cause of death in Malaysia for the past two decades, increasing from 11.6 per cent of all medically certified deaths in 2000 to 17 per cent in 2020.
To raise awareness about cardiovascular diseases and how to manage them, we observe World Heart Day on Sept 29 every year.
Sadly, the message of maintaining heart health, intricately tied to our lifestyle choices, hasn't quite hit home with Malaysians.
The Heart Foundation of Malaysia, or Yayasan Jantung Malaysia (YJM), has shifted its focus from aiding those with heart conditions to intensifying awareness efforts and advocating preventive measures.
Despite various awareness programmes, many Malaysians are still not prioritising their cardiovascular health.
It's crucial that Malaysians safeguard their heart health. After all, we have only one heart and all of us are vulnerable to heart disease.
YJM stresses the importance of managing modifiable risk factors like a sedentary lifestyle, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption and poor dietary habits.
Non-modifiable risk factors include age, gender, family history and ethnicity.
What's even more alarming is the rise in heart disease among young adults, stemming from unhealthy lifestyles, increased workloads, heightened stress, excessive consumption of junk food, reduced physical activity and insufficient sleep.
These seemingly minor factors can have a profound impact on their health, often without them realising it.
Additionally, those with conditions such as high blood pressure and cholesterol, or obesity need to take extra precautions as they face a higher risk of heart disease.
The prevalence of cardiovascular-related illnesses and fatalities not only affects patients and their families but also places an unsustainable economic burden on our healthcare system.
Remember, the heart is the engine of our body. YJM's message to all Malaysians is simple: exercise regularly, eat right, undergo annual health screenings, and, most importantly, lead a healthy lifestyle.
Our heart matters, and it belongs to you. Please take care of it and protect it. Strive for better heart health, and watch your quality of life significantly improve.
A healthy heart is a healthy life.
TAN SRI KAMARUZZAMAN SHARIFF, DATUK DR ALJAFRI ABDUL MAJID & DR POLA SINGH
The Heart Foundation of Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times