Lack of exercise and stress promote heart disease in young people – Cardiologist

KUALA LUMPUR – For a long time, heart disease was considered a disease that primarily affects older people, but now a shocking number of young Malaysians are also falling victim to this “silent killer”.

Dr Richard Chan Tze Ming, a cardiologist at Sunway Medical Centre, Sunway City (SMC), said recent medical studies have shown that over the past decade, more and more young Malaysians have been suffering from ischemic heart disease, better known as heart attack.

He said the number of deaths due to ischemic heart disease is increasing in Malaysia, with statistics showing an increase from 9,300 cases in 2010 to 20,300 cases in 2022.

“There has also been a worrying trend of patients in their twenties and thirties being admitted with heart attacks. This development is worrying and indicates that urgent changes are needed,” he told Bernama in a recent interview.

Dr Richard said several factors contribute to the rise in heart attacks among Malaysians, including lack of exercise, poor dietary habits and smoking habits, in addition to unavoidable predispositions such as family history and genetics.

“Our society has become more digital, which leads to less physical activity. Many young people spend their days sitting in front of the computer or watching screen entertainment,” he said.

He added that regular, uncontrolled emotional stress, such as at work, in personal relationships or due to financial worries, can also indirectly lead to heart disease.

“Emotional stress can indirectly lead to heart disease by causing high blood pressure and other related problems. We are also seeing cases of 'broken heart syndrome', where extreme stress leads to sudden heart failure.

“Broken heart syndrome is a condition in which the heart suddenly stops working because certain areas of the heart become weakened due to neurohormonal reactions. Whenever there are extreme emotions, the hormones released can damage the heart,” he said.

According to Dr Richard, significant lifestyle changes are needed to prevent heart disease and Malaysians are advised to exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet and stop smoking.

He also stressed the importance of regular health check-ups, especially for people with the risk factors mentioned above or a family history of heart disease. Early detection and treatment of diseases such as diabetes or high cholesterol are also crucial.

“We will not know that we have a disease until we undergo a medical examination. Therefore, I urge all Malaysians to get their medical examinations early because only then can we identify and counteract all risk factors,” he said.

Established in 1999, SMC is the largest private quaternary hospital in Malaysia. It has 724 licensed beds and over 60 medical specialties. The capacity can be expanded to 1,100 beds once the hospital completes its sixth block, Tower F, on its campus. The hospital is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.

Notable accolades received by SMC include being named as one of the top 250 hospitals in Newsweek's World's Best Hospitals 2024 and recently ranked among the top 75 hospitals in the cardiac surgery and cardiology categories in Newsweek's Best Specialised Hospitals Asia Pacific 2024. – BERNAMA