World Heart Day is celebrated on 29 September every year. It’s a global event. For your information, World Heart Day has a different theme every year.
This year, the theme “Use Heart For Every Heart” was chosen in order to raise awareness and the importance of taking care of heart health in the community.
Press release by the Director-General of Health Malaysia
Citing from a press release by the Director-General of Health Malaysia, heart disease is the largest contributor to death worldwide. According to the Ministry of Health Malaysia, in Malaysia, heart disease remains the leading cause of death where 18,515 deaths or 17.0% of the total number of medically confirmed deaths are attributed to heart disease.
Unfortunately, over the past two decades, the burden of heart disease has recorded an increase from 11.6% in 2000 to 17.0% in 2020.
Besides that, based on the report from The Direct Healthcare Cost of Non-communicable Diseases in Malaysia, it’s estimated that RM3.93 billion of the total RM9.65 billion in healthcare costs in 2017 was allocated to the expenses of treating patients who suffer from heart disease.
However, KKM expects the cost burden to continue to increase if people don’t take appropriate measures to control or prevent the disease.
Moreover, scientific evidence shows that diabetes, hypertension, excess body weight, and high cholesterol levels contribute to cardiovascular disease. In addition, unhealthy diets and lifestyle practices such as smoking, lack of exercise, stress, and alcohol consumption. They also increase the risk of heart disease.
The Ministry of Health Malaysia (KKM) also recommends that the public check the risk factors for heart disease. This is so that they can detect heart disease quicker and subsequently can reduce the risk factors of a heart attack.
Additionally, a heart attack can happen suddenly at any time and to anyone. Therefore, KKM advises patients to seek immediate treatment if there are early signs of a heart attack. This action will reduce the permanent complications to the heart to a minimum.
Thus, in conjunction with the World Heart Day celebration this year, KKM would like to suggest to All Malaysians take the following eight steps in an effort to maintain heart health. The steps are:
- Eat healthy and balanced food
- Do physical activity
- Maintain an ideal weight
- No smoking or vaping
- Avoid alcohol consumption
- Regular health checks
- Comply with prescribed treatment
- Identify the early signs of heart disease
Sources: World Heart Federation, KP Kesihatan