MORE YOUNG MALAYSIANS AT RISK FOR HEART DISEASE

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 2 (Bernama) -- More young Malaysians below 40 are at risk
of getting heart attacks due to poor diet and an unhealthy lifestyle, said
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (National University of Malaysia) Medical Centre
(PPUKM) cardiology unit head Assoc Prof Dr Oteh Maskon.

He attributed this to the craving for teh tarik (hot tea beverage), roti
canai (type of flatbread found in Malaysia), nasi lemak (coconut milk rice) and
smoking, and lack of exercise.

They are at risk for obesity, high blood and diabetes which lead to heart
ailments, he told reporters after attending a public forum on heart disease
at PPUKM here Friday.

He said five per cent of 450 patients admitted to PPUKM for the past one
year was below 40 and most of them were diagnosed with high blood and diabetes.

Dr Oteh said the youngest heart patient at PPUM was a 23-year-old male with
metabolic syndrome and a family history of heart disease while a simple heart
surgery was conducted on a 29-year-old male.

"We also had a 38-year-old female with three arteries blockages and who is
also a diabetic. This is shocking as women are hardly known to have heart
disease at that age," he said.

He said family history of heart disease accounted for 10 per cent of heart
patients admitted to the medical centre.

"A healthy lifestyle and intake of a balance diet must start at a young age.
Avoid smoking and exercise regularly.

"Go for periodical medical check-ups so that early treatment can be
administered if you are detected with heart problems," he said, adding that
sudden deaths occurred in 30 per cent of heart patients before they could be
given initial treatment.

Opened by PPUKM dean and director Prof Dr Lokman Saim, the forum was
held in conjunction with the 12th Malaysian Association for Thoracic and
Cardiovascular Surgery Conference Malaysia organised by the PPUKM Heart and Lung
Centre.

-- BERNAMA