KUCHING (June 13): Heart disease remains the number-one killer in Malaysia with smokers and individuals leading a sedentary lifestyle among the high-risk groups, said the Ministry of Health (MOH).
“Most of the sudden deaths are associated with the heart disease whereby the heart stops pumping blood, nutrient and oxygen which should circulate throughout the whole body,” said MOH in a Facebook post today.
Sedentary lifestyle refers to a lifestyle with a lot of sitting and lying down, and very little to no workout.
The ministry said the number of deaths recorded from heart disease in 2018 was 18,675 cases, and this marked an increase of 35.3 per cent from the previous year of 13,503 cases.
MOH thus advised the high-risk groups and the community at large to go for regular check-up and watch out for signs of heart disease.
According to an infographic embedded with the social media post, individuals who may be suffering from heart disease will experience frequent urine at night, numbness, heart pounding, blurred vision and thirst.
Among other signs are feeling cold despite high body temperature, breathing difficulties, having cold sweat, headache and nausea.
Those with heart disease may also show signs of gripping pain that can cause dizziness and loss of consciousness as well as pressing chest pain starting from the middle or left side of the chest and spreading to the left arm and the neck.
“Seek immediate help at the nearest hospital or clinic if you have these signs,” said the MOH.
Those who need urgent help can call 999.