Left: Ili (centre) talks about her heart attack experience. With her are Dr Faizal (right) and emcee Xiao Qian. — Photos: LOW LAY PHON/The Star
BUSINESS owner and TV personality Ili Sulaiman was 37 when she suffered a minor heart attack, causing her to be hospitalised for days and homebound for months during recovery.
In the weeks leading up to the episode, the mother-of-one recalled experiencing fatigue, headaches and nausea, among other symptoms.
She also reported having occasional acid reflux in addition to rashes, which she attributed to her packed schedule.
“Despite sleeping for up to 12 hours sometimes, I was always tired. I thought maybe it was because I was working too hard.
“One day, I went to the hospital for a check-up. Within 10 minutes, I was told that I needed to be hospitalised for treatment,” she said during a survivor sharing session at the Heart Health Workshop under the “Watsons Jom Sihat” umbrella.
Ili attributed her health situation to poor diet and a lack of exercise, prompting her to course-correct.
What helped, she said, was keeping a journal in which she recorded her diet and daily routine.
Visitors getting their blood pressure checked at Watsons’ Heart Health Workshop in Kuala Lumpur.
“I made notes of how I felt each morning and how the food I ate and people around me influenced my stress levels.
“That allowed me to adjust my routine and diet, and I began prioritising self-care more,” she said.
Ili also advised the audience to get medical check-ups regularly.
“A healthy life starts with you. Prevention is far better than waiting for a crisis.
“Listen to your body. The signs are there, we just need to pay attention.”
Some 200 Watsons members attended the Kuala Lumpur event which featured booths by brands selling lifestyle and beauty products, as well as a counter for general health check-ups.
There was also a seminar by Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur consultant cardiologist Dr Faizal Khan.
During his session, Dr Faizal explained common symptoms of heart problems which included chest pain, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat and dizziness.
He highlighted that women might experience more subtle symptoms such as fatigue, indigestion and back pain.
“These may be mistaken for less serious issues, which is why heart problems in women are often overlooked,” he added.
Dr Faizal recommended individuals under the age of 40 have their blood pressure checked at least once every two years, while those over 40 should do so annually.
To keep blood pressure and cholesterol levels under control, he advised against excessive alcohol consumption and smoking.
In terms of treatment, Dr Faizal said patients were usually encouraged to adopt lifestyle changes, such as exercising regularly and improving their diet, before turning to medication.
He added that increasing the intake of vegetables and fruits, while reducing salt and sugar consumption, could significantly lower the risk of heart problems.
The recommended daily salt intake was no more than 5g, he said, while limits for sugar were 36g (nine teaspoons) for men and 25g (six teaspoons) for women.
The cardiologist cautioned that foods generally considered healthy, such as cheese or meat, might become unhealthy when combined in one meal.
