PETALING JAYA: It’s a problem so easy to be missed. Dizziness, fatigue or jaw pain may seem like minor ailments, but they could be hiding a far worse problem – an impending heart attack.
Not all heart problems begin with chest pain, says Malaysian Medical Association president Datuk Dr Thirunavukarasu Rajoo.
The fear now is that more younger people could be at risk due to sedentary lifestyles, poor diets, stress and smoking.
Another concern is that many only seek help when the disease is already advanced, often because early symptoms are ignored or mistaken for minor issues.
“This is why regular, scheduled medical check-ups are so important.
“Early detection can help improve outcomes and even save lives. A heart-healthy lifestyle of staying active, eating well and avoiding smoking are equally important,” he said.
Dr Thirunavukarasu said urgent awareness can be created through consistent public education, stronger community engagement and visible campaigns.
“The simple messages are: eat healthily, stay active, go for scheduled check-ups. These must be repeated and reinforced at every level, from schools to workplaces,” he said.
Dr Sathvinder Singh Gian Singh said awareness of the factors that give rise to heart disease, symptoms and one’s risk profile are among the early steps needed in tackling heart disease.
The consultant cardiologist and electrophysiologist said it is wise to be aware of some non-specific symptoms.
“Symptoms like fatigue, leg swelling, dizziness, palpitations, abdominal discomfort, jaw or neck pain and even unexplained sweating might be early signs of heart diseases. It’s not just chest pain.
“Patients can do simple tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or blood investigations to look for diabetes or hyperlipidemia and blood pressure checking as early steps. Any abnormalities need to be rectified early,” he said.
On what can be done to create more awareness on heart disease, Dr Sathvinder said the media should help fight misinformation and fake news.
Some patients think vaping is better than smoking, exercise can be detrimental to heart health, alcohol is helpful for heart disease and medications prescribed by a doctor can cause more harm, he said.
“Thankfully, we are also seeing good trends like the use of smart watches or wearables to keep track of heart rate and activities, as well as more information on new medications and treatment,” he said.
Dr Nor Halwani Habizal, a consultant cardiologist and cardiac electrophysiologist, said epigastric pain (sometimes treated as gastritis), profuse sweating and palpitation are some symptoms people may overlook.
For women, it may be interscapular pain, vomiting and profuse sweating.
“We are also seeing younger people suffering heart attacks and more women being affected.
“Early medical check-ups, including ECG and cardiovascular (CV) risk factor screening should be done. You also have to factor in family histories of ischaemic heart disease (IHD), hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol) and sudden death,” she said.
As such, Dr Nor Halwani called for more forums and talks by experts as well as free or affordable basic medical check-ups to create awareness.
Recently, the deputy director-general of health (public health) Dr Ismuni Bohari said heart disease remains a threat to the country as it is the leading preventable cause of death.
IHD is the second-highest cause of medically certified deaths, accounting for 15.1% and the leading cause of death among those aged 41 to 59, with men more affected than women, according to data from the Statistics Department in 2024.
Dr Ismuni said diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and prolonged stress are the main contributors to heart disease, apart from smoking, obesity, sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy eating habits.
