Health is in the numbers

Take heart and know your numbers to stay healthy, says the National Heart Association of Malaysia. “You must know your numbers your body mass index, blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol levels because the best treatment is still prevention,” said association vice-president Datuk Dr Azhari Rosman.
He called on Malaysians to take charge of their health in view of the high number of heart diseases and early deaths.
“Many Malaysians lack insight into their health conditions and half of the time, they live in self-denial,” he said yesterday.
The world commemorated World Heart Day with the theme “1World, 1Home, 1Heart” and Dr Azhari reminded Malaysians that they had to initiate change and it must begin at home.
He said 17% of deaths in Malaysia was the result of cardiovascu- lar diseases more than cancer deaths.
Each year, some 40,000 new heart cases are diagnosed in Malaysia, he added.
Dr Azhari, who is also consultant cardiologist at the National Heart Institute (IJN) said despite all the awareness created and money spent in the last decade, control of the disease was still poor.
He said patients must take their medication, eat moderately, exercise and not smoke, as there was just so much doctors could do.
The World Health Organisation revealed that 80% of premature heart disease, stroke and Type II diabetes can be prevented through healthy diet and regular exercise.