In the News
Ramai wanita muda sakit jantung
This article was first published in Berita Harian on 31 October 2013.
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Amal gaya hidup sihat, waspada risiko penyakit bawa maut
Statistik pengidap penyakit jantung dan diabetes di negara ini semakin ketara akibat pelbagai faktor, khususnya diakibatkan pengabaian gaya hidup sihat. Pakar Perunding Kardiologi Pusat Perubatan Universiti Malaya (PPUM), Prof Madya Dr Imran Zainal Abidin, berkata sejak lima tahun kebelakangan golongan muda yang menghidap penyakit jantung meningkat dan bukan lagi yang berusia saja.
Wanita juga terkenal dengan sifat tahan sakit dan lasak berbanding lelaki yang lebih manja. Jadi, kesakitan yang dirasai dianggap perkara biasa menyebabkan mereka tidak ke hospital untuk menjalani pemeriksaan dengan lebih cepat. Tetapi apabila pergi ke hospital, ia sudah terlambat" Dr Imran, Ahli Majlis Persatuan Jantung Kebangsaan
Malah, sebelum ini sakit jantung dideritai wanita selepas empat atau lima tahun menopaus tetapi sekarang, ia turut menyerang wanita usia 30-an.
Dr Imran berkata, kekurangan hormon seperti estrogen selepas menopaus, antara punca memburukkan keadaan dan semua risiko terhadap penyakit ini harus ditangani sebaik mungkin.
Katanya, pada 2008 ada kes serangan jantung yang menyerang gadis berusia 17 tahun dan berakhir dengan kematian.
“Dia datang bersama bapanya dan mengadu sakit dada dan sesak nafas. Selepas kami lakukan bacaan ECG (Eloktro Kardiogram), tekanan darahnya didapati tidak stabil dan meninggal dalam masa 24 jam.
“Walaupun tanpa gejala, serangan jantung penyebab kepada kematian gadis itu. Kandungan kolesterol dalam darah tinggi. Kolesterol disebabkan gaya pemakanan seseorang. Apabila hempedu tidak dapat memproses dengan baik, kolesterol ini akan menyebabkan serangan jantung. Jadi, saya sarankan orang ramai mengambil makanan berserat dan bijirin,” katanya.
Dr Imran berkata, antara risiko penyakit jantung ia juga boleh menyebabkan darah tinggi iaitu sebanyak 73.6 peratus dan diikuti merokok sebanyak 47.1, selain amalan gaya hidup tidak sihat dengan mengambil makanan berlemak dan bukan berserat tinggi.
Amalkan gaya hidup sihat
Bagi diabetes, Malaysia berada di tangga ke 10 rakyatnya menghidap penyakit itu. Jepun pula antara negara paling berjaya dan wajar dijadikan contoh dari segi amalan diet sihat iaitu menggalakkan pengambilan ikan sebagai menu utama rakyatnya, sekali gus dapat mengurangkan risiko diabetes.
“Tahun lalu, seorang wanita membuat pemeriksaan dan didapati mengalami masalah jantung tersumbat. Jadi, kita perbaiki salur darahnya. Enam bulan kemudian, wanita ini maut kerana serangan jantung.
“Wanita itu adalah perokok dan mengamalkan sejak di bangku sekolah. Adik-beradiknya juga merokok. Ini menunjukkan, gaya hidup mereka tidak sihat memberi risiko kepada kehadiran penyakit maut ini,” katanya.
Beliau berkata, sepatutnya, kesihatan diri diutamakan dan jika mengikut rekod hayat hidup wanita lebih empat kali lebih tinggi berbanding lelaki. Jadi, perlu manfaatkan peluang ini sebaik mungkin dengan menjaga kesihatan.
Dr Imran yang juga Ahli Majlis Persatuan Jantung Kebangsaan, berkata wanita lebih mudah mendapat penyakit ini antaranya disebabkan sifat semula jadi wanita itu sendiri yang lebih mementingkan keluarga berbanding kesihatan diri.
“Wanita juga terkenal dengan sifat tahan sakit dan lasak berbanding lelaki yang lebih manja. Jadi, kesakitan yang dirasai dianggap perkara biasa menyebabkan mereka tidak ke hospital untuk menjalani pemeriksaan dengan lebih cepat. Tetapi apabila pergi ke hospital, ia sudah terlambat.
“Kandungan kolesterol dalam tubuh wanita lebih banyak berbanding lelaki menyebabkan mudah dijangkiti penyakit,” katanya.
Peka gejala penyakit
Gejala penyakit juga berbeza antara lelaki dan wanita, iaitu kebanyakan lelaki menghidap sakit jantung mengatakan mereka mengalami sakit dada manakala wanita sering mentakrifkan kesakitan itu cuma sesak nafas.
“Ada yang kata, pil hormon sebagai rawatan pencegahan sakit jantung. Ada yang melihat menopaus menyebabkan sakit jantung. Pada awal kajian, tiada kesan positif dilihat bagi pengambilan hormon. Tetapi kajian terkini, penggunaan pil hormon mampu mengelakkan sakit jantung. Jadi, ada kemungkinan penggunaannya mampu mengelakkan serangan jantung atau sakit jantung,” katanya.
Kata beliau, apa yang menjadi masalah hingga kini, apabila pesakit mendapatkan rawatan tidak tahu menerangkan deskripsi sakit mereka.
“Mereka tidak tahu jenis kesakitan, tempat yang sakit. Selalunya, pesakit jantung rasa tidak selesa pada bahagian dada. Apa yang menjadi masalah, kawasan dada adalah besar. Kadangkala, ada pesakit yang memberitahu dada mereka rasa seolah-olah berat.
“Selalunya, rasa tidak selesa berlaku antara 5 hingga 10 minit. Ketika pesakit berjalan, ia akan rasa sakit dan selepas berehat, sakit akan hilang. Jika alami gejala ini, segeralah ke hospital,” katanya.
INFO: Kaedah mengawal penyakit jantung
* Makan makanan berserat seperti gandum dan oat.
* Banyakan makan ikan atau minyak ikan.
* Amalkan kaedah masakan seperti kukus dan bukan goreng.
* Elakkan santan (santan adalah minyak paling teruk untuk kesihatan)
* Elakkan kerap mengambil daging merah
* Elakkan pengambilan telur secara kerap terutama telur burung.
* Elakan makanan segera.
Dua kawalan kolesterol
* HDL (baik)
*LDL (jahat)
Bagi kesihatan jantung yang baik tinggikan HDL dan rendahkan pengambilan LDL. Lebih banyak bersenam lebih tinggi HDL seseorang.
Make every beat count
This article was first published in The Star (Fit4Life) on 22 September 2013.
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By Datuk Dr AZHARI ROSMAN
By far, most instances of sudden cardiac death is due to factors affecting the heart, such as dangerous rhythm or structural abnormalities related to the muscle, valves or coronary arteries of the heart.
DEATH, in whatever form, is an extremely traumatic, emotional and life-changing event for those left behind.
This is particularly so when it happens suddenly, and especially, prematurely.
This is what happens in sudden cardiac death (SCD). This is a sudden, unexpected death caused by loss of heart function (sudden cardiac arrest).
One could arguably make the case that when death occurs, it is invariably a cessation of cardiac function, so why this special terminology?
Not quite; here, death occurs primarily from a cardiac cause versus it occurring as a terminal result of infection or other diseases.
Why the term SCD?
The word “sudden” is used for obvious reasons, while “cardiac” is used because 80% of victims succumb due to a cardiac cause, most often a dangerous rhythm or structural abnormality related to the muscle, valves or coronary arteries of the heart.
In 2-5% of cases, no cause is found, even after autopsy.
This is often the case in those below 35 years of age.
In those above 35 years of age, coronary artery disease (CAD) is by far the commonest cause of SCD.
It is a well-known, though sad fact too, that the victims of SCD who often make the headlines are athletes and sports personalities.
They are usually the young and often popular individuals whose demise invariably send shockwaves through society.
The incidence in young athletes is rare, varying between one in 25,000 and one in 200,000.
It usually affects young males aged between 17 and 23 years, with 80% of cases occurring without prior warning.
Many are due to inherited, undiagnosed heart muscle abnormalities (cardiomyopathies) and electrical problems of the heart.
Other examples of SCD in athletes are those that occur during marathons.
Some are experienced runners whilst others are newcomers.
Many have undiagnosed or underlying heart disease, and die due to a consequent heart attack, but a few are healthy experienced marathon runners.
Undoubtedly, the first and most famous of these was mentioned in the Greek legend involving Pheidippedes, who in 490BC, after running about 42km from Marathon to Athens to report that the Greeks had defeated the Persians at the Battle of Marathon, promptly collapsed and died.
Rarely, it occurs in apparently healthy individuals simply due to the physical demands of the gruelling, long-distance marathon run.
Here, the demands on the heart, circulation and body will increase, with up to 10-15 times the usual energy requirement. Even healthy individuals are potentially at risk.
Sedentary individuals who suddenly engage in vigorous exercise are at risk of a heart attack and SCD.
Happily, for the most part, marathons are now an all-comers event open to everyone, with varying levels of difficulty, and are generally safe, as long as some common sense precautions are taken by participants themselves.
The risk of dying during the London Marathon, for example, is small, about one in 80,000 runners.
Exercise is healthy, if done regularly. Regular exercise slows the development of CAD, and lowers your risk of SCD and heart attacks.
The more common instances of SCD involve non-athletes – by far, the majority of these deaths fall into this category, following an episode of cardiac arrest, principally due to coronary heart disease in its many forms, including heart attacks.
Sudden cardiac arrest is not a heart attack (myocardial infarction), but can occur during a heart attack.
Age is not a primary criterion here because we in Malaysia are treating 19-year-old males and 28-year-old females with heart attacks!
Yes, the female gender is also at risk.
SCD is also more common in those with a previous heart attack (75% of SCD cases are linked to a previous heart attack).
So, what is the likelihood of patients of all ages, young and old, who had a cardiac arrest outside of hospital, having CAD?
Two studies of such patients who had subsequent coronary angiograms performed showed that 73% and 83% had CAD (Cronier, Critical Care, 2011. Zanuttini, Am Jo. Cardiology 2012).
It should be no surprise in a society like ours where there is a high prevalence of coronary disease, and where about 50% of the adult population are smokers (according to the World Health Organisation) that the proportion of SCDs related to coronary heart disease is expected to be high.
When do these events occur?
Studies have shown that 22% of SCDs occur during exercise, 38% during rest or minimal exertion, and 40% unwitnessed.
Some causes of SCDs have a genetic basis, which means to say that if someone has a family history of unexplained SCD, especially at a young age (below 50 years), it is generally advisable that they undergo a screening consultation with a doctor.
In general, symptoms such as palpitations, chest pain, breathlessness, fatigue and fainting should not be ignored.
Is there any way we can reduce this risk?
There are only two options: prevention and resuscitation.
If resuscitation is at hand, one can potentially survive.
As CAD is by far the most common cause of SCD, its prevention will hinge on detecting and reducing the prevailing risk.
It will also depend upon its diagnosis in high-risk individuals, regardless of age and gender. These risk factors are not unknown and are certainly not new.
Preventive factors include cessation of smoking, control of blood pressure (to target levels), avoiding obesity, diabetes and inactivity, plus reducing bad cholesterol (LDL cholesterol) levels.
It follows that those who already have CAD, and especially those who have sustained a heart attack previously, should be especially committed to these risk reductions.
Those who have had a heart attack are especially at risk of succumbing to another heart attack, and are subsequently at risk of SCD within the first three to six months of the event.
It is for this reason that survivors of heart attacks must be followed up and assessed regularly.
This is especially so as our data shows CAD affects our population (and indeed, many other Asean and South Asian populations) at a younger age (about 10 years earlier) compared to other countries.
Another important point that must be made is the resuscitation aspect of SCD.
Any hope of survival would depend on early and effective cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), together with a life-saving device called the automatic external defibrillator (AED).
This is a small device which, applied via pads on the chest, is capable of delivering a small electric shock to the chest to terminate a dangerous life-threatening electrical rhythm – the cause of countless deaths. This alone can restore normal heart rhythm if done early.
Good CPR and early defibrillation together can help to improve survival by up to 50%.
Enter the era of the public access defibrillators (PAD) and home defibrillators.
Mass production has resulted in lighter and smaller units, with built-in voice prompters.
They still cost a pretty penny, but nowhere near what they used to.
Better yet, they also come in many languages, even Bahasa Malaysia/Indonesia.
PADs and AEDs can save lives. As with everything else, it is important to start with the basics, hence an intimate practical knowledge of CPR is required.
There is even an application you can download on the iPhone (Save a Life). It has the required instructions and measures the chest compressions against the soundtrack of the Bee Gees’s hit song Stayin’ Alive.
Also, check out the British Heart Foundation’s “Pocket CPR” site.
Alas, when we finally put everything into perspective, the commonest cause of SCD is still CAD.
The vast majority of people with CAD are at risk of sudden cardiac death, and that is a large number of Malaysians.
> Datuk Dr Azhari Rosman is a consultant cardiologist. This article is courtesy of the National Heart Association of Malaysia.
