14/04/2025

MONDAY | APR 14, 2025

HEALTH 26

M ANY people use festive celebrations as an excuse to overindulge in high fat, high-sugar foods, believing they can offset the damage later with extreme dieting. This cycle strains the body and places unnecessary stress on the heart. Inconsistent eating habits, lack of physical activity and delayed health screenings during celebrations can significantly increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Rather than relying on quick fixes, Malaysians must adopt a more balanced, long term approach to heart health, even during the most joyous occasions. During celebrations, people often consume excessive high-fat, high sugar and high-sodium foods while reducing physical activity. This can lead to weight gain, elevated cholesterol and increased blood pressure, raising the risk of heart disease. Fluctuating between feasting and strict dieting can also be harmful, as sharp swings in cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure stress the cardiovascular system, increase inflammation and strain heart function. Cardiovascular disease A Public Perception Survey on Health conducted by the Malaysian Medical Association and Novartis Malaysia revealed a concerning gap between perceived and actual health. While 98% of respondents believed they were in good or average health due to exercise and diet, only 66% underwent annual health screenings despite 85% having done so before. Additionally, three in four Malaysians were diagnosed with cardiovascular-related conditions, including high cholesterol (37%), high blood pressure (29%) and diabetes (13%). Cardiovascular disease is Malaysia’s top killer, with non communicable diseases, particularly atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, causing 72% of premature deaths. Alarmingly, heart disease is affecting Malaysians at a younger age, with 25% of cases occurring in individuals under 50. Poor dietary habits and high LDL-C levels affect THE Health Ministry aims to place emergency medical specialists at all hospitals within three years. Its minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said to achieve this target, the ministry has begun efforts to place emergency medicine specialists in all hospitals, including non specialist ones, in stages. “One of my efforts to make patients, as well as residents, around the hospital want to not just go to a specialist or minor specialist hospital is to place at least two specialists in these hospitals without specialists. “The first is an EP (emergency physician), trauma specialist while the second is an internal medicine specialist (physician) who will be able to increase the attractiveness for residents (around the hospital) to seek treatment at these hospitals without specialists,” he said at a press conference here last week. Earlier, Dzulkefly attended a

(NABR) said in a statement. While AI promises to speed up many aspects of research, it largely depends on pulling from existing data, said NABR president Matthew Bailey. “The unknown variables could present the biggest risk to patients. So, it will be interesting to see where AI is validated as a replacement to a whole biological organism and where it is not,” Bailey said. The FDA said it will begin implementation of the new approach immediately, encouraging NAMs data instead of animal data for human trial applications. The companies that submit strong safety data from non-animal tests may receive a streamlined review, which would incentivise investment in modern testing platforms, the regulator said. The agency plans to launch a pilot programme over the next year allowing select antibody based drug developers to use a non animal-based testing strategy. The findings from an accompanying pilot study would then be used to decide broader policy changes and guidance updates, which are expected to be rolled out in phases. – Reuters comprehensive checklist, allowing users to identify other contributing factors like hypertension, diabetes, smoking, obesity and family history of heart disease. This personalised assessment enables individuals to understand their heart health better and take proactive steps toward managing and reducing their cardiovascular risk. Managing cholesterol Self-assessment alone is not enough. Regular screenings, stress tests and medical evaluations should be a priority — even during celebrations. These tests provide crucial insights into cardiovascular health and help individuals take timely action to control cholesterol and other risk factors. Intermittent fasting can also be beneficial for heart health when done correctly. It has been shown to improve growth hormone levels, regulate glucose and enhance insulin response — provided that balanced meals are consumed during eating periods. By adopting sustainable eating habits, individuals can better manage their cholesterol and overall cardiovascular health. Incorporating intermittent fasting into a heart conscious lifestyle can complement other heart health strategies, reinforcing long-term well-being. For those newly diagnosed with high cholesterol, cholesterol management is a long-term process. Patients should work closely with their healthcare providers to find the right treatment plan, whether it involves lifestyle adjustments, medication or newer treatment options that provide effective and sustained cholesterol control. With heart disease remaining the nation’s leading cause of death, Malaysians must take proactive measures. By making informed choices during festive seasons and beyond, individuals can enjoy celebrations while keeping their hearts healthy for years to come. This article is contributed by CVSKL consultant cardiologist Dr Wan Faizal Wan Rahimi Shah. risk

During celebrations, people often consume excessive high fat, high-sugar and high sodium foods while reducing physical activity. – 123RFPIC

Heart health matters o Festive over-indulgence places great strain on cardiovascular system

meet-and-greet session with healthcare workers of the Batang Padang district at the Tapah Hospital. He said the Health Ministry will place emergency medicine specialists in 10 hospitals without specialists nationwide in stages by August 2025 at the latest. He said the ministry had stationed emergency medicine specialists in 15 hospitals without specialists and district hospitals, namely Jitra Hospital, Kuala Nerang Hospital, Sik Hospital and Yan Hospital in Kedah, as well as Sungai Bakap Hospital and Balik Pulau Hospital in Penang. Apart from that, other hospitals include Kuala Kangsar Hospital in Perak, Sabak Bernam Hospital and Kuala Kubu Baharu Hospital (Selangor), Alor Gajah Hospital and Jasin Hospital (Melaka), Cameron Highlands Hospital (Pahang), Pasir Mas Hospital and Pasir Putih Hospital 41% of Malaysian adults, significantly contributing to heart disease rates. Managing LDL-C, or “bad cholesterol”, is crucial for heart health. Reducing LDL-C by just 1 mmol/L can lower the risk of cardiovascular events by 22%. This requires a combination of lifestyle changes and medical intervention. Cholesterol-lowering treatments have advanced significantly, offering greater convenience, with some therapies requiring only twice-a-year administration. Patients should take charge of their heart health by consulting doctors, asking questions and tracking their progress using technology. Many Malaysians postpone or

THE US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) plans to replace animal testing in the development of monoclonal antibody therapies and other drugs with “human-relevant methods”, including the use of artificial intelligence (AI)-based models. The new approach would help improve drug safety, lower research and development costs and drug prices, the agency said. “This initiative marks a paradigm shift in drug evaluation and holds promise to accelerate cures and meaningful treatments for Americans while reducing animal use,” said FDA Commissioner Martin Makary. The FDA’s animal testing requirement will be “reduced, refined, or potentially replaced” with so-called New Approach Methodologies, or NAMs data, which include the use of AI-based models to predict a drug’s behavior as well as side effects and testing on human organ-like structures made in a laboratory. “There is currently no full replacement for animal models in biomedical research and drug development,” the National Association for Biomedical Research signs and take corrective measures before serious complications arise. Risk calculators from platforms like Unblocked allow individuals to estimate their cardiovascular risk, making it easier to take proactive steps. The Unblocked risk calculator is an online tool designed to help individuals assess their cardiovascular risk by analysing factors such as LDL cholesterol levels and personal health information. By inputting LDL-C results, the calculator estimates the accumulated exposure to bad cholesterol and predicts the average age at which one might experience a first heart attack. Additionally, it offers a

skip routine health check-ups during festive periods, assuming they can “get back on track” later. However, early detection is key to preventing serious heart complications. Assessing heart health Using the post-festive season as an opportunity to assess heart health reflects actual cardiovascular conditions rather than temporary fluctuations. The post-celebration period is when the effects of indulgence are most evident, providing a more accurate picture of cholesterol levels, blood pressure and overall heart health. By undergoing health assessments, individuals can detect early warning

Three-year target to place emergency medical specialists in all hospitals

US FDA to phase out animal testing in drug development

(Kelantan) as well as Limbang Hospital (Sarawak). Dzulkefly said the ministry has also decided to place an emergency medicine specialist at the Tapah Hospital permanently, starting May 1, 2025. Separately, he said Malaysia must brace itself for the US government’s announcement of new tariffs that will affect pharmaceutical products. “They (Cabinet ministers) are awaiting an announcement on whether pharmaceutical products will be exempted from the 24% tariff… It will certainly have a knock-on effect on the supply chain and beyond. I don’t want to elaborate further, but in short, we need to be prepared, because this import-export issue will undoubtedly affect all involved countries,” he said. It was reported that the US government will impose tariffs on pharmaceutical products. – Bernama