27/04/2025

theSunday Special VI ON SUNDAY APRIL 27, 2025

“Walking is good for those with some degree of heart failure. There are also rehabilitation programmes for patients ZKR VX̆ HU IURP KHDUW DWWDFNV 2YHUDOO HYHQ IRU WKRVH ZLWK KHDUW GLVHDVHV LW LV JRRG WR SLFN XS H[HUFLVH DQG ZDONLQJ LV the mildest, least harmful form.” ([SHUWV UHFRPPHQG DW OHDVW PLQXWHV of walking two to three times a week for WDQJLEOH KHDOWK LPSURYHPHQWV +RZHYHU Chan highlights that incorporating it into GDLO\ URXWLQHV \LHOGV HYHQ JUHDWHU EHQH¿WV Simple lifestyle changes like choosing VWDLUV RYHU OLIWV SDUNLQJ IXUWKHU IURP WKH HQWUDQFH RU WDNLQJ DQ HYHQLQJ VWUROO FDQ VLJQL¿FDQWO\ HQKDQFH FDUGLRYDVFXODU KHDOWK RYHU WLPH H HDUW KHDOWK SDWLHQWV VKRXOG SULRULWLVH H[HUFLVH H DYLQJ JUDGXDWHG IURP WKH 8QLYHUVLW\ RI $XFNODQG 1HZ =HDODQG DQG VHUYLQJ DV D FDUGLRORJLVW IRU RYHU D GHFDGH &KDQ highlights the persistent misconceptions VXUURXQGLQJ H[HUFLVH DQG KHDUW GLVHDVH 0DQ\ VWLOO EHOLHYH WKDW ZRUNLQJ RXW SRVW heart attack is dangerous, a notion he is eager to dispel. “ 0DQ\ SHRSOH WKLQN WKDW H[HUFLVLQJ endangers the heart and can lead to sud den death. But in actual fact, the more you H[HUFLVH WKH KHDOWKLHU WKH KHDUW ´ T KH IHDU WKDW SK\VLFDO H[HUWLRQ FDQ trigger heart failure stems from widely publicised cases of sudden death during H[HUFLVH +RZHYHU PHGLFDO SURIHVVLRQDOV Ḋ UP WKDW VWUXFWXUHG SK\VLFDO DFWLYLW\ strengthens the heart and reduces car GLRYDVFXODU ULVNV $FFRUGLQJ WR Harvard Health Publishing, DYRLGLQJ H[HUFLVH GXH WR IHDU RI RYHUH[HUWLRQ LV D GDQJHURXV PLVFRQFHSWLRQ ,Q UHDOLW\ PRYHPHQW IRUWL¿HV WKH KHDUW DQG HQKDQFHV ORQJHYLW\ “While we do still hear about people suddenly passing away during jogging RU EDGPLQWRQ WKH\ ZRXOG OLNHO\ KDYH DQ underlying heart disease which can go unnoticed.

A simple step towards better health Amid the pressure of high-intensity workouts, walking remains the underrated key to a healthier heart “H IGH -intensity work outs”, “How to lose belly fats in 5 minutes” and “Fastest ways to grow muscles” are the NLQGV RI KHDGOLQHV WKDW ÀRRG RXU VFUHHQV when we search for simple ways to stay healthy. According to the National Health and Mo UELGLW\ 6XUYH\ 1+06 RI 0DOD\VLDQ DGXOWV DSSUR[LPDWHO\ PLOOLRQ LQGLYLGXDOV VXIIHU IURP KLJK cholesterol, a major risk factor for cardio YDVFXODU GLVHDVH (YHQ PRUH FRQFHUQLQJ half remain unaware of their condition, XQGHUVFRULQJ WKH QHHG IRU SUHYHQWLYH healthcare measures.

BY AQILAH NAJWA JAMALUDDIN

The wellness landscape has become increasingly rigid and intense, often mak LQJ ¿WQHVV IHHO OLNH DQ H[FOXVLYH FOXE IRU the ultra-disciplined. As a result, many FKRRVH WR IRUJR H[HUFLVH DOWRJHWKHU HLWKHU RYHUZKHOPHG E\ XQUHDOLVWLF H[SHFWDWLRQV RU GHWHUUHG E\ WKH H[RUELWDQW FRVWV RI J\P memberships that drain the wallets of Malaysians. H RZHYHU PDQ\ PD\ QRW UHDOLVH WKDW RQH RI WKH PRVW H̆ HFWLYH H[HUFLVHV LV DOVR the most accessible. Walking. It requires QR H[SHQVLYH PHPEHUVKLSV QR KLJK WHFK gear, just a pair of comfortable shoes and D FRPPLWPHQW WR PRYH Walking is more than just a means of getting from one place to another. It is a powerful ally in combating heart disease, a leading cause of death in Malaysia. While elite athletes may push their limits, health professionals continue to promote this age-old and easily accessible form of H[HUFLVH $QG IRU JRRG UHDVRQ 7KLV VLPSOH DFWLYLW\ SURYLGHV VLJQL¿FDQW EHQH¿WV IRU KHDUW KHDOWK FLUFXODWLRQ DQG RYHUDOO ZHOO ness.

W DONLQJ LV EHQH¿FLDO IRU DOO DJHV Dr Richard Chan Tze Ming, a consultant cardiologist from Sunway Medical Centre, VWUHVVHV WKDW ZDONLQJ LV DQ H[HUFLVH VXLWDEOH IRU SHRSOH RI DOO DJHV DQG ¿WQHVV OHYHOV making it an ideal choice for maintaining FDUGLRYDVFXODU ZHOO EHLQJ “Walking is the most basic form of H[HUFLVH WKDW HYHU\ERG\ FDQ GR :H DUH ERUQ WR PRYH DURXQG DQG EH DFWLYH ,W¶V VRPHWKLQJ HYHQ WKH HOGHUO\ FDQ GR LQ their golden years. Walking is better than being sedentary if you are not a fan of high-intensity workouts.” Beyond its heart-strengthening prop erties, walking enhances circulation, ORZHUV FKROHVWHURO DQG DOOHYLDWHV VWUHVV ,W H̆ HFWLYHO\ PDQDJHV ZHLJKW UHJXODWHV EORRG SUHVVXUH DQG LPSURYHV PXVFOH HQGXUDQFH 0RUHRYHU VWXGLHV VKRZ that regular walking can boost mental ZHOO EHLQJ E\ UHGXFLQJ DQ[LHW\ DQG GH pression, reinforcing its holistic health EHQH¿WV

Even for those with heart diseases, it is good to pick up exercise and walking is the mildest, least harmful form.