Healthy Heart - 29092016

THE STAR, THURSDAY 29 SEPTEMBER 2016
HEALTHY HEART
2 Healthy Heart
Risk factor control

By THERESA BELLE
THE National Heart Association of Malaysia

(NHAM) reports that 44% of patients with
acute coronary syndrome (ACS, including
heart attack and angina) displayed more
than three risk factors, including
dyslipidaemia (high cholesterol and
triglyceride levels), hypertension, diabetes,
obesity, smoking and a family history of
premature cardiovascular disease (CVD).
Risk factor management is the foremost
prevention method when it comes to CVD, as
the increase in cases comes at a great cost
for individual, community and national
resources and well-being.
Emergency cardiovascular care has
advanced in leaps and bounds since the first
documented heart attack in 1910 was
published for the scientific community two
years later.
Throughout the years, cardiology research
has played a great role in not only elevating
the standard of treatment, but advancing
understanding and management of heart
disease, including in identifying risk factors
for effective prevention.
Healthy Heart explores some of the
research published this year on three CVD
risk factors to illustrate the importance of
prevention in reducing mortality from heart
failure.
Obesity, huge problem

for the young
Doctors are increasingly stressing that
heart disease is not exclusive to older
adults, and Malaysians are more likely to
experience CVD at an earlier age than the
global standard.
In a Swedish longitudinal study,
researchers tracked hospitalisations among
Obese teens are six to nine times more likely to develop complications by middle age.
men above 18 years old for up to 42 years
and found that men were diagnosed with
heart failure at an average age of 46.
However, men who were obese as teens
were six to nine times more likely to develop
complications by middle age.
Published in the European Heart Journal,
this study takes age into account to espouse
the link between obesity and CVD risk. In
Malaysia, NHAM reports that citizens

experience heart attacks at a much younger
age of 59, compared to 65 in Thailand and 63
in China.
According to NHAM, one quarter of
Malaysians afflicted with ACS between 2011
and 2013 were younger than 50 years old.
This matches the central finding of the study
that the rise in obesity, especially beginning
in childhood, increases the chance of
developing CVD at an earlier age.
One hour of exercise makes

a difference
Sedentary lifestyle a main precursor to
growing obesity numbers bears dangerous
consequences to health, especially when it
comes to non-communicable diseases such
as CVD. Researchers who came up with a
four-part series on physical inactivity

published in The Lancet estimates that
one-in-four adults worldwide do not get
sufficient exercise, and thus lead sedentary
lifestyles.
These researchers studied more than a
million people from 16 studies detailing
physical activity and corresponding
mortality risk as part of the series.
Participants were separated into four groups,
each performing various types of exercises
such as brisk walking and leisure biking, for
different periods of time daily.
The results showed that those who sat for
eight hours daily but engaged in physical
activity for at least one hour had successfully
offset their increased risk of contracting
deadly non-communicable diseases (NCD)
from prolonged sitting.
> TURN TO PAGE 6
Know your markers

THE American Heart Association (AHA)
recommends keeping track of your heart
health numbers, which are markers that
influence the chances of developing
cardiovascular disease (CVD) and other
non-communicable diseases.
These numbers can be tracked with
simple tests. You may even monitor
weight, blood pressure and sugar levels
yourself at home with commercially
available medical devices.
l Blood sugar This test gives you an
idea of your average
blood sugar
control for the
past two to
three months
by measuring
the amount of
glycosylated
haemoglobin
(HbA1c) in
your blood.
Recommended
range: HbA1c less
than 6%
(prediabetic) or less
than 7% (diabetic)
l Blood pressure
This is the force of blood
against the arteries as the heart
beats and rests, which is displayed
through the mercury (Hg) level that
reflects the circulating systolic (during
contraction of heart) and diastolic (when
heart is in between beats) pressure.
Recommended range: Less than

130/80mm Hg
l Blood cholesterol By now, most
people are aware that high cholesterol
levels ring CVD warning bells. When too
much bad cholesterol builds up in
arterial walls, it can form a hard deposit
called plaque that narrows the arteries
and blocks blood passage to the heart.
This is why eating a heart-healthy diet is
one of the main thrusts of CVD
prevention.
Recommended range:
Below 200mg/dL or
5.2mmol/L
l Body weight
AHA suggests a
body mass index
of 18.6 to 24.9,
but ideal body
weights vary by
gender, age,
height and frame.
Check with your
doctor to determine
your ideal weight.
As outlined in the 4th
Edition of Clinical Practice
Guidelines for the
Management of Dyslipidemia
2011, abdominal obesity places one
at increased risk of developing CVD. In
Asia, waist circumferences of more than
90cm in men and more than 80cm in
women have been associated with this
increased risk.
4 Healthy Heart
Healthy cholesterol levels

ONE of the most prescribed
drugs in the world, the
cholesterol-lowering drug statin,
has become a fixture in medicine
cabinets around the world.
A desire for a quick fix could
direct us straight to statins before
investigating other options.
According to the United States
Food and Drug Administration,
long-term statins usage can have
side effects on the liver and
muscle, which may not be
advisable for people with high
cholesterol levels.
Lifelong commitment
Health experts agree that
high cholesterol level can be
naturally lowered with an
unrelenting commitment to
lifestyle changes.
These changes include eating
a heart-healthy diet, exercising
regularly, avoiding smoking and
maintaining a healthy body
weight.
If it is necessary for you
to take statins, following a
heart-healthy diet and lifestyle
approaches may, in some cases,
enable you to take a lower
dose.
A good start
If you and your family are
already eating Biogrow Oat BG22
Oat Bran Powder or Crispy
Cereal, besides lowering
cholesterol, you are actually
practising heart-healthy eating
habits by including all-natural
The Biogrow Oat BG22 Oat Bran Powder and Crispy Cereal provide all-natural oats and fibre in your diet.
oats and fibre into your diet.
Achieving a low or
normal cholesterol level
Step 1
To maintain or achieve a
healthy cholesterol level, consume
food rich in oat beta-glucan.
A daily supply of at least 3g
oat beta-glucan is the health
authorities recommended daily
intake for optimal cholesterollowering effect.
This can be easily achieved with
a daily intake of two scoops (18g)
of Oat BG22 Oat Bran Powder or
one packet (30g) of Oat BG22
Crispy Cereal.
According to
health experts,
high cholesterol
level can be
naturally lowered
by eating a
heart-healthy diet,
exercising regularly,
avoiding smoking
and maintaining
a healthy body
weight.
Step 2
Choose only clinically proven
products made from natural
ingredients.
The positive effects on
cholesterol levels are only effective
for as long as oat beta-glucans
are consumed.
If our lifestyle remains
unhealthy and oat beta-glucans
are no longer consumed in diets,
our cholesterol levels can return
to unhealthy levels or fall out of
the normal range.
Step 3
A high cholesterol level is just
one of the risk factors of coronary
heart disease.
The effects of oat beta-glucan
on blood cholesterol and

blood glucose levels can be
enhanced through a balanced
and varied diet, not smoking,
having sufficient exercise and
body weight control. Lead a
healthy lifestyle. Your heart will
thank you.
Lowering cholesterol with a
natural, drug-free solution has now
become easier with Biogrow Oat
BG22. Consult your doctor prior to
embarking on any diet regimes.
This article is brought to you by
Legosan (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd.
n For more information,

call 03-7956 2220 or e-mail
info@biogrow.com.my.
Healthy Heart 5
REGARDLESS of age, it is crucial to

have an ideal weight and maintain
it to reduce your risks of
developing weight-related diseases
and conditions.
By maintaining a healthy weight,
you will also experience a range of
benefits that includes feeling
confident about yourself and
having more energy throughout
the day.
For adults who struggle with
excess weight, especially among
individuals who are obese, even a
modest weight loss of 5kg can
make a significant difference to
health.
Slowing the rate of weight gain
is equally important for children
and adolescents. Children who are
taught to control their weight
throughout childhood are highly
likely to be able to do so when
they are older, reducing their
risk of becoming overweight or
obese.
The key to controlling body
weight is to eat fewer calories
while increasing physical activity.
Contrary to popular belief, calories
are the determining factor in
trying to lose weight not the
proportions of fat, carbohydrates
or protein in a diet.
Many weight-loss programmes,
as cited in Dietary Guidelines for
Americans 2005, recommended a
reduction of 500 calories or more
per day.
Within a healthy and balanced
diet, male adults need around
10,500kJ (2,500kcal) a day while
female adults require 8,400kJ
(2,000kcal) a day.
A healthy diet must be within
the acceptable macronutrient
distribution ranges (AMDR) of 20%
to 35% total calories of fat, 45% to
65% total calories of carbohydrates
Weighing in
on your health
threat to your overall health. In

addition, ready meals, cakes and
confectionery contain high levels
of sugar and calories.
Despite the refreshing tastes and
effects of sports and energy drinks,
the sugar content in these
beverages hinders the benefits of
physical activities.
Apart from sugar and fats, you
need to monitor your intake of
salts as overconsumption of food
with excessive salt raises blood
pressure, tripling your chances of
developing heart disease and
stroke.
While a single meal will not
make a significant difference to
your body weight, the calories do
eventually add up and stop you
from maintaining a healthy
weight.
So the next time you decide to
eat out or purchase food from the
supermarket, remember to always
note the nutritional content.
n This article is brought to you by

your partner in health, Guardian
Health and Beauty Sdn Bhd.
Quick action plan to
maintain a healthy weight
and 10% to 35% calories of protein.
Choosing healthier foods

According to the National Health
and Morbidity Survey of 2015, obese
Malaysians make up 17.7% of the
population while those overweight
make up 30%.
There is more worrying news as
diabetes affects 17.5% of the
population, a rise from 11.6% in
1996, and 47.7% of adults have
high cholesterol.
Therefore, Malaysians need to

adopt a healthy eating plan by
having foods from all the basic
food groups, with an emphasis on
fruits, vegetables, wholegrains and
fat-free or low-fat milk.
Besides controlling your meal
portion sizes, you need to ensure
you have a daily intake of lean
meats, poultry, fish, beans and
eggs. Foods low in saturated fat,
trans fat, cholesterol, sodium and
sugar are also important for good
health.
Unfortunately, many of
Malaysias favourite dishes contain
saturated, hydrogenated
(hardened) and trans fats that are
bad for our body because they can
raise the cholesterol in the blood
and increase your risk of heart
disease.
There are, however, natural and
good fats such as omega-3 that are
essential to health and can be
found in food sources such as oily
fish.
Processed foods can pose a
Eat a nutritious diet with

controlled portion sizes
from every food group.
Quit smoking. Nicotine
patches and nicotine
chewing gum are available
in the market to help stop
smoking.
Carry out regular physical
activity such as training at
the gym, playing sports
and walking more instead
of driving.
6 Healthy Heart
DAVID suffers from shortness of

breath. He is otherwise healthy
except for his high cholesterol
level and irregular heartbeat,
which he assumes is due to his
stressful and hectic job.
An irregular heart rhythm may
cause the heart to beat extra hard
to pump sufficient blood to the
body, which will eventually
weaken the heart.
It is a symptom, which should
not be taken as a temporary
condition.
Be in fine fettle
CoQ10 acts
as a powerful
antioxidant with
anti-inflammatory
properties to
fight against free
radicals and inhibit
lipid peroxidation.
It also enhances
antioxidant
enzyme activities
such as catalese
and glutathione
peroxidase.
A key coenzyme
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a
natural-occurring fat soluble
vitamin-like substance.
It is produced naturally by the
body or obtained from food such
as oily fish, offal and whole
grains.
People have perceptions that
CoQ10 is an elixir that keeps them
young as this ingredient is
commonly added to skincare
products.
Some may feel energised after
taking CoQ10 supplements. In
fact, from the point of view of
medical experts, CoQ10 improves
the hearts pumping ability to
prevent heart failure especially in
those who have a depleted CoQ10
level due to ageing or from being
on cholesterol-lowering
medication.
Despite its typical size being as
small as a fist, the heart is strong
enough to pump blood
continuously through the
The CoQ10 produces energy and plays an important role in preventing the
development of coronary artery disease.
circulatory system.
The heart muscles ability to
work continuously without
fatigue is due to the fact that they
are fed CoQ10. The lack of CoQ10
is associated with symptoms such
as tiredness, muscle pain and
even heart failure.
CoQ10 is generally recognised
as a cardio-protective nutrient
through two main functions
generating energy and acting as a
powerful antioxidant.
The bodys spark plug

Try to imagine that the body
cell is a little engine that uses
oxygen to burn organic fuel that

comes from food.
CoQ10 is the part of the engine
that is required to spark this
process.
Without CoQ10, there is no
spark and no energy production
for the cell. Since the heart is a
muscular organ that requires
high energy to pump blood
throughout the body, CoQ10
can be found abundantly in
the heart.
Besides producing energy,
CoQ10 also plays an important
role in preventing the
development of coronary artery
disease.
Excessive production of
free radicals in the body may
lead to the progression of
atherogenesis (plaque formation
in the arteries).
Here, CoQ10 acts as a powerful
antioxidant with antiinflammatory properties to fight
against free radicals and inhibit
lipid peroxidation.
CoQ10 is also able to enhance
antioxidant enzyme activities,
such as catalase and glutathione
peroxidase, that naturally occur
in the body to scavenge free
radicals.
The heart acts as a pump that
supplies nutrients and oxygen to
the body cells so that they can
work properly.
A weak heart is associated with
symptoms such as shortness of
breath, fatigue and an irregular
heart rate.
This article is brought to you
by BiO-LiFE Marketing Sdn Bhd.
n For more information, call

03-7882 8888 (Monday to Friday
from 8am to 5pm).
Let's get physical

> FROM PAGE 2
Lead author Prof Ulf Ekelund
from the Norwegian School of
Sports Sciences says, It's possible
to reduce or even eliminate
these risks if we are active
enough, even without having to
take up sports or go to the gym.
Researchers also estimate that
physical inactivity rakes up
global healthcare costs and lost
productivity to the equivalent of
US$67.5bil (RM279.45bil)
annually.
Genes are strong

indicators of heart health
This is hardly novel
knowledge, but a recent study
led by the University of Exeter
and published in the Journal of
the American College of
Cardiology estimates chances of
survival increase by 17% for

every decade that at least one
parent lives past the age of 70.
This number was obtained by
extrapolating eight years worth
of data from almost 190,000
participants in the UK Biobank.
Middle-aged subjects with
parents who lived longer
displayed lower incidence of
heart and circulatory conditions,
including heart disease the risk
of death from CVD was 20%
lower per decade of one parent
living past 70.
It is important to note that this
estimation doesnt include the
additional risk from bad habits.
Although genetic history plays a
role in determining heart health,
it can be managed efficiently
with a complete family history
and health markers and perform
regular check-ups.
Tackling social inequality

UNITED Nations
Secretary-General Ban
Ki-moon accurately pointed
out that in developing
countries, non-communicable
diseases are often hidden,
misunderstood and
under-recorded, which
further impact the nations
socioeconomic situation on
top of complicating effective
disease management.
In the 2014 research
Heart disease disparities:
Ethnic groups in Asia-Pacific
at greater risk of
cardiovascular disease
presented at that years
World Heart Federations
World Congress of Cardiology,
it was highlighted that people
from ethnic minorities and
lower socioeconomic groups
faced a higher risk of

developing cardiovascular
disease (CVD), poorer
treatment outcomes and
higher mortality rate.
Using samples in Australian
and New Zealand aboriginal
communities, researchers
discovered this disparity and
called for greater accessibility
via updated public health
policies.
Approximately 80% of
worldwide CVD deaths occur
in low- and middle-income
countries, and tackling this
should be a global healthcare
priority on the journey
towards better heart health.
The first step is education
the key component of creating
awareness that will begin to
bridge social divides.
Healthy Heart 7
DESPITE growing awareness of the

severity of coronary heart disease
(CHD), it remains the No.1 killer
both worldwide and nationwide.
The National Heart Association
of Malaysia (NHAM) reports that
CHD accounts for 25% of all deaths
in public hospitals, with almost
50% of patients who develop a
heart attack aged between 40 and
60.
This rising rate creates
irrevocable consequences at the
individual, community and
national levels.
Starting early
According to Dr Lam Kai Huat,
consultant cardiologist at Assunta
Hospital, efforts and resources are
heavily invested in the treatment
of CHD, but the most important
aspect of halting the spread of
these conditions is prevention.
He believes emphasis on CHD
management should switch to
preventing CHD altogether and not
crossing the bridge when risk
factors are already heavily at play.
Positive actions must begin in
childhood, with a focus on a
healthy lifestyle and education on
the risks of CHD. These start with
parents showing good examples of
healthy habits such as exercising
and eating right, says Dr Lam.
An early start is necessary for
effective lifelong management of
CHD risks and education is the first
step in creating this awareness.
Only then can individuals and
communities begin taking action in
line with the World Heart Day
theme this year: Power your life.
This theme focuses on four main
areas: knowing your risk, fuelling
your heart, moving your heart, and
Many types of tests, including an angiogram, can be carried out to determine

ones heart health.
Treatment procedures are conducted in cardiac-invasive laboratory rooms.
Focus on prevention
loving your heart.
Tackling root issues

When it comes to early
management of CHD, Dr Lam
advises keeping track of your
health numbers, including blood
sugar, pressure and cholesterol to
gauge overall well-being.
Obesity, hypertension, diabetes,
cholesterol level and lifestyle
habits such as smoking and
excessive alcohol consumption
are main influencers of CHD
development.
NHAM statistics up to 2011
show that there has been an
unprecedented increase in the
presence of these risk factors
among patients who have had
Dr Lam Kai Huat.

heart attacks 75% were
overweight, 43% had diabetes, 61%
had high blood pressure, 61% had
high cholesterol and 33% were
smokers.
Dr Lam says the root-level
management of these health
conditions and habits is foremost

in the battle against CHD. He
admits that Malaysian numbers
signal an alarming rate of CHD risk
for instance, based on the 2015
National Health and Morbidity
Survey, one in two Malaysians
have high cholesterol.
This has led to the rise of CHD
cases among younger Malaysians,
with NHAM statistics from 2011 to
2013 showing that one quarter of
Malaysians with acute coronary
syndrome were below 50 years old.
This includes a range of
disorders in which blood flows
to certain heart muscles are
abruptly reduced, including
myocardial infarction (heart
attack) and angina (partial
arterial block).
Naturally, genetic history also
plays a part in the development of

CHD, but more attention should
be paid to modifiable aspects
because these are more
significant in terms of influencing
heart health, Dr Lam explains.
Lose weight, stop smoking,
mind your health indicators,
reduce stress and alcohol
consumption, and attend annual
check-ups once you reach the age
of 50 to keep CHD away, he
advises.
Prevention data is widely
available today, and Dr Lam urges
Malaysians to look these up and
follow them strategically to
reduce their risk of developing
CHD.

call 03-7872 3032.
8 Healthy Heart
CARDIOVASCULAR disease is the

worlds No.1 killer with an estimate
of 17.3 million deaths per year and
by 2030 it is expected to increase to
23 million.
One of the factors said to
cause the increase in number is
physical inactivity or the sitting
disease.
The sitting disease is becoming a
global concern as our lifestyle is
modernised by the latest tools and
gadgets that make our daily tasks
more convenient to suit our hectic
lifestyle.
Sitting disease is a term used to
describe the condition of an
individual who does not engage in
enough physical activity to be
healthy.
Research has linked sitting for
long periods of time with a number
of health risks. These include
obesity, diabetes, high blood
pressure, cancer, stroke and
cardiovascular diseases such as
coronary heart disease and heart
attack.
Most health professionals
recommend walking 10,000 steps a
day as it is the ideal goal to set to
improve your health as well as
reduce health risks caused by
inactivity.
To reduce excessive sitting,
especially in the office and at
home, the new NordicTrack
Deskmill is the preferred choice
as it permits you to work and
workout simultaneously, increasing
your productivity and improving
your health and fitness levels
gradually.
Exercise while working
The NordicTrack Deskmill allows you to work and exercise simultaneously,

increasing your productivity and improving your health and fitness levels.
Revolutionary design
Produced by an American brand,
the Deskmill is revolutionarily the
best of both worlds to date. This is
because it incorporates a
working desk and a treadmill,
making it a versatile, innovative
fitness equipment that allows
individuals to walk or jog in
comfort on its long-cushioned

deck while getting work done.
Other innovative features
include:
l The revolutionary
SpaceSaver design that allows
the Deskmill to fold up vertically
when you want to sit or stand
and comes back down when you
are ready to run.
l The power-adjustable
incline that digitally adjusts the
Deskmills incline with a touch
of a button. The incline can be
increased to activate specific
muscle groups and burn more
calories.
l The adjustable desk height
that allows you to adjust between
26 and 42 inches to accommodate
multiple heights for sitting,
standing, walking or running.
l The desktop controls that
are easy to reach as the LCD
(liquid crystal display) console
display is built right into the
desktop. Three readouts display
your time, distance, calories per
hour, incline and speed.
l The desktop that is sized
at 40 inches by 18 inches, is
one-inch thick and made from a
solid composite that is protected
with an attractive mahogany
wood grain laminate for a
surface that looks great and
performs beautifully.
The NordicTrack Deskmill is

available exclusively at all Fitness
Concept outlets nationwide.
Fitness Concept is the largest
fitness specialist chain store
as certified by The Malaysia
Book of Records with 45 outlets
in leading shopping malls
nationwide, retailing home
fitness equipment and
accessories by world-renowned
brands such as NordicTrack,
Reebok, Adidas, Proform, Cybex,
LifeFitness, Nautilus, Schwinn
and many
more.
Fitness Concept is running
a nationwide mega sale
promotion with exciting savings
on various branded treadmills,
cross trainers, exercise bikes,
gym stations and fitness
accessories.
Be the first to enjoy the
NordicTrack Deskmill bundle
with the NordicTrack Premium
Cardio Set. Terms and conditions
apply.
Visit nearest Fitness Concept
stores or roadshows to try the
NordicTrack Deskmill.
To shop online, visit
www.fitnessconcept.com.my.
n For more information, e-mail

enquiries@fitnessconcept.com.
my or call 03-8026 2222.
Hale and hearty

OUR lifestyle today with
typically poor dietary choices
and high stress levels may lead
to a high risk of heart disease.
According to the American
Heart Association, regular
heart screenings should start
at the age of 20, with
frequency of visits determined
by the individuals risk factors.
Dr Al Fazir Omar from the
National Heart Institutes
recommends adults start
getting their yearly physical
screenings as they enter their
40s.
Tests recommended for
young adults undergoing
screenings for the first time,
with or without a family
history of heart disease
include examinations by
doctors, blood count check,
fasting sugar and lipid tests,
normal markers and some
form of ECG
(electrocardiogram).
ECG involves the usage of
electrodes and rectors to
identify if the heart is working
properly.
With heart stickers at
the chest area, it looks at the
heart at various angles. The

procedure measures the
electrical activity of the heart.
The ECG changes indicate
the hearts condition,
illustrating the location of the
damage through its readings.
To prep themselves for the
check-up, all patients need to
do for heart screenings is call a
hospital, book a slot and
choose a package based on
their risk factors.
Patients are advised to fast
for six to eight hours before
they go for their check-up.
Wearing sports attire is ideal
as the procedure will involve
running tests along with a
blood test and lung test.
The test will include an
at-rest ECG, which measures a
patients regular heart rate.
Patients will also be required
to undergo a running test to
check heart rate when
performing strenuous activity.
The entire process should
only take a few hours.
Consultation with the doctor
takes place after the tests.
> TURN TO PAGE 11
10 Healthy Heart
GINTELL was founded in 1996 and

is the market leader in massage
chair and fitness equipment. The
company has 111 showrooms
across Malaysia and was inducted
into The Malaysia Book of Records
as Malaysias Largest Healthcare
Products Chain Store.
We are all built differently, have
different needs and all we dream
of is to have one thing at home that
can satisfy everyones needs.
Twenty years of experience in
building a range of lifestyle
products have inspired Gintell to
build the new Gintell DeWise
Wisdomatic massage chair, a
massage chair that caters to all
needs.
To satisfy everyones needs, the
3D acupressure roller is being
introduced by Gintell DeWise.
This feature enables the
Wisdomatic massage chair to
automatically adjust to your body
size.
This means that no matter what
your size is, you are able to enjoy
the ultimate massage as the
Wisdomatic massage chair will
adjust itself to serve you better.
Its intelligent sensors will
accurately map out your bodys
acupuncture points, promising a
soothing journey.
Furthermore, the Ultra Chiro
Track will follow the curves of
your body to provide an ergonomic
precision massage and comfort
from neck to thighs.
This 95cm-long track will
provide continuous massage to
relieve backaches and soothe sore
muscles.
The 230 Royale Thai Stretch will
help to relieve stress on the skeletal
body, including the spine.
This authentic Thai massage was
crafted with numerous stretching
Gintell's new ambassador and Gintell De'Vano S FUNtastic Sofa brand ambassador,
Ayda Jebat (holding a microphone), at a meet-and-greet session at a mall.
Gintell ambassador and international actor Datuk Jalaludin

Hassan (left) at the meet-and-greet session.
Catering to comfort
techniques for your tired body
after a long day.
The Gintell DeWise Wisdomatic
massage chair is being endorsed
by renowned international artiste
Simon Yam.
Our health is our wealth and
the Wisdomatic massage chair will
help us in maintaining good health.
Make the wisest choice today with
the Gintell DeWise Wisdomatic
massage chair and experience the
ultimate body massage tailored for
you, says Yam.
Gintell DeWise is available in
four colours: rose red, pearl black,
gloss grey and champagne gold.
The Malaysia Mega Sales is

around the corner and there are
promotions specially for Gintell
customers.
This includes a trade-in rebate
of up to RM5,000 for the DeWise
Wisdomatic massage chair.
Ayda Jebat is the Gintell DeVano
S FUNtastic Sofa brand
ambassador. This sofa combines an
outstanding massage experience in
a contemporary design that will
perfectly complement your home.
The 105cm V-Track FUNtastic
Massage Track follows the contour
of your body to reach your back,
lower back and hips for a hand-like
massage experience.
Unlike a typical massage chair
that uses fixed-position heating,
which often fails to target the
required spots, the 3D heated
massage ball in DeVano S provides
targeted relief, which promotes
blood circulation and metabolism
to help you eliminate water
retention and shoulder aches.
The special buttocks-shaping and
pelvic-correcting massage airbags
target your hip area to give you
firmer and shapely buttocks.
Gintell DeVano S FUNtastic
Sofas small footprint makes it easy
to be placed anywhere in the house
so you can enjoy the ultimate

lifestyle massage chair at your
preferred spot.
Gintell is offering an outstanding
promotion, which includes
RM3,988 or RM110.78 monthly
payments to own your De'Vano S
FUNtastic Sofa and G-Beetle Plus
foot massager.
Visit the Gintell Roadshow at
1 Utama that is ongoing until Oct 3
or Sunway Carnival from today
(Sept 29) until Oct 9.

call 1800 88 6332 or visit
www.gintell.com.
Healthy Heart 11
Adding an edge
PEOPLE have been taking
coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
supplements to improve their
heart health for decades, but
most probably do not realise
that ubiquinol is a better form
of CoQ10.
CoQ10 comes in two main
forms: oxidised ubiquinone
(also called conventional CoQ10)
and non-oxidised ubiquinol
(also called reduced or active
CoQ10).
More than 90% of the total
CoQ10 in the blood of a healthy
young adult is in the ubiquinol
form. We receive some
conventional CoQ10
(ubiquinone) from the food we
eat but most of our supply is
made naturally.
For optimal use, the
conventional form of CoQ10
needs to be converted by the
body into a more advanced
form called ubiquinol CoQ10.
This conversion into
ubiquinol becomes more
difficult to complete as
individuals get older or suffer
from certain health conditions.
An 18-year-old will have little
trouble pushing a heavy ball up
a hill and returning to the
bottom to repeat the process
several times, but a 60-year-old
trying to do the same thing will
have difficulty repeating the
activity as each trip becomes
slower and requires increased
recovery time.
A similar uphill process
happens in our bodies with
conventional CoQ10 when we
attempt to convert it into
ubiquinol.
Important organs and
muscles such as the brain and
the heart require massive
amounts of cellular energy to
function at optimal levels. To
make this energy, we need
CoQ10 in its ubiquinol form.
Inside cellular power plants
called mitochondria, ubiquinol

CoQ10 uses its two electrons in a
specific way to help convert
food into a type of fuel (called
ATP or adenosine triphosphate)
needed by our body.
Young, healthy people can
easily convert ubiquinone into
ubiquinol CoQ10, but starting
around the age of 30 and
especially after 40, they become
less able to turn conventional
CoQ10 into the desirable
ubiquinol, thus impacting the
amount of cellular energy
available for the organs to use.
Unlike conventional CoQ10,
ubiquinol is a powerful
antioxidant by virtue of its two
extra electrons, which can
neutralise free radicals.
Free radicals are harmful
because they are constantly
looking to steal electrons
wherever they may be found,
including DNA
(deoxyribonucleic acid),
proteins and lipids. Removing
an electron oxidises the
molecule (oxidative stress) and
can cause damage that impacts
our health.
The ubiquinol form of
CoQ10 does not mind giving
up an electron to neutralise a
free radical that might
otherwise cause metabolic
trouble.
In addition, ubiquinol CoQ10
is one of the few antioxidants
that work not just in the fatty
parts of our body (such as cell
membranes and LDL/bad
cholesterol) but also in the
mitochondria where energy is
manufactured.
Ubiquinol is the only form
of CoQ10 capable of protecting
the mitochondria and their
lipid membranes from free
radical attack.
Ubiquinol is also an
antioxidant that helps fight
damage caused by oxidative
Get tested
> FROM PAGE 8
Some patients may be

concerned about the risks
involved in certain tests such as
the ECG, but Dr Al Fazir
describes the ECG as an easy
procedure and explains that
there is no reason to worry.
While many may assume that
only men are susceptible to
heart diseases, the National
Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
of the United States Department
of Health and Human Services
reports that one in four women
die of heart disease.
Adults who are smokers,
drinkers or deal with excessive
levels of stress are advised to be
tested with all the normal
markers, chest X-rays and stress

tests, which include the at-rest
ECG and stress ECG.
The test may also include a
multi-slice CT (computed
tomography) scan with modality
screening, thorough cardiac
MRI (magnetic resonance
imaging) and coronary
angiogram.
A coronary angiogram is used
to detect any narrowed or
blocked arteries, their locations
and the severity of the
blockages.
Depending on severity, the
treatment would either be a
stent, bypass in the case of
multiple blockages or even
medication for non-severe
cases.
stress and free radicals, which

are associated with ageing.
Although CoQ10 supplements
have been in the market for
more than 40 years, they were
only available in the fully
oxidised or spent form of
CoQ10 until a company
introduced ubiquinol
supplementation in 2007.
A ubiquinol supplement is
more bioavailable than
conventional CoQ10
supplements, meaning the body
can more easily absorb
ubiquinol and bring CoQ10 in
the blood to normal levels.
This article is brought to you
by Vitamode Sdn Bhd and
Medispec (M) Sdn Bhd.

1300 800 228 or e-mail
enquiry@medispec.com.my.
As people age, their bodies become less efficient in converting the conventional
CoQ10 into ubiquinol.
12 Healthy Heart
GLOBALLY, cardiovascular disease

is the leading cause of morbidity
and mortality, yet about 80% of
heart disease and stroke could be
prevented by positive lifestyle
changes such as eating a healthy
diet, exercising and abstaining
from smoking.
High cholesterol levels are one of
the major risk factors leading to
heart disease, a heart attack and
stroke.
According to international
guidelines, dietary intervention is
the cornerstone of therapy for
dyslipidaemia. Dyslipidaemia is an
abnormal amount of lipids (such as
cholesterol and/or fat) in the blood.
Ones diet also plays an
important role when cholesterol
medication has already been
initiated. A healthy diet has other
beneficial effects beyond its effects
on lipid concentrations.
Several international
organisations recommend the
consumption of foods containing
plant sterol as part of a
cholesterol-lowering diet.
These include the American
Heart Association (AHA), National
Cholesterol Education Program
(NCEP) in the United Sates, World
Heart Federation (WHF), British
Heart Foundation and National
Heart Foundation of Australia.
Benefits of plant sterols

Plant sterols are found naturally
in everyday foods such as
vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, grain
products, fruits and vegetables.
The average daily intake of plant
sterols from regular foods is about
0.3g per day.
The optimal intake of plant
sterols for a significant
cholesterol-lowering effect is 2g per
Down the natural path

day. To reach this recommended
intake, large quantities of regular
foods would need to be consumed.
The key benefit of plant sterols
lies in their ability to reduce the
absorption of cholesterol in
the blood, both from dietary
and endogenous sources of
cholesterol, such as
cholesterol produced by the
liver.
Consuming 2g of plant
sterols a day reduces the
absorption of cholesterol by
30% to 40%. The unabsorbed
cholesterol will pass through
the digestive system and be
excreted.
As a result, total blood
cholesterol and bad (LDL or
low-density lipoprotein)
cholesterol levels decrease,
while the good (HDL or
high-density lipoprotein)
cholesterol is not affected.
According to Mayo Clinic
Proceedings published in
2003, clinical research has
shown that an intake of 1g to
3g plant sterols per day can
substantially and consistently
lower total blood cholesterol
by 6% to 10% and LDL cholesterol
by 8% to 15%.
The US Food and Drug
Administrations approved health
claim for plant sterol states that
foods containing at least 0.4g per
serving of plant sterols, eaten
twice a day with meals for a daily
total intake of at least 0.8g as
part of a diet low in saturated fat
and cholesterol, may reduce the
Vitamode
ReduSterol is
a delicious
heart-healthy
drink that
contains plant
sterols.
risk of heart disease.
Heart-healthy beverage
Vitamode ReduSterol is a hearthealthy drink containing plant
sterols derived from vegetables.
Unlike bland-tasting oatmeal or
oat bran powder, Vitamode
ReduSterol gives you a refreshingly
delicious and authentic taste that
you will love.

Vitamode ReduSterol does not
contain preservatives or artificial
colouring. It is suitable for
vegetarians and those intolerant
to lactose.
This all-natural drink can be
enjoyed hot or cold, depending on
individual preference.
A serving (one sachet) of
Vitamode ReduSterol supplies 1g of
plant sterols.
Vitamode ReduSterol is suitable
for those with high cholesterol
levels and heart health concerns.
It is available at selected clinics,
hospitals and pharmacies in
Malaysia.

Vitamode Sdn Bhd and Medispec
(M) Sdn Bhd.
Healthy Heart 13
AFTER a good nights rest, we wake

up feeling refreshed, energised and
ready for the day.
According to a study published
last year in the Diabetology and
Metabolic Syndrome journal, the
average sleep duration has
decreased from more than eight
hours in the 1960s toless than six
and a half hours in 2012.
According to the journal
Hypertension, restricted and
disrupted sleep poses a threat to a
healthy heart. The study explains
that the heart just like the brain
needs stable and restorative sleep
every night to rejuvenate properly.
Hence, people who repeatedly
do not get enough sleep or have
varied sleeping patterns could be
increasing their risk of
cardiovascular disease.
In fact, researchers found that
when sleep-deprived subjects get
just one more hour of sleep per
night, they had a 33% decrease in
their odds of developing calcium
deposits in their arteries,
decreasing their risk of developing
heart disease.
For those who already are at risk
Good sleep to keep strong

of heart disease, cardiovascular
disease symptoms can sometimes
be a cause of poor sleep.
According to iHeal Medical
Centres consultant interventional
cardiologist Dr Wong Teck Wee,
conditions that may disrupt your
sleep include chest pains,
arrhythmias (abnormal heart
rhythms), sleep apnoea and fluid
build-up in the lungs due to heart
failure.
Furthermore, patients with
ischaemic heart disease (disease
characterised by reduced blood
supply to the heart) usually report
comorbid insomnia.
This in turn could become a
vicious cycle of inadequate sleep,
contributing to cardiovascular
disease versus cardiovascular
disease disturbing your sleep.
Dr Wong reiterates that poor
sleep has been linked to
hypertension, atherosclerosis
Boost with juice

HEART disease is the leading cause
of death in Malaysia, according to
Health Facts published by the
Health Ministry.
While no one juice or juice blend
can prevent heart disease or repair
a damaged heart and blood vessel
tissue, some juices contain
heart-friendly nutrients.
Pomegranate juice can be
purchased at grocery stores and
some health food stores. As with all
premade juices, check to ensure
there is minimal added sugar to
maximise benefits from the juice.
Pomegranate juice is high
in tannins, which may have
anti-ageing, anti-oxidative and
anti-atherosclerotic properties.
You can make beet juice at home
with a juicer or choose a
vegetable-based juice in the
grocery store that contains beet
juice.
As it is sweet, beet juice is
commonly blended with other
juices. A study published in the
2012 issue of Nutrition Journal
found that beet juice combined
with a low-nitrate diet lowered
blood pressure as soon as six hours
after consumption.
Grape juice is naturally high in
flavonoids, particularly in red or
purple grape juice. Flavonoids are
natural antioxidants that can
protect cells from damage from
ageing and may help reduce
the risk of developing
cancer and heart disease.
An article published in
2002 in Advances in
Experimental Medicine and
Biology concluded that
purple grape juice provided
protection from bad or
low-density lipoprotein
cholesterol, which can
cause hardened
arteries.
Scientists
suggest including
purple grape juice
in daily diets as a
way of reducing the
risk of developing
heart disease.
Preparing the best

quality juice
Consuming these juices
prepared using the cold-pressed
method is highly effective.
According to a report published
in September 2014 by Consumer
Reports, Kuvings Whole Slow
Juicer is rated the Worlds Best
Slow Juicer for its motor
performance, convenience and
juice yield.
In terms of design, it was the
first to patent the wide-mouth
whole-fruit juicing function. To
achieve this, it has one of the
strongest motors among slow
juicers.
Kuvings Whole Slow Juicer
is able to break down tough
plant cell walls to produce
homogenised plant cells that
are readily absorbed by
nutrient-carrying cells. These
cells are absorbed 12 times
faster, explaining the sudden
energy boost soon after
drinking a freshly made green
juice.
Studies conducted in NUC
Electronic BioNutrient Lab in
Daegu, South Korea, found that
juice produced using the
Kuvings Whole Slow Juicer
contains four times more
nutrients.
Not surprisingly, Kuvings
Whole Slow Juicer was
accorded recognition as
The Best Slow Juicer and
took the coveted Natural
Healths Readers Choice
Award 2015 and 2016 by
two leading parenting
magazines BabyTalk and
MamaPapa.
Kuvings Whole Slow
Juicer is available in the
following retail chains:
Harvey Norman, Best
Denki, Isetan, Cold
Storage, Jasons Food
Hall, Mercatos, Aeon
Big, Tesco, HomePro,
Live It Up and Tan
Boon Ming Sdn Bhd.
n For more
information,
call 03-5885 4151 or
e-mail juicing@
kuvings.my.
Dr Wong Teck Wee is a consultant

interventional cardiologist at iHeal
Medical Centre.
(clogging or hardening of the
arteries that is associated
with ischaemic heart disease),
heart failure, stroke, diabetes
and obesity. Most researchers
believe that insomnia is linked to
cardiovascular health in two
possible ways. Firstly, physical

changes that include hypertension,
poor appetite, inflammation and
other bodily stress reactions.
Poor sleep increases
inflammatory substances in your
body, such as C-reactive protein
and stress hormones (cortisol).
Inflammation is the bodys
protective response to injury,
infection or disease, which may be
part of the reason poor sleep
affects your cardiovascular system.
Secondly, common behavioural
factors of poor sleep are low
moods and motivation, and
cognitive difficulties that can
negatively impact decision-making.
Disrupted sleep can lead to
higher blood pressure and may
increase the risk for heart attacks
and stroke. Get a good nights rest
to maintain a healthy heart by
avoiding caffeinated drinks near
bedtime, limiting alcohol
consumption, exercising and

turning off electronic devices at
least half an hour before sleeping.
For those who have difficulty
sleeping, insomnia is treatable,
says Dr Wong. Sleep medication
and supplements can be helpful
but mental and behavioural
strategies must be implemented for
best effect.
First, identify and acknowledge
your problem. See your doctor to
rule out medical reasons, including
side effects of medication that may
affect sleep. Then, learn how to
change your behaviours to
maximise sleep and manage your
thoughts that interfere with sleep.
LiveLife Sdn Bhd.
call 1800 880 488 or e-mail

info@rilax.info.
14 Healthy Heart
HEART disease, the No.1 killer of

women and men in Malaysia,
constitutes about 25% of total
deaths in all hospitals, according to
the National Heart Association of
Malaysia. Around one in four heart
attack patients are less than 50
years old.
High blood cholesterol is one of
the major risk factors for heart
disease. The higher your blood
cholesterol level, the greater your
risks of developing heart disease or
having a heart attack.
High blood cholesterol increases
the risk of plaque build-up in the
blood vessels, thus narrowing the
blood vessels and possibly leading
to blood vessels blockage that
results in a stroke or heart attack.
Therefore, it is
important to keep our
blood cholesterol
level within a
healthy limit.
Best of both worlds

The American Heart Association
recognises that daily consumption
of omega-3 fatty acids is important
for the maintenance of good heart
health. Marine sources of omega-3
fatty acids are cold water fishes
and crustacean krill.
Supplementing ones diet with
marine fish or krill oil is an easy
and convenient way to increase
omega-3 intake.
There is a constant debate on
whether omega-3 from fish oil or
krill oil is better.
An omega-3 supplement that

combines fish oil and krill oil
helps you optimise the
benefits of both sources.
The higher your blood

cholesterol level, the
greater your risks
of developing heart
disease or having a
heart attack.
Although 1,000mg of fish oil

comprises 300mg (30%) of omega3, the absorption of omega-3 in fish
oil is poor, resulting in the need
to consume large doses of fish oil
(up to 3,000mg) daily for a
noticeable cholesterol-lowering
effect.
Krill oil, on the other hand,
has lower omega-3 content
but is compensated by its
superior absorbability.
This is because of its
unique phospholipidbound omega-3 fatty
acids that are readily
absorbed and used by
the body.
On top of that, krill oil contains

astaxanthin, a natural potent
antioxidant that has vast health
benefits.
Both fish oil and krill oil have
their own strengths and
weaknesses, but neither of them on
their own offers the best omega-3
for a healthy heart. It is better to
get omega-3 supplements with a
combination of fish oil and krill oil
in one capsule.
After years of research, an
Australian company has
successfully blended concentrated
fish oil and krill oil to optimise the
benefits of omega-3 nature has to
offer.
The company has discovered
that by combining 200mg of
concentrated fish oils with 335mg
of krill oil, the oils form a
homogenous omega-3 blend that
has superior absorption and boosts
the omega-3 content by as much as
70%.
The benefits of taking a product
that combines fish oil and krill oil
are:
1. Superior absorption The
omega-3 from fish oil and krill oil
bind together to form the

phospholipid omega-3, making it
more readily absorbed and used by
the body.
2. Antioxidant property
Regulating cholesterol levels and
controlling free radicals are crucial
for good heart health.
Astaxanthin, which can be found
in the natural red pigments of the
krill, is an ideal natural armour for
good heart and blood circulation
health.
3. Fewer capsules and faster
results Combining fish oil and
krill oil raises the omega-3 content
by 70%. With superior absorption,
fewer capsules are needed for
efficacy.
4. No fishy aftertaste
Therefore, choose a product that
has 200mg fish oil and 335mg krill
oil to give your heart the omega-3
it needs.

Natures Way.
Wholegrain
goodness
WHOLEGRAINS in their natural
form are nutritious and offer
various health benefits. For
example, brown rice
is made up of three
major parts the
bran, germ and
endosperm.
Bran is the outer
layer of the grain,
which provides
29% of the
nutrients, including
fibre, vitamins and
minerals.
Germ is the smallest part of
the grain that provides 66%
nutrients, including dietary
fibre, protein, vitamins B1, B2,
B6 and E, and minerals such as
iron, calcium and zinc.
Endosperm is the main part
of the grain that contains 5%
nutrients, which is mainly
starch (sugar).
People mostly choose to eat
white rice as a staple food, but
refined grains have been milled
to remove 95% of the nutritious
parts, leaving only the starch
that is called white rice.
People tend to eat white rice
as it is soft and cooks easily
compared with brown rice,
which is rough and hard to
chew.
Eating wholegrains instead of
refined grains provides for
overall health, lowers the risk of
many chronic diseases such as
cardiovascular problems and
Type 2 diabetes, and helps in
weight maintenance.
The benefits are most
pronounced for those who
consume at least three servings
daily.
Wholegrains give many the
perception of an unappetising
flavour.
However, GoodMorning
Vplus 18 Grains is a healthy and
nutritious wholegrains drink
with a heart-warming and
delicious taste.
Besides the Vplus 18 Grains

drink, GoodMorning also offers
GoodMorning Beetroot Crisps
and GoodMorning Vmeal Give Me
5 as delicious and nutritious
snacks.
Vplus 18 Grains contains a
nutritional formula made up of
18 types of wholegrain. It is high
in vegetable proteins,
carbohydrates, amino acids,
fats, vitamins and minerals
needed for proper daily bodily
functions.
Vplus 18 Grains also contains
red beetroot, which is rich in
antioxidants and iron, and gives
the drink its pink colour, while
seaweed calcium helps
strengthen teeth and bones.
Fructooligosaccharide is a
prebiotic for increasing the
friendly bacteria in the body.
In addition, the water-soluble
fibre helps to increase fibre
intake as well as improve blood
circulation and bowel
movement.
Vplus 18 Grains drink is
suitable for all ages, including
kids, adults, the elderly and
those with health problems.
Every glass of Vplus 18 Grains
brings you and your loved ones
a step closer to better health.

1300 221 818/011-1100 1818.
Healthy Heart 15
Goodness in a
glass of milk
WORLD Heart Day started in 2000 to raise
awareness on cardiovascular diseases and
the importance of taking good care of the
heart.
It is celebrated annually all over the world
today. According to The Heart
Foundation of Malaysia (Yayasan
Jantung Malaysia), heart disease is
a leading cause of death in the
country.
Risk factors for heart disease
and stroke include raised blood
pressure, cholesterol and
glucose levels, smoking,
inadequate intake of fruits
and vegetables, being
overweight and physically
inactive.
While people may
think that heart disease
generally only affect
men, women do get
heart disease as well.
Based on data
from the Health
Ministry,
cardiovascular disease
accounts for about 25% of all deaths among
women and are almost two and a half times
more than that of deaths due to cancer.
As a woman gets older, the likelihood of
developing heart disease becomes higher,
especially during menopause.
Most heart diseases and strokes can be
prevented by making lifestyle changes:
eating healthily, being active and not
smoking.
Eating right
Eating a healthy diet includes reducing
high intakes of saturated and trans fats,
sugar and salt as well as eating a balanced
diet rich in fruits and vegetables.
As most people struggle to stop eating the
food they love completely, it is advisable to
reduce the portion of unhealthy food and
increase the portion of healthy food.
Eat plenty of fruit
and vegetables as they
contain lots of fibre,
vitamins, minerals
and antioxidants and
include two glasses of
Marigold HL Low Fat
Milk with Plant
Sterols into your
daily diet.
Marigold HL Low
Fat Milk with Plant
Sterols have been
shown to lower blood
cholesterol. Plant
sterols exist in foods
such as nuts, seeds,
legumes, fruits and
vegetables. It works
by blocking
cholesterol
absorption in our
body.
Marigold HL Low
Fat Milk with Plant
Sterols is also low in
fat with only 1% fat
compared to regular
milk with 4% fat to
help keep you
healthy, slim and
trim.
It is high in
calcium to help keep
your bones strong,
prevent osteoporosis
as well as high in
protein to build and
repair muscles.
It is low in lactose
for people with
lactose intolerance
and fortified with
nine essential
vitamins such as A,
Marigold HL Low Fat Milk with Plant Sterols is

low in fat with only 1% fat compared to regular
milk with 4% fat to help keep you healthy, slim
and trim.
B1, B3, B6, B12, C, D, E and folic
acid that meet most of the
Recommended
Dietary Allowance
(RDA), providing
more nutritional
benefits than
other brands of
milk.
Therefore,
including it as part
of your daily balanced
diet (including regular
consumption of fruits and
vegetables), plus exercise to help
you maintain your cholesterol
level at a healthy range.
This will provide you with 1.6g
of plant sterol esters to help you
manage your cholesterol level.
Marigold HL Low Fat Milk has
been awarded bronze at the
prestigious Putra Brand Awards
2015 and 2016 for The Peoples
Choice in the category of
Beverage - Dairy. This is an
award that is voted by the
people of Malaysia.
Varying flavours
Marigold HL Low Fat Milk is
available in four variants plant
sterols that help lower
cholesterol levels and also plain,
chocolate and strawberry
flavours.
Marigold HL Low Fat Milk

comes in four variants plain,
chocolate, strawberry and plant
sterols that help lower
cholesterol levels.
16 Healthy Heart
ALLIED healthcare is the favourable

approach when it comes to diagnostic and
surgical services for patients with
cardiovascular diseases.
Dr Wong, cardiothoracic surgeon at
Regency Specialist Hospitals Heart Centre,
says, Teams of allied healthcare
professionals involved in caring for a patient
include cardiothoracic surgeons,
cardiologists, anaesthetists, nurses, dietitians,
ward and operating theatre staff, and
physiotherapists.
We work together to apply a holistic
approach to surgery at Regency, we started
out performing simple thoracic lung
procedures and have expanded to a range of
heart procedures.
Cardiovascular disease greatly affects
Malaysians, with the National Heart
Association of Malaysia reporting it as the
main cause of deaths in public hospitals.
Common procedures for heart conditions
include invasive procedures such as
coronary artery bypass and coronary
angioplasty and stenting, as well as
non-invasive investigations such as
echocardiography and cardiac CT
(computed tomography). Thoracic surgeries
are also carried out through both traditional
and minimally invasive methods.
According to Dr Wong, typically 50% to
60% of all thoracic lung procedures
performed are minimally invasive.
Aortic aneurysm stenting previously an
open surgery is now performed just as well
with small incisions that allow the patient to
recover quicker and with fewer
complications.
Serving the local population

The allied team approach is activated as
the patient prepares to undergo surgery,
Cardiovascular care
patients have to wait for a long time for
treatment at crowded hospitals, so private
facilities should play a role in providing an
affordable alternative.
Through this offering, a quality, financially
feasible treatment option is made available
within the southern state.
Additionally, residents of nearby Kuala
Lumpur and Malacca are able to travel
shorter distances to seek timely treatment.
Inspiring action
To widen access to quality cardiovascular healthcare in the country, it is crucial to have sufficient
skilled specialists to serve the local population.
with the head nurse familiarising the
patient to the ward and intensive care
unit (ICU). Patients may also choose to
undergo financial counselling for their
medical needs.
So far, the common surgeries conducted
on patients have been coronary artery
bypass surgery as well as for heart valve and
congenital disorders.
In widening the access to quality
healthcare, it is vital that there be sufficient
skilled specialists to serve the local

population.
Dr Wong says that the ideal
surgeon-to-patient ratio in cardiothoracic
surgery is 1:200,000, according to the
Australian Medical Workforce Advisory
Committee, and this ratio has not been
reached in Johor.
He says, The population in Johor is
underserved in terms of facilities and
services for open heart surgery. Many
The effort to serve a larger population is

strengthened with the introduction of new
technology and procedures that will allow
more specific treatment for diseases.
For example, Dr Wong speaks of the
soon-to-come extracorporeal membrane
oxygenation (ecmo) option this involves a
machine that is used to support the heart
and lungs for extended periods of time in
patients with heart and lung failure.
The introduction of procedures such as
varicose vein laser surgery and angioplasty
for peripheral vascular disease will further
support treatment, he says.
Developing a solid heart centre treatment
base for Johoreans and residents of
surrounding areas involves setting up
facilities with staff that are able to support
the growing southern population.
Dr Wong hopes that in the future, there
will be more heart centres to care for the
hearts of Malaysians.
n For more information, call 07-381 7700.
Keeping it
in check
IT is important that people take note of their
blood pressure as high blood pressure is a
common cardiovascular disease risk factor
that affects millions of people worldwide.
Also known as hypertension, high blood
pressure is the excessive force of blood
pushing against the artery walls that can
weaken healthy arteries and lead to lifethreatening conditions such as heart disease
and stroke. For this reason, it is good to have
a self-monitoring blood pressure kit at
home.
In doing so, people will be able to check
their blood pressure at any time of the day
and as frequently as they like.
While it is always recommended to
seek medical advice on a regular basis,
conducting self-monitoring checks at
home can help save lives.
With the possibility of detecting
blood pressure changes at home instead
of only during scheduled medical
examinations, users will be able to seek
medical attention at an earlier stage
avoiding the chances of developing more
serious health conditions and pricey
hospital bills.
Available in all Guardian stores in
Malaysia, the Guardian Blood Pressure
Monitor deluxe model is designed with a
large LCD screen, easy-to-use interface and
comfortable wide adjustable cuff that will fit
arm sizes of 22cm to 36cm.
You can be sure you will always get a
reliable and accurate blood pressure
reading.
Users will find operating the device a
breeze as it comes with a simple one-button
start/stop mechanism to measure your blood
pressure.
In addition, it features
World Health Organization
classification and irregular
heartbeat indicators that
make for easy measurement
reference, the large LCD
screen simultaneously
displays your systolic and
diastolic pressure reading, pulse
rate, date and time.

The device comes with other useful
features such as the capability to save
measurement information for two user
groups, with a memory capacity of 90
measurements for each user. It also
produces an average reading taken from the
last three consecutive blood pressure
measurements.
Retailing at RM209, the Guardian Blood
Pressure Monitor comes with a convenient
storage pouch, a set of four AA batteries and
an instruction manual printed in English,
Chinese and Bahasa Malaysia.
n This article is brought to you by your

partner in health, Guardian Health and
Beauty Sdn Bhd.
Check your blood pressure

at home with the Guardian
Blood Pressure Monitor.
Healthy Heart 17
Start early to stay fit

MANY young adults lead hectic
lives, run on little sleep and
indulge often on pleasurable foods,
assuming that they are exempt
from major health problems until
an unexpected negative health
report jolts them into reality.
According to an online survey
conducted last year by global
workplace provider Regus, 70%
of employees in Malaysia are
experiencing more stress-related
illnesses due to challenging global
economic conditions while more
than 42% are losing sleep due to
work concerns.
In addition, the pervasive use of
mobile connectivity applications
such as instant messaging has led
to increased stress levels as 67% of
Malaysian workers attend to work
matters out of office compared to
five years ago.
Tight schedules and having to
multitask at a frenetic pace often
cause us to skip meals and neglect
exercise.
In addition, studies have shown
overweight individuals appear
sensitised to food cues, particularly
after exposure to stress, and
stress-related eating is significantly
associated with obesity in women.
Being overweight, a sedentary
lifestyle, stress, smoking, excessive
alcohol intake and a high-sodium
diet can play a role in the
development of high blood
pressure.
In most people, high blood
pressure shows no symptoms. If
left untreated and uncontrolled,
long-standing high blood pressure
can damage the heart and blood
vessels, increasing the risk of
stroke, aneurysm, heart attack,
heart failure and kidney damage.
A long-term study conducted by
Northwestern Universitys Feinberg
School of Medicine in the United
States has revealed that people in

their 20s with mildly elevated
blood pressure may face an
increased risk of clogged arteries
by middle age.
The study, which observed
nearly 4,700 subjects, showed that
prehypertension in young
adulthood was linked to a higher
risk of calcium build-up in the
heart 25 years later.
This means that preventative
care to avoid hypertension should
start from young.
We should not wait until
symptoms of chronic illnesses start
to show before addressing blood
pressure issues.
Making the right changes to your
diet can help significantly in
controlling blood pressure. Avoid
salty and processed foods as much
as possible and eat more fresh
fruits and vegetables. Also, get
enough quality sleep and limit
your alcohol intake.
Similarly, a poor diet,
diabetes, smoking and a
sedentary lifestyle, which
leads to obesity, can cause
high cholesterol.
Cholesterol is necessary in
the daily functions of our
body it produces
hormones, vitamin D and
bile acids that help digest
fat.
In an average person, the
liver produces 50% to 70%
of the cholesterol content in
the body, but for some
people, their body produces
more cholesterol than can
be safely handled.
In addition, stress is
known to increase
cholesterol levels,
particularly the bad (LDL)
cholesterol.
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Focus on women
CARDIOVASCULAR disease (CVD)
does not discriminate between
genders. Although men are said
to be more susceptible to heart
attacks, statistics from the
National Heart Association of
Malaysia (NHAM) show that one
in four women will die of heart
disease or stroke.
Older, post-menopausal
women face a greater risk of
getting heart attacks as
oestrogen hormone levels taper
off after a certain age. The
oestrogen hormone is said to
have a protective role for the
hearts of women.
However, this does not
eliminate the risk of CVD of
women with pre-existing
non-communicable diseases
such as diabetes and
hypertension, nor those with a
strong family history of
premature heart disease. In fact,
these women could develop
heart disease earlier in life,
before menopause.
More attention needs to be
paid to heart disease among
women, both by women and
emergency care service
providers, says Dr Lam Kai
Huat, consultant cardiologist at
Assunta Hospital.
He explains that this is not
only because their symptoms
(indigestion, neck pain,
shortness of breath, nausea,
vomiting and extreme fatigue)
are easy to misdiagnose it is
also because female patients can
be more reluctant to seek
treatment due to preoccupancy
with other responsibilities.
Dr Lam stresses that heart
attacks should not be taken
lightly among men and women
alike. If you or someone you
know displays these symptoms,
immediately go to the
emergency room and explain
your situation to be properly
and quickly triaged.
brain produces the hormones

cortisol and adrenaline. The
release of cortisol raises blood
sugar levels for the bodys use
during fight-or-flight situations.
As cortisol is released, it raises
the blood glucose level, which
stimulates more triglyceride
production. In turn, high
triglyceride levels create higher
cholesterol levels.
In a 20-year study published in
Annals of Internal Medicine in 2010,
researchers made observations
from data gathered from 3,258
males and females between the
ages of 18 and 30 that even with
slightly abnormal cholesterol
levels, individuals had a significant
risk of developing signs of heart
disease before the age of 45.
Arteriosclerosis does not occur
overnight. It is built up over a long
period of time, which is why it is
imperative that we practise a
healthy lifestyle
from a young age.
Eat a balanced
diet, exercise
regularly and go
for a yearly
health screening
to work
towards
ensuring a clean
bill of health for
the rest of your life. A
delicious nutritional beverage
can also help keep your cholesterol
level in check.
Nutri-Trio by Seven Seas is a
high-strength beta-glucan beverage
enriched with coenzyme Q10
(CoQ10) and Fibersol-2 to support
a healthy heart and digestive
system.
A daily intake of 3g oat
beta-glucan can help reduce
cholesterol levels while the CoQ10
supports cellular energy
Nutri-Trio is a
high-strength
beta-glucan
beverage
enriched with
coenzyme Q10
(CoQ10) and
Fibersol-2.
production. Fibersol-2 helps in
maintaining a healthy digestion.
Enjoy it on its own, mixed with
milk or yoghurt, or in your
favourite beverage for a great
start to your day or as a healthy
tummy-filling drink when
hunger pangs strike.
Seven Seas Limited, a Merck
company in health supplements
worldwide.
18 Healthy Heart
Improving
treatment efficiency
A coronary angioplasty is typically performed to widen the affected

artery when one has a heart attack.
THE first major milestone in the

treatment of heart attacks was the
introduction of thrombolytic
therapy the intravenous delivery
of clot-busting drugs into the
system.
Its introduction to the world of
cardiology in 1986 reduced heart
attack mortality rates by about a
third worldwide and this treatment
modality gained traction as the
preferred method of treating heart
attacks.
However, thrombolytic therapy
was associated with serious effects
in approximately 20% of cases.
Patients were susceptible to
excessive bleeding and some clots
that induced heart attacks in the
first place might form again, causing
a more serious and potentially fatal
second heart attack.
Technological and scientific
advances have now shown a better
clinical outcome for a majority of
heart attack patients who are
subjected to immediate
percutaneous coronary intervention
(PCI).
This interventional procedure,
known as primary PCI, is performed
at major cardiac centres throughout
Malaysia.
The procedure mechanically
removes the offending blood clot
that has caused a heart attack and
re-establishes blood circulation to
the heart muscles.
Currently, primary PCI is
considered the gold standard in
treating heart attacks.
The procedure requires the
surgeon to access the heart vessels,
open up the clogged heart vessel
using a small balloon, mechanically
remove the blood clot and maintain
the patency of the affected heart
vessel using a small metal tube
called a stent.
Most heart attacks occur as a
result of coronary artery disease
(CAD) a condition in which fatty
plaques progressively build up
inside the coronary arteries.
In certain predisposed individuals
and conditions, an area of the fatty
plaque ruptures and causes a blood
clot to form on top of the ruptured
plaque, leading to a sudden
obstruction of oxygenated blood
flow to the heart that causes a heart
attack.
Dr Al Fazir Omar, a consultant
cardiologist at the National Heart
Institute (Institut Jantung Negara,
IJN), says that multiple clinical
studies have shown that compared
to intravenous thrombolytic
therapy, primary PCI lowers the
risk of bleeding, making it a safer
method.
Primary PCI has also been shown
to have better long-term clinical
outcomes compared to thrombolytic
therapy, providing patients with
improved outlook and survival
benefits.
In IJN, we perform more than
3,000 coronary angioplasties
annually.
The majority of these procedures
are performed through the wrist via
the right radial artery and 9% of the
patients handled involve the
performing of primary PCI, says
Dr Al Fazir.
He goes on to explain that the
Malaysian population is predisposed
to a higher risk of developing
different clinical entities of a heart
attack.
These clinical entities, known
Dr Al Fazir Omar is a consultant

cardiologist at the National Heart
Institute.
collectively as acute cardiovascular
syndrome (ACS), is due to the higher
prevalence of diabetes, obesity and
smoking within the population.
In Malaysia, the mean age for
patients with ACS is 59 years old,
which is six years younger than the
international mean age reported in
the Global Registry for Acute
Coronary Events (GRACE).
Bettering management
Time is of the essence in the
treatment of a heart attack, which is
why Dr Al Fazir says there needs to
be better awareness and quick
action in ensuring patients can
undergo the necessary procedures
as soon as possible.
During a heart attack, after blood
flow to the affected muscles of the
heart is disrupted, there is a
treatment opportunity window of
up to 12 hours.
The longer it takes to fix the blood
vessel blockage, the higher the
probability of significant
irreversible heart muscle damage
that may lead to heart failure.
Therefore, seeking immediate
attention is of paramount
importance.
It allows the physician an
opportunity to start treatment
immediately and limit the heart
muscle damage. Even then, some
patients may not be as fortunate.
About a fifth of patients may not
be able to make it to the hospital in
time, says Dr Al Fazir.
Therefore, it is vital that they seek
immediate emergency care if a
heart attack is suspected. Warning
symptoms to look out for include
chest pain or discomfort that can be
described as tightness or heaviness,
which can radiate to the left arm,
neck and jaw, as well as shortness
of breath and sweating.
Women may also experience
atypical symptoms, such as
indigestion or nausea and extreme
fatigue.
Medical care network

Dr Al Fazir says medical service
providers need to overcome delays
associated with the delivery of
cardiovascular care to patients with
heart attacks as several clinical
studies have shown a better
outcome for patients with
immediate access to treatment.
It is for this purpose that a pilot
project between IJN and Hospital
Kuala Lumpur (HKL), called HISNET,
In certain
predisposed
individuals and
conditions, an area
of the fatty plaque
ruptures and causes
a blood clot to
form on top of the
ruptured plaque,
leading to a sudden
obstruction of
oxygenated blood
flow to the heart
that causes a heart
attack.
was established in September 2014.

This collaborative effort
subsequently evolved into a bigger
network of similar nature involving
the Health Ministry, IJN and several
medical faculties within the Klang
Valley called the MySTEMI network.
The network adopts a
hub-and-spoke model, where spoke
hospitals within the network feed
patients to a hub specialist centre
capable of providing immediate
heart attack-related care.
The centres at the hub include
IJN, Pusat Perubatan Universiti
Malaya, Hospital Serdang,
Universiti Teknologi Mara and
Pusat Perubatan Universiti
Kebangsaan Malaysia.
In explaining the importance of
MySTEMI, Dr Al Fazir says that the
efficiency of treatment is measured
in terms of response and treatment
time, known as door-to-balloon
(DTB) time, or most recently,
first-medical-contact-to-balloon
time (FMC).
The average time from the
moment patients arrive at the IJN
emergency door to when they
undergo primary PCI was
approximately 80 minutes. Since
establishing the network, the
duration has been reduced to
45 minutes.
This is a great achievement in
view of the international standard,
which is 90 minutes.
At the start of the HISNET
collaboration, FMC from the
emergency department in HKL to
primary PCI in IJN was 111
minutes. It now averages 88
minutes and is well within the
international standard of less than
120 minutes.
I am pleased to say that there
was also no time difference
recorded when comparing
treatment during and after office
hours, which is the result of
commitment from all those
involved paramedics, emergency
physicians, nurses, technicians,
porters and doctors, says Dr Al
Fazir.
This network is currently being
expanded to include selected
private hospitals, which will further
improve access to quality
emergency cardiovascular care in
the Klang Valley.

call 03-2617 8200.
Healthy Heart 19
Managing coronary
artery disease
THE main cause of death
worldwide, Coronary Artery
Disease (CAD) is controlled by a
host of factors.
Although age, genetic history
and being a male are nonmodifiable factors that affect heart
health, it is more important to
consider and control modifiable
factors such as cholesterol level,
obesity, blood sugar and pressure,
and smoking.
According to Dr Ang Choon Chin,
consultant cardiologist and
physician at Mahkota Medical
Centre, vital management of these
risk factors includes a balanced
diet with less sugar, salt and
saturated fats, 30 minutes to one
hour of exercise three to five times
weekly and reduced stress.
It is also important to stop
smoking for example, many
Malaysian women are now facing
increased risk of heart disease
from smoking, either active or
passive, he says.
Those with conditions such as
diabetes and hypertension have to
primarily manage these as they
increase ones susceptibility to
CAD.
Treatment strategies
It is recommended to check your
heart health once every one or two
years, depending on your risk
profile. A regular check-up consists
of a simple stress test and physical
evaluation.
The first step in seeking
treatment for coronary artery
disease is establishing the diagnosis
of the condition.
A series of tests can be done to
determine this, including
electrocardiogram (ECG) and
echocardiogram tests as well as
stress test.
If any blood vessel blockages are
suspected, one may be required to
undergo a CT (computed
tomography) scan or conventional
(with catheter) coronary
angiogram (X-ray to study arterial
blood circulation), after which an
angioplasty can be done to repair
blockages if necessary.
A bypass surgery is performed if
there are severe blockages in all
three major blood vessels.
Consequences of CAD
The most feared condition
of CAD is to suffer an acute
myocardial infarction
While CAD
is still a large
medical threat
to Malaysians,
continuous
education and effort
towards cultivating
healthy heart habits
can make more
people aware
of the risks and
burden of the
disease.
Dr Ang Choon Chin
(heart attack).
One in five of those admitted to
the hospital for heart attack may
not survive; even those who do
often experience diminished
capacity to lead a normal life.
Patients with heart failure as a
result of an acute heart attack or
chronic CAD may become
dependent on caregivers or family
members to perform day-to-day
tasks.
These
patients are
also at
higher risk of
developing
Management
of risk factors
for CAD
includes a
balanced
lifestyle with
heart-healthy
foods and
sufficient
physical
activity.
cardiac arrhythmia (abnormal

heartbeat) or even sudden cardiac
death. In these circumstances, they
may benefit from having an
implantable cardioverter
defibrillator (ICD), which regulates
the heartbeats.
According to Dr Ang, however,
the primary measures of heart
protection are effective
management of diet, exercise
and smoking cessation all of
which are modifiable lifestyle
habits.
Many people wrongly assume
that once CAD is treated with
angioplasty or bypass surgery, they
can return to their regular habits
and stop taking medication. In
actuality, blood vessels can easily
become blocked again without

the long-term management of
risk factors, says Dr Ang.
He adds that while CAD is still
a large medical threat to
Malaysians, continuous
education and effort towards
cultivating healthy heart habits
can make more people aware of
the risks and burden of the
disease.
He advises young people not to
take their hearts for granted,
especially since cardiovascular
conditions develop over the years
and are heavily influenced by
habits throughout ones life.

call 06-285 2999.
20 Healthy Heart
Three-step check
CARDIOVASCULAR disease is a range of
diseases affecting the heart and blood
vessels. Healthy blood vessels with optimal
blood and oxygen circulation help keep
cardiovascular disease away.
Owells three-step health check is able to
check if your blood vessels are healthy,
through a simple non-invasive and
preventative health check.
Health checks are a great way to
understand your health as a heart attack and
stroke may happen without any warning
signs. Owells three-step health check
examines your bodys oxygen level and pulse
rate, vascular age, capillaries shape and
blood circulation.
l Body oxygen level and pulse rate
check A high body oxygen level indicates
good health, whereas a low body oxygen
level will result in a weak immune system.
l Vascular age A high vascular age
reading indicates a high level of plaque
build-up in the blood vessels, which restricts
and blocks blood circulation, thereby causing
cardiovascular disease such as a heart attack
and stroke.
l Capillaries shape and blood
circulation Prolonged slow blood
circulation increases the risk of a stroke and
heart attack as well as causes deformation in
capillaries, decreased immunity and muscle
aches.
Manage and prevent cardiovascular
disease through four ways: an active
lifestyle, low-sodium diet, foot reflexology
massage and Owells BIO-Ge Titanium Health
Accessories.
Foot reflexology massage is key as the feet
work like the heart through muscle
contraction and relaxation.
Reflexology massages push the blood
accumulated at the feet back to the heart,
Owells BIOGe Titanium

Health Bracelet
is part of
the BIO-Ge
Titanium
Health
Accessories.
aiding in stimulating the blood flow.

A good pair of Owells BIO-Magnetic
Reflexology Sandals allows you to do
reflexology anytime and anywhere.
The Owells BIO-Ge Titanium Health
Accessories range is also important as a
healthy lifestyle can be enhanced with it.
It is available in necklace, bracelet and
timepiece designs and the accessories are
embedded with natural Germanium (BIO-Ge)
health minerals.
The BIO-Ge Titanium Health Accessories
are effective in boosting blood circulation
and increasing body oxygen levels through
the Positive Hole Effect and Far Infrared
Rays.
This helps to promote a healthy vascular
system and reduce the risk of cardiovascular
disease by keeping the plaque away.
Owells three-step health check is available
for all visitors to the Pavilion Kuala Lumpur
outlet. Owell is giving away a BIO-Ge
Titanium Health Pendant worth RM795 with
the purchase of any two BIO-Ge Titanium
Health Accessories.
n For more information, visit

www.owellbodycare.com or the Pavilion
Kuala Lumpur outlet or call 012-785 1368.
Key to well-being
ACCORDING to the World Health
Organization, cardiovascular disease is the
No.1 killer in Malaysia.
The main risks for cardiovascular disease
are tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical
inactivity and drinking excessive levels of
alcohol.
Cultivating a balanced eating plan and
lifestyle is the key to a healthy heart. One
may consider fruits, vegetables, wholegrains,
nuts or legumes, and food with omega-3 ALA
(alpha-linolenic acid) to reduce the risk of a
heart attack or stroke.
A diet low in fat and salt promotes a
healthy cholesterol and blood pressure level,
while lowering your risk of cardiovascular
disease. A diet low in sugar ensures your
blood sugar is well managed.
Choose a variety of grains for daily
consumption. Half of your daily grains
should come from wholegrains.
Eat at least five servings of fruits and
vegetables daily.
People who eat more fruits and vegetables
as part of a healthy diet are likely to have a
reduced risk of chronic diseases, including
stroke, Type 2 diabetes,
certain types of
cancer and heart
disease.
Barley Green is a
rich source of
potassium.
Potassium helps
in the
dilation of
blood
vessels to
effectively improve cholesterol.

Beetroot, on the other hand, improves
blood vessels function and heart health.
Trimethylglycine present in beetroot
promotes a healthy cardiovascular system
and body metabolism.
Nitrate that exists in beetroot increases the
rate of blood flow and prevents blockage.
Beets are also an excellent source of betaine,
folate manganese, potassium and copper.
They are also a good source of magnesium,
phosphorus, vitamin C, iron and vitamin B6
that help protect against heart disease and
provide overall body wellness.
A glass of beetroot juice a day may help
reduce your blood pressure and protect your
heart, according to a study in the American
Heart Association journal, Hypertension.
Most heart attacks are sudden and intense.
Practise healthy eating habits and a healthy
lifestyle. Start now, for you might not have
the chance to take care of your heart again.
n For more information, call 03-7727 9999

or visit www.wellnessconcept.net.
Beets are an
excellent source
of manganese,
potassium and
copper.

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Risk factor control

THE National Heart Association of Malaysia

Obesity, huge problem

Malaysia, NHAM reports that citizens

One hour of exercise makes

four-part series on physical inactivity

> TURN TO PAGE 6

Know your markers

Recommended range: Less than

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Healthy cholesterol levels

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REGARDLESS of age, it is crucial to

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Therefore, Malaysians need to

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Many types of tests, including an angiogram, can be carried out to determine

Treatment procedures are conducted in cardiac-invasive laboratory rooms.

Tackling root issues

Dr Lam Kai Huat.

conditions and habits is foremost

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