6,500 procedures performed at Sarawak Heart Centre in 2023, Dr Sim urges public to ‘love their hearts’

KUCHING (Sept 20): About 6,500 heart procedures have been performed at the Sarawak Heart Centre in 2023, said Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian.

Citing the centre’s statistics, Dr Sim, who is Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government, noted that over 2,000 of these cases involved blocked arteries.

“Our heart centre is very busy. Last year, they handled nearly 6,500 cases, with over 2,000 of them involving blockages in the heart’s arteries, a significant cause of heart disease,” he said at a press conference on the World Heart Day 2024 celebration at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here today.

“Think of the heart like a house. It has walls, doors, and wires inside, with the arteries acting like water pipes. When these pipes get clogged, it affects the house.

“Similarly, when the heart’s arteries, which measure only two to four millimetres in diameter, become blocked, heart disease occurs.

“The arteries in the heart are much smaller than those in the brain, which makes heart disease particularly dangerous. While the brain can still function to some extent after damage, when the heart stops, it’s a total shutdown,” he explained.

Dr Sim stressed the importance of heart health, particularly for younger individuals.

“No matter how much the heart centre or the private sector does, we continue to hear about young people collapsing while playing badminton or of others suddenly passing away.

“Why? Because they don’t love their hearts.

“Loving your heart means monitoring your cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure, so you can detect problems early,” he said.

In this regard, Dr Sim stressed the need for greater public awareness about heart health, highlighting the upcoming World Heart Day 2024 celebration organised by the Sarawak Heart Foundation.

The event themed ‘Use Heart for Action’ will take place at Reservoir Park Kuching on Sept 29.

One of the highlights of the celebration is the ‘Walk-A-Mile’ initiative, aimed at encouraging everyone to exercise, which Dr Sim said is crucial for heart health.

“Whether we like it or not, heart disease is the number one cause of death.

“Heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death in Malaysia, in the world, and even in Sarawak,” he said.

The registration fee for the ‘Walk-A-Mile’ is RM30 which includes a Sarawak Heart Foundation T-shirt, a cap sponsored by SOP Foods Sdn Bhd, breakfast and lucky draw ticket, with prizes such as household electrical items.

The first prize would be an air conditioner with other prizes including a microwave oven and an induction stove.

The Sarawak Heart Centre will also offer free health screenings covering body mass index, blood glucose, cholesterol levels, and consultations with doctors starting from 6.30am.

In addition, physiotherapists from the centre will conduct a ‘Fitness Test’, and there will be an aerobic session and line dancing activities.

“Invite your friends, family, and colleagues. We want as many companies and families as possible to participate. It will be a meaningful event,” said Dr Sim.