The heart of the problem

ACCORDING to a 2014 study by the European Society of Cardiology, 6.7% of Malaysians are living with heart failure.
This number is high when we compare it to Europe's figure of between 1% and 2%, the United States' 1.5%, or Singapore's 4.5%.
What is more serious are the common misconceptions we have surrounding the disease.
Heart failure, also known as congestive heart failure, is a serious chronic condition where the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's oxygen needs. Currently, there is no cure.
Its symptoms are often mistaken as a sign of ageing or being unfit, instead of being associated with weakening heart muscles over time.
Carsten Tschöpe, a professor of medicine and cardiology from the Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin in Germany, said: "Serious misconceptions and knowledge gaps exist around heart failure and consequently, a large number of premature deaths still occur."
Tschöpe was speaking at a recent media briefing on heart failure organised by Novartis.
He added: "Heart failure has a crippling impact on patients' lives, as often they are not equipped with the knowledge of the disease and proper management of the condition.
"Better recognition and understanding of the symptoms would prompt people to seek treatment at an earlier stage, leading to more accurate diagnosis, decreasing the risk of hospitalisation, and improving survival rates."
Heart failure also occurs in Asian patients at a younger age (up to a 10-year difference) compared to patients in western countries.
"Many people do not know that heart failure is deadlier than some types of cancer," said Datuk Dr Aizai Azan Abdul Rahim, chief clinical officer and senior consultant cardiologist at the National Heart Institute Malaysia, who was also at the briefing.
He added that Malaysians mistakenly think the disease only affects older generations "but, in fact, the mean age for Asians is strikingly low", and that Malaysia has a high prevalence of cardiovascular disease that can lead to heart failure.
Aizai went on to explain that heart failure is also a major cause of hospitalisation, accounting for about 6-10% of all acute medical admissions in Malaysia. Moreover, at least half of the hospitalised heart patients die within five years.
"By raising awareness of heart failure," he said, "we hope to increase the understanding of disease recognition and management, to help provide guidance and support to patients to have a better quality of life."
Tschöpe also highlighted the causes of heart failure such as high blood pressure, living an unhealthy lifestyle, and medical conditions such as anaemia, kidney disease, diabetes, and obesity, among others.
Those who are susceptible to heart failure are advised to look out for eight key symptoms:
shortness of breath during everyday activities;
shortness of breath when lying down;
rapid heartbeat;
loss of appetite;
tiredness;
sudden weight increase;
frequency of urination; and
swelling in the ankles, legs, and abdomen.
Most of these symptoms are caused by poor blood circulation, which leads to fluid buildup in the body.
To diagnose heart failure, doctors will first perform a thorough body examination. They may also perform an electrocardiogram, blood tests, chest X-ray, and echocardiogram to show whether the heart is working properly.
Treatments include heart-healthy life changes, medications, and ongoing care.
These treatments strive to address the condition's underlying cause, reduce symptoms, and stop heart failure from getting worse while increasing lifespan and improving the quality of life at the same time.
If you or your family members experience any of the symptoms of heart failure, get checked before it's too late.
By understanding the signs of heart failure and knowing how to minimise our risks, we can help protect ourselves and our family and lead a better quality of life.