Coronary heart disease stems from build-up of plaque in the heart’s arteries.
CORONARY heart disease (CHD) is one of the leading causes of death in Malaysia. It stems from a build-up of plaque in the heart’s arteries.
This narrowing or blockage restricts flow of vital, oxygen-rich blood to the heart.
Most people would not know they have this condition until the sudden onset of chest pains, or in severe cases, a heart attack.
At highest risk are those who consume unhealthy diets, smoke, are physically inactive, overweight or obese, have high blood pressure and cholesterol, or have a family history of heart disease.
However, the good news, according to Pantai Hospital Penang cardiothoracic surgeon Dr Alfred Charles Poey, is that one can significantly mitigate these risks or in some cases reverse its effects, with simple lifestyle changes.
“Eating healthily, exercising regularly and reducing stress in your daily life can help keep CHD at bay. CHD is part of what we call lifestyle heart diseases. As its name implies, it can be treated with changes in lifestyle,” he shared.
In the Malaysian context, the wide availability of processed and oily foods is a detrimental factor. This is exacerbated by our fast-paced modern lifestyles. People want meals quick and easy, and seldom consider what they are putting in their bodies.
“Studies have shown that plant-based and whole foods-based diets are effective in not just stopping, but also reversing the effects of heart disease. When one moves away from processed food, the body demonstrates a remarkable ability to heal itself.
“Of course, it won’t happen overnight; but over time, you’ll feel better and even live longer. As long as you have the resolve to stick to it, in many cases these lifestyle changes can prove as effective as medicine,” Dr Poey said.
‘CHD is part of what we call lifestyle heart diseases. As its name implies, it can be treated with changes in lifestyle,’ says Pantai Hospital Penang cardiothoracic surgeon Dr Alfred Charles Poey.
Such diets, which focus on vegetables, fruits, legumes and grains whilst avoiding meats, oils and sugars have long been championed by American physicians like Dr Dean Ornish and Dr Caldwell Esselstyn.
Former US president Bill Clinton even attested to such diets’ effectiveness in breaking up clogged arteries and giving the body a self-cleaning mechanism.
Dan Buettner also posited this correlation in his book Blue Zones, which attributes the longevity of people in Okinawa (Japan), Sardinia (Italy), Nicoya (Costa Rica), Ikaria (Greece) and Loma Linda (California) to their unique plant-based diets.
Besides food, Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, also highlighted the benefits of long walks and exercise. It was sound advice back then, and just as sound today.
Dr Poey stressed that practising lifestyle changes is not necessarily a conflict with mainstream medicine. They can be complementary.
“The approach towards CHD is an integrative one. We shouldn’t be looking purely at treatment, but also the deeper issues of health and how to prevent such conditions in the first place.
“Having a heart bypass or stent put in merely treats the symptoms but does not address the root cause. It’s like trying to mop up a flooded room whilst the faucet is still running.
“Simple lifestyle changes would not only help ward off heart diseases, but could also help prevent many other health conditions,” he added.
Pantai Hospital Penang has an experienced team of cardiac specialists, and is equipped with cutting edge facilities to provide a wide array of heart care services, including non-invasive and invasive cardiac diagnosis and therapies, cardiothoracic surgeries and paediatric cardiology services.
KKLIU No. 2506/2021
KKLIU EXP: 31/12/2023
