A call for healthier habits today, for a heartier tomorrow
When you think of patients with heart disease, you might picture someone in their 60s or 70s. But in Malaysia, doctors are sounding the alarm: more and more young adults are developing serious heart conditions.
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the number one cause of death worldwide, and in Malaysia, it’s striking people at younger and younger ages. At the recent panel discussion Don’t Miss A Beat: Breakthroughs in Cardiac Care, organised by Cardiac Vascular Sentral KL (CVS KL), consultant cardiologists Datuk Dr. Rosli Mohd Ali and Dato’ Dr. Tamil Selvan Muthusamy shared how lifestyle, genetics, and access to care are shaping the nation’s heart health.
Heart disease: No longer an ‘old person’s disease’
CAD happens when fatty deposits clog the arteries and restrict blood flow to the heart—a blockage that, if ignored, can lead to chest pain, heart attacks, or even sudden death.
Traditionally, CAD has been linked with older age but in Malaysia, the trend is shifting.
“We’re seeing younger and younger patients. A recent patient was just 28 years of age. It was very unfortunate,” Datuk Dr Rosli Mohd Ali notes. This is decades earlier than what was typically expected.
The reasons aren’t surprising. Sedentary lifestyles, smoking, unhealthy diets, and stress all play a role. Add to that the rising rates of obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure, it’s no surprise that heart disease is on the rise.
Prevention has always been better than cure
Malaysia has access to advanced treatments, ranging from an angioplasty to a bypass surgery, as well as medications that help lower cholesterol and blood pressure. One of the latest breakthroughs in treating CAD is the bioadaptor, which overcomes the limitations of conventional stents. Both doctors emphasised that these treatments aren’t cures.
“I’ve seen bypass surgery patients coming back within six months, one, two years or three years—when you expected them to last longer,” said Dr Rosli. He explained that while modern techniques and devices make interventions safer and more effective, patients often relapse once they return to old habits like smoking or poor diets.
In other words: stents and surgeries can buy time, but they don’t erase the root cause.
Don’t wait…
One of the biggest dangers of CAD is its potential for being silent. Some patients experience warning signs, such as chest pain, shortness of breath, or fatigue. In younger adults, symptoms are often brushed off as stress or indigestion—until a heart attack happens.
That’s why it’s highly recommended to get regular health screenings, especially for those with risk factors such as family history, smoking, or conditions like diabetes and high cholesterol. A simple blood test or blood pressure check could reveal problems early.
Datuk Dr. Rosli pointed out that awareness remains another major issue. Many Malaysians don’t realise CAD can develop silently for years, and often the first presentation is catastrophic. “In about 20% of patients, the first presentation is a heart attack. And 1 in 5 won’t even reach the hospital in time,” he noted.
Why Malaysians are especially at risk
Compared to Western countries, Malaysians develop CAD at a younger age. According to Dato’ Dr. Tamil Selvan, genetics is a strong driver, but conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol are especially common in this part of the world, which helps explain the rising incidence among younger people.
“All these are a combination—genetic, disease-related, and environmental—that lead to this progressive disease called CAD,” he explained during the panel.
Building a ‘heartier’ future
What can be done? Three things make the biggest difference:
- Healthier habits: A balanced diet, regular exercise, and quitting smoking are still the most powerful tools against heart disease.
- Regular screenings: Checking blood pressure, cholesterol, and sugar levels can catch problems early before they spiral.
- Accessible care: Making sure healthcare is affordable and accessible encourages people to seek help before it’s too late.
A wake-up call
Heart disease is still the leading cause of death in Malaysia—but it doesn’t have to stay that way. With small lifestyle shifts and better awareness, we can change the tide.
As Dr. Tamil Selvan noted, technology can save lives in the hospital, but only healthier lifestyles will change the nation’s future.
It’s time to take that message to heart. Literally.
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