| James Kon |
BRUNEI is experiencing an increasing trend of steroid abuse among image-obsessed young men, which has become one of the main causes of heart attack among them.
According to statistics from 2014 to 2017, 23 heart attack cases among youths have been reported by hospitals in the country and steroid abuse was found to be the reason in all the cases.
Anabolic steroid use can be linked to elevated blood pressure and cholesterol levels – both risk factors for heart disease. Its use causes decreased levels of HDL or ‘good’ cholesterol and increased levels of LDL or ‘bad’ cholesterol.
The growing concern over heart attacks due to steroid abuse was highlighted by Mohd Khairulamin bin Sungkai, Nursing Lecturer of Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences (PAPRSB IHS) of Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD), while delivering a talk on ‘Heart Attack: Know the Fact and Early Warning Before it Strikes You – a Perspective from a Heart Attack Survivor’, recently.
In 2015, coronary diseases were the second major cause of death after cancer. A total of 193 deaths occurred due to heart diseases, while heart attack was the second main cause of death among heart ailments with 82 deaths (66 male and 16 female).
Dr Hajah Rafidah binti Haji Gharif, Dean of PAPRSB IHS of UBD delivering her opening remark
Mohd Khairulamin bin Sungkai, the Nursing Lecturer of Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences (PAPRSB IHS) of Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) in his public lecture on ‘Heart Attack: Know the Fact and Early Warning before it strike you. A perspective from a Heart Attack Survivor’. – PHOTOS: JAMES KON
From 2014 to 2016, the number of heart patients admitted to the hospital stood at 4,879.
There were 300 open heart surgeries while the number of angioplasties was 1,729 (1,662 male and 367 female).
Most patients will have signs of warning before a heart attack, said Mohd Khairulamin who himself suffered a heart attack at the age of 40, in 2014.
According to him, the early symptoms of heart attack are unexplained weakness or fatigue, feeling cold or having cold sweat, chest discomfort, pain and shortness of breath during activity, unusual feeling of sleepiness, feeling passed out while trying to stand up or over exerted, and becoming pale.
While the late warning signs of heart attack that needed immediate medical attention include chest discomfort or chest pain increasing in frequency and duration, numbness or pain in neck, hand and jaw, shortness of breath, unbearable chest pain like being squeezed, sharp pain, feeling compressed, nausea and vomiting, profuse sweating even without activity, distended neck vein and unable to bend the neck, and indigestion, especially for elderly, that can be mistaken for stomach upset, he explained.
“Heart attack can occur regardless of age and even if you are at your ideal weight. It can occur suddenly but the warning signs occur long before it happens and does not always occur with severe chest pain.
“Sometime it occurs without warning. Heart attack is preventable or can be delayed and any delay in seeking treatment may cause loss of life,” he said.
Mohd Khairulamin advises regular medical check-ups from the age of 35 and strict diet control to prevent heart diseases.
“If diagnosed with high cholesterol, then proper medication, diet and activity is a must. Most importantly, if the warning signs are showing up, don’t wait, get help quickly.”
Also attending the talk were Dr Hajah Rafidah binti Haji Gharif, Dean of PAPRSB IHS, UBD and students from various educational institutions.
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