GOOD TURNOUT: The Charity Walk-A-Mile, which started at 7am, attracted people from all walks of life.
CM cautions against rise in cardiovascular ailments, advocates walking as a preventive measure
KUCHING: About 26,000 cardiovascular disease cases were reported in the state last year, and about 18,000 patients were given outpatient treatment.
Heart disease continues to rise as 24,000 cases were reported in the first eight months of this year with 13,000 patients given outpatient treatment as of June this year.
The disease is the nation’s number one killer and is the second leading cause of deaths in the state. Two out of every three persons who die from heart disease in the state are men.
Disclosing these disturbing statistics at the Charity Walk-A-Mile at the State Library here in conjunction with World Heart Day 2013 yesterday, Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib said the people should not simply rely on medicine to prevent or cure heart disease.
Taib, who is also Sarawak Heart Foundation (SHF) chairman, recommended walking as much as possible to keep heart disease at bay.
Walking is the simplest form of exercise and it is a good preventive measure to curb cardiovascular complications, he said.
“Eighty per cent of heart disease problems can be avoided if we change our lifestyle. Lack of physical activities and exercise, overeating, emotional eating, stress and too much worry over many things in pursuit of life improvements in today’s society can contribute to one becoming a potential heart disease patient.
“Therefore, we must identify how this had happened in our society, as we find preventive measures. One way is to promote walking.”
Also present among the 700-plus crowd were his wife Puan Sri Ragad Kurdi Taib, Sarawak Heart Foundation Board of Trustee member Prof Dr Sim Kui Hian, Minister of Works Datuk Fadillah Yusof and Assistant Minister of Public Health Datuk Dr Jerip Susil.
Taib added that walking could also help fight obesity, which could lead to heart disease. He acknowledged that while hereditary genetic factors could also be partly blamed, obesity is mostly due to a rich diet and a sedentary lifestyle.
He recalled that in the old days, people were so used to walking to a point that distance was not an issue.
“When I was working with the United Nations (UN) in 1965, I stayed at a hotel in 3rd Avenue. I walked daily to our Malaysian UN office. I found out that my journey to the office is faster than my bosses’, who were using cars to work.
“This led me to walk every day, and I enjoyed my 30 minutes walk. I felt very nice and probably that is why till today I become chief minister longer than anyone else,” he said in jest.
Taib said modernisation had filled Kuching with many vehicles, and he said he would not be surprised if he were to walk from his residence in Jalan Bako to the state mosque, he would arrive first when compared to those who drove.
On the participants where turned up as early as 5.30am for the walk, Taib lauded: “We are all gathered at this event today because we believe that together we have the ability to combat the spread of heart disease in our society.”
The theme for this year’s state-level celebration is `Take the road to a healthy heart’.