Heart truths: More people surviving heart attacks, but at higher risk of more attacks

SINGAPORE – Mr David Teo was 47 when he suffered his first heart attack in 2010. He was about to leave home to play golf when he felt a tightness in his chest and cold sweat dripping down his forehead.While he was driving, the sweating stopped, but when he reached the driving range, it started again.

Since 2017, he has been attending the Singapore Heart Foundation’s cardiac rehabilitation programme, which is supervised and includes exercise and education on healthy living. He has also adopted a healthier diet by cutting down on carbohydrates and beverages laden with sugar.SHF chairman Tan Huay Cheem says: “More people are getting heart attacks, but more are surviving.

Tan, who is also a senior consultant cardiologist at the National University Heart Centre, Singapore.A white paper released in March by the SHF, Singapore Cardiac Society and the Academy of Medicine, Singapore, supported by global biotechnology company Amgen, has highlighted the need for greater efforts to prevent cardiovascular disease in Singapore, including recurrent heart attacks in survivors.

A second heart attack is often more severe, with 10 to 15 per cent of patients facing a higher risk of death and heart failure. PHOTO: ISTOCKPHOTO Dr Pinakin often sees young busy professionals who eat out more frequently, which has led to them having higher low-density lipoprotein levels, often referred to as “bad” cholesterol.

Operations planner Lenard Kek, who has high cholesterol and was highly stressed at work, suffered a heart attack in 2022.“I thought it was just muscle pain, but when I went to the hospital, I found out it was a heart attack,” says Mr Kek, who is overweight. He had a blocked blood vessel and required stent surgery to restore blood flow to the heart.

Joining a patient support group or talking to other heart attack survivors can provide emotional support and valuable insights into coping strategies and living with heart disease, he adds.

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