4 M Y H E A R T , Y O U R H E A R T S Y M P O S I U M 2 0 1 9 PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences (IHS) hosted a symposium in collaboration with the HealthPromotion Centre, Ministry of Health and Gleneagles JPMC with the theme of “My Heart, Your Heart” onthe 23rd of January 2019. The Minister of Health (Dato Seri Setia Dr. Haji Mohammad Isham bin HajiJaafar) was the guest of honour, and the co-chairs were Gleneagles JPMC Chief Executive Officer (Dr.Peter Tay) and Deputy Dean of PAPRSB IHS (Associate Professor Dr. Anne Catherine Cunningham). About300 participants attended the symposium. The increase in cases of heart attack, especially among young people in Brunei is a worrying trend. Thesymposium addressed the issues of prevention and treatment of coronary diseases, the risks and effectsof anabolic steroid usage on the heart, and emphasizes on the benefits of healthy lifestyle. A heartattack survivor, Md Khairulamin AS (a nursing lecture at IHS) presented his perspectives: ”Should youexperience chest pain/discomfort that may radiate to the arm/back/neck/jaw, fatigue, shortness ofbreath, palpitation, profuse sweating, feeling cold and passing out, Do not go for massage, Do not go tosleep, Do not wait and Do go to the hospital immediately”. These were the common signs and symptomsof heart attack shared by heart attack survivors. The common risk factors of heart attack were alsoreiterated: family history of heart attack, high cholesterol, diabetes, unhealthy diet intake (excess fattyfood intake), sedentary lifestyle, smoking and anabolic steroid usage. Knowing the modifiable risk factors and attempting to reduce them through lifestyle changes areessential in the prevention of heart attack. Recognising the early warning signs of a heart attack willhelp to prevent further damage to the heart and increase the chances of a full recovery. Therefore,“Seek medical attention as soon as the warning signs show” was the take home message from thepresenter in the closing remarks. Front row: Dr. Peter Tay, CEO of Gleneagles JPMC (second left); AP Dr. Anne Cunningham (thirdleft); Dato Seri Setia Dr. Haji Mohammad Isham bin Haji Jaafar, Minister of Health, Brunei (fourthleft); Dr. Norhayati binti Hj Md Kassim, Head of Health Promotion Centre (third right) in a groupphoto with other symposium delegates at PAPRSB IHS (23rd January, 2019)Back row: Dr. Deeni Rudita bin Idris, moderator of the symposium and nursing lecturer at IHS (thirdleft); and Md Khairulamin AS, nursing lecturer at IHS and presenter/heart attack survivor (right)B E Y O N D | J A N . T O M A R . 2 0 1 9 | I S S U E 1 6
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