Silent heart disease kills young Malaysians fast

Heart disease claims more lives globally than anything else, and Malaysians aren’t escaping the net.

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) snuffs out over 15 million people yearly.

Here, it hits hard and young—ten years earlier than the global average.

That’s a brutal wake-up call for a nation wrestling with a public health crisis.

Dr Yew Kuan Leong, a lipid expert at Bukit Tinggi Medical Centre (BTMC), sounds the alarm.

“We’re seeing heart disease in Malaysians in their 30s and 40s,” he says.

One in four cases involves someone under 50. It’s not just stats—it’s lives cut short, families shattered.

For readers asking why this matters, here’s the kicker: it’s preventable, but only if you act.

Why heart disease stalks the young

High cholesterol, dubbed hyperlipidaemia, fuels ASCVD. It’s a silent killer—no symptoms until a heart attack or stroke blindsides you.

“People think feeling fine means they’re safe,” Dr Yew warns.

“That’s dead wrong.”

Screening is the only way to catch it.

Your body makes most cholesterol—70-80% from the liver, says Dr Yew. Diet and exercise help, but genetics can stack the deck.

Some inherit Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH), a condition jacking up levels from youth.

“One in 250 has it,” he notes.

“Most don’t know until it’s too late.”

Dr Yew splits risks into two camps. Modifiable ones—like smoking or junk food—you can tackle.

Non-modifiable ones—age, gender, family history—you can’t. Either way, heart disease doesn’t care. It creeps in, relentless.

The stats sting. X posts from health buffs reveal Malaysians panic when screenings show sky-high LDL-C (bad cholesterol).

Yet, Dr Yew insists ignorance kills more than cholesterol itself.

Fighting heart disease head-on

So, how do you dodge this bullet? Dr Yew lays it out. Screen every six to twelve months—more if you’re at risk.

Keep LDL-C between 1.4 and 2.6 mmol/L. Eat smart, move often, ditch smokes. Simple, but it works.

For some, lifestyle isn’t enough.

“Medications or new therapies can slash risks,” Dr Yew says.

FH patients, especially, need this edge. Don’t tweak doses yourself—trust your doctor.

Also, mindset matters.

“Heart disease isn’t just for the old,” he stresses.

Young Malaysians must wake up.

Web searches show rising worry about early heart attacks here—proof it’s hitting home.

Prevention beats regret. Regular checks and small changes can outsmart genetics.

Dr Yew’s seen it save lives.

Heart disease doesn’t wait for wrinkles. Malaysians in their prime are falling. Dr Yew’s plea? Get checked.

Visit www.bukittinggimedicalcentre.com for more.

Your heart’s ticking—make it count.