Trends come and go, but in health, they last longer than most. So it pays to look back in order to look forward.
PEOPLE are born, live their lives, and die. Most of the time, they also get sick along the way, whether it be from the common cold, or from cancer.
To quote Spanish philosopher George Santayana: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
So that is why, when we at Fit4Life decided to pick out some of the health issues Malaysians should look out for in 2011, we did so by looking back at those diseases that were frequently in the news in 2010.
Infectious diseases
1. Dengue
This was, by far and away, the most “popular” disease of the year; most likely due to the fact that while easily preventable, the country still saw a marked increase in the number of cases in 2010.
The importance of the disease was such that various health officials regularly updated the public on the latest number of cases, fatalities, and dengue hotspots throughout the year.
In the final report for the year, Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican told The Star that the total number of fatalities from dengue stood at 134, a 54% increase from 2009.
The number of reported dengue cases rose by 12% to 45,901.
And while the ministry will be testing out genetically-modified Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, and a dengue vaccine as preventive measures in 2011, the best methods of prevention still lie in our own hands.
Putting a halt to dengue:
·Take a look around you. Empty out and scrub all those uncovered containers with water in them, and either cover them or turn them upside down.
·Do not clog drains or pipes by throwing rubbish into them.
·When fogging is being conducted in your area, allow the workers to fog your house and compound. (The insects will just fly into your house if fogging is only done outside.)
2. Influenza A(H1N1)
The flu pandemic caused by the A(H1N1) virus spilled over from 2009 right up to last August, when the World Health Organisation (WHO) finally announced that it was over.
Due to the worldwide reach of the pandemic, the virus received its fair share of publicity in the local press, especially in the first half of 2010.
Unfortunately, having been introduced into our population, the virus remains in circulation and will infect those not immune to it.
In fact, eight cases of influenza A(H1N1) were reported in Malaysia between Nov 14 and 20.
Since the outbreak in 2009, the virus has claimed 92 lives in the country, while a total of 15,584 people were confirmed as H1N1 positive.
It is now the major strain of flu affecting the Northern hemisphere this winter.
Putting a halt to influenza A(H1N1):
·Get vaccinated against the virus, especially if you are under five or over 65 years of age, pregnant or have a chronic disease — or act as a caregiver to any of these people.
·Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough.
·Wash your hands thoroughly with water and soap every time you visit the toilet.
·Keep your distance from other people when you are sick. This includes taking an MC from school or work.
3. Leptospirosis
This otherwise little-known disease came to public awareness due to a group of deaths among volunteers of a search operation for a drowned victim at the Lubuk Yu recreational forest in Maran, Pahang, in June.
According to Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, around 1,400 cases of leptospirosis had been detected in the country up to last August.
Caused by a bacteria found in rat urine, this disease is spread through contaminated water, and is one of the infections to watch out for during floods.
Following 10 deaths last year — all traced back to water sources in recreational forests, the disease was made a notifiable one by the Health Ministry in August.
Putting a halt to leptospirosis:
·Do not throw rubbish indiscriminately, especially near water sources, as you are creating a breeding ground for rodents.
·Make sure that your water source is safe and clean, especially during a flood.
4. Tuberculosis
This old “enemy” has been around with us for a very long time.
And while it did not appear as often in the press as some of the other diseases, the fact is tuberculosis was the main cause of death from infectious diseases in Malaysia last year.
With 18,102 reported cases in the country, it was also the second highest infectious disease after dengue.
While effective treatment is readily available, the threat that we have to watch out for is the increasing number of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) cases, as well as the increased risk of TB in AIDS patients.
Putting a halt to tuberculosis:
·Ensure that your child is immunised with the BCG vaccine at birth.
·If you have active tuberculosis, wear a mask to prevent spreading the bacteria to other people while you are being treated.
·Finish the entire course of drugs prescribed to you, as failing to do so creates MDR-TB, for which there is no treatment.
5. Superbugs
Malaysia was not spared from the “superbugs” that produce the NDM-1 (New Delhi metallo-lactamase-1) enzyme, which are resistant to all but two antibiotics known to man.
These microorganisms first came to public awareness after a Belgian man died from an infection following admission to a Pakistani hospital last August.
While the country has only had one case of a carrier so far – a 24-year-old woman who recovered following treatment last October, precautions need to be taken against these life-threatening infections.
This is particularly so as more people travel, and can easily carry infections across borders.
Putting a halt to superbugs:
·Doctors need to ensure that they only prescribe antibiotics when necessary.
·Patients need to ensure that they finish the entire course of antibiotics they are given, even when they feel perfectly healthy.
Non-communicable diseases
6. Lifestyle diseases
Going by the number of articles on it, lifestyle diseases received a lot of press in 2010.
Statistics on hypertension, diabetes, and obesity, amongst others, from the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) III in 2006 were repeated several times throughout the year by various officials to emphasise the need for Malaysians to start adopting a healthier lifestyle.
Various campaigns and governmental committees were also set up to combat these chronic conditions.
Among them is the Cabinet committee, chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister and involving 12 ministries, approved last month, to outline policies to deal with issues related to these diseases.
RM90mil was also allocated for community empowerment programmes to transform local leaders into health advocates.
Unfortunately, these diseases are likely to remain among the top killers of our nation for a long while to come.
7. Cancer
The big C is still one of the scariest diagnoses one can hear from a doctor.
It puts a clear and definite full stop to your life, and brings home an awareness of mortality unlike many other diseases.
And because of its lingering nature, you have to deal with, not only your upcoming meeting with your Maker, but also with the rest of your life and the people in it.
Thanks to various world cancer days, including Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and general public awareness, this disease pops up in the press fairly regularly.
8. Obesity
In December, Liow reported that Malaysia had been listed sixth among Asian countries with the highest percentage of obese people.
Not surprising, considering that the NHMS III showed that two out of every five adults (43%) were either overweight or obese.
The 10-year survey showed that obesity among Malaysian adults had increased by 250%, while the number of overweight adults went up by 70% from 1996 to 2006.
About 38% of teenagers were also overweight, while a more recent survey of 10,000 primary school pupils showed that 24% were either overweight or obese.
With our delicious and easily-available food, and increasingly sedentary lifestyles, this trend of growing waistlines is only set to increase.
9. Hypertension & diabetes
Of the lifestyle diseases, these are probably the two most common among Malaysians.
The NHMS III showed that cases of hypertension, or high blood pressure, among those aged above 30 had increased from 29.9% in 1996 to 43% in 2006, while diabetes patients had gone from 8.3% to 14.9%.
The Food Intake Among Malaysian Adults Research 2002/2003 study also showed that Malaysians take 25% more salt than what is recommended by the WHO.
The intake of salt is linked to high blood pressure.
Meanwhile, a survey by the Consumers Association of Penang found that Malaysians consume an average of 26 teaspoons or sugar a day, or about 130g. WHO recommends that we should not exceed 50g daily.
10. Cigarettes
While not a disease, the smoking of cigarettes is linked to certain non-communicable diseases, like heart disease and lung cancer.
This item popped up in the news in 2010 because the Government increased the tax on it by three sen per stick, effective last Oct.
Based on statistics, one in 10 Malaysians are cigarette smokers. And while there are free clinics to help quit smoking, this habit is proving hard to break.
Putting a halt to non-communicable diseases:
·Have a balanced diet. Decrease the salt, sugar and fats, and increase the vegetables and fruit. Drink enough water and watch out for the “hidden” calories in your food.
·Exercise. Take the stairs, walk around your neighbourhood, do the housework or wash your car — exercise doesn’t have to mean joining the gym.
·Find ways to relax, have fun and release your stress. This can be through physical activity, taking up a hobby or just getting together and talking with friends.
·Put a halt to unhealthy activities like smoking, drinking excessively, eating five times a day and running up your credit card bills, among others.
·Go for an annual medical and dental checkup.
PEOPLE are born, live their lives, and die. Most of the time, they also get sick along the way, whether it be from the common cold, or from cancer.
To quote Spanish philosopher George Santayana: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
So that is why, when we at Fit4Life decided to pick out some of the health issues Malaysians should look out for in 2011, we did so by looking back at those diseases that were frequently in the news in 2010.
Infectious diseases
1. Dengue
This was, by far and away, the most “popular” disease of the year; most likely due to the fact that while easily preventable, the country still saw a marked increase in the number of cases in 2010.
The importance of the disease was such that various health officials regularly updated the public on the latest number of cases, fatalities, and dengue hotspots throughout the year.
In the final report for the year, Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican told The Star that the total number of fatalities from dengue stood at 134, a 54% increase from 2009.
The number of reported dengue cases rose by 12% to 45,901.
And while the ministry will be testing out genetically-modified Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, and a dengue vaccine as preventive measures in 2011, the best methods of prevention still lie in our own hands.
Putting a halt to dengue:
·Take a look around you. Empty out and scrub all those uncovered containers with water in them, and either cover them or turn them upside down.
·Do not clog drains or pipes by throwing rubbish into them.
·When fogging is being conducted in your area, allow the workers to fog your house and compound. (The insects will just fly into your house if fogging is only done outside.)
2. Influenza A(H1N1)
The flu pandemic caused by the A(H1N1) virus spilled over from 2009 right up to last August, when the World Health Organisation (WHO) finally announced that it was over.
Due to the worldwide reach of the pandemic, the virus received its fair share of publicity in the local press, especially in the first half of 2010.
Unfortunately, having been introduced into our population, the virus remains in circulation and will infect those not immune to it.
In fact, eight cases of influenza A(H1N1) were reported in Malaysia between Nov 14 and 20.
Since the outbreak in 2009, the virus has claimed 92 lives in the country, while a total of 15,584 people were confirmed as H1N1 positive.
It is now the major strain of flu affecting the Northern hemisphere this winter.
Putting a halt to influenza A(H1N1):
·Get vaccinated against the virus, especially if you are under five or over 65 years of age, pregnant or have a chronic disease — or act as a caregiver to any of these people.
·Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough.
·Wash your hands thoroughly with water and soap every time you visit the toilet.
·Keep your distance from other people when you are sick. This includes taking an MC from school or work.
3. Leptospirosis
This otherwise little-known disease came to public awareness due to a group of deaths among volunteers of a search operation for a drowned victim at the Lubuk Yu recreational forest in Maran, Pahang, in June.
According to Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, around 1,400 cases of leptospirosis had been detected in the country up to last August.
Caused by a bacteria found in rat urine, this disease is spread through contaminated water, and is one of the infections to watch out for during floods.
Following 10 deaths last year — all traced back to water sources in recreational forests, the disease was made a notifiable one by the Health Ministry in August.
Putting a halt to leptospirosis:
·Do not throw rubbish indiscriminately, especially near water sources, as you are creating a breeding ground for rodents.
·Make sure that your water source is safe and clean, especially during a flood.
4. Tuberculosis
This old “enemy” has been around with us for a very long time.
And while it did not appear as often in the press as some of the other diseases, the fact is tuberculosis was the main cause of death from infectious diseases in Malaysia last year.
With 18,102 reported cases in the country, it was also the second highest infectious disease after dengue.
While effective treatment is readily available, the threat that we have to watch out for is the increasing number of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) cases, as well as the increased risk of TB in AIDS patients.
Putting a halt to tuberculosis:
·Ensure that your child is immunised with the BCG vaccine at birth.
·If you have active tuberculosis, wear a mask to prevent spreading the bacteria to other people while you are being treated.
·Finish the entire course of drugs prescribed to you, as failing to do so creates MDR-TB, for which there is no treatment.
5. Superbugs
Malaysia was not spared from the “superbugs” that produce the NDM-1 (New Delhi metallo-lactamase-1) enzyme, which are resistant to all but two antibiotics known to man.
These microorganisms first came to public awareness after a Belgian man died from an infection following admission to a Pakistani hospital last August.
While the country has only had one case of a carrier so far – a 24-year-old woman who recovered following treatment last October, precautions need to be taken against these life-threatening infections.
This is particularly so as more people travel, and can easily carry infections across borders.
Putting a halt to superbugs:
·Doctors need to ensure that they only prescribe antibiotics when necessary.
·Patients need to ensure that they finish the entire course of antibiotics they are given, even when they feel perfectly healthy.
Non-communicable diseases
6. Lifestyle diseases
Going by the number of articles on it, lifestyle diseases received a lot of press in 2010.
Statistics on hypertension, diabetes, and obesity, amongst others, from the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) III in 2006 were repeated several times throughout the year by various officials to emphasise the need for Malaysians to start adopting a healthier lifestyle.
Various campaigns and governmental committees were also set up to combat these chronic conditions.
Among them is the Cabinet committee, chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister and involving 12 ministries, approved last month, to outline policies to deal with issues related to these diseases.
RM90mil was also allocated for community empowerment programmes to transform local leaders into health advocates.
Unfortunately, these diseases are likely to remain among the top killers of our nation for a long while to come.
7. Cancer
The big C is still one of the scariest diagnoses one can hear from a doctor.
It puts a clear and definite full stop to your life, and brings home an awareness of mortality unlike many other diseases.
And because of its lingering nature, you have to deal with, not only your upcoming meeting with your Maker, but also with the rest of your life and the people in it.
Thanks to various world cancer days, including Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and general public awareness, this disease pops up in the press fairly regularly.
8. Obesity
In December, Liow reported that Malaysia had been listed sixth among Asian countries with the highest percentage of obese people.
Not surprising, considering that the NHMS III showed that two out of every five adults (43%) were either overweight or obese.
The 10-year survey showed that obesity among Malaysian adults had increased by 250%, while the number of overweight adults went up by 70% from 1996 to 2006.
About 38% of teenagers were also overweight, while a more recent survey of 10,000 primary school pupils showed that 24% were either overweight or obese.
With our delicious and easily-available food, and increasingly sedentary lifestyles, this trend of growing waistlines is only set to increase.
9. Hypertension & diabetes
Of the lifestyle diseases, these are probably the two most common among Malaysians.
The NHMS III showed that cases of hypertension, or high blood pressure, among those aged above 30 had increased from 29.9% in 1996 to 43% in 2006, while diabetes patients had gone from 8.3% to 14.9%.
The Food Intake Among Malaysian Adults Research 2002/2003 study also showed that Malaysians take 25% more salt than what is recommended by the WHO.
The intake of salt is linked to high blood pressure.
Meanwhile, a survey by the Consumers Association of Penang found that Malaysians consume an average of 26 teaspoons or sugar a day, or about 130g. WHO recommends that we should not exceed 50g daily.
10. Cigarettes
While not a disease, the smoking of cigarettes is linked to certain non-communicable diseases, like heart disease and lung cancer.
This item popped up in the news in 2010 because the Government increased the tax on it by three sen per stick, effective last Oct.
Based on statistics, one in 10 Malaysians are cigarette smokers. And while there are free clinics to help quit smoking, this habit is proving hard to break.
Putting a halt to non-communicable diseases:
·Have a balanced diet. Decrease the salt, sugar and fats, and increase the vegetables and fruit. Drink enough water and watch out for the “hidden” calories in your food.
·Exercise. Take the stairs, walk around your neighbourhood, do the housework or wash your car — exercise doesn’t have to mean joining the gym.
·Find ways to relax, have fun and release your stress. This can be through physical activity, taking up a hobby or just getting together and talking with friends.
·Put a halt to unhealthy activities like smoking, drinking excessively, eating five times a day and running up your credit card bills, among others.
·Go for an annual medical and dental checkup.
