A symposium was held at Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) today, 23 January 2019, highlighting the importance of cardiovascular health among the youth and gym owners, emphasising the need for them to take proper preventative steps and lifestyle choices to prevent heart problems, as well as the dangers of steroid misuse.

The symposium – jointly organised by the Ministry of Health (MoH) through the Health Promotion Centre, Gleneagles JPMC and the Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, UBD – was held in conjunction with World Heart Day 2018, and themed ‘My Heart, Your Heart.’

Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohammad Isham bin Haji Jaafar was the guest of honour.

Students from higher education institutions and gym owners also attended.

The ‘My Heart, Your Heart’ campaign calls on the public to pledge to become more active, refrain from smoking, and adopt a healthy and balanced diet, for health professionals to save more lives, and for policymakers to implement action plans on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) or strategies that can bring about positive health impacts.

Five invited speakers shared their knowledge and experience on various aspects of heart health at the event.

They talked about the factors that affect heart health, and addressed issues such as coronary heart disease in young adults and its prevention and treatment, as well as the risks of anabolic steroid use and its effects on the heart.

Discussion topics at the symposium included Heart Attack: Survivor Perspective delivered by Md Khairulamin Sungkai, Coronary Heart Disease in Young Adults by Dr Mohamad Ezam Emran, Anabolic Steroid (Know the Risks) by Dr Essam Md Shaaban, Prevention and Treatment of Coronary Heart Disease by Dr Awangku Muhammad Nadzir bin Pengiran Mohd Juanda, and The Healthy, Lean and Strong Physique: The Natural Way delivered by Saima Amalina binti Haji Nokman.