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Don't follow my example: Khaw
Health Minister admits he was in denial about his heart condition and had put off tests
Mr Khaw undergoing cardiac physiotherapy at the National Heart Centre.
His thrice-weekly sessions at the centre also include treadmill exercises.

- PHOTO: MINISTRY OF HEALTH
NEARLY four weeks after undergoing a coronary artery bypass graft, Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan confessed on his blog that he had been in denial about his condition and put off going for tests and treatment for six weeks, against his doctor's advice.In his blog entry dated May 27, Mr Khaw said cardiologists had told him he needed to have an angiogram as soon as possible due to his high calcium score and abnormal electrocardiogram stress test reading. A coronary angiogram would allow doctors to inject a dye into the arteries to ascertain blood flow in the heart. But despite calls from the National Heart Centre to schedule one, Mr Khaw said he put it off and even went to Penang one weekend for Qing Ming.Denial is quite common among patients, said cardiologists, and Mr Khaw's experience is a reminder not to delay health check-ups and follow-up treatments. Most patients experience denial especially when they still feel fit.In fact, to prove to himself that he was in 'top physical form', the 57-year-old minister went against his doctor's advice to ease up on his exercise routines and did the opposite. 'I used to run on (the) treadmill three times a week; I increased it to five. Each time, I ran at my usual pace of 8km per hour for half an hour,' he said. The stubborn Mr Khaw also stopped carrying his Glytrin spray, a medicine applied under the tongue to dilate blood vessels and make it easier for the heart to pump blood around the body. He told himself: 'I am not going to get a heart attack. I am not going to carry this.'
IT COULD HAPPEN TO ANYONE “One patient asked me: How can the Health Minister have a heart problem?” I told him ministers are human beings too. Even doctors get it.”
Cardiologist, Dr. V.P.Nair
Mr. Khaw said in his blog entry dated May 26 that he had been symptom-free. “ I was fit as a fiddle… I had never felt breathless climbing stairs or when running on (the) treadmill, let alone experiences any heart pain or angina,” he said. On May 3, Mr. Khaw finally went for an angiogram which was followed by a bypass the next day. He is now on medical leave until June 13, and goes to the National Heart Centre thrice a week for Cardiac Physio-therapy and treadmill exercises. He said that he was lucky nothing had happened in the previous six weeks as cardiologists had said. “It was not un common to have their patients perish before the scheduled angiogram or bypass” “I am making this confession so that hopefully it can be a life saving reminder to others. Please do not follow my example.” Mr Khaw added. Doctors pointed at least two mistakes Mr Khaw has made. A patient who feels ”all right” may not be so as heart problems can develop without any symptoms at all said Dr V P Nair, a cardiologist with 17 years experience. Doctors also said that, increasing the intensity of exercise when you know that you may have a blockage, could be dangerous.