Don't follow my example: Khaw
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.'
-- ST
Being a minister, he should set a good example. Having
exposed this makes me think otherwise.
