More than 70 per cent of COVID-19 death cases in Malaysia had comorbidities of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), said an exercise medicine expert Prof Dr Lee Chee Pheng.
He said the risk of contracting COVID-19 is higher in people with weak immune defences and could further be compromised in chronic conditions such as heart and lung diseases as well as diabetes.
“Adding to the burden can be emotional stress, lack of sleep and physical exhaustion, which can further make one prone to diseases by weakening immunity.
“The presence of risk factors for NCDs like tobacco use, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet and the harmful use of alcohol during childhood and adolescence has significant association with development of disease in adulthood," he said in his column published by Bernama.
NCDs are today the world's biggest killers and according to World Health Organisation (WHO) data, of 56.9 million global deaths recorded in 2016, 40.5 million, or 71 per cent were due to NCDs.
Dr Lee said while maintaining a healthy diet with foods that boost immunity could help fight infections, physical activity and nutrition could also help boost the immune system.
He quoted WHO guidelines in 2010, where an adult aged between 18 and 64 years should perform at least 150 min per week of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity (PA) or 75 min per week of vigorous-intensity aerobic PA, or an equivalent combination of moderate and vigorous-intensity PA.
“Malaysia has 36.9 per cent physically inactive adults. Meanwhile, the level of inactivity is higher in females (50 per cent) compared to males (24.7 per cent),” he said.
About food intake, he mentioned foods rich in Vitamin C, D, and E improve the immune system by increasing the infection-fighting cells.
“The antioxidant in Vitamin C and E plays an important role in controlling infections and functioning of the immune system. Also, keeping the body hydrated and having adequate sleep can help in curtailing the disease. It is important to keep in mind, however, that what works in combating COVID-19 itself is yet unknown," he said. - BERNAMA
Bernama
Wed Apr 29 2020
Dr Lee said while maintaining a healthy diet with foods that boost immunity could help fight infections, physical activity and nutrition could also help boost the immune system. File picture/ Bernama.
Peruntukan pembangkang, pembangunan kawasan parlimen wajar diperundangkan - Pakar
Mantan Ahli Tetap Jawatankuasa Reformasi Pilihan Raya (ERC), Dr. G Manimaran berkata peruntukan kepada pembangkang dan dana pembangunan kawasan parlimen wajar untuk diperundangkan berbanding dibuat secara Perjanjian Persefahaman (MoU) semata-mata. Pada masa yang sama, beliau berpendapat sikap pembangkang terhadap MoU yang ditawarkan Kerajaan Perpaduan ketika ini bersifat politik semata-mata. #AgendaAWANI
MoU peruntukan pembangkang berat sebelah, sepatutnya digubal undang-undang khusus - Pakar
Timbalan Ketua (Strategi) Ibu Pejabat Asia UNSDSN, Universiti Sunway, Prof. Wong Chin Huat berkata Perjanjian Persefahaman (MoU) peruntukan pembangkang yang ada ketika ini disifatkan berat sebelah memandangkan hanya menyentuh mengenai pengisytiharan harta oleh pembangkang sahaja. Jelasnya, hal tersebut sepatutnya dilakukan secara saksama oleh semua ahli parlimen dan dilakukan berdasarkan satu Akta khusus berbanding sekadar dalam bentuk MoU. #AgendaAWANI
Negara luar minat labur di Malaysia mahu pengiktirafan JAKIM
Bagi menjayakan usaha ini, beliau telah membuat rancangan dengan kerajaan negeri untuk menyediakan tanah yang akan dibeli atau disewa bagi membolehkan kilang berkenaan didirikan.
Ribut tropika Pulasan mungkin hampiri barat daya Jepun - Agensi cuaca
Menurut agensi cuaca Jepun pada Selasa, ribut tropika besar yang semakin kuat mungkin menghampiri wilayah Okinawa dan kawasan Amami di wilayah Kagoshima di barat daya Jepun pada Rabu.
MP PN tolak draf MoU kerana ada niat tersirat - Muhyiddin
Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin mendakwa MoU itu antaranya mengandungi satu bab khusus mengenai isu bangsa, agama dan Raja-Raja, di mana Ahli-ahli Parlimen PN dilarang untuk bersuara mengenainya kerana menyentuh isu itu dianggap sebagai menyebarkan kebencian.
24 mangsa, tiga kanak-kanak diselamatkan
Bomba menyelamatkan 24 mangsa termasuk tiga kanak-kanak yang terperangkap akibat di Kampung Kubang Kayu, Bukit Kayu Hitam.
Malaysia raih dua emas, Mohamad Aniq lebur rekod kebangsaan di Fiji
Jaguh angkat berat negara Mohamad Aniq Kasdan merangkul pingat emas kategori 61 kilogram (kg) di Kejohanan Angkat Berat Komanwel 2024 di Suva, Fiji hari ini.
Banjir: Cuti pegawai, anggota bomba Kedah dibeku
Cuti hampir 800 pegawai serta anggota Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat Malaysia (JBPM) Kedah dibekukan berkuat kuasa hari ini susulan situasi banjir di negeri ini.
Jumlah kumulatif kes MPOX (setakat 4 September 2024)
Untuk rekod, jumlah kumulatif global adalah sebanyak 103,898 kes. Asia dengan 5,403 kes.
Pengurus syarikat rugi lebih RM400,000 terperdaya pelaburan tidak wujud
Seorang pengurus syarikat kerugian RM420,000 selepas terperdaya dengan skim pelaburan tidak wujud.