The #1 killer of women in Singapore is not breast cancer, as many might think, but cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is a combination of heart disease and stroke. In fact, one in three women die of CVD, and it usually affects women who’ve had menopause.
According to the Singapore Heart Foundation, cardiac arrest victims have a 13.8 per cent chance of survival. And with every minute that passes, the survival rate dips by 7 to 10 per cent if nothing is done to restart the heart.
“When the heart stops, the best way to raise the chances of survival is to begin chest compressions as soon as possible, and to get an AED (automated external defibrillator) Heart Restarter* to bring the heart back to normal rhythm,” says Woon Saet Nyoon, Chief Executive of Temasek Foundation Cares.
Yet, many remain unaware of the dangers of this silent killer. It’s not all grim though – heart disease is largely preventable if you know your vital facts. Here, we set the record straight! Find out how much you really know about heart disease and protecting your heart via a series of “Fact or Myth” statements:
*To highlight the importance of knowing chest compression and to learn how to use an AED heart restarter to help someone suffering from cardiac arrest, SPH has partnered with Tribal Worldwide and Temasek Foundation Cares to launch the Restart A Heart campaign. AED heart restarters can be found in public places such as MRT stations. Find out how to use it here, or sign up for a life-saving course by emailing restart@heart.org.sg.