Kuala lumpur: The fast-paced Malaysian workplace requires long hours and constant connectivity, leading to chronic stress and burnout while increasing the risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Dr. Wee Hui Yin, Resident Medical Officer at Sunway Medical Centre's Wellness Centre in Sunway City, observes that while patients rarely mention "burnout," they frequently show signs of stress during medical consultations and history evaluation sessions. Dr. Wee highlighted that 67 percent of Malaysian workers reported burnout in 2024, a significant increase from 58 percent in 2022, with Millennials and Gen Z being the most vocal. She also noted that mid-life adults, often part of the 'sandwich generation,' are particularly vulnerable as they balance careers with caring for children and aging parents, leading to internalized stress and increased long-term health risks.
Dr. Wee emphasized that supporting employee wellbeing now requires more than just emotional support, with companies adopting a holistic system that combines physical health assessments, lifestyle guidance, and emotional wellness support. She explained the two types of health problems caused by continuous stress: physiological issues, such as increased blood sugar levels, higher bad cholesterol, and elevated blood pressure, and psychological distress, including depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances.
Dr. Wee warned that company health screening programs need to go beyond annual tests to achieve meaningful results, advocating regular monitoring of blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol levels, BMI, waist circumference, kidney function, stress levels, and sleep quality. These results should guide lifestyle adjustments and follow-up care. She champions a holistic approach combining medical care with lifestyle, diet, and mental health, inspired by the world's 'Blue Zones' where people live longer, healthier lives with fewer chronic diseases.
Dr. Wee advised individuals feeling "too busy" to prioritize health to start small and take simple steps such as taking short breaks to walk or stretch, using stairs, parking farther away, and practicing square breathing for acute stress relief. She stressed the importance of quality sleep, recommending seven to nine hours nightly and avoiding late-night screen time.
Finally, Dr. Wee highlighted the role of workplace culture, warning that expectations of long hours and constant connectivity negatively affect employees' physical and mental health. She advocated for practical support such as childcare, clear work boundaries, self-care, and healthy leadership to reduce stress and burnout, especially for mid-career caregivers.