Heart Diseases are Increasing at an Alarming Rate in Pakistan – Experts Suggest Healthy Lifestyle

Islamabad: 29 Sep 2022 – Heart diseases are increasing at an alarming rate in Pakistan. We need to adopt a healthy lifestyle to prevent cardiovascular diseases.  Diet plays a vital role in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Obesity is among the major causes of heart diseases. We need to adapt a healthy life style and make healthier food choices to reduce the risk of heart diseases. Smoking, Sugary Sweetened Beverages, ultra-processed foods and lack of physical activities lead to heart disease.

This was said by health experts while addressing to the symposium on International Heart Day organized by Pakistan National Heart Association at local hotel in Islamabad. The symposium was attended by the senior health professionals, cardiologists, civil society and representatives of electronic and print media.

Dr. Shazia Sobia Soomro, Parliamentary Secretary of health was the chief guest of the occasion. The workshop was hosted by PANAH’s General Secretary Sanaullah Ghumman. The guests included Maj. Gen. (R) Masud ur Rehman Kayani, President PANAH, Dr. Anjum Jalal, Executive Director Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology, Dr. Shehzad Ali Khan, Vice Chancellor, Health Services Academy Islamabad, Brig. Abdul Hameed Siddiqui Consultant Cardiologist & Physician AFIC/NIHD, Dr. Saba Amjad, CEO Heart File, Professor Dr. Abdul Basit, General Secretary Diabetic Association of Pakistan, Mr. Munawar Hussain, Consultant Food Policy Program at Global Health Advocacy Incubator, civil society representatives, health professionals and journalists.

While addressing to the workshop, Mr. Sana Ullah Ghumman said that PANAH is raising awareness among the masses on the prevention of heart diseases since 4 decades. PANAH is conducting awareness walks, and providing CPR training to ordinary people to provide first aid if someone has heart attack. Along with awareness activities, PANAH is also working with law and policy makers to make policies to eliminate causes increasing risk of cardiovascular diseases. Today’s program is also the continuation of efforts of PANAH to increase awareness on prevention of heart diseases on International heart day.

Mr. Munawar Hussain, Consultant Food Policy Program at Global Health Advocacy Incubator said that diet plays an important role in increasing cardiovascular diseases. There is a growing body of evidence suggesting a profound relationship between obesity and adverse health outcomes like hypertension, cardiovascular illnesses and diabetes most prominently.

Furthermore, there is a global public health concern the developing countries are increasingly vulnerable to its deleterious effects because of decreased awareness and access to healthcare.

There is further a direct and strong association between the consumption of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSBs) and obesity and Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) like Diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular illnesses. We must be very careful about our dietary choices. Speakers emphasized that we should adapt a healthy lifestyle to reduce the risk of heart diseases.