KARACHI, Sept 25: Health experts have recommended people to be moderate in their food intake and increase exercise to cut the chances of heart diseases warning that the alarming situation had also made local children vulnerable to heart attacks. Cardiologists and nutritionist addressing a seminar on the World Heart Day took strong exception to the excessively growing culture of “feed and be fed” (extremely rich food) on all occasions. The situation gets further compounded due to sedentary lifestyles at all levels.
The seminar was organised by the Cardiology Department, Aga Khan University (AKU), in collaboration with the Pakistan Cardiac Society and Pakistan Nutrition and Dietetic Society on Sunday.
Dr Khawar Kazmi, head of the AKU’s Section of Cardiology, Dr Faheem Jaffary, Dr Ayesha Khan, Dr Amir Hameed made their respective presentations based on this year’s theme, “Healthy Weight - Healthy Shape”.
They said that while a significant proportion of people in Pakistan were living below the poverty line, yet obesity-induced ailments like heart diseases and diabetes were assuming serious proportions.
It was reminded that tuberculosis and malaria had been replaced by diseases linked to unhealthy food and sedentary lifestyles.
The public present at the seminar was particularly warned that the scenario had turned local children alarmingly vulnerable to heart attacks, diabetes, hypertension, arthritis because of increased weight and disproportionate circumference of their waist.
The Director, National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), Prof Azhar Farooqui, on the occasion, referred to his institution’s data, which showed 13 per cent of the local population inflicted with one or other type of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Some 60 per cent of deaths were due to CVDs, he said.
He reiterated that CVDs were preventable; advising people of all age groups to cut their salt, sugar and oil intakes by half, ensure brisk walks for 30 minutes - five days a week – as it reduced the chances of heart diseases, diabetes, and hypertension by 50 per cent.
He further mentioned that one million patients with heart ailments visited the NICVD annually.
“We have a capacity of 40 beds in each of our wards but we have to accommodate 100 patients in them round the year,” he said.
The presentations were followed by a panel discussion during which Dr Jabbar (Diabetologist), Dr Riaz Qureishi, Dr Amir Hameed, Dr Ayesha Khan, Dr Fahim Jaffery and Dr Azhar Farooqui answered the audience’s questions.
A heart mela was also arranged where, besides entertainment, people also had the chance of free blood pressure checkups, sugar, cholesterol and height and weight checkups.
