KARACHI, Sept 17: Experts at a seminar held here on Sunday highlighted issues relating to heart diseases and called for an increased awareness of the problem. The public awareness seminar, besides the Health Mela, was organised by the Aga Khan University’s Cardiology section in connection with the World Heart Day, according to an AKU news release.

Speaking at the seminar, head of the Cardiology section Prof Sajid Dhakam, highlighted importance of the day and gave an overview of the simple preventive measures required to prevent heart diseases.

He also highlighted the role of AKU in arranging seminars on a wide range of health-related issues in Pakistan and abroad.

Prof Javaid Khan, Consultant Chest Physician at the AKU, said that tobacco use was the most important among the risk factors leading to heart attack or stroke, as well as at least 30 other serious diseases, including lung cancer.

Quoting a research carried out in 52 countries and published recently in a leading medical journal, he pointed out that use of tobacco in all its forms, including paan and gutka, was extremely dangerous for heart and lungs.

Prof Khan said smoking was responsible for the one-fifth cases of cardiovascular diseases worldwide and if the trend continued, the diseases caused by smoking might claim lives of 10 million people by 2030, 70 per cent of such fatalities could occur in the developing countries.

Dr Aamir Hameed, Consultant Cardiologist, said environmental factors, genetic make-up, and habits form a milieu exposed people to conditions leading to heart attacks.

Prof Salma Halal Badruddin, Department of Community Health Sciences, discussed the importance of diet and exercise from an early age for prevention of heart diseases.

The Health Mela, arranged alongside the seminar, was organised to increase awareness in public by offering free tests and advices for a healthy lifestyle.

The World Heart Day this year is being observed on Sept 24 for which the theme is “How young is your heart”.—APP