FAISALABAD: Smoking has emerged as the major cause of heart attacks in south Punjab while poor dietary habits and lack of exercise are the basic reasons for the early onset of heart ailments in upper Punjab.

Head of cardiology department, Nishtar Medical College and Hospital, Multan Prof. Haroon Aziz Babar, talking to reporters, said research by cardiologists in Punjab and local data had revealed that smoking was the major cause of heart ailments in south Punjab. He said poor dietary habits and lack of exercise are the leading cause of cardiovascular ailments among the people of upper Punjab.

Mr Babar added that smoking, extremely poor dietary choices, sedentary lifestyle, growing obesity as well as hypertension and diabetes were the major risk factors resulting in growing cardiovascular diseases in Pakistan, especially in Punjab. There was an urgent need to identify the local causes of cardiovascular disease which were the leading cause of death in Pakistan, he added. He said next Cardiocon would be held in Multan in November where six cardiologists would be given cash prizes and awards for their research.

Pakistan Cardiac Society President Naeem Aslam said Pakistanis were becoming heart patients at least 10 to 15 years earlier than people of Europe and United States due to their poor lifestyle and other risk factors, including growing obesity, hypertension and diabetes.

“In Pakistan, seed for cardiovascular or build-up of plaque in arteries of children starts at the age of 6-10 years, which is highly alarming. Our children are no more used to physical activities while they are addicted to junk food, which is giving rise to childhood obesity,” Prof Aslam claimed.

Health Research Advisory Board (HealthRAB) Vice President Prof Abdul Basit also spoke.

Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2018