KARACHI, April 10: Sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy dietary habits are fuelling diseases such as hypertension among the Pakistani population.

This was stated in a film screened at a workshop held on Thursday by the nephrology department of Liaquat National Hospital. More than 200 family physicians attended the event.

To lead a healthy life, an average male requires each day an intake of only about 2,500 calories. An average female, on the other hand, needs only an intake of 2,200 calories. But the intake of an overwhelming number of Pakistanis exceeds these limits.

It was stated in the short film, produced under the supervision of Dr Farzana Aziz, that a person should not take more than 200 milligrams of cholesterol a day. But when he or she consumes an egg he or she takes in about 270 milligrams of cholesterol.

Kaleji has about 400. Both these cholesterol-rich foodstuffs are very popular among Pakistanis. As a consequence, incidence of hypertension is increasing by the day.

When the human body takes an equivalent of 400mg of cholesterol, it goes into an overdrive of sorts to bring about an equilibrium, it was said.

Whenever they feel like celebrating, or simply going out, Mr and Mrs Average mostly head towards the city’s various eateries, where they consume food laden with fats. This food is often topped up with ice cream or soda which are both too sweet.

After the eight-minute film Dr S. Asad Ahmad, in his presentation, said the persons whose weights exceeded the ideal weight by 20 per cent ran the risk of becoming obese. The primary cause of death in hypertensive persons was stroke.

Hypertension, smoking and diabetes represented risk factors which if not removed in time could lead to complications, even heart attack, he said.

Dr Iffat Yazdani on the occasion said by the time a diabetic develops protein in the urine, his or her serum lipid profile is bound to go haywire. Lipid disorders in the elderly can present as early or late onset of hypertension.

Dr Yazdani said about 11 per cent of the Pakistanis are likely to develop diabetes and another nine per cent would be predisposed to it.

Speaking about the advisable treatments, Dr Nasreen Samad said all physicians should be aware of dietary treatment as well as medicinal treatment. She advocated exercises as a form of treatment.

Dr Khalid Zafar Hashmi also spoke on the occasion. Later, the family physicians asked questions regarding treatment as well as diagnosis.