KARACHI: The growing burden of heart and other diseases in Pakistan is becoming increasingly alarming, with unhealthy lifestyles putting younger people at greater risk, medical experts warned at a medical camp held at the Karachi Press Club (KPC) in collaboration with Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH).
The medical camp, organised on Saturday, provided members of the Press Club with a range of healthcare facilities, including ECG, echocardiography and other diagnostic tests.
Karachi Press Club President Fazil Jameeli, Secretary Muhammad Aslam Khan, senior journalist Maqsood Yousufi, Health Committee members Tufail Ahmed, Shafqat Bhatti, Israr Sheikh and Siraj Amjadi, Professor Muhammad Javed Khan, Head of the Chest Unit at Aga Khan University, Assistant Professor of Cardiology Dr Yawar Saeed, AKU faculty and Communications representative Adil Siddiqui, spokesperson Shabbir Alam and others attended the camp.
Speaking on the occasion, Karachi Press Club Secretary Muhammad Aslam Khan appreciated Aga Khan University Hospital for organising the camp and providing medical facilities to Press Club members. He said the rising cost of private healthcare was making access to treatment increasingly difficult for ordinary citizens.
Professor Muhammad Javed Khan stressed the importance of regular physical activity, a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle to prevent heart and other diseases. He urged parents to discourage children from excessive consumption of fast food and encourage them to eat more vegetables and other healthy foods.
He also advised people to avoid smoking and other forms of tobacco, emphasising that preventive measures and healthier lifestyle choices could significantly reduce the risk of various diseases.
Assistant Professor of Cardiology Dr Yawar Saeed said heart disease was increasingly emerging as a major health concern in Pakistan and across Asia. He noted that heart attacks were also being reported among younger people, making preventive healthcare and lifestyle changes particularly important.
Dr Saeed advised people to avoid overeating and follow a moderate and balanced diet. He said positive lifestyle changes, including healthier eating habits and regular physical activity, could play an important role in reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
The experts emphasised that greater awareness, early screening and preventive healthcare were essential to addressing the rising burden of non-communicable diseases in Pakistan.
