World Heart Day: ‘Cardiac diseases common in youth of developing countries’

Cardiologists stress prevention is better than bearing expensive treatments

KARACHI: Heart diseases are common among youngsters in third-world countries and usually people here between the ages of 40 and 45 often have cardiac attacks, said Professor Dr Khawar Kazmi on Thursday.

He was addressing a symposium held to observe World Heart Day, which was organised by Pakistan Cardiac Society at Pearl Continental Hotel. According to Dr Kazmi, people of developed countries usually suffer from heart attacks after crossing the age of 60. Senior cardiologists of the city attended the symposium and stressed that it is better to prevent heart diseases instead of having to bear the expensive treatment cost.

Speaking to the audience, which included young doctors, Dr Kazmi discussed the increasing rate of patients suffering from heart diseases in the country. According to him, 18 million people die of heart diseases annually, out of which 80% belong to developing countries, including Pakistan, Bangladesh and India. Similarly, illnesses such as high blood pressure and diabetes are also getting common among the youth in third-world countries, said Dr Kazmi. "All we can do is emphasise prevention because the people here usually cannot afford the treatment cost," he added.

Kazmi was of the opinion that instead of finding cure for the heart disease, people should save themselves from even minor heart problems by adopting a healthy lifestyle. He added that this can be done by avoiding junk food and by not smoking.

Urging the people to adopt measures to prevent heart diseases, cardiologist Dr Abdul Samad said that it is important that we modify our lifestyles to protect ourselves. He added that there is no harm in staying away from things that might damage our health, which include polluted environment, junk food, cigarettes and other drugs. He added that by staying fit, doing light exercise and early morning walks will definitely help patients get rid of high blood pressure disease.

Professor Dr Khalida Soomro was of the opinion that organising community-based workshops in remote areas of the province can help people be aware of the illness. She suggested that the government should help educate the masses about the deadly disease instead of spending big budgets on construction of hospital buildings. Dr Soomro added that providing information to the people through mass media and workshops conducted at primary level will be effective in spreading the message.

Meanwhile, health secretary Usman Chachar said that the private health sector has been working well as compared to the government sector. He added that the government alone cannot do anything, but soon people will see the progress of health department. The government wants to work along with society and that is where the success of health department is, said Chachar.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 30^th, 2016.