World Health Day is being observed on Thursday (today) across the world, including Pakistan with an aim to highlight the importance of health for a healthy society.
This year’s theme is “Our Earth, Our Health,” and the day draws attention to particular priorities in global health.
Talking to The Express Tribune Rawalpindi Medical University’s Vice Chancellor Dr Muhammad Omar said at present the situation is quite bad because, on the one hand, the fast-changing climate is causing various health problems while on the other hand people eat unhealthy and unhygienic food that also causes many diseases. “We must drink clean water, plant more trees and lead a healthy lifestyle,” he advised.
To stay healthy, it is essential to avoid eating out, he said, adding that instead of adding protein to the diet, eat vegetables, and quit smoking. Walking should be the main part of everyone’s daily routine, said Dr Omar and advised people to adopt preventive measures when this pandemic is over.
A health expert Dr Inayatul Rahman said that the issue of environmental pollution is becoming worse due to our living style.
Pakistan National Heart Association Director Operations Dr Sanaullah Ghumman said that smoking is one of the major causes of many diseases, including diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, and respiratory diseases. Dr Ghumman said our sedentary lifestyle is also causing various diseases.
Medical Superintendent District Headquarters Hospital Rawalpindi Dr. Farzana Zafar said to avoid catching diseases, people must take steps to make the environment pollution-free.
Eat healthy in Ramazan
Health experts on Wednesday advised the public to avoid “oily unhealthy products” as consuming large quantities of food or an unbalanced diet in Iftar could lead to stomach upset and intestinal disorders that may worsen existing health conditions.
Clinical Nutritionist Dr Taiyba Sultana recommended that due to the long hours of fasting in summer, citizens should consume slow-digesting foods including fiber-containing foods, adding people should walk regularly after breaking fast to keep themselves from many stomach-related issues.
“Ramazan is a period of spiritual reflection and anyone suffering from chronic diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart failure, lung diseases, and arthritis or those taking medications, require more planning and discipline to observe the fast,” she advised.
Another Nutritionist Dr Attaur Rehman said that people with diabetes must limit foods that are high in saturated fats such as ghee, samosas, and pakoras. Patients must check their glucose levels whenever they experience symptoms of hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), he recommended.
Replying to a question, he said Covid-19 and diabetic patients with no or mild symptoms could keep fast after consulting their physicians. He added that people with moderate and severe illnesses should be in hospitals, where they should receive treatment under the supervision of experts.
He also urged people to eat fruit, vegetables, milk-based products, especially yogurt, and drink plenty of water to prevent themselves from stomach gasses, acid reflux, and other gastric problems.
Additional Input from APP
Published in The Express Tribune, April 7th, 2022.
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