The Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialization at the University of Karachi organized an awareness seminar titled “Don’t Miss a Beat!” on the occasion of World Heart Day, where cardiologists and faculty members expressed deep concern over the increasing rate of heart diseases in Pakistan. They termed the rising trend of junk food consumption, lack of physical activities, and the absence of scientific awareness among the public as alarming factors.
Executive Director and Secretary of the Governing Body of the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) and renowned cardiologist, Professor Dr. Tahir Saghir, said that the growing use of junk food in modern times is becoming a serious threat to the health of children and youth. He emphasized that if Pakistan aims to build a healthy society in the future, the government must take effective measures against junk food immediately.
He added that schools today are being established in limited spaces, where there are no arrangements for sports or physical activities for students. The government should make it mandatory for every educational institution to have at least one acre of land to ensure opportunities for students’ physical development along with education.
Professor Emeritus Dr. Syed Nadeem Rizvi, Director of Cardiovascular Services Department at OMI Hospital, stated that heart diseases remain the leading cause of death globally. He noted that the onset of heart disease actually begins during adolescence.
According to him, people who suffer from heart attacks at the age of 50 or 60 often begin developing the disease between the ages of 15 and 18. Dr. Rizvi explained that stress affects the heart system in two ways: sudden stress increases the heartbeat, while prolonged stress damages the inner lining of blood vessels, allowing cholesterol to accumulate, which later leads to heart diseases.
Vice Chancellor of the University of Karachi, Professor Dr. Khalid Mahmood Iraqi, said that the purpose of observing World Heart Day is to raise awareness among the public so that they prioritize timely prevention and treatment. He lamented that unfortunately, people in society still turn to spiritual healers and amulets, which is a dangerous trend.
“We need to believe in science, not superstitions,” he emphasized.
Dr. Iraqi further stated that parents should pay special attention to their children’s diet, physical health, and lifestyle, while educational institutions must play a vital role in promoting healthy activities.
Assistant Professor and Cardiologist at Dow University of Health Sciences, Dr. Muhammad Hashim Khan, revealed that in Pakistan, one person suffers a heart attack every minute, while every two to three minutes, a precious life is lost.
He said that 80% of heart diseases worldwide are preventable, but due to lack of timely diagnosis and treatment, the death rate is increasing. Dr. Hashim added that Pakistan has been declared the country with the highest number of diabetes patients in the world, which is alarming. According to him, around 1.3 billion people globally suffer from high blood pressure, yet nearly half of them are unaware of their condition.
Earlier, Director of the Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialization, Dr. Syeda Hoorulain, delivered the welcome address and highlighted the objectives of the seminar, while Founder and Chairman of Transformation International, Dr. Imran Yusuf, also shared his views.
Experts unanimously agreed that a healthy society can only be built through public awareness about heart diseases, promotion of healthy diets, encouragement of physical activities, and the development of scientific literacy among the people.
