Heart attacks are responsible for one out of five deaths in the country. Some of these can be prevented by adopting a healthy life style.
Dr Naeem Aslam, a cardiologist, said this on Wednesday at a seminar titled “Healthy heart, healthy life” organised by the University of Agriculture’s (UAF) Public Relations and Publications Department (PRP) and the Senior Tutor’s Office.
UAF Vice Chancellor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan chaired the seminar.
Dr Aslam said that smoking, eating junk food, obesity, lack of physical activity, hypertension and diabetes increased the risk of heart attacks.
According to the World Health Organisation, as many as 16.6 million people died of heart attacks last year.
Dr Aslam said consuming fresh vegetables and fruits and avoiding junk food could help avert the risk greatly.
Every cigarette reduces the smoker’s life span by five minutes, he said. Smoking is responsible for 19 per cent of deaths by heart attacks, he added.
Dr Aslam said 18 per cent Paksitanis suffered from blood pressure related problems. He said hypertension doubled the risk of a heart attack. He also said one could avoid it by exercising. The risk is greater in women than it is in men, he said.
The vice chancellor said people must be made aware of what causes lifestyle diseases so they can take preventive measures.
All-out efforts must be made to educate people about these issues, he said, holding seminars on the subject was one such way.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 21st, 2013.