Rise in Heart Attacks Among Youth: Experts Cite Poor Diet and Physical Inactivity as Major Causes

Heart attacks among young adults are on the rise in Karachi, with the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) reporting that 40 to 45 heart attack patients are admitted daily, 15% of whom are aged between 25 and 40. Experts attribute this alarming increase to physical inactivity, unhealthy diets, obesity, and smoking.

During an awareness event at the Arts Council of Karachi, Prof. Tahir Sagheer, Executive Director of NICVD, expressed concern about the growing number of heart attack cases in this younger demographic.

“The rise in heart attacks among younger individuals is alarming. A lack of physical activity and poor dietary habits are key contributors to these early cardiac events,” said Prof. Sagheer. He emphasized the urgent need for lifestyle changes to prevent cardiovascular diseases among the youth.

The Importance of a Healthy Lifestyle

The awareness event, organized by NICVD in collaboration with Discovering Hypertension and the Arts Council, aimed to educate the public about the importance of heart health. A thematic theatre performance, attended by hundreds of school students, was a key feature of the event, promoting regular exercise, a balanced diet, and the dangers of smoking.

Prof. Khawar Kazmi, Head of Preventive Cardiology at NICVD, stressed the need to educate children and adolescents about the dangers of an unhealthy lifestyle. “Physical inactivity and poor diet are leading to early onset diseases like diabetes and hypertension, which significantly increase the risk of cardiovascular disease,” Prof. Kazmi warned. He urged immediate action to reverse these trends and called on schools and communities to actively promote healthier habits among children to prevent long-term health complications.

Prevention Must Begin Early

Prof. Kazmi emphasized that prevention must start in childhood. “We need to make children aware of these risks now, so they can make informed choices and lead healthier lives,” he added. The event was part of a broader effort to engage young people as ambassadors for heart health, with the hope that early intervention will reduce the growing number of heart disease cases among Pakistan’s youth.

Corporate Social Responsibility and Public Health

Haroon Qasim, Managing Director of PharmEvo, a local pharmaceutical company involved in the campaign, emphasized the importance of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in public health initiatives. He noted, “Engaging children and students is key to ensuring a healthy future.”

Syed Jamshed Ahmed of Discovering Hypertension echoed this sentiment, stressing that economic challenges make it essential to reach every school-going student with awareness about the harmful impacts of smoking, vaping, and unhealthy diets. “Our goal is to educate students about the risks so they can make healthier choices,” he said.

The event highlighted the need for greater awareness and preventive measures to curb the rise of heart disease among Pakistan’s younger population.

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