The incidence of heart diseases is rising at an alarming proportion in the society. According to World Health Organisation (WHO), projected figures for South Asia will have the highest incidence of heart diseases by the year 2010 onwards.
Chairman, National Congress of Preventive Cardiology 2004, Professor Mansoor Ahmed stated this while speaking at the inaugural session of the cardiology conference on Saturday.
He pointed out that increase abdominal girth is a very important risk factor in our society, which is generally called as abdominal obesity.
This predisposes us to diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease and reflects poor eating habit and lack of physical activities. It is probably, the main cause of heart diseases in our population, he added.
He further said that physical activities have to be encouraged in early year of life to avoid abdominal obesity.
Unfortunately most of the modern schools in our societies and towns are devoid of playground and open places, thereby predisposing our future generation to abdominal obesity and heart diseases, he mentioned.
He emphasised the need for creating more playgrounds and parks in our localities. "Our food should contain less fats, we should walk at least 20 to 30 minutes a day at the reasonably brisk pace to avoid the danger", he said.
He suggested the use of various media to create the health awareness among the general public and clear labelling of food products with the name of ingredients. He finally thanks to delegates specially the foreign ones who took out time to participate in the event.
Professor Abdus Samad, Secretary Pakistan Cardiac Society in his address informed the audience on the role of Pakistan Cardiac Society in creating awareness among medical professionals and masses for the prevention of heart disease in Pakistan.
He suggested vegetable oil instead of Desi ghee and banaspati ghee and advised to use not more than 30 percent calories from fat.
Professor Karamat Ali Shah, President Pakistan Cardiac Society in his speech highlighted the changing pattern of life in our society and said that it identified the sedentary life style and introduction of fast food as the major causes of heart disease along with diabetic, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
Professor Hamid Shafquat, ex-president Pakistan Cardiac Society, the chief guest on the occasion, told the audience about the evolution of heart disease in Pakistan.
He informed the audience that the first heart clinic in the country was established following a heart attack to a federal cabinet minister in 1951.
He felt that it is increasing prosperity and mechanised life style along with consumption of increasingly rich diet, not seen soon after the creation of Pakistan, that is responsible for present day heart disease epidemic.
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