'Cardiovascular disease becomes second major cause of deaths'

Around 17 million deaths and 32 million heart attacks and strokes were reported globally as the cardiovascular disease (CVD) become second leading cause of deaths. Nearly 85 percent of the global mortality and disease burden from CVDs is borne by lower and middle-income countries. Around 7.3 million people in the country, which is 12 percent of the population, over the age of 15 have high blood pressure and cholesterol level. Women in urban areas have higher risk factor levels compared to men.
According to a report of Pakistan medical association "PMA" issued by Ministry of Health in collaboration with World Health organisation (WHO) and Heartfile, cardiovascular diseases include diseases of the heart and the blood vessels. Rheumatic heart disease is another form of preventable CVD, whereas tobacco is the major single most important cause of the CVD.
Several studies concluded that risk profiles in the patients with strokes in Pakistan is high blood pressure. If it is greater than 140mmHg then 64 percent patients suffer from stroke, while 42 percent from diabetes. 53 percent of stroke patients were smokers whereas 17 percent found to be overweight.
The report further revealed that the prevalence of hypertension over the age of 15 years was reported as 17.9 percent. The national health survey of Pakistan further reported a hypertension control rate of 3 percent, which is lowest in the world.
More than 40 percent women between 45 to 64 years of age are reported to be obese in urban areas, out of which 65 percent are hypertensive and 25 suffer from diabetes, the report added. The report said a major segment of the population suffers from problems related to malnutrition but obesity and being overweight are also emerging in Pakistan as a public health problem. It is higher in women as compared to men and higher in urban areas versus rural areas.
The report revealed that saturated fats and fatty acids found in dairy products and intake of trans-fatty acids increases the risk of communicable diseases through adverse affects on blood lipid level. The trans-fatty acids are known to be more harmful as compared to saturated fat; they are created through hydrogenation- a process used to convert oil into "banaspati ghee" and "margarine".
There is need to examine the pattern of ghee manufacturing, marketing and consumption; such assessments will enable the development of policies and strategies to limit the production of, and access to, ghee as a medium for cooking.
The report suggested that the consumption of fruits and vegetables, non-starch polysaccharides, fish and fish oil, nuts that are high in linoleic acid are associated with reduced risk of CVD. Diet is also known to impact high blood pressure. The report also suggested that awareness about effective blood screening in blood pressure patients could play important role in this regard.