Karachi: Professor Iftikhar Ahmed, Dean of Medicine at Dow University of Health Sciences, said that in the race to improve our quality of life, we cannot provide our children with nutritious foods. We spend billions of rupees on exploring new restaurants, but on the other hand, we are burdening ourselves with billions of rupees on the treatment of blood pressure, diabetes, and heart diseases, exacerbating our economic crisis. He made these remarks while addressing a seminar held as part of World Heart Day under the auspices of the Dow Institute of Cardiology, where Director of the Dow Institute of Cardiology, Professor Tariq Farman, Director of the National Institute of Diabetes, Professor Akhtar Ali Baloch, Director Radiology Dr. Nasreen Naz, Executive Director A.Q. Khan Institute of Behavioural Sciences, Brigadier (R) Shoaib Ahmed, and others also spoke.
Earlier, an awareness walk was held from the O-T Complex to the OPD block. Speaking at the awareness seminar, Professor Iftikhar Ahmed said that the fundamental cause of heart diseases, blood pressure, diabetes, and other diseases is our lifestyle and eating habits, which lack exercise and moderation. He said that in order to prevent heart diseases and other illnesses, we need to make changes in our lifestyle. Professor Akhtar Ali Baloch, speaking at the awareness seminar, said that there are 33 million (3 crore 30 lac) sugar patients in Pakistan, making it the third-largest number in the world after China and India. He said that 15 years ago, Pakistan was 84th in terms of obesity, but in just 15 years, Pakistan has become eighth. He said that the increase in sugar in Pakistan is due to the excess of fast food, distance from vegetables and fruits, and smoking. Previously, there was smoking, but now different types of flavored smokes are being used. He said that prevention is better than cure, and if we use money on fruits and vegetables, we will not have to spend on treatment in the future.
Brigadier (R) Shoaib Ahmed said that stress is also a major cause of heart diseases, so everyone should try to get rid of stress. Stress management is very important for preventing heart diseases. Professor Nasreen Naz said that Islam has shown us a way of life that takes care of all health principles. If we pray Fajr and then do light exercise, we can prevent many diseases, especially heart diseases. After Isha, go to bed, and if you eat on an empty stomach, it will be very beneficial for us. This way, someone hungry can also get food because we waste food and make ourselves sick by overeating. Professor Afzal Qasim said that by being cautious in life, we can be safe from many diseases.
Before the walk, participants raised banners, regarding awareness from heart diseases. At the end of the awareness seminar, shields and certificates were also presented to the participants.
