Number of young widows, orphan kids rising as married men dying of heart attacks, strokes: experts

Islamabad: Samia, a 32-year-old mother of two from Islamabad, was thrust into an uncertain future when her husband, a 38-year-old property dealer, succumbed to a sudden heart attack. Her two children, aged six and four, now face life without their father.

Tragically, Samia’s story is not unique in her locality. Three other young widows with children are also grappling with the untimely loss of their husbands due to heart attacks before the age of 40. These women are now the sole providers for their families, forced to take on low-paying jobs, such as teaching or domestic work, to support their children and ensure their education.

Ironically, Samia’s mother-in-law, Amina, had a similar fate. Thirty-five years ago, Amina lost her husband, who died of a heart attack at the age of 45. This grim pattern of early deaths is becoming increasingly common in Pakistan, where experts warn of an alarming rise in heart attacks among young adults.

According to Prof. Khawar Kazmi, a senior cardiologist at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), approximately 15% of heart attack victims in Pakistan are under 40.

“Every hour, 47 people die of heart attacks in Pakistan, and of them, 12 to 15 are young people under 40. Most of these men are married with children,” he says. This has led to a growing number of young widows and orphans who face severe economic and social hardships.

Prof. Kazmi, who is now focusing on preventive cardiology, highlights the burden on families after the loss of a primary breadwinner. “Women and children bear the brunt of these early deaths. Many widows become dependent on their in-laws, parents, or other relatives, while others are forced into low-paying jobs to make ends meet,” he explains.

Even survivors of heart attacks face lifelong challenges. “They require medications costing 10,000 to 15,000 rupees per month and live in constant fear of another attack,” he adds.

Dr. Akram Sultan, a Karachi-based cardiologist and Coordinator of the Pakistan Cardiac Society’s Karachi Chapter, identifies hypertension and smoking as the leading causes of early heart attacks in Pakistani men. He attributes this to high salt intake, poor dietary habits, lack of physical activity, and smoking.

“Unhealthy lifestyles, combined with unregulated hypertension, are causing men to suffer heart attacks in their 30s and 40s,” he states. Dr. Sultan urges people to adopt healthier lifestyles, including reducing salt intake, exercising for 45 minutes daily, avoiding smoking, and managing diabetes and high blood pressure.

The crisis is not limited to heart attacks. Pakistan is also witnessing a rising incidence of strokes, which share similar risk factors. Dr. Muhammad Wasay, a neurologist at Aga Khan University, reveals that over 400,000 people in Pakistan suffer strokes annually, with approximately 150,000 deaths.

“Half of the survivors are left dependent on others due to disability,” he says. Dr. Wasay emphasizes the importance of prevention, stating, “More than half of all strokes can be prevented by controlling high blood pressure. Additionally, 80-90% can be avoided by managing cholesterol and blood sugar levels, quitting smoking, and exercising regularly.”

Dr. Munir Afzal, a young neurologist at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) in Karachi, notes that strokes are now occurring in people as young as in early 40s. “The causes and risk factors for strokes are identical to those for heart attacks. Large strokes often result in death, while smaller strokes leave individuals disabled for life,” he explains. He warns that this growing trend is contributing to an increase in young widows and orphaned children in society.

Health experts agree that addressing the root causes of cardiovascular diseases and strokes is imperative. This includes promoting awareness about healthy lifestyles, reducing salt consumption, encouraging physical activity, and managing chronic conditions like hypertension and diabetes.

As Pakistan is struggling with the dual crises of heart attacks and strokes among younger populations, the social and economic toll on families, particularly widows and children, continues to rise. Urgent preventive measures are needed to save lives and protect families from the devastating consequences of these preventable diseases.