Healthy lifestyle, exercise can control heart diseases

MKRMS Seminar

LAHORE: Heart diseases are on the rise and the best way to protect ourselves from such diseases is prevention and a healthy lifestyle.

This was stated by experts while speaking at an awareness seminar “Healthy Heart: Healthy Life” jointly organised by Mir Khalil-ur-Rahman Memorial Society (Jang Group of Newspapers), Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) and Ferozsons Laboratories Limited at a local hotel recently. The event was organised in connection with World Heart Day which is observed on September 29 every year.

PIC chief executive Prof Dr Nadeem Hayat Malik presided over the seminar while the PIC Associate Professor Dr Shahid Amin Khawaja, eminent dietitian Dr Farzeen Malik and Amir Yaqoob Mir from Ferozsons Laboratories Limited also spoke on the occasion. The event was hosted by Mir Khalil-ur-Rahman Memorial Society (MKRMS) Chairman Wasif Nagi.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof Dr Nadeem Hayat Malik said the World Heart Day is observed each year to create awareness among the masses about the increasing heart diseases. He said smoking was a killer and added the use of drugs also caused heart diseases. He said we should focus on healthy diet and do exercise on a regular basis. He added obesity was also on the rise in the country which needed to be controlled. He said 65 percent people were unaware that they were suffering from heart-related diseases.

Amir Yaqoob Mir said for the last many years Ferozsons Laboratories Limited was creating awareness among the masses about heart diseases as the organisation believed in improving lives. He said people should regularly visit their doctors for check-up and strongly follow the instructions for good and quality life. He also thanked Prof Dr Nadeem Hayat Malik for sparing time from his busy schedule and joining the cause of creating awareness among the masses.

Dr Shahid Amin Khawaja said heart diseases were dangerously on the rise in Pakistan adding even 16-year-old youths were also suffering from such diseases these days which was alarming. He said there was a dire need to promote awareness about the unlimited benefits of exercise.

Dr Farzeen Malik regretted that food quality was declining in the country and strongly recommended balanced diet for everyone. According to her, for a healthy diet we should capitalise on the use of fruits and vegetables. She highlighted the importance of regular exercise and its positive and healthy effects on life. She also said we should make walking our habit and added there was a dire need of adopting positive and healthy activities.

Wasif Nagi said all organs had their own significance but heart enjoyed vital importance. He said if heart did not pump blood in the body the other organs were badly affected. He said every year 17.3 million people die of heart diseases in the world and added if we did not control it, such diseases would see massive increase in coming years. He said the number of heart patients was high in the developing countries.