‘Lifestyle issues put working journalists at greater risk of strokes’

Working journalists are more prone to strokes as compared to other professionals, particularly since obesity, usage of tobacco and lack of exercise are more common among journalists due to the high-intensity nature of their jobs.

This word of caution was issued by experts at a medical screening camp organised last week at the Karachi Press Club.

The camp was a joint effort of the KPC’s health committee and the Neurology Awareness and Research Foundation (NARF) and was held in connection with World Stroke Day, observed globally on October 29.

“Around 60 to 70 percent of the 200 working journalists examined here were either obese or over-weight. Plus, a majority of them were regular smokers or tobacco users and admitted to having little to no exercise in their daily routines,” said Dr Muhammad Wasey, president of NARF, who provided free consultancy at the screening camp.

“Obesity is one of the major risk factors of stroke as it directly leads to hypertension and diabetes which result in strokes and heart attacks. We strongly advise all journalists to make dedicated efforts to maintain their weight and try to incorporate exercise and healthy eating habits in their daily routines.”

The warning for journalists garners greater significance with the context that around 24 percent of Pakistan’s population was either obese or overweight, while around 400 people in the country die of stroke on a daily basis.