Cardiologists at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) in Karachi warned on Thursday that 15% of heart attack patients in the city are young adults aged 25 to 40. Every day, the NICVD treats 40 to 45 heart attack cases, with rising concerns over the increasing number of younger patients. Experts attribute this worrying trend to factors such as obesity, lack of physical activity, unhealthy diets, and smoking.
Sedentary lifestyles in Karachi, particularly among younger individuals, are causing obesity, which in turn leads to early onset of diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases. Cardiologists noted that more people in their 20s are being diagnosed with diabetes and hypertension—two major risk factors for early heart attacks.
During an awareness event at the Arts Council of Pakistan (ACP), Prof. Tahir Sagheer, executive director of the NICVD, voiced his concern about the rise in heart attacks among the youth and emphasized the urgent need for lifestyle changes to prevent cardiovascular diseases.
Organized by the NICVD in collaboration with the Discovering Hypertension Project and the ACP, the event featured a theatrical performance aimed at promoting heart health. The performance highlighted the importance of adopting a healthier lifestyle through regular exercise, balanced diets, and avoiding habits that could lead to serious health problems.
Prof. Khawar Kazmi, head of preventive cardiology at the NICVD, emphasized the need to educate children and adolescents about the dangers of unhealthy living, warning that poor diet and inactivity are contributing to early onset conditions like diabetes and hypertension, significantly increasing the risk of heart disease at a young age.
