Poor diet, stress, and inactivity driving heart ailments in young Pakistanis: report

Health experts have raised concerns over a significant rise in heart-related ailments among young people in Pakistan, attributing the trend to unhealthy diets, sedentary lifestyles, and increasing stress levels.

Speaking at a health awareness session jointly organised by the University of Karachi (KU) and the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), cardiologists cautioned that conditions once associated with older adults — such as heart attacks, hypertension, diabetes, and obesity — are now increasingly affecting individuals in their 20s and 30s, accoridng to a report piblished in local media.

NICVD Executive Director Prof Dr Tahir Saghir expressed concern over the country’s growing reliance on treatment rather than prevention. “We cannot fight heart disease by relying only on hospitals and medicines. The real cure lies in changing how we live — eating better, staying active, and reducing stress,” he said.

Dr Saghir noted that modern lifestyles have reduced physical activity and increased dependence on processed foods. “People avoid walking even for short distances, while fast food has replaced home-cooked nutrition,” he observed.

Head of Preventive Cardiology at NICVD, Dr Khawar Kazmi, linked the surge in heart attacks among youth to diabetes, obesity, tobacco use, lack of sleep, and excessive consumption of junk food. He said prevention is impossible without regular exercise, balanced diets, and mental well-being.

Dr Kazmi added that Pakistan’s healthcare culture prioritises treatment over prevention, stressing the importance of early screening for blood pressure, cholesterol, and sugar levels. Meanwhile, NICVD nutrition expert Sidra Raza advised against fad diets and meal skipping, urging balanced and portion-controlled eating habits.