HYDERABAD, Feb 16 Smoking and blood pressure are the two prime causes of cancer and heart diseases, medical experts said at a gathering here. They advised people to adopt a balanced diet and give up smoking.

These suggestions were given at the death anniversary of Dr. Saleh Memon - one of the top physicians of his days - organised by Pakistan Hypertension League in Diplai Memon housing society late on Sunday night.

Speaking on the occasion noted cardiologist Dr. Feroz Memon, son of late Dr.Saleh Memon, said high blood pressure is a silent killer that could paralyse any party of the body if the pressure crosses the limit. He said that high blood pressure has serious consequences and 70 per cent people never knew that they have fallen prey to it.

He said that blood pressure is never constant and varies when we are doing workout or are tense or excited.“We have to check eating habits. The less you eat the lesser are chances of high BP”, he said. He advised people to get their BP checked whenever they consult their physician.

He added that blood pressure could lead to cardiac arrest, paralyse part of body or even cause death besides affecting kidneys or eyes. He said that 50 per cent cardiac patients, in fact, suffer from it. He proposed that people should opt for physical exercise and control diet as much as possible and avoid excessive use of salt.

“In 25 per cent cases smoking is the cause of heart attack while in 80 to 90 per cent it leads to lung cancer”, Memon said. He informed that bronchitis, in 60 percent of cases, is due to smoking. He said although generally women don't have threat of cardiac problem but if they start smoking they would be exposed to heart disease.

Another cardiologist Dr. Fazal ur Rehman described smoking as suicide as smokers are unaware of consequences. He said that of all the chemicals involved in cigarettes 50 are causes of cancer. “While smoking is being given up by people in the world, trend is increasing here”, he said and added that generally a cigarette consumes11 minutes of life and it takes 40 minutes to consume one packet which is enough to see the pace with which one is finishing life.

“Even those who don't smoke but spend their time with them are passive smokers”, he disclosed. From religious viewpoint, he said, it was not permitted in our religion because it prevents people from offering prayers and fasting. He said that it creates bad smell in mouth and makes one spendthrift.

Former director JPMC Dr. Hamid Shafqat said that today people need to control diets whether they are rich or poor. He said that in fact people have given up doing labour but they are not changing their diet habits with the result that they are becoming patients of blood sugar and blood pressure.

He said that today people need to take moderate diet. He also cautioned against excessive drinking of water if people are not doing some hard work. He said that today even those poor people who were not cautious about their diet are becoming cardiac patients or diabetics.

Meanwhile, rich tributes were paid to Dr. Saleh Memon by speakers, including Prof Ali Mohammad Ansari, Dr. Hamid Shafqat and Dr. Farooq Memon.