KARACHI: Heart diseases among Pakistani working women in urban areas are on the rise as they experience higher stress levels while managing both family life and professional responsibilities, shared an expert at a symposium held at a local hotel on Monday.

The event was jointly organised by the Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) and Help International Welfare Trust in connection with World Heart Day.

According to the speakers, while there has been an overall increase in heart ailments in Pakistani population due to multiple factors, including obesity, sedentary lifestyles, and poor dietary habits, the prevalence of these illnesses in women is a neglected subject.

“One out of every three women worldwide suffers from high blood pressure. This rate is much higher in our country, where working women in urban areas have dual responsibilities. Today, we see an increasing number of professional Pakistani women suffering from hypertension and heart diseases,” said Dr Khalida Soomro, former head of cardiology at DUHS.

She advised women to control their weight and make time for exercise. “If you cannot go out to exercise, then do it at home. Take care of yourself as you look after the needs of your family,” she remarked.

In her speech, Dr Najia Soomro, Assistant Professor at Liaquat National Hospital, expressed concern that heart diseases among young women were being overlooked.

“It’s a major problem. One in five women complains of anxiety or stress, which are actually symptoms of cardiovascular disease,” she said, adding that the rate of heart disease was increasing among women aged 35 to 54.

Discussing the harmful effects of smoking on heart health, Dr Khawar Kazmi, a senior cardiologist at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, said that smoking narrows the blood vessels and increases cancer risk.

“The risk of heart disease increases with the number of cigarettes smoked. One of the leading causes of cardiovascular diseases is smoking, and the rate is 3.33 among young adults.

“The leading cause of death from heart attacks at a young age today is the use of modern forms of smoking, such as velo (nicotine patch), e-cigarettes, and vapes, which may look fashionable but significantly increase the risk of heart diseases among young people,” he said.

The experts noted that Pakistani adults tend to develop heart diseases a decade earlier than their counterparts in western countries. They attributed this to factors such as obesity and smoking, while stressing the need for positive lifestyle changes.

“Obesity leads to diseases like Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, imbalanced cholesterol levels, and endothelial dysfunction, all of which contribute to heart disease,” said Dr Nouman Kakepoto, Assistant Professor at DUHS, while discussing obesity-related premature deaths from heart disease.

Explaining how exercise improves heart health, senior expert Dr Kaleemullah Sheikh, affiliated with Liaquat National Hospital, emphasised that physical activity helps prevent heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, and reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety.

“It’s better to measure steps; everyone has electronic devices, but very few monitor their walking. Thirty-eight seconds of walking means 38 steps toward better health,” he said.

Other speakers included Prof Muhammad Ishaque, the chief guest, Dr Khalid Bhatti, Dr Muhammad Nawaz Lashari, Dr Tariq Ashraf, and Dr Mansoor Ahmed.

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2024