World Heart Day at AKU

Children with Unhealthy Lifestyles at Risk of Heart Disease

Obesity, poor diet, smoking and physical inactivity are the leading causes of heart disease and stroke, and the process starts in childhood. Research shows that overweight children are three to five times more likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke before they reach the age of 65 than children of normal weight.

Large number of people attend the World Heart Day organised by Aga Khan University (AKU), Karachi in collaboration with Pakistan Cardiac Society on September 26, 2004 to create awareness of the mounting health risks faced by children.

Worldwide over 300 million adults and 22 million children under the age of five are obese and many more are overweight.

Children participated in a poster and poetry competition titled 'Protecting your Heart' and prizes were awarded to three winners from each competition.

Prompted by this staggering revelation, the theme of World Heart Day 2004 is 'Children, Adolescents and Heart Disease.' In this connection, a programme was organised by Aga Khan University (AKU), Karachi in collaboration with Pakistan Cardiac Society on September 26, 2004 to create awareness of the mounting health risks faced by children, and to educate families about the importance of good diet and physical activity in pre-empting heart attacks and strokes later in life.

A souvenir was presented to the well-known singer Bilal Maqsood (centre) by Nadeem Mustafa Khan, CEO, AKU (right). Also seen in the picture is Anwar Maqsood (left).

The event, which was held at the AKU Football Ground and featured a mela as well as a musical show by Bilal Maqsood and Noori, drew over three thousand participants comprising children and their parents. Satire supremo Anwar Maqsood interacted with children and highlighted the messages of World Heart Day. Children from various city schools also participated in a poster and poetry competition titled 'Protecting your Heart' and prizes were awarded to three winners from each competition.

World Heart Day 2004, held at the AKU Football Ground, featured a mela as well as a musical show by Bilal Maqsood and Noori.

"It is necessary to adopt a healthy lifestyle in childhood. That is the most effective way to prevent heart disease later in life," said Dr Khawar Kazmi, Head, Section of Cardiology at Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH). The priority for every mother, he added, should be to encourage her children to lead a more physically active life. "Two-thirds of children worldwide are insufficiently active. Children and adolescents who have balanced, nutritious diets, exercise regularly and resist the pressure to start smoking, should grow into fit and healthy adults," Dr Kazmi observed.

Well known television personality Anwar Maqsood and Dr. Khawar Kazmi, Associate Professor and Head Cardiology, AKU, highlighted the messages of World Heart Day.

Dr Javaid A. Khan, Professor and Consultant Chest Physician at AKUH, warned the audience of the harmful effects of tobacco which "threatens the future cardiac health of children." Globally, he added, nearly 25 per cent of all students smoke, having lit their first cigarette before the age of 10. "The situation is exacerbated by the fact that almost half of all children worldwide live with smokers and are regularly subjected to second-hand smoke in the home environment," disclosed Dr Khan. "Such children involuntarily suffer from many of the diseases associated with active smokers and run a 25 per cent increased risk of developing both heart disease and lung cancer. There is also an 80 per cent increased risk of stroke," he added.

A souvenir being presented to Ali Noor, lead singer of the band Nori by Nadeem Mustafa Khan, CEO, AKU.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Salma H. Badruddin, Professor and Consultant Nutritionist at AKUH, stressed that the habits of good eating and physical activity must be developed in childhood. "Not only is obesity in children a problem, our research has found high cholesterol levels in a very large percentage of schoolchildren in Karachi, many of whom are in the normal weight range," Dr Badruddin revealed. She added that when children and their parents were counselled about healthy diets and lifestyles, they were able to make positive changes in their eating and physical activity patterns. Dr Badruddin pointed out that "parents must serve as role models with regard to eating and activity patterns if children are to develop healthy lifestyles. As such it is important for both parents and children to stay informed." In particular, Dr Badruddin highlighted the role schools can play in imparting relevant knowledge to both children and parents.