Number of young widows, orphan kids rising as married men dying of heart attacks, strokes: experts

#Number #young #widows #orphan #kids #rising #married #men #dying #heart #attacks #strokes #experts

ISLAMABAD: Samia, a 32-year-old mother of two from Islamabad, was thrown into an uncertain future when her husband, a 38-year-old property dealer, died suddenly of a heart attack. His two children, aged six and four, are now facing life without their father.

Sadly, Samia’s story is not unique in its area. Three other young widows with children are facing the untimely death of their husbands due to heart attacks before the age of 40. These women are now the sole providers for their families, forced to take up low-paid jobs, such as teaching or domestic work, to support their children and ensure their education.

Ironically, Samia’s mother-in-law Amina also met a similar fate. Thirty-five years ago, Amina lost her husband, who died of a heart attack at the age of 45. This grim pattern of early death is becoming increasingly common in Pakistan, where experts have warned of an alarming rise in heart attacks among young people.

According to Professor Khawar Kazmi, Senior Cardiologist, National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), about 15 percent of heart attack victims in Pakistan are below 40 years of age.

Every hour 47 people die of heart attack in Pakistan and 12 to 15 of them are young people under the age of 40. Most of these men are married with children. This has led to an increase in the number of young widows and orphans who are facing severe economic and social hardships.

Professor Kazmi, who now focuses on preventive cardiology, highlights the burden on families after the loss of a primary breadwinner. “Women and children bear the brunt of these early deaths. Many widows become dependent on their in-laws, parents or other relatives, while others are forced into low-wage jobs to make ends meet. can,” he explains.

Heart attack survivors also face lifelong challenges. “They need medicines worth Rs 10,000 to 15,000 a month and live in fear of another attack,” he adds.

Dr. Akram Sultan, a Karachi-based cardiologist and coordinator of Pakistan Cardiac Society’s Karachi chapter, has identified high blood pressure and smoking as major causes of early heart attacks in Pakistani men. He attributes this to high salt intake, poor dietary habits, lack of physical activity and smoking.

“Unhealthy lifestyles, combined with uncontrolled high blood pressure, are leading to heart attacks in men in their 30s and 40s,” he explains. Dr. Sultan urges people to adopt a healthy lifestyle, including reducing salt intake, exercising 45 minutes a day, avoiding smoking, and managing diabetes and high blood pressure.

Crisis is not limited to heart attacks. Pakistan is also witnessing an increasing incidence of stroke, with similar risk factors. More than 400,000 people suffer from strokes in Pakistan every year, with around 150,000 deaths, reveals Aga Khan University neurologist Dr Muhammad Wase.

“Half of the survivors are dependent on others because of the disability,” he says. Dr. Vasse emphasizes the importance of prevention, saying, “More than half of all strokes can be prevented by controlling high blood pressure. More Additionally, 80-90% can be avoided by controlling cholesterol and blood sugar levels, quitting smoking and exercising regularly.”

Dr. Munir Afzal, a young neurologist at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC) in Karachi notes that strokes are now occurring in younger people in their early 40s. “The causes and risk factors for stroke are the same as for heart attack. Major strokes often lead to death, while minor strokes leave people disabled for life,” he explains. He warned. That this growing trend is leading to an increase in young widows and orphans in the society.

Health experts agree that addressing the underlying causes of heart disease and stroke is imperative. This includes promoting awareness of healthy lifestyles, reducing salt intake, encouraging physical activity, and managing chronic conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes.

As Pakistan grapples with the twin crises of heart attack and stroke among its young population, the social and economic toll on families, especially widows and children, continues to mount. Urgent preventive measures are needed to save lives and protect families from the devastating consequences of these treatable diseases.