Experts Warn of Rising Heart Disease Risk Among Pakistani Women

Pakistani women have the highest death rate from ischaemic heart disease among five South Asian countries studied, health experts cautioned on Monday.

Key points

• PharmEvo Director Marketing Samar Iqbal remarked the Discovering Diabetes and Discovering Hypertension initiatives are helping identify residents who do not know they have these conditions.
• Pakistan Cardiac Society General Secretary Prof Dr Fawad Farooq remarked stress is another major contributor to cardiovascular disease.
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• Prof Dr Mansoor Ahmed of the Karachi Institute of Heart Diseases remarked the long-held belief that women do not develop heart disease has been proven wrong.
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Cardiologists, physicians and gynaecologists remarked high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and physical inactivity are increasing the risk of heart disease among women.

Speaking at a press conference at the Karachi Press Club ahead of World Heart Day, they remarked heart disease in women remains widely ignored as of misconceptions, poor screening and subdued follow-up after pregnancy and childbirth.

Notably, the event was organized by Discovering Hypertension in collaboration with the Pakistan Cardiac Society, the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Pakistan, the Pakistan Society of Internal Medicine and Go Red for Women. New Drug Offers Treatment Option for Rare Bone Disease.

While families additionally fail to offer enough attention to women's medical needs, he remarked women often put their own health behind household responsibilities. He continued that limited physical activity is additionally increasing risk.

Prof Dr Mansoor Ahmed remarked diabetes has become a major public health challenge in Pakistan and often appears alongside cardiovascular disease. He pressed regular screening for women living with diabetes, high blood pressure or obesity.

After childbirth and after menopause, prof Dr Tazeen Abbas, secretary general of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Pakistan, remarked women's heart health needs attention during pregnancy. US FDA Approves New Parkinson's Drug.

She remarked numerous women stop prescribed medicines during pregnancy or discontinue blood pressure treatment after delivery. She pressed women to consult doctors for medicine adjustment instead of stopping treatment on their own.

She continued that high blood pressure detected during pregnancy is often ignored after childbirth, even though the health risk continues. She additionally cautioned that pregnancy-associated cardiomyopathy can become serious if not diagnosed and treated in time.

Prof Dr Tazeen Abbas remarked anaemia and closely spaced pregnancies additionally burden women's health, making family planning, birth spacing and follow-up care essential.

She advised women to exercise regularly and reduce their intake of bakery items, fried foods, soft drinks and sugary juices.

Senior obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Halima Yasmeen remarked heart disease has been detected in around four percent of pregnant women screened at her clinical service.

She remarked pregnancy offers an notable chance to detect high blood pressure and previously undiagnosed heart disease, and such patients need coordinated care from obstetricians, physicians and cardiologists.

Prof Dr Shabnam Naveed, head of medicine at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre and Jinnah Sindh Medical University, remarked lack of screening is one of the biggest barriers to prevention.

She remarked cardiovascular risk factors were present in more than 90 percent of women attending the diabetes clinic at JPMC, showing the close link between diabetes, hypertension, obesity and heart disease.

He remarked Pakistan lacks an effective primary and secondary cardiovascular care network, forcing specialized hospitals to handle substantial numbers of heart attack and chest pain patients. Punjab Hospital Gets State-of-the-Art Cath Lab.

He cautioned that some patients stop taking prescribed medicines shortly after angioplasty, increasing the risk of complications. He remarked stronger primary care, proper follow-up and continued medication are needed to prevent repeat heart attacks.

For context, the warning is backed by a 2026 study published in JACC: Asia. It compared Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan using Global Burden of Disease estimates.

Notably, the study discovered that Pakistan had the highest age-standardised death rate from ischaemic heart disease among women in 2021. It additionally demonstrated that Pakistan was the only country in the study where deaths relative to estimated cases were higher among women than men.

High blood pressure and diets low in vegetables and fibre were identified as the leading contributors to heart disease deaths among Pakistani women.

He remarked the campaign is now focusing on women's heart health and bringing medical societies together to promote screening, prevention and timely treatment. Stay Connected with ProPakistani. Obtain the latest news and stories wherever you prefer. Follow on Google Discover.

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For now, experts Warn of Rising Heart Disease Risk Among Pakistani Women remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.