Hypertension affects 1 in 3 adults worldwide, and its prevalence in Pakistan is estimated at 42% of the adult population, highlighting the significant burden of the condition in the country. To address this health issue, Getz Pharma organized over 50 health screening camps held in 19 cities across Pakistan in which more than 10,000 adults were provided with blood pressure screening.
The free screening camps offered cholesterol checks, identifying elevated readings and encouraging participants to seek medical evaluation and regular follow-up. Cardiologists at the various camps emphasized the importance of screening drives because hypertension often has no obvious symptoms, and when blood pressure is persistently elevated and untreated, it can damage blood vessels, the heart, brain, and kidneys over the years.
The cardiologists commended the effort to raise public awareness of the importance of regular blood pressure checks at the community and primary-care levels. They emphasized that a single reading does not establish a final diagnosis, which requires repeat measurements and clinical assessment.
NICVD Associate Professor of Electrophysiology Dr. Ghazala Irfan urged people to adopt healthier lifestyles and regularly monitor their cardiovascular risk factors. “Your heart beats about 100,000 times a day. Give it a reason to keep going strong. Eat smart, move more, check your numbers, and manage stress. This World Heart Day, protect the rhythm that keeps your world turning,” she said.
Director of the PIMS Cardiac Center Dr. Fazal Aziz Mian stressed the importance of prevention, timely screening, and medical care for protecting people from cardiovascular disease. “Your heart is at the center of your life. Take care of it, protect it, and encourage others to do the same,” he said.
PIMS consultant cardiologist and Associate Professor of Cardiology Dr. Syed Nasir Ali Shah also called for greater public awareness and more physically active lifestyles. “World Heart Day inspires people to care for their cardiovascular health and live life actively,” Dr. Shah said.
The health screening camps were organized by Getz Pharma on the occasion of World Heart Day in 19 cities: Karachi, Lahore, Multan, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Sukkur, Rahim Yar Khan, Abbottabad, Sialkot, Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Sahiwal, Dera Ismail Khan, Swat, Quetta, Hyderabad, and Nawabshah.
