KARACHI: With a worrying surge in heart attacks and cardiac deaths among younger adults, the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) has launched its World Heart Day campaign, “Heart Over Habit”, urging people to adopt heart-healthy lifestyles and break harmful routines.
Cardiovascular diseases, once linked mainly to older age groups, are increasingly striking people in their 30s and 40s due to sedentary habits, poor diets, smoking, unmanaged stress, and the lack of regular health check-ups. To address this alarming trend, AKUH—along with Docs On Wheels and members of Karachi’s cycling community—organized public awareness events encouraging preventive action and healthier choices.
“The rising number of cardiac events among younger adults is a reminder that heart disease is shaped by the choices we make,” said Professor Dr Farhat Abbas, CEO of AKU Health System, Pakistan. “Heart Over Habit urges us to stay active, eat well, manage stress and address risks like smoking and high blood pressure, because prevention is far more powerful than treatment.”
The World Heart Day celebrations opened with a vibrant-red Mini Marathon on September 21, where AKUH leaders, faculty, students, and staff walked side by side to promote physical activity. A Cycling Ride followed, uniting doctors, nurses, students, and cycling enthusiasts for a symbolic journey from the AKU Sports and Rehabilitation Centre to Boat Basin, highlighting the role of exercise in preventing cardiovascular disease.
“Heart disease often remains silent until it becomes life-threatening,” noted Professor Dr Saulat Fatimi, Cardiothoracic Surgeon at AKUH. “Many patients could have avoided angioplasty or bypass surgery through earlier lifestyle changes and regular screenings.”
AKUH’s campaign reinforces that heart health begins with everyday choices. “Heart Over Habit” is more than a slogan—it is a commitment to prevention and a healthier future.
