KARACHI: Expressing concern over the rising incidence of hypertension in the country, speakers at a seminar shared that the condition has emerged as one of the most pressing public health challenges in Pakistan where an estimated 400,000 people die of complications caused by high blood pressure every year.
The event was organised by Dow Institute of Cardiology (DIC) in connection with World Hypertension Day on May 15.
Sharing global data, Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) Pro Vice Chancellor Prof Jehan Ara Hasan said that around 1.4 billion people worldwide were living with hypertension, while nearly 10 million deaths annually were linked to the condition globally.
In Pakistan, she pointed out, approximately 33m people suffered from high blood pressure. “But, only 12 per cent know about their condition and take medicines for keeping it under control. The rest are unaware that they are hypertensive,” she said, while describing the situation dangerous.
Experts recommend every adult above 18 should have their blood pressure checked at least once every two years
“Hypertension is a silent killer that leads to several life-threatening complications including stroke, heart disease, kidney failure and vision impairment. Early diagnosis and lifestyle modification are essential to reducing its devastating impact,” Prof Hasan emphasised.
The university, she told the audience, would be utilising its more than 100 laboratory collection units across Karachi as primary healthcare delivery centres, where facilities for blood pressure screening, monitoring and treatment would also be made available.
The speakers warned that hypertension was now increasingly affecting younger age groups, including children between 10 and 20 years of age.
The rising prevalence of high blood pressure, they said, had significantly contributed to the increase in heart attacks and strokes across the country.
In his remarks, DIC Director Dr Tariq Farman said that excessive consumption of salt and spicy foods, smoking and obesity, physical inactivity, mental stress and unhealthy lifestyles were among the major contributing factors to the growing burden of hypertension in Pakistan.
He stressed that positive lifestyle changes — healthier dietary habits, regular physical activity, weight management, smoking cessation and reduced salt intake — could substantially lower the risk of hypertension and related cardiovascular diseases.
Dr Tasadduq Khan and Dr Nauman Kaka Poto cautioned that tobacco use increased the risk of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases by up to 40pc to 42pc.
They also underscored the need for greater public awareness, noting that many patients either remained undiagnosed or failed to take prescribed medication regularly despite living with dangerously high blood pressure.
“People often seek medical attention only after symptoms such as headaches, breathing difficulty or nosebleeds appear, without realising that uncontrolled hypertension may already be damaging the heart, kidneys, brain and eyes,” Prof Hussain Haroon observed.
He added that prolonged uncontrolled hypertension damaged blood vessels and vital organs, increasing the risk of paralysis, kidney disease, heart attacks and blindness.
The speakers called for a national commitment to preventive healthcare and urged people to adopt healthier lifestyles, such as promoting cycling culture over excessive dependence on cars.
Quoting World Health Organisation guidelines, the experts recommended that every adult above the age of 18 should have their blood pressure checked at least once every two years to ensure early detection and timely management of hypertension.
Pakistan Cardiac Society’s general secretary Dr Fawad Farooq, Dr Rukhsanda Jabeen, Dr Nisar Siyal and Dr Jawad-ul-Salam took part in the panel discussion.
Published in Dawn, May 17th, 2026.
