A recently concluded medical program that examined the health of Pakistanis in the Eastern Province revealed that the Pakistani community maintains a healthier lifestyle than other expatriate groups. The Pakistani community in the region sponsored a medical camp in cooperation with the Mohammed Al-Dossary Hospital. About 359 Pakistanis working in various job sectors underwent three kinds of medical checkups: blood pressure, cholesterol and sugar tests. The event was attended by officials from the Pakistani Embassy in Riyadh and organized by the Pakistani Community Club. “Health awareness – taking care of your lifestyle – is a must for everybody, particularly for foreign workers in this country who have access to luxuries,” said Dr. M.F. Siddique, quality management director and chief surgeon of the Mohammed Al-Dossary Hospital. It was discovered that 254 individuals or 71 percent out of the 359 had normal blood pressure, cholesterol and sugar levels. Whereas 105 individuals were diagnosed with problems related to blood pressure, cholesterol and sugar. “Less fatty food and exercise can help reduce sugar and cholesterol levels,” Dr. Siddique said. The hospital also conducted medical checkups for the Filipino and Indian communities last year. Of the 459 Filipinos who submitted themselves for medical examination during the Overseas Filipino Workers Congress Medical Camp, 148 were found to have high cholesterol, sugar and blood pressure levels. Filipinos found to have normal blood pressure and controlled levels of cholesterol and sugar numbered 311 or 68 percent. Of the 864 Indians who underwent medical checkups, 308 of them were found to have abnormalities, while 556 of them had normal test results. After vehicular accidents, the second cause of death among expatriates is heart attack, resulting from a combination of high blood pressure, cholesterol and sugar levels. “This is why it is important to have regular checkups and live a moderate lifestyle,” Dr. Siddique told members of the Pakistani community.
