In Karachi, one of South Asia's largest urban centres, hospitals are witnessing a surge in patients with cardiac complaints. Doctors note that cases of heart attack, previously more common among the elderly, are now appearing among younger adults - even teenagers. "Before the pandemic, between 2018 and 2019, our hospital admitted around 1,000 to 1,500 patients annually for urgent cardiac procedures such as angioplasty, angiography, or bypass surgery," explained Dr Farhala Baloch, consultant cardiologist at Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH). "Since 2021, the number has more than doubled, with 2,500-3,000 patients every year. While modern facilities have helped us save many lives, we are deeply concerned about the increasing number of younger patients who do not survive massive heart attacks."