Author: Sameed Chaudhary

Every year on 28 July, the world marks World Hepatitis Day. For most countries it is a reminder. For Pakistan, it is an emergency. Pakistan now carries the heaviest hepatitis C burden on the planet, a silent virus known locally as کالا یرقان (kala yarqan) that millions carry without ever knowing. Quick Answer Pakistan has the highest number of hepatitis C cases in the world, with an estimated 10 million people infected, yet most do not know they carry the virus. This World Hepatitis Day, the single most important step you can take is a simple blood test, because hepatitis…

Every Pakistani household has heard it. Your mother, your nani, your khala — someone has told you: “Baal geele hain, zukam ho jayega.” Step outside with wet hair and you’ll catch a cold. It’s one of the most persistent health beliefs passed down through generations, and it feels logical enough. But here’s what the science actually says: going out with wet hair does not give you a cold. The belief is understandable, but it isn’t supported by medical evidence. That said, wet hair isn’t entirely harmless either — and the real risks are ones most people don’t think about. This…

University life in Pakistan hits differently when your monthly allowance runs out by the third week. Between hostel mess food that’s heavy on oil and light on vegetables, late-night samosas during exam season, and the temptation of a Rs. 400 shawarma after a long day of lectures, eating well feels like a luxury. It doesn’t have to be. According to data from TechJuice’s 2026 university cost breakdown, a single Pakistani student spends roughly PKR 10,000 to 15,000 on food per month when eating out regularly. Students who self-cook spend PKR 5,000 to 8,000 on groceries for the same period. That…

Summer in Pakistan arrives fast and stays long. From May to August, cities like Lahore, Karachi, and Multan regularly see temperatures above 40°C, and when load shedding cuts power for 8 to 12 hours a day, the heat inside a closed room can become genuinely dangerous. The combination is not just uncomfortable. Research published in the Pakistan Journal of Medical & Health Sciences (2023) documented that power outages directly worsen heat-related illness by cutting access to fans, air conditioning, and even water pumps. In the 2015 Karachi heatwave, over 1,300 deaths were recorded, with load shedding, urban heat buildup, and…

Most office workers in Pakistan spend eight to ten hours a day seated: first in traffic on the way to work, then at a desk, then in traffic again on the way home. By the time you reach your house in Karachi or Lahore after a two-hour commute, the last thing on your mind is exercise. The problem is that this pattern adds up fast. According to the WHO, physical inactivity is one of the leading risk factors for non-communicable diseases globally, and Pakistan already carries a heavy burden of diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. Sitting for long stretches without…

Every summer, millions of Pakistanis face the same dilemma: the doctor said to walk thirty minutes a day, but stepping outside at noon feels genuinely dangerous. Karachi’s humidity sits above 80% through July and August, Lahore bakes under dry heat that crosses 42°C by afternoon, and Multan regularly records temperatures above 47°C in June. The question isn’t whether to exercise — it’s when. The answer is simpler than most people think, but the details matter. The difference between a safe morning walk and a midday one isn’t just comfort; it’s the difference between a productive workout and a medical emergency.…

Daal chawal is probably the most eaten meal in Pakistan, and yet it gets almost no respect. People call it the fallback dinner, the lazy lunch, the thing you cook when nothing else is planned. Nutritionally, though, it deserves a second look. Across Pakistani households, from a small flat in Karachi’s Gulshan to a family home in Lahore’s Model Town, a pot of masoor or moong daal with plain basmati rice is on the stove several times a week. It costs very little, takes under 30 minutes, and keeps the stomach full for hours. That combination alone makes it worth…

Quick Answer Common foods that trigger migraines include caffeine (especially from chai), MSG-rich dishes like biryani and fast food, aged or processed cheese, pickled foods like achar, citrus fruits, chocolate, artificial sweeteners, processed meats, and tyramine-containing fermented foods. No single food triggers migraines in every person — triggers are highly individual. Keeping a headache diary is the most reliable way to find yours. Migraines are more than a bad headache. The throbbing pain, nausea, and sensitivity to light can put you out of action for hours, sometimes a full day. Millions of Pakistanis deal with recurring attacks without ever connecting…

Quick Answer High blood pressure (hypertension) means the force of blood against your artery walls is consistently above 130/80 mmHg. Low blood pressure (hypotension) means it falls below 90/60 mmHg. Hypertension is generally the more serious long-term threat because it silently damages the heart, kidneys, and brain over years, often with no symptoms at all. Low blood pressure tends to cause more immediate, noticeable symptoms like dizziness and fainting, but is less likely to cause permanent organ damage unless it drops severely. Blood pressure readings come up in almost every doctor’s visit in Pakistan, yet most people leave the clinic…

Quick Answer A cough caused by pneumonia tends to produce coloured mucus (yellow, green, or blood-tinged), comes with a high fever and chest pain, and does not improve after five to seven days. A regular cold or throat infection stays in the upper airways and usually clears within a week without causing breathlessness. If your cough is getting worse instead of better, that is the clearest signal to see a doctor. Most coughs in Pakistan start the same way: a scratchy throat, a few days of runny nose, and a dry hack that wakes you at night. For the majority…