Burnout and Lifestyle Diseases Claiming Pakistani Doctors at a Young Age
Islamabad: Doctors and physicians in Pakistan are dying at a relatively young age due to lifestyle-related diseases, severe burnout and, in some cases, suicide, as they continue to neglect their own health while caring for others. This warning was issued by senior cardiologists and mental health experts on Thursday.
Presenting data, experts said that nearly six out of every ten doctors suffer from significant burnout, while the suicide rate among physicians is almost double that of the general population. Despite this alarming situation, only about one-third of doctors seek professional medical or psychological help. The issue was highlighted during a nationwide academic forum titled “Life in a Metro”, organised under the Mediverse initiative by Hudson Pharma, where speakers described doctors as the most neglected patients within the healthcare system.
Delivering the keynote address, interventional cardiologist and internal medicine specialist Dr M Rehan Omer Siddiqi said physician burnout in Pakistan has silently escalated into a full-blown crisis. Citing international and regional evidence, he explained that long working hours, chronic sleep deprivation, poor diet, lack of physical activity and constant psychological pressure are pushing doctors towards early heart disease, diabetes, depression and substance abuse.
“We constantly talk about ‘do no harm’, yet many doctors are quietly harming themselves,” he remarked, adding that self-diagnosis, self-prescribing and delaying proper medical care are common practices among physicians. According to Dr Siddiqi, a deeply ingrained culture of endurance and guilt prevents doctors from prioritising their own wellbeing, while many view taking time off as a sign of weakness or a betrayal of patients and colleagues.
Using the analogy of oxygen masks on an aircraft, he stressed that doctors must secure their own health before they can effectively care for others. “A healthy doctor provides safer and better care. Staying healthy is not a luxury; it is a professional responsibility,” he said, urging healthcare institutions to promote teamwork, task delegation and realistic workloads.
Dr Siddiqi further warned that prolonged stress is not merely an emotional issue but a direct cardiac risk. Data shared during the session showed that chronic stress and burnout are linked to hypertension, metabolic disorders and an increased risk of sudden cardiac events, particularly among doctors working in high-pressure urban environments.
Consultant psychiatrist and psychotherapist Dr Kulsoom Haider spoke on the mind-body connection and emotional resilience, stating that depression and anxiety are among the most common mental health conditions worldwide and often manifest through physical symptoms when left unaddressed. “The body keeps the score,” she said, noting that unresolved emotions frequently appear as fatigue, chest tightness, gastrointestinal problems and even stress-induced cardiac conditions such as broken heart syndrome.
Referring to research, she explained that emotional responses occur thousands of times faster than logical reasoning, meaning prolonged fear, grief and stress can overwhelm the nervous system. She emphasised the importance of emotional regulation through simple daily practices such as controlled breathing, mindfulness, gratitude and awareness of bodily sensations to restore balance between the heart, brain and body.
During the discussion, speakers noted that metropolitan life further intensifies physician stress due to traffic congestion, smog, heavy patient loads and seasonal depression, particularly during winter. Several panellists observed that doctors often spend their most productive years caring for others while postponing their own lives, only to face isolation, illness or emotional exhaustion later.
In his closing remarks, Hudson Pharma’s General Manager Marketing and Sales, Khawaja Ahaduddin, said healthcare professionals are more important than any product or brand. He stated that the company aims to strengthen pharma–physician relationships not merely for promotion but for scientific advancement, academic growth, patients’ welfare and the wellbeing of doctors themselves. He warned that if doctors continue to suffer from burnout and neglect their health, the entire healthcare system will become unsustainable.
Experts concluded that unless burnout, emotional exhaustion and self-neglect among doctors are urgently addressed through institutional reforms, mental health support and cultural change, Pakistan risks losing its healers prematurely, with serious consequences for patient safety and the future of healthcare delivery.
Read in Urdu: برن آؤٹ اور طرزِ زندگی کی بیماریاں پاکستانی ڈاکٹروں کو کم عمری میں نگلنے لگیں
