Approximately 500,000 Iranians Suffer from Heart and Brain Attacks Annually

Reza Malekzadeh, Deputy Minister for Research and Technology at the Ministry of Health, states that around 500,000 citizens in Iran suffer from heart and brain attacks each year, with nearly 160,000 losing their lives. According to Mehr News Agency, Malekzadeh made these remarks at the Fourth Joint Congress of Cardiology and Vascular Diseases in Rajaei Heart Hospital in Tehran. He identified the background of heart and brain diseases as being related to cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar, obesity, and lack of physical activity, adding that 'nearly half of the people in the country develop high blood pressure and cholesterol by the age of 50.' According to the Deputy Minister of Health, about 30% of cardiovascular complications and heart and brain attacks occur among young individuals under 55 years of age. Malekzadeh also criticized Iran's lag in the area of 'prevention' of heart diseases, stating that to prevent heart diseases, 'we must be able to change people's lifestyles.' He urged the public to modify their lifestyles to prevent heart and brain attacks by avoiding the consumption of fats, sugars, salt, cigarettes, fast foods, and ready-made meals. Malekzadeh's statements come as Jalaleddin Mirzaei, President of the Iranian Nutrition Society, reported that 12 grams of salt are consumed daily in Iran, while the global standard is 5 grams. He attributed the excessive consumption of fast food in Iran as one of the reasons for the high salt intake in the country. Fereydoun Noohi, President of the Iranian Heart and Vascular Association, also noted that the mortality rates from heart diseases in the country are higher than in developed countries. Noohi stated, 'Despite our people's awareness of the risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, they do not pay the necessary attention to controlling them and adhering to their knowledge.' He identified high salt, oil, and sugar consumption as primary factors contributing to heart diseases and added that 'air pollution should also be considered as a contributing cause of heart and vascular diseases in Iran.' Saeed Hosseini, a faculty member at Rajaei Heart Hospital, noted that the average age of heart and vascular diseases in Iran is lower than the global standard and called on health officials to promote 'cultural change' to alter the lifestyles of the country's people. Experts believe that although life expectancy in Iran has increased, cardiovascular diseases have also risen among the younger generation. Unhealthy diets, high tobacco use, incorrect lifestyles, and lack of physical activity contribute to obesity, increased cholesterol and blood pressure, and consequently heart and brain complications.