Warning of a 'Significant' Decrease in Stroke Age in Iran

The representative of the Iranian Stroke Association has warned of a 'significant' decrease in the age of stroke occurrence in the country, stating that 100,000 people suffer from strokes annually in Iran. In an interview with ISNA on Friday, August 4, Elaheh Taghavi Zahmatkesh introduced stroke as the 'second leading cause of death' and 'the first cause of long-term disability' in Iran. According to her, 'every five minutes, one person suffers from a stroke' in Iran. She noted that out of every 'five people who suffer a stroke, one is under 55 years old.' The representative expressed concern over the increasing stroke statistics in the country and the decreasing age of those affected. Iran's Minister of Health, Hassan Ghazizadeh Hashemi, also mentioned on August 2 during a ceremony honoring top hospitals managing strokes and heart diseases that 'every five to ten minutes, one person [in Iran] suffers from a stroke [either heart or brain].' The Minister previously stated that Iran is still far from the standards of advanced countries in preventing strokes and providing medical care. Fereydoun Noohi, head of Shahid Rajaei Heart Hospital in Tehran, confirmed the high statistics of strokes and heart diseases in Iran, stating that according to statistics from 2011, '46.2% of deaths were due to heart diseases and 19.7% were due to heart strokes.' He indicated that these statistics show that 'intervention measures have a direct effect on reducing complications from strokes and lowering costs for the health system.' In April of this year, Babak Zamani, head of the International Congress of Neurology and Clinical Electrophysiology, reported an increase in the statistics of 'cognitive decline' in Iran and mentioned that some treatments, such as stroke treatment, have not progressed as they should in Iran. Neurologists believe that the short-term lack of blood supply to brain cells due to rupture or clotting of blood causes strokes. Unhealthy diets, high tobacco consumption, improper lifestyles, and sedentary habits contribute to obesity, increased fat, and blood pressure, leading to heart and brain complications. According to media reports, experts believe that although life expectancy in Iran has increased, the prevalence of heart and brain diseases has also risen among the younger generation.