TEHRAN –The 8th intl. congress on heart failure will be held from November 27 to 29 at Tehran’s Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences.

Heart failure happens when the heart cannot pump enough blood and oxygen to support other organs in the body. Heart failure is a serious condition, but it does not mean that the heart has stopped beating.

There is no cure for heart failure, but with the right treatment, a patient can still lead an enjoyable, meaningful, and productive life.

Supported by the World Heart Failure Society (WHFS), European Heart Failure Society, and the Szeged University of Hungary, the three-day event will bring together many national and international experts and specialists in internal medicine, cardiovascular surgery, anesthesia, as well as pharmacists, Borna news agency reported.

The congress aims to introduce modern approaches for the diagnosis and treatment of heart failure and highlight ways to prevent heart failure.

The most common symptoms of heart failure are shortness of breath, fatigue, leg swollen, and pulmonary edema (when the heart is not able to pump efficiently, blood can back up into the veins that take blood through the lungs).

Sadly, heart failure prevalence is increasing due to modern lifestyle, improper diet, and air pollution.

Delayed diagnosis will increase the economic burden of the disease on individuals as well as the health system. 

The event will also raise awareness about the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, managing blood sugar, pressure, and fat, as well as avoiding smoking. 

Additionally, it encourages everyone to seek medical care promptly if they experience any symptoms of heart failure; the event highlights the pivotal role of nurses in heart failure management.

On the sidelines of the summit, an exhibition of the pharmaceutical equipment including diagnostic and therapeutic tools such as echocardiography, and angiography will be held.

International Congress on Cardiovascular Updates 

The 24th International Congress on Cardiovascular Updates is scheduled to be held from September 17 to 20 in Tehran.

The Iranian Society of Atherosclerosis will host the congress.

The main objective of the congress is to showcase the latest diagnostic, preventive, and therapeutic findings in cardiology, as well as the role of artificial intelligence in the treatment of heart diseases, Mehr news agency reported.

The event will host over 5,000 domestic and international attendees from North America, Italy, and Turkey.

Also, the congress serves as a platform to develop a communication network among researchers of various cardiovascular fields, as well as an opportunity to share and exchange theories and scientific experiences in the field.

Showcasing new pharmaceutical products, and the latest technologies as well as medical equipment, that play an effective role in speeding up the recovery of patients, are among other goals of the four-day congress.

So far, the Iranian Society of Atherosclerosis has worked toward achieving goals including scientific improvement of cardiologists, helping conduct broader medical research and education in fields of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

Heart diseases responsible for 40% of annual deaths in Iran

“Cardiovascular diseases, mainly heart attacks, account for 40 percent of annual death in the country. Car accidents, diabetes, and cancers are the next important risk factors among non-communicable diseases,” ISNA quoted Kourosh Etemad, a health ministry official, as saying.

In addition to high blood pressure, low physical activity, unhealthy diet, smoking, and drinking alcohol are four risk factors for cardiovascular diseases.

Those aged 30 and older are suggested to go to health centers to be checked for probable high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart diseases.

A three-month, six-month, and one-year care plan will be arranged for those who visit health centers based on their age, family history, and overweight. This program helps to detect the disease earlier or control the risk factors in people.

Unfortunately, in our country, as in many other countries of the world, half of the people are unaware of their high blood pressure disease. Only 50 percent of those who are aware of their high blood pressure take medicine.

This means that in addition to informing people about their disease, we must also give the necessary recommendations regarding its control and treatment.

MT/MG