TEHRAN –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.

Cardiovascular diseases

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death globally, taking an estimated 17.9 million lives each year. CVDs are a group of disorders of the heart and blood vessels and include coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, rheumatic heart disease, and other conditions.

More than four out of five CVD deaths are due to heart attacks and strokes, and one-third of these deaths occur prematurely in people under 70 years of age.

Identifying those at highest risk of CVDs and ensuring they receive appropriate treatment can prevent premature deaths

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