Cancer
Although cancer risk has a genetic component, there are many environmental and lifestyle factors which can have an influence. As the Iranian community in Canada begins to live a more western lifestyle, there are added risk factors which may increase cancer prevalence.
This trend has been observed among females who immigrated to Canada from Iran, as their cancer rates are approaching those of the general population, higher than those of females in Iran (Yavari et al., 2006). This is particularly true of breast cancer rates (Yavari et al., 2006).
Even though this trend has not been observed among male immigrants, the common cancer sites of males who immigrated to Canada are more similar to the Canadian general population than to males in Iran (Yavari et al., 2006). While in Iran, stomach cancer is the most common among males, prostate cancer is most prevalent among male Iranian immigrants (Yavari et al., 2006).
To decrease cancer risks, patients must be counseled to maintain a healthy lifestyle including physical activity and a balanced diet.
Mental health
Much of the Iranian community in Canada arrived after the Islamic revolution and the Iran-Iraq war, in 1979 and 1980 respectively (Bagheri, 1992). As a result, many endured physical and psychological torture and confinement, and involvement in such events has led to a high prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression among Iranian immigrants to Canada (Bagheri, 1992).
There are other factors which affect the mental health of Iranian immigrants in Canada. For example, English proficiency, employment, familial relationships, and discrimination are among the many issues which affect new immigrants (Jafari et al., 2008). English fluency was found to be the most important factor in determining mental health, as lack of proficiency in English leads to increased isolation and anxiety (Jafari et al., 2008). There are also cultural differences which enhance the social isolation of this community and thereby affect their mental health (Jafari et al., 2008).
Learning English is a key step to facilitating social integration and improving the mental health of Iranians in Canada (Jafari et al., 2008).
Obesity and related syndromes
Obesity is often accompanied by other disorders, such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease, which together are referred to as metabolic syndrome (Sarrafzadegan et al., 2008). Although there is a genetic component to this syndrome, much of it is environmentally determined (Sarrafzadegan et al., 2008).
As members of the Iranian community take on an increasingly sedentary lifestyle with poorer diets, metabolic syndrome is becoming more prevalent, particularly among women (Sarrafzadegan et al., 2008). Through education of this community, lifestyle changes can be implemented which will reduce rates of obesity and metabolic syndrome (Sarrafzadegan et al., 2008).
References:
Bagheri, A. (1992). Psychiatric problems among Iranian immigrants in Canada. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 37, (1), 7-11.
Jafari, S., Baharlou, S. & Mathias, R. (2008). Knowledge of Determinants of Mental Health Among Iranian Immigrants of BC, Canada: “A Qualitative Study”. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health.
Sarrafzadegan, N., Kelishadi, R., Baghaei, A., Sadri, G.H., Malekafzali, H., Mohammadifard, N., Rabiei, K., Bahonar, A., Sadeghi, M. & O’Laughlin, J. (2008). Metabolic syndrome: An emerging public health problem in Iranian Women: Isfahan Healthy Heart Program. International Journal of Cardiology, 131, (1), 90-96.
Yavari, P., Hislop, T.G., Bajdik, C., Sadjadi, A., Noraie, M., Babai, M. & Malekzadeh, R. (2006). Comparison of Cancer Incidence in Iran and Iranian Immigrants to British Columbia, Canada. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, 7, (1), 86-90.
