Najm, at the opening of the 22nd Saudi Heart Association Conference at the Inter Continental Hotel in Riyadh on Monday, reported that 20% of deaths [...]]]>

Dr. Hani Najm, president of the Saudi Heart Association, mentioned that the reasons around the growing incidence of heart diseases in the Kingdom are Obesity, smoking, junk food and lazy lifestyles.

Najm, at the opening of the 22nd Saudi Heart Association Conference at the Inter Continental Hotel in Riyadh on Monday, reported that 20% of deaths across the world are due to heart problems. He noted that according to a study released by the association, one in every two people in the Gulf area suffers from high cholesterol which is considered the main cause of heart problems.

More than 3,000 experts in different heart-related specialties are participating in the conference titled “Your Heart Your Life.” Najd reported that the SHA formed a number of committees in order to ensure the event’s success.

The head of the scientific committee, Waleed Abu Khodair, mentioned that the conference offers an opportunity to review all new advances in the field. He also said that the fundamental aim of the conference is to promote scientific research. In addition, he said “The Saudi Heart Association is building strong relations with nominated international scientific associations to enable continuity in presenting new and advanced findings in the field,”

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In another study, the Diabetes Atlas survey, the incidence of diabetes in Egypt last year was 10.4 percent.

These issues [...]]]>

In a study by the International Obesity Task Force in Egypt, nearly 80 percent of women in Egypt are overweight and 46.6 percent obese. In addition, more than 25 percent of children aged 4 years are overweight.

In another study, the Diabetes Atlas survey, the incidence of diabetes in Egypt last year was 10.4 percent.

These issues were the focus of the recently held 13th congress of the Egyptian Society of Endocrinology and Obesity and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists at Hilton Green Plaza Hotel in Alexandria.

The ‘Nutritious and Delicious’ campaign by Tefal, a leading cookware and small appliance manufacturer, targeted journalists and health professionals in Egypt on the dangers of obesity leading to diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.

“Excess body fat is the largest nutritionally related problem in the world, excess intake of food (carbohydrate, protein and fat) can lead to obesity or at least the maintenance of an overweight body.”

“To a reasonable extent, body weight regulation depends on the balance between energy intake and energy expenditure, high-fat diets are more energy dense than high-carbohydrate diets, and the former favor hyperphagia (increased food intake) With high-fat diets, which are energy dense, more calories are passively ingested than with high-carbohydrate foods,” Dr Ayesh said.

“To prevent obesity a complete change of lifestyle is necessary where one strives to achieve a balanced diet and where moderation and healthy food choices are the keys to good health,” Dr Ayesh stressed.

She also underlined that obesity remains one of the several chronic diseases that have been implicated or linked to dietary and lifestyle factors. Those who are obese are more likely to suffer from life-threatening diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer.

Nathalie Haddad, product manager, Groupe SEB MEA, Indian sub continent, French overseas territories presented Tefal’s new range of products: Nutricook, Actifry and Vitacuisine.

These unique cooking solutions combine nutritional performance and culinary pleasure. All three products are based on advanced and innovative technologies offering high preservation of nutritional quality and maximum flavor of all foods.

“Among the products which we showcased at the event included Nutricook, a pressure cooker with four exclusive cooking programmes that offer optimum cooking for each food group retaining vitamins in food as well as the original colour and texture, making it palatable and healthy,” Haddad said.

She added that Nutricook is the only pressure cooker in the world with four exclusive programmes for meat, vegetables, starchy food, and fish which is being launched in the Middle East simultaneous with the launch in France.

In addition, the popular Tefal product Actifry, was presented at the event along with Vitacuisine, a versatile steamer. Tefal Actifry, has already sold more than a million units worldwide after its launch last year. This revolutionary fryer can cook one kilo of French fries with only one spoonful of oil, using an innovative technology, a statement said.

Haddad concluded that Tefal, the French inventor of non-stick pots and pans and manufacturer of ingenious small household appliances invests in R&D to come up with innovations in household products that people use every day.

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High salt intake is estimated to be the cause of around one third of hypertension cases, worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends an average [...]]]>

UAE doctors are warning that the public is eating too much salt, which increasing their risk of developing high blood pressure which leads to heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and diabetes.

High salt intake is estimated to be the cause of around one third of hypertension cases, worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends an average daily intake of 5 grammes of salt per day. However, in the UAE the average intake of dietary salt is estimated to be around 7 g/pd.

This high intake of dietary salt has been linked to an increase in consumption of fast food and pre-packaged meals in the UAE over recent years these foods not only contain high levels of fat but also high levels of sodium (salt).

Medical estimates put the average consumption of salt in the UAE at 7 grammes per day, which is significantly higher than internationally recommended levels. The need to cut dietary salt is an issue that we urgently need to highlight in the UAE as more people adopt Western lifestyles, which involves an increase in the consumption of packaged, restaurant and fast foods that contain high levels of sodium, warned Dr. Wael Almahmeed, a Cardiologist at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Abu Dhabi, and President of Emirates Cardiac Society (ECS).

Too much dietary salt is a major risk factor for developing hypertension, but people can lower this risk by not adding salt to their food. Hypertension increases the risk of developing stroke, heart disease, in the form of heart attacks and heart failure, and kidney problems, which if left untreated can lead to kidney failure and the need for dialysis, as well as possible loss of sight, added Dr. Arif Al Mulla, Head of Cardiology at Dubai Hospital.

Prevalence data cited by UAE doctors suggests that up to 27.9 percent of the countrys population over the age of 18 suffer from high blood pressure [1], which is known as the silent killer, because it has no obvious symptoms but increases the risk of developing heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and diabetes, all of which reduce life expectancy.

Because of modern lifestyles, which involve eating more fast foods that contain high levels of salt, our children are at a higher risk of high blood pressure at an early age. People should have their blood pressure checked annually and even more regularly if they suffer from obesity, stress and a family history of the disease, which puts you at an even higher risk of developing hypertension, concluded Dr. Abdulla Shehab, Director of Continuing Medical Education for the ECS, and the Faculty of Medicine at UAE University, Al Ain.

Thousands of UAE residents have undergone free blood pressure screening and education in the past week at nine different events held at hospitals, private companies and shopping malls across the country, with the support of Novartis, the global sponsors of this years World Hypertension Day (see associated press release attached).

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WHO Regional Director Hussein Gezairy said NCDs are currently responsible for over half of all deaths and over 60 per cent of the region’s disease burden, mainly in the form [...]]]>

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that non-communicable diseases (NCD) are expected to claim the lives of 25 million people across the region annually by 2015.

WHO Regional Director Hussein Gezairy said NCDs are currently responsible for over half of all deaths and over 60 per cent of the region’s disease burden, mainly in the form of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer and chronic respiratory diseases.

At the opening of four simultaneous international diabetes and endocrinology conferences in the capital yesterday, Gezairy said this number is likely to increase despite the fact that NCDs are preventable and have identifiable risk factors.

Gezairy noted that over the next decade, the WHO projects the largest increase in deaths from NCDs to occur in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

According to figures he presented in a lecture following the opening of the conferences, 80 per cent of diabetes (type 2), heart disease and strokes are preventable, compared to 40 per cent of cancer cases.

In Jordan, prevention efforts remain disparate, according to Abdelkarim Khawaldeh, senior consulting endocrinologist and member of the Jordanian Society of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism (JSED).

The latest studies conducted in the Kingdom indicate that 40 per cent of Jordanians over the age of 40 suffer from diabetes as do 30 per cent of Jordanians between the ages of 25 and 40. Around three million Jordanians are expected to be affected by diabetes in 2050 unless serious steps are taken, National Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Genetics Director General Kamel Ajlouni said in a previous statement.

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Recent studies show that more than half of the population in the Gulf states suffers from abnormal [...]]]>

The first joint meeting between the Emirates Cardiac Society and the American College of Cardiology formed the basis of the growing incidence of heart diseases, which is ranked as the number one cause of death in the Gulf States.

Recent studies show that more than half of the population in the Gulf states suffers from abnormal cholesterol levels, a quarter has high blood pressure and 15 -25 per cent have diabetes. These numbers coupled with a rapid increase in the rate of obesity adds up to alarming statistics.

The joint meeting hosted several distinguished doctors from the region and from the American College of Cardiology who delivered a series of informative lectures about various aspects of cardiovascular health.

The meeting began with the AstraZeneca Satellite Symposium. The topics discussed the “CEPHEUS” research project and the future of cardiovascular disease prevention.

“CEPHEUS” is a large research program involving 5,300 patients across the Gulf who are currently treated for high cholesterol levels. The project was launched last November by the Emirates Cardiac Society in collaboration with AstraZeneca, an Anglo/Swedish biopharmaceutical company, which was also the part sponsor of the joint meeting. The main aim of this project is to monitor the percentage of patients who reach their cholesterol level treatment goal while taking cholesterol lowering medications.

“We are keen to facilitate joint initiatives between professional organizations and believe that exchange of knowledge is key to improving the quality of cardiac care,” said Tarek Rabah, President of AstraZeneca Gulf.

Dr. Anthony N. DeMaria, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology stressed on the increasing burden of heart diseases worldwide. “In India, more people are dying from atherosclerosis of heart disease than of infectious diseases,” he pointed out.

There were also sessions on cardiac infarction and treatment, cholesterol management guidelines and general cardiology conducted as part of the meeting.

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‘You can imagine if it proves to be positive this will change medicine,’ Schwan said. ‘We’re talking about a very big drug.’

Schwan spoke to Reuters in New York a day before the drugmaker holds its first review [...]]]>

Roche’s experimental drugs to treat melanoma and raise ‘good’ HDL cholesterol could transform treatment of cancer and heart disease.

‘You can imagine if it proves to be positive this will change medicine,’ Schwan said. ‘We’re talking about a very big drug.’

Schwan spoke to Reuters in New York a day before the drugmaker holds its first review of its pipeline for analysts and investors since its purchase of Genentech a year ago.

‘The drug has reduced tumor size by 70 per cent and some patients are in full remission,’ Schwan said. ‘The life of patients has been prolonged.’     The drug has also ‘made a huge difference in quality of life’ by ending bone pain for some patients, he said.

Roche has developed a diagnostic product that can identify which patients have the mutated protein and are therefore most likely to benefit from R7204 — its companion drug.

Schwan acknowledged there is ‘a rather small population’ of patients with metastatic melanoma, but said R7204 also has a good chance of being able to treat colon cancer and other types of cancer that are likewise linked to the mutated BRAF protein.

Herceptin’s growth should come, in part, from overseas use of the medicine for stomach cancer, he said, while Avastin will be helped by recent approval to treat ovarian cancer.

Schwan said he could not comment on whether Roche would be interested in making a rival bid for OSI Pharmaceuticals, Roche’s partner on the cancer drug Tarceva.

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The results from the landmark Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes clinical trial were presented here at the 59th annual conference of [...]]]>

According to a new study, to increasing the amount of good cholesterol in the body and lower blood pressure, it does not reduce the risk of heart disease among people suffering from diabetes.

The results from the landmark Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes clinical trial were presented here at the 59th annual conference of the American College of Cardiology.

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The project will focus on explaining the spread of specific illnesses such as diabetes, heart diseases and cancers, said Dr Mahmoud Taleb Al Ali, Director of [...]]]>

UAE research centre will carry out the first Arab Genome Project in the region, that will map genes in the Arab population and provide a platform for future medical practice.

The project will focus on explaining the spread of specific illnesses such as diabetes, heart diseases and cancers, said Dr Mahmoud Taleb Al Ali, Director of the Centre for Arab Genomic Studies (CAGS).

Experts at the centre have already conducted extensive clinical and molecular analysis for families which is expected to bring fresh insights to the human genome with particular reference to the Arab population, he said.

“The project will study genetic variability in the Arab world to screen for natural difference between humans,” explained Dr Ghazi Omar Tadmouri, Assistant Director for CAGS.

“The project will be expanded to include disorders such as obesity, mental health and Down’s Syndrome for study purposes,” he said, adding that the project will also include indigenous other populations including Persians, Kurds, Lebanese, Palestinians, Turks and others.

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The results of the study [...]]]>

Bisophenol A (BPA) is a chemical commonly found in polycarbonate plastic bottles and the aluminium lining of food andbeverage cans. A new research done on mice found that mouse pups born to mothers who were exposed to a high content of bisophenol A were at a higher risk of developing asthma.

The results of the study showed that the mice born to mothers exposed to 10 micrograms of BPA developed airway problems while mice born to mothers exposed to low or no BPA did not develop the problem. Although the findings are not conclusive and require more research, there are other string of problems associated with the chemical including heart disease, breast cancer and obesity.

Health risks associated with BPA were found in lab animals and in humans who have had occupational exposure. Although the newest study looked only at mice, several experts believed that the findings could be a cause for concern in humans.

Dr. Steve Georas, chief of pulmonary and critical care medicine and director of the Mary Parkes Centre for Asthma, Allergy and Pulmonary Care at the University of Rochester Medical Centre in New York said: “They’re using what are probably going to be reasonable estimates of human neonatal exposure, and that seems to have an effect on the developing immune system or sensitivity to asthma. If you take it together with some epidemiologic studies, I would consider it cause for concern.”

Dr. Erick Forno, an assistant professor of paediatrics at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine added, “the mice they used are very well-accepted models for asthma and allergies so it should be a very good model of what we would expect to happen in humans, although that is not always the case.”

As a safety measure, the FDA recently recommended steps to reduce BPA exposure that include discarding worn or damaged baby bottles and feeding cups, heating food and drink in BPA-free containers, and checking labels to ensure containers are dishwasher and microwave-safe.

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