3,000 expert doctors attend conference RIYADH: A recent medical study shows that six percent of Saudis suffer from arteriosclerosis and coronary artery diseases in addition to hypertension and obesity. The spread of these diseases is mainly attributed to smoking, lack of exercise and bad eating habits. In view of this, the Saudi Heart Association has organized an international conference under the motto of “Your Heart is Your Life” which opened in Riyadh Sunday under the patronage of Prince Sultan Bin Muhammad Bin Saud Al-Kabeir, the Association's Honorary President. More than 3,000 female and male doctors specializing in the field, in addition to seven international, Arab and Gulf heart societies have gathered at King Faisal Hall for Conferences at the Intercontinental Hotel in Riyadh, where the conference is taking place. Dr. Hani Najm, the association's Chairman, said the conference intends to widen the scope of understanding of cardiac specializations and cardiovascular surgery and to exchange experiences. He said one of the most important topics which will be discussed at the conference is a national statistical study conducted in the Kingdom and Middle East on patients suffering from weak heart muscle. Additionally, several research papers on the opening of the aortic valve through an angiography will be presented. He said the new technique is an effective alternative for open heart surgery. Dr. Abdullah Al-Shihiri, Head of Heart Technology at the Applied Medical Sciences College at Dammam University, said studies show that 22 percent of the world's population die from heart disease. He said the only way to reduce this frightening percentage is to change lifestyles and to stop bad habits such as eating junk food rich in fat.
