JEDDAH, 22 March 2006 — The Fourth Annual International Conference for Women’s Health Update started yesterday in Al-Sultan Hall in the Inter.Continental Hotel here. The two-day conference, which is organized by King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, focuses on the latest developments in many issues concerning women’s health.
A basic issue in the conference is breast cancer, which is one of the most common diseases inflicting women. Heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, pregnancy, recurring abortion and obesity are other health issues being addressed.
“Heart diseases are the most dangerous diseases that Arab women suffer from,” said Dr. Lina Bissar, consultant internist and the head of the conference’s organizing committee. She said that patients of heart diseases are seven times more likely to die than patients of cancer worldwide.
The silent disease that affects a woman’s life is osteoporosis. “It makes a woman disabled and bed-ridden,” Bissar said.
She explained that Saudi women are susceptible to osteoporosis because of their modern style of living.
Dr. Ghada El-Hajj Fuleihan, head of the osteoporosis unit at the American University of Beirut, gave a presentation on the osteoporosis treatment strategies. Dr. Ibrahim Salti, head of the Endocrinological Disorders Department in AUB, outlined the latest update on diabetes mellitus therapies. Dr. Hasan Farsi spoke about the antenatal hydronephrosis.
Today, obstetrician Dr. Hassan Abdul Jabbar will discuss using herbal remedies for treatment. Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Rajhi, head of internal medicine in KFSH&RC, will talk about vaccines for women.
