Heart disease causes 45% of early deaths in Middle East



AL AIN // As many as 45 per cent of all deaths in the Middle East are caused by coronary artery disease, a global health conference heard this week. Dr Tarik Ramahi, cardiologist and visiting professor in Middle East Studies at Yale University, said the disease was "very complex, has no clearly defined cause but well defined risk factors, begins early in life and has no cure". Addressing delegates to the Global Health and the UAE: Asia-Middle East Connections Conference at the UAE University in Al Ain, Dr Ramahi said coronary heart disease had emerged as the leading cause of death in most countries in the Middle East over the past few decades, and that it was the leading cause of death in the UAE.

"This is the disease of the era, the disease of our generation," Dr Ramahi said. "It is a disease of globalisation and is highly prevalent in affluent countries, where 85 per cent of cases are registered." Atherosclerosis - in which arterial walls thicken and harden because of a build-up of fats - starts in childhood but does not become clinically apparent until midlife, Dr Ramahi said. The disease is exacerbated by high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, obesity, physical inactivity, stress, high blood pressure and a diet rich in fats, simple sugars and sodium.

With the population of the Middle East predominantly young, and a high prevalence of risk factors in the region, Dr Ramahi spoke of an "impending crisis." "This young population will age, will continue to eat, will lead sedentary lifestyles and will develop heart disease," he said. He said the UAE represented a microcosm of the global situation. "It really is quite a bleak picture and calls for tremendous organised action at every level, starting with prevention," Dr Ramahi said. "A change in lifestyle is called for."

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Tree of Hell

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Director: Raed Zeno

Rating: 4/5

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RESULTS

2.30pm Jaguar I-Pace – Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (Dirt)
1,600m 

Winner Namrood, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Musabah Al Muhairi
(trainer) 

3.05pm Land Rover Defender – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D)
1,400m 

Winner Shadzadi, Tadhg O’Shea, Bhupat Seemar 

3.40pm Jaguar F-Type – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,600m 

Winner Tahdeed, Fernando Jara, Nicholas Bachalard 

4.15pm New Range Rover – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,400m 

Winner Shanty Star, Richard Mullen, Rashed Bouresly 

4.50pm Land Rover – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 2,400m 

Winner Autumn Pride, Bernardo Pinheiro, Helal Al Alawi 

5.25pm Al Tayer Motor – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000  T) 1,000m 

Winner Dahawi, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi 

6pm Jaguar F-Pace SVR – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,600m 

Winner Scabbard, Sam Hitchcock, Doug Watson  

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The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.

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Company: Bidzi

● Started: 2024

● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid

● Based: Dubai, UAE

● Industry: M&A

● Funding size: Bootstrapped

● No of employees: Nine

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Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
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Bareilly Ki Barfi
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2.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 40,000 (D) 1,200m, Winner: AF Sahwa, Nathan Crosse, Mohamed Ramadan.

3pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 40,000 (D) 1,000m, Winner: AF Thobor, Szczepan Mazur, Ernst Oertel.

3.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 40,000 (D) 2,000m, Winner: AF Mezmar, Szczepan Mazur, Ernst Oertel.

4pm: Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup presented by Longines (TB) Dh 200,000 (D) 1,700m, Winner: Galvanize, Nathan Cross, Doug Watson.

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Sector: Sustainability
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Kerala Knights 103-7 (10 ov)

Parnell 59 not out; Tambe 5-15

Sindhis 104-1 (7.4 ov)

Watson 50 not out, Devcich 49

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