Having too little calcium in the diet increases women's risk of a hormone condition that can cause bone fractures and kidney stones, scientists suggest.
Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) affects around one in 800 people during their lifetime and is most common in post-menopausal women.
Writing in the British Medical Journal, the team suggest increasing calcium intake cuts the risk of the disease.
Adults need around 700mg of calcium a day.
Milk and other dairy foods, nuts and fish such as sardines and pilchards (where the bones are eaten) are some dietary sources of calcium. Read More
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah inaugurated 420 health projects and laid foundation stones for 127 other health facilities worth SR 12 billion in a function at his palace in Jeddah yesterday.
The king pressed the buttons announcing the inauguration and laying of foundation stones of the projects.
During the function the king stressed the importance of hard work and honesty. "May Allah bless you and create many like you as you are hardworking men. People speak too much but what is important is honesty. The most correct is the good work. I pray to Allah Almighty to help you serve your religion and nation. This is what I wish and this is what every citizen wishes. Thank you," the king said.
"These projects, which are considered a cultural qualitative shift, are in fact the largest event in the history of the Ministry of Health," Minister of Health Abdullah Al-Rabeeah said. Read More
Mobile Phones can Cause Brain Tumours, Court Rules
A landmark court case has ruled there is a link between using a mobile phone and brain tumours, paving the way for a flood of legal actions.
Innocente Marcolini, 60, an Italian businessman, fell ill after using a handset at work for up to six hours every day for 12 years.
Now Italy's Supreme Court in Rome has blamed his phone saying there is a "causal link" between his illness and phone use, the Sun has reported.
Mr Marcolini said: "This is significant for very many people. I wanted this problem to become public because many people still do not know the risks. Read More
RIYADH: More than 1 million polio vaccines were given to Haj pilgrims from endemic countries, Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah announced here yesterday.
Al-Rabeeah was chairing the seventh meeting of the Haj Health Committee at his ministry headquarters yesterday. Chairmen of all related sub-committees were present to exchange notes about the progress of the health plan for the current Haj season.
The minister said that polio vaccines were given to pilgrims who arrived at the Haj terminal from countries such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, India and Nigeria. He added that pilgrims who from the African belt were also given polio doses as a preventive treatment. The doses were given to both male and female pilgrims.
Prior to the Haj season, the Saudi missions abroad requested pilgrims to produce quarantine certificate to issue Haj visas. They were certified against yellow fever, meningitis, polio and influenza depending on the countries of origin. Read More
Minister orders speedy completion of hospital in east Jeddah
JEDDAH Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeah, Minister of Health, on Sunday toured a 300-bed hospital under construction in east Jeddah.
Work on the multispeciality hospital started three years ago and 80 percent of the project has been completed.
The minister inspected all the departments of the hospital and was briefed on the progress of work by Dr. Sami Badawood, director of health affairs in Jeddah, and the project's contractor.
The minister stressed that the buildings and support facilities should be completed according to plan within the scheduled time. Read MoreMinister orders speedy completion of hospital in east Jeddah
JEDDAH Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeah, Minister of Health, on Sunday toured a 300-bed hospital under construction in east Jeddah.
Work on the multispeciality hospital started three years ago and 80 percent of the project has been completed.
The minister inspected all the departments of the hospital and was briefed on the progress of work by Dr. Sami Badawood, director of health affairs in Jeddah, and the project's contractor.
The minister stressed that the buildings and support facilities should be completed according to plan within the scheduled time. Read More
A young Saudi donating blood at the camp organized by King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, recently. Courtesy photoJEDDAH About 140 women donated blood in a recent campaign organized by King Abdulaziz University here. In all, over 200 donors took part in the five-day campaign organized under the motto "Your Safety is Our Goal."
Dr. Ibrahim Jumah, the supervisor of the campaign, said the organizers encouraged university staff, students and the public to donate blood to help meet the constant demand for blood in various health facilities.
Blood transfusions are essential in cases where patients experience severe bleeding and face death due to blood loss. The campaign forms part of a larger initiative involving KAU and other government authorities such as the Civil Defense, Red Crescent and Border Guards.
According to statistics one in every 10 inpatients need blood transfusions. Read MoreMina: Minister of Health Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabiah said that the health status of the pilgrims is reassuring.
In remarks he made yesterday evening, the minister said that the health status of the pilgrims is excellent and until now, there are no health problems or epidemics. Read More
