By   Wed, Apr 07, 2010

Chief Editor’s Letter

Hello and welcome once again to HealthFirst.

I would like to open this second issue of the magazine by thanking His Excellency Dr. Hanif Hassan, UAE Minister of Health, who officially inaugurated HealthFirst at Arab Health 2010. The support that he and his colleagues from Dubai’s healthcare authorities have given the publication has been nothing short of fantastic and we are grateful for the opportunity to continue bringing important health advice and information to residents and visitors to the UAE.

April is an important month on the international healthcare calendar and this issue of HealthFirst has been brought out to coincide with a number of global and local awareness campaigns. World Health Day is commemorated on April 7 and the theme for this year’s World Health Organization (WHO) event is urbanisation and wellbeing. Under the slogan ‘1000 cities-1000 lives,’ WHO aims to draw attention to the health aspects of living in a busy metropolis. With last month’s news reporting that Dubai continues to experience a population growth, despite the predictions of some experts, the subject is a timely one for the region and inside this issue is a section that addresses urban living, including tips on how to stay healthy in the city.

The first week in April also sees World Autism Day being marked and HealthFirst provides an insight into this challenging condition with an overview of the spectrum disorder. We also look at a treatment method that is helping to integrate autistic children into mainstream society, hopefully reducing the social isolation that is all too often a feature of the condition.

The health care industry continues to experience growth in this part of the world and although no sector of the economy can truly be considered ‘recession proof,’ it does appear that health care is better placed than most to weather the storm. Two senior managers from Dubai health care organisations discuss how the global economic downturn has affected their operations.

Also inside, a women’s health piece examines how cervical cancer can be easily prevented, there is a report on an important social initiative from the Dubai Women and Children’s Foundation and a round-up is given on the Family Health Festival, which brought wellbeing lifestyle advice to visitors at this year’s DSF. The kidney is the first organ under the spotlight in a new series of articles that focus on how our body works and with summer just around the corner, a dermatologist gives some vital top tips when considering which sunscreen you should buy. There is much more for you to enjoy within these pages, including dietary advice, tasty recipes and top health tips.

We hope that you find this latest addition of HealthFirst useful and we welcome your comments and opinions on the magazine. Kindly pop any thoughts or questions you may have into an e-mail and send to: info@exhealth.com 

As always, let’s work together to bring health to life.

Dr Prem Jagyasi

Chief Editor – HealthFirst Magazine

HealthFirst@ExHealth.com | www.HealthFirstMag.com

By   Wed, Apr 07, 2010

 Autism - a Challenging Disorder

"To talk of a cure for any of the ASDs is inappropriate. ASD is not a disease, but a developmental disorder"

April 2 is World Autism Day and the date shines an important spotlight into a condition that can all too often result in social isolation for those who experience it. Autistic Spectrum D isorder (ASD) impacts on individuals to varying degrees, with some children who have been diagnosed with the condition facing developmental delays in acquiring social and language skills. Others may not develop these skills at all and a significant consequence is that many children with ASD find it extremely difficult to interact with other people and to relate to their emotions. Caring for a child with autism can be an extremely challenging commitment, as the condition is one that can affect behaviour considerably. A child with ASD will usually exhibit certain idiosyncrasies, such as a fixation with certain types of objects or things, and will often experience other learning impairments. Each child who is ultimately diagnosed with an ASD will have a combination of these difficulties and it is this combination that defines where on the autistic spectrum they fall. Some children may have mild autism, characterised by a good vocabulary, but may still have difficulty with communication. This is typical of Asperger’s Syndrome. Others may have severe learning difficulties and also very limited communication, such as with Pervasive Developmental Disorder.

Autism was first described in 1943 by Leo Kanner, an Austrian psychiatrist working in the USA. He detailed the cases of 11 children he had been asked to examine and categorised these eight boys and three girls as having idiosyncratic behaviour and characteristics that were completely different to any children he had previously seen. He described the symptoms as "congenital infantile psychosis", which became known as "early infantile autism" or "Kanner Syndrome". Kanner recorded that the parents of these 11 children referred to them as having always been "self-sufficient", "like in a shell," "happiest when left alone" and "perfectly oblivious to everything about him". As such, Kanner was the first to describe this developmental disorder comprising severe impairments in communication and language, social interactions, play and behaviour.

There have been several theories (and as many controversies) proposed as to what causes ASD. Very early ideas focused exclusively on the parents of the children, with notions of the ‘refrigerator mother’ being put forward. This concept suggested that mothers who did not bond appropriately and timely with their children were the main cause, premised on what Kanner had said about the parents of his 11 cases; "there are very few really warmhearted fathers and mothers. For the most part, the parents, grandparents, and collaterals are persons strongly preoccupied with abstractions of a scientific, literary, or artistic nature, and limited in genuine interest in people. Even some of the happiest marriages are rather cold and formal affairs." Thankfully, this theory that parenting was to be blamed for causing ASD has since been exposed as wholly inaccurate.

No less controversial was the more recent theory that autism was linked with the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) triple vaccine. Propelled into the media as a breakthrough into understanding how autism was caused, Andrew Wakefield, a British physician, published results in 1998 in an eminent medical journal claiming that autism was clearly linked to receiving the MMR vaccine. However, research conducted since Wakefield’s study was published has failed to replicate his findings and the data on which his original findings were based have since been shown to be severely flawed. In January this year, Dr Wakefield faced charges of professional misconduct by the British General Medical Council, which ruled that he had "failed in his duties as a responsible consultant" and that he had acted "dishonestly and irresponsibly" in his controversial research.

Experts now believe that there are potentially several different reasons why ASDs develop. One theory suggests that the way the brain grows before, during and after birth may lead to an increased likelihood of an ASD occurring. It has also been proposed, from our accumulating knowledge of genetics and the way in which specific genes can lead to the development of certain illnesses and disorders, that the development of autism may be linked to the genes that a child inherits from their parents. However, identifying a single exact cause has not been possible. What is most likely is that ASDs develop due to a combination of several factors involving genetic inheritance, pre and post-natal brain development and environmental factors.

Autism or an autism-related disorder is usually diagnosed in childhood and almost always between the ages of two and three; although some disorders on the spectrum may not be diagnosed until the child has started school. Despite the condition having been first described by Kanner in 1943, formal diagnosis within the Diagnostic and Statistics Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) — the standard reference by which psychological disorders are diagnosed — did not occur until its third version in 1980. However, there has been good progress and development in the diagnosis and treatment of autism in recent years. The most recent version of the DSM cites five distinct diagnostic conditions. They are: Autistic Disorder, Asperger’s Disorder, Rett’s Disorder, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder. A diagnosis is made based on the observations of the specialist doctor or paediatrician regarding the behaviour, communication and overall development of the child. There are no medical tests that can be undertaken at this time to hasten a diagnosis being made. Instead, each of the diagnostic criteria is considered against the observations made of the child. When autism is suspected then usually a referral is made to a specialist centre, where a range of health and allied professionals can assess the child. From this assessment specific needs and levels of support can be determined.

Prevalence rates for ASDs in the developed West suggest that nearly 1 in 100 children is diagnosed with autism or an autism-related condition and that it is four times more common in boys than girls. There is little data readily available to ascertain the prevalence within the UAE, but with several specialist autism units and charitable foundations across the emirates dedicated to supporting people with ASDs and their families, it is clear that there is both a need and a desire for such facilities. To talk of a cure for any of the ASDs is inappropriate. ASD is not a disease but a developmental disorder; high-functioning adults who have an ASD write tongue-in-cheek of attempts to cure ‘neurotypical people.’ Instead, the main form that support for the autistic child takes is one of special education that aims to meet their specific needs and is likely to include social skills and behavioural training. As each child will manifest unique elements of communication and behaviour specific to his/her disorder then his/her educational plan needs to be tailored to reflect these often-complex needs.

Autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) impacts on individuals to varying degrees, with some children who have been diagnosed with the condition facing developmental delays in acquiring social and language skills.”

While many individuals with autism are still segregated from their peers, e.g. in regular school classes and community settings, there is a growing body of evidence that suggests that higher-functioning children experience greater benefits when they are fully integrated into their cultural, social and educational systems. This current movement toward integration, combined with early intervention, is a step in the right direction toward improving the quality of life for those with autism, but this must be made on a case-by-case basis commensurate with their individual needs. The attempted integration of a child with severe autism can be counter-productive, unless this activity is carefully controlled. Inclusion should be more about appropriate provision than location, yet this is often difficult to achieve.

Possibly one of the most famous autistic characters to be portrayed in film media is that of Raymond Babbitt, the high-functioning autistic man played by the actor Dustin Hoffman in the 1988 film The Rain Man. This was possibly the first time that autism and the idiosyncrasies of autistic behavior had reached a mainstream audience and the film served to dispel many myths surrounding ASDs. Likewise, the more recent English language novel by Mark Haddon titled The Curious Incidence of the Dog in the Night Time tells the story of a 15 year old boy who has Asperger’s Syndrome and provides a fascinating insight into the behavioural nuances and talents of a high-functioning child. Both of these stories, whilst enjoyable in their own right, also serve to educate about these often-misunderstood disorders.

Whilst the focus on autism is almost always to those individuals with learning difficulties and severe communication problems, it is worth considering, as this is a spectrum disorder, the upper end of the continuum. If we look closely at the phrases that Kanner reported from the parents of the children he observed, you can see that they involve descriptions of isolation. We can see that they can also apply to the stereotypes of scientists dedicating their lives to finding cures for diseases while locked away in a laboratory, or colleagues who are driven by their work and apparently unaware of anything else around them, or friends who we admire for being really intelligent but don’t seem to have a clue in social situations. And surely we all have our very own idiosyncrasies that charm or irritate our loved ones. Would these behaviours and communication difficulties also warrant a diagnosis of autism; albeit at the very upper end of the spectrum?

As future research findings into ASDs become available, it is hoped that the complexity of these disorders will unravel and that evidence-based treatments and improved quality of life solutions will be found. In so doing, it is hoped that we will have a better understanding of the challenges that face individuals diagnosed with an ASD, ultimately leading to inclusive communities that are better placed to support them.

By   Wed, Apr 07, 2010

HealthFirst Magazine is Inaugurated by Minister for Health

HealthFirst magazine was officially inaugurated by the UAE Minister of Health, Dr. Hanif Hassan, at the Arab Health Congress 2010, which took place in January. The title, now in its second issue, aims to bring important health and lifestyle advice to residents and visitors to the UAE by incorporating easy-to-understand information on medical issues, along with industry news and developments in the regional healthcare sector.

"We are extremely pleased that HealthFirst is able to bring essential healthcare information to the UAE in a format that is fully comprehendible for those who don’t have specialist medical knowledge or who often find these issues easy to grasp," said Dr. Prem Jagyasi, Editor-in-Chief of HealthFirst. "Our mission is to make healthcare issues easily accessible to the public, as this will empower them to make lifestyle choices that will enhance their wellbeing; something that will ultimately lead to a healthier society," he added.

By   Wed, Apr 07, 2010

Urban Living
The Healthy Imlications

Living in a city environment poses its own unique set of challenges for maintaining good health, something that the World Health Organization (WHO) is addressing on April 7. The date marks World Health Day 2010, with the theme for this year’s international awareness initiative being urbanisation and wellbeing. Under the slogan ‘1000 cities-1000 lives,’ WHO is calling for metropolitan centres across the globe to open up their streets for various health-related activities; such as the banning of motorised transport for the day, or the cleaning up of urban spaces that have been bespoiled by litter. The day’s programme was chosen to highlight the potential health problems associated with the increasing trend towards living in cities; a trend that was highlighted by the United Nations (UN) at the beginning of 2008, when the organisation projected that half of the world’s population would be living in urban areas by that year’s end. A more recent UN report published just weeks ago concluded that the world’s largest cities are becoming ‘mega regions’ that will be defined by overcrowding, poverty and pollution. The organisation said that the continuing growth of urban areas is likely to be one of the most significant factors affecting society over the next 50 years.

Dr Suresh Menon, a specialist in internal medicine at Jebel Ali Hospital, Dubai, agrees that this year’s focus for World Health Day is both timely and important. "Past research has documented a difference between urban and rural health care, usually expressed in terms of healthcare access and utilisation, its cost and the geographic distribution of providers and services," he says. "Recently, research has begun to direct its attention toward the differences in population health, public health, environmental health and between urban and rural health behaviour. This focus on the environmental and social determinants of health has accompanied a rapid change in rates of urban populations across the world. As more people worldwide live in cities, it is imperative to understand how urban living affects population health," he adds.

If any example graphically represents the concept of rapid city growth, it is that of Dubai. The city has witnessed an explosion in its population over the past 20 years, largely as a result of the government’s decision to diversify from an economy based around oil and trade to one that is service and tourism-oriented. This decision made real estate and other developments more valuable, resulting in a property boom and a level of construction that has seen an estimated 25 per cent of the world’s cranes being utilised for projects within the emirate. Dubai has become one of the fastest-growing cities in the world and although its rate of growth has inevitably slowed following the global economic downturn, the destination remains a popular attraction to live and work, with the recession not impacting here as significantly as elsewhere. As was widely reported in the news last month, Dubai’s population grew 7.6 per cent last year, according to the Dubai Statistics Centre. The body revealed that the number of people living in the emirate rose from 1.65 million to 1.77 million at the end of 2008, with adults and families continuing to relocate to the emirate. Many of these come from rural areas and their perception of greater opportunities and an improved quality of life is driving them to make the decision. The pattern is one that can be seen at major conurbations across the world, with increasing numbers of migrants seemingly attracted by the notion of ‘Bright Lights, Big City.’

"Quality of life is one of the central issues to consider in any comparison between rural versus urban living. While a case can be made for either location as being the best place to live, it is worthwhile to consider the options," says Dr Menon. "Important factors such as the capacity to make general choices, diversity, health, and employment concerns all influence both sides of the comparison and although both rural and urban living offer great benefits, they both have a seemingly equal number of drawbacks," he adds.

With regards to the provision of healthcare, there is no doubt that there is an inequality in the delivery of this important service between rural and city regions, but this isn’t a simple delineation along lines of urbanisation. Individuals choosing to move to a city from a rural area will have better access to choices in healthcare and if they experience illness, they will have an increased number of specialists to choose from. However, this isn’t a choice necessarily available to all strata of society. Persons of a lower socio-economic status living in urban areas are more likely to lack health insurance and are more likely to face barriers to care. When they do access a service, it is likely to be of a poorer standard. The high prevalence of individuals without health insurance creates a greater burden on available systems and often leads to vast disparities in health care outcomes.

 "Often, a two-tier health care system is created in an urban environment, which sees insured individuals having access to preventive and routine health care, while marginalised sectors of society find themselves using hospital emergency rooms as a safety net," says Dr Menon. "In the developing world, urban dwellers often live in large slums which lack basic sanitation and utilities, such as water and electricity. This lack of basic infrastructure can exacerbate rates of infectious disease and further perpetuate the cycle of poverty," he continues.

 Parents thinking of moving to a city have the additional responsibilities of the wellbeing of their children to consider. An urban setting may offer a greater choice in public and private schools, which leads to the potential for better education, but the environment may also throw up certain health challenges for these younger members of the family. Dr Arwa Nasir, a consultant paediatrician at Tawam Hospital, Abu Dhabi, who has a special interest in behavioural and developmental paediatrics, outlines some of the issues.

 "In built up cities, little open space is available for outdoor play and physical activity. Appropriate levels of physical activity are crucial to maintaining good physical and mental health. Low levels of physical activity contribute to many health conditions such as diabetes, vascular disease and depression," she says. Dr Nasir is keen to stress that although there may be potentially negative health aspects to city living, these can easily be countered. "Parents can model physical activity for their children by taking them to the gym or park, long walks on the beach or corniche, or other joint sports activities such as biking, hiking, boating, soccer and other sports. Performing household chores can be a good source of physical activity that families can do together and has the advantage of teaching cooperation and contribution to the family as well as building responsibility," she advises.

The increased levels of stress that can characterise life in a busy city often result from long working hours, being struck in traffic and being exposed to higher levels of crime (although the latter is thankfully not a major issue in the UAE). However, the higher prevalence of psychological stressors that accompany the increased density and diversity of cities may lead to depression, anxiety and other psychosomatic ailments. Longer working hours and lengthier commute times can mean that families in particular suffer in the city. "Busy parents return home after long hours of work with little energy and patience and with diminished ability to spend quality time with their children," says Dr Nasir. "Also, long working hours may increase the time children are left unsupervised or under the supervision of household help who have no authority over the children, especially older ones. This deprives parents and children from opportunities to communicate and connect with their children. Parents should plan quality time with their children to get to know them well and know what is going on in their lives. This allows the parents to discover problems early as well as build a trusting relationship with their children and experience the joys of parenthood," she advises.

On the whole, the continuing trend towards city dwelling is resulting in falling birth and death rates, with a shift in the burden of illness from acute childhood infections to chronic, non-communicable diseases of adults. With the majority of the world’s citizens now living in urban areas and will do so for the foreseeable future, healthcare services face unique challenges, something that Dr Menon suggests needs to be addressed by community authorities. "As a force in the demographic and health transition, urbanisation is associated with inhabitants enjoying better health, on average, than their rural counterparts, but the benefits are usually greater for the rich than for the poor, thus magnifying the differences between them," he says. "Subject to better evidence, I suggest that the main obstacles to improving urban health are not technical or even financial, but rather are related to governance and the organisation of civil society," he adds.

"Quality of life is one of the central issues to consider in any comparison between rural versus urban living. While a case can be made for either location as being the best place to live, it is worthwhile to consider the options."

By   Wed, Apr 07, 2010

Family Health Festival
Promotes well being at DSF

Shoppers were keen to take advantage of free counselling and a range of entertainment activities throughout the month-long programme.

The Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) may have pulled down its shutters for yet another year, but it is hoped that the positive effects of one of its main activities will last a lifetime. Family Health Festival 2010, which ran in conjunction with DSF at various malls throughout the emirate, made it its mission to bring healthy lifestyle advice to residents and visitors. Featuring a packed programme of health-checks, edutainment activities and counselling, the event was made possible through the full support of the DSF organisers; which lent the important programme the additional weight that could only come from the backing of one of the highlights of the city’s calendar.

"The feedback we received from shoppers on the Family Health Festival during DSF was commendable and it proves that it is possible to raise awareness on health issues like obesity in an effective and successful manner," said Yousif Mubarak, Chief Operations Officer of Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment. "DSF has always supported community initiatives and we endeavour to promote health and wellness by providing a platform for events such as the Family Health Festival in order to contribute to a healthier society," he added.

The Family Health Festival visited various malls across Dubai from January 28-February 28, inviting customers who were keen on bagging a retail bargain to also pick up some free advice on how to minimise the risk of developing illness. Visitors to the booths were also able to receive a free health status check-up by undertaking various medical tests administered by qualified nurses. The vital checks being offered included blood pressure readings, body mass index measurements, blood sugar recordings and cholesterol tests. Running in conjunction with these important health indicators were a variety of activities designed to show that maintaining good health could also be fun. Cookery classes and exercise demonstrations — including power yoga work-outs — were put on for the adults, while face-painting stations, quiz shows and competitions kept the younger members of the family happy.

As well as receiving full backing from DSF, the Family Health Festival was endorsed by the UAE Ministry of Health, which is striving to improve the wellbeing of the emirate’s residents and visitors. The campaign was officially inaugurated by Dr Hanif Hassan, UAE Minister of Health, at its opening weekend at Festival City; an occasion that was also attended by a number of other dignitaries from the city’s health sector.

"We were very pleased to support this initiative, as DSF is an internationally established annual event for Dubai and attracts visitors from around the world," said Nasser Al Budoor, Director of the Minister’s Office. "This means that the Family Health Festival reaches out beyond the country’s borders and is able to play a part in promoting good health for guests as well as residents," he added.

Family Health Festival also received backing from the Safe At Heart campaign, which aims to reduce the prevalence of cardiovascular disease across the region by helping to lower the levels of blood cholesterol in people living here. Clogging of the arteries is one of the main causes of mortality across the region and Safe At Heart aims to address this. "Safe At Heart was initiated to draw people’s attention to the link between high cholesterol and serious illnesses such as heart disease and stroke," said Tarek Rabah, President, AstraZeneca Gulf. "We are raising awareness by supporting events such as the Family Health Festival and will be running another dedicated campaign in April to continue to highlight this important issue," he added.

 Green Crescent Insurance Company was another main sponsor of the Festival, with the organisation being actively involved in community initiatives for its corporate social responsibility programme. "Green Crescent’s philosophy is to assist people to adopt a healthy lifestyle whenever possible," said Carl Serdegna, CEO of the company. "Picking up healthy ways of living usually leads to a reduction in insurance premiums as well as a longer and more active life, which one cannot put a price on," he added.

Family Health Festival 2010 was the event’s second edition, the inaugural programme took place during last year’s DSF. The campaign is one of a number of year-round initiatives from health-event organiser ExHealth, which aims at promoting the idea that maintaining good health can be a fun and inclusive pastime; one that ultimately translates into a more productive and happier society.

"Keeping yourself and your family healthy doesn’t have to involve a great deal of hard work and stress," said Dr Prem Jagyasi, MD and CEO, ExHealth. "Simple changes in lifestyle make it possible to reap healthy dividends and these changes can be extremely enjoyable. The Family Health Festival encourages mums, dads and their children to work together towards good health. Families are the bedrock of our community and healthier families mean a healthier society. Ultimately, this translates into a happier and more prosperous society," he added.

By   Wed, Apr 07, 2010

The Raw Food Diet

In the first issue of HealthFirst, we published a selection of raw food recipes that revealed a popular trend in dieting; one which is endorsed by a number of stars from the world of entertainment. Here, HealthFirst contributor and raw food aficionado, Ritu Motial, discusses what the regime means to her and what she sees as its health benefits:Research

"Recently, a colleague of mine, Suzie, came to the office with a picnic bag full of carrots, sliced avocados, cucumbers and apples. The crunching sound that was normally heard as she worked her way through her regular chips bag was replaced by the crisp retort of her teeth biting into an apple or carrot. This new-found routine continued, with Suzie bringing in a different array of raw fruits and vegetables each day. Her work-mates, me included, now began referring to her lunch bag as "Suzie’s garden."

Suzie’s new found enthusiasm for raw food wasn’t merely self-contained, as she attempted the rest of the office to join her in this new diet, encouraging us to try her often strange looking, exotic sounding concoctions. I must say that some of them tasted good, but turning to raw food seemed like betraying a life-long friendship that I had with baked cinnamon apple strudels and hefty but delicious turkey and cheese open-grilled croissant sandwiches, all washed down with copious amounts of freshly-brewed coffee. However, intrigued by my colleague’s new-found zeal, I decided to research the potential benefits of raw food.

It soon became evident that Suzie was not the only person hooked on raw food. It appeared that there were thousands across the globe who were gladly switching to ‘raw-foodism,’ or ‘rawism,’ the formal term used to describe the lifestyle promotion of the consumption of un-cooked, un-processed and often organic foods as a significant part of the diet. Uma Thurman, Demi Moore and Mel Gibson were some of the celebrity names that kept popping up and the personal testimonies of local raw-foodists appeared to wholeheartedly endorse this regime. Oft-repeated benefits included weight loss, more energy, clear skin, brighter eyes, an improved insulin tolerance and overall good health. Could it be that the days of a pot roast with vegetable casserole are on their way to becoming a thing of the past?

One of Suzie’s co-raw-foodies, Kim, enthused about the change in her energy levels. A full-time mother of three who still makes time to spend an hour a day on rigorous exercise, she revealed that she remains energetic ever since she made the dietary shift. Her moods no longer fluctuate and she also reports decreased stress levels, as well as feeling generally healthy ever since adopting a 70 per cent raw food vegan diet.

Elias, another raw-food follower, had seen a drop in his insulin dependence for the year following the switch. Now, after two years of adherence to this lifestyle, coupled with meditation and exercising he has kept his diabetes totally under control. "Of course, I still indulge in all my favourite dishes, but I eat almost 80 per cent raw-food. I don’t miss the rich foods at all; in fact, I cannot even conceive eating such foods any longer," says the production manager at a leading advertising agency in Dubai.

In her feature length documentary on the raw food diet phenomenon, Supercharge Me, Jenna Norwood, a former public relations consultant turned independent filmmaker, health educator and raw food chef, has captured the effects of such a dietary shift. The film, inspired by Morgan Spurlock’s acclaimed Super Size Me, captures Norwood as she realises her lack of healthy eating and enrolls in a 30-day raw food detox programme in San Diego, USA. Throughout the duration of the programme, Norwood ate only raw foods; i.e. uncooked fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. She also spoke to doctors, experts, celebrities and others who follow the raw food lifestyle.

The raw foods movement continues to grow rapidly, especially in the UK, Germany, Australia and several states in the United States. Restaurants boasting a sumptuous raw food menu have opened in large cities and numerous all-raw recipe books are making their appearance at book stores. Several websites offering in-depth understanding of and a compilation of raw-food recipes are available to those who wish to learn more about such a diet.

Proponents of the raw food diet list several benefits of such a shift; typically ranging from obesity management to the prevention of chronic diseases. I found several online study materials which support the position that these people take.

One advantage listed was that a raw food diet brought nature’s intentions into focus. Raw foods are of a better quality; therefore one tends to eat less to satisfy nutritional needs. The heat of cooking depletes vitamins, damages proteins and fats and destroys the enzymes which benefit digestion. As the percentage of raw foods increases, one feels satisfied and has more energy, because raw food has the best balance of water, nutrients and fibre to meet the body’s needs.

Secondly, raw foods have more flavour than cooked foods, so there is no need to add salt, sugar, spices, or other condiments that can irritate the digestive system or over stimulate other organs.

Furthermore, eating a diet of raw foods can reverse or stop the advance of many chronic diseases, including heart disease and cancer. Cooking creates free radicals, which are considered to be a major cause of cancer. In addition to helping prevent chronic disease, a raw food diet can also protect from acute diseases, such as colds, flu, measles, etc. A properly followed raw food diet will ensure that one soon reaches a level where the suffering of heartburn, gas, indigestion or constipation, no longer features as a health hazard.

There is of course an economic aspect to raw food consumption, as well. It is environmentally sound. With humanity on a diet of raw foods, the food industry would take up large-scale organic gardening, which would save enormous amounts of energy that go towards traditional farming and livestock rearing. Natural resources would be conserved, as trees and oil reserves that are normally used for the paper and plastic packaging found in processed foods would no longer be required. There would also be less carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere from a reduction in cooking and more oxygen produced from the increased number of orchards and gardens, thus helping to reverse the Greenhouse Effect.

There are other socio-economic benefits as well. In this time-challenged existence of ours, raw foods take very little preparation, so one spends less time in the kitchen. A child of five or six years of age can prepare most items for breakfast, lunch or dinner. This, according to enthusiasts, not only gives children a sense of self-esteem and independence, but offers a much needed break for their mothers. What’s more, cleaning up after a raw meal is a doddle. No baked-on oil or crusty mess, with any inedible parts going directly to the compost pile. Not only does one save on time, but also on the expense of scourers and oil-busters, not to mention the money saved on food, vitamins, pots and pans, appliances, doctor bills, drugs and health insurance.

It does seem intelligent to not waste food, oneself, and the planet, by insisting on cooking what we eat. Raw fruit, nuts and vegetables are fresh, tasty and nutritious. So why not switch to wholesome raw food diet, even if it is just for the sheer experience of enjoying something different?

- Raw food gurus like Gabriel Coussens M.D., Robert Young M.D., Ann Wiggmore, Victoria Boutenko and David Wolfe, who together have logged over 100 years of research and experience, argue that even though our body can produce its own enzymes, it utilises a lot of energy. Eating enzyme-dead, cooked foods places a burden on the pancreas and other organs and overworks them, ultimately exhausting them. Increasingly, a number of further studies are revealing that nearly all heated and most processed foods do, indeed, contain carcinogens.

- Early researchers such as E.B. Forbes and Dr Edward Howell argued that cooked food weakened the teeth and destroyed enzymes, which, they surmised, were a critical component of good health.

- Dentist Weston Price visited numerous hunter-gatherer tribes around the world in the 1930s and noted that the healthiest native-tribes he saw all incorporated significant amounts of enzyme-rich raw animal and raw plant foods in their diets.

Recent medical studies on raw food diets have shown some positive and negative health outcomes. According to one medical trial, "long-term consumption of a 70 per cent raw-plant-food diet is associated with favourable serum LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, but also with elevated plasma homocysteine and low serum HDL cholesterol." Another study from Germany found that a "long-term strict raw food diet is associated with favourable plasma beta-carotene and low plasma lycopene concentrations." Yet another study mentioned the benefits of a raw vegan diet for lowering obesity and hypertension. German research in 2003 showed significant benefits in reducing the risk of breast cancer when large amounts of raw vegetable matter are included in the diet. The authors attribute some of this effect to heat-labile phytonutrients.

One of the findings of The China Project, an international study of epidemiology and nutrition in developing China, suggested that a move away from raw unprocessed food in our diet may increase the incidences of common cancers and diseases such as diabetes, obesity, heart disorders and strokes. The project primarily evaluated a vegetarian diet with a non-vegetarian diet and didn’t just examine the benefits of a raw food diet.

Varieties of Raw Foodism

Raw vegans can be sub-divided into fruitarians, juicearians, or sproutarians. Fruitarians eat primarily or exclusively fruits and nuts. Juicearians process their raw plant foods into juice. Sproutarians adhere to a diet consisting mainly of sprouted seeds.

Depending on the type of lifestyle and results desired, raw food diets may include a selection of raw fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds (including sprouted whole grains such as gaba rice), eggs, fish (such as sashimi), meat (such as carpaccio) and non-pasteurised/non-homogenised dairy products (such as raw milk, raw milk cheese, and raw milk yoghurt).

Useful Kitchen Appliances

The easiest and most popular appliance is a high-speed blender. This is to a raw foodist, what a stove is to a cook. You can make smoothies, shakes and soups within minutes. And you’ll use it many times a day. It does not take more than five minutes to rinse and clean, as there are no fat deposits to scrub away.

Another great tool in the kitchen armory, the most suited type will depend on what you expect to be juicing most. Carrots are easiest in a centrifuge juicer, whereas green leafy vegetables go best in a twin gear juicer. Cleaning time is five to 10 minutes. A water purifier is a must and more economical than buying bottled water. You can also buy a good tap filter (i.e. Pure Water), have a water system installed (Reverse Osmosis), or buy a water distiller. This keeps a steady supply of clean water to wash vegetables and fruit.

A coffee grinder is great for finely grinding nuts, seeds and cacao beans in smaller quantities. A grinder is small and relatively inexpensive. Not an absolute must to have in a raw food kitchen,but I use it quite a lot. Cleaning time is one minute, just dust off the powder.

For people who love sprouts and grass, a sprouter is a fun tool. Or you may just get your wheatgrass shot at the health store or juice bar and pick a variety of sprouts from the supermarket. Cleaning time five to seven minutes. Hand blenders offer a a simple and cheap version of the high speed blender, but of course won’t leave your food as smooth. However, it’s great for travelling, for making quick pestos, smaller amounts of apple sauce etc. Can be used several times a day. Cleaning time is five to seven minutes."

Celebrity raw-foodies

Actors:
- Woody Harrelson
- Lisa Bonet
- Robin Williams
- Alicia Silverstone
- Uma Thurman
- Nathalie Portman

By   Wed, Apr 07, 2010

Tuberculosis Awareness Campaign Targets 25,000 Workers in Dubai

25,000 blue collar workers across Dubai were targeted for a recent tuberculosis (TB) awareness campaign. The event was organised by Dulsco, who partnered with the Dubai Health Authority and its affiliate, Medical Fitness Center, as part of a series of activities to mark World Tuberculosis Day, which was marked on March 24. The campaign featured multilingual training sessions and presentations that took place in various employee accommodations across the emirate. Free TB screening was also conducted in Dubai Health Authority-affiliated medical fitness centers in Al Muhaisnah.

 "Although the UAE has among the lowest cases of tuberculosis in the world, there is still a definite need to educate people about the disease, especially about its symptoms and treatment," said Johnson Alexander, Director HR and QHSE, Dulsco. "As a responsible corporate citizen Dulsco believes that it is our duty to make significant contributions to various social causes, and in this case, we partnered with Dubai Health Authority to spread much-needed awareness about a deadly disease that takes thousands of lives around the world each year," he added.

By   Wed, Apr 07, 2010

KEEP YOU SMILE BRIGHT Top 10 Tips

A bright smile can make you look younger and be a good indicator of overall wellbeing. Subconsciously, we associate a dull smile with age — enamel wears over time, darkening our teeth. A bright smile gives the impression of good health, youth and general vitality. HealthFirst, courtesy of Dr Jaco Smith and his team at The Dental Studio in Jumeirah, offers some tips beyond mere brushing and flossing that should help you keep that radiant beam.

Limit carbohydrates to mealtimes

Potato crisps or wheat rolls can be just as damaging to your teeth and gums as sugary sweet treats. Carbohydrates break down into simple sugars, which are ultimately converted by bacteria in the mouth into plaque — a sticky residue that is the primary trigger of gum disease and cavities. Carbohydrate-based food, such as bread and crackers, tend to have a chewy, adhesive texture, making it easier for these types of food to get caught between teeth, or under the gum line, where bacteria can accumulate, says Joanne Flower, Oral Hygienist and Orthodontic Therapist at The Dental Studio.

Smile tip: Have carbohydrates at mealtimes rather than as a snack. When you eat a larger amount of food, you produce more saliva, which helps to wash away food particles.

Don’t drink and brush

Don’t brush your teeth right after you drink a soda or any other acidic beverage is Joanne’s advice.  It is known that the acid in the drink combined with the abrasive action of brushing can erode your teeth’s enamel.

Smile tip: Sip water or chew gum to activate acid-neutralising saliva after drinking soda and then brush your teeth.

Drink tea

The antioxidants in tea are good for your gums. Black and green teas contain polyphenols; antioxidant plant compounds that prevent plaque from adhering to your teeth. These can help to reduce your chances of developing cavities and gum disease. Tea also has the potential for reducing bad breath because it inhibits the growth of the bacteria that causes the odour. Many teas also contain fluoride, which helps protect tooth enamel from decay.

Increase your vitamin C intake

Vitamin C is the cement that holds all cells together, says Joanne. Vitamin C is just as important for the health of your gum tissue as it is for the health of your skin. 

Smile tip: Add a glass of fresh orange juice to your daily breakfast menu. This will help ensure you meet your recommended daily amount of vitamin C.

Drink through a straw

Most sodas, sports drinks and juices contain acids, such as citric and phosphoric acid. These compounds can erode dental enamel — even if they’re diet or sugar-free versions. Sipping acidic drinks through a straw angled towards the back of your mouth limits the fluid’s contact with your teeth and helps preserve the enamel.

Boost your calcium consumption

Minerals are vital for strong bones and healthy teeth. People whose intake of calcium is at least 800mg per day are less likely to develop severe gum disease, says Dr Ajay Juneja, Prosthodontist at The Dental Studio. The reason: About 99 per cent of the calcium in your body is in your bones and teeth. Dietary calcium, available in foods like cheese, milk, and yoghurt, strengthens the alveolar bone in the jaw, which helps to hold your teeth in place.

Smile tip: The recommended amount of calcium is 1,000mg per day for women younger than 51 and 1,200mg for those who are older. A calcium supplement could do the trick, but you should aim to get as much as you can from your diet. An eight-ounce glass of milk, a six-ounce tub of yoghurt, or a 1.5- to two-ounce serving of cheese each contain approximately 300mg of calcium.

Protect your smile when you swim It may sound surprising, but dental researchers have found that excessively chlorinated pool water can erode and stain tooth enamel. A greater amount of chlorine in a pool may equal more protection against bacteria, but overdoing it lowers the pool’s pH level and makes it dangerously acidic.

Smile tip: Brush your teeth and use a fluoride rinse immediately after spending more than an hour in the pool.

Have an apple a day

An apple a day, the saying goes, keeps the doctor away, but it should also mention that it can keep the dentist away too. Crunchy foods, such as apples, celery, and carrots, act as little toothbrushes, helping to scrub away stubborn stains over time. Dr Jaco believes that the mildly acidic nature and astringent quality of apples, combined with their rough, fibre-rich flesh, makes them the ideal food for cleansing and brightening teeth.

Smile tip: If you eat an apple a day as a between-meal snack, make sure you drink a glass of water to rinse away the sugar, acid, and any plaque it may have removed from your enamel.

Chew on this

Chewing gum regularly can help safeguard your smile. It also increases saliva in your mouth, which rids your teeth of the bacteria that can cause cavities.

Smile tip: Sugar-free gum with xylitol will do the trick (just make sure to dispose of it an environmentally friendly manner).

Consider whole grains

Research suggests that whole grains can act as dental insurance and Dr Jaco confirms this. Whole grains aid in keeping your heart healthy and preventing diabetes, but also keep teeth healthier, longer. A diet rich in whole grains stabilises blood sugar levels, which has been shown to reduce periodontitis in diabetics. Periodontitis is a serious disease resulting from a bacterial infection that destroys the attachment fibres and supporting bones that holds the teeth in place. If left untreated, it can lead to tooth loss.

Smile tip: Swap white rice and regular pasta for brown and whole-wheat versions. Check labels to make sure brown rice or whole grains are listed as the first ingredient.

By   Wed, Apr 07, 2010

The Price of Medicines... Why the Huge Disparity?

The forthcoming Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Middle East Exhibition & Conference (PABME), which takes place from May 23-25, 2010, at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre, is a major event for the region’s pharmaceutical sector. The exhibition will attract thousands of manufacturing representatives, pharmacists, doctors and other professionals, all keen on conducting good business in the face of the recession.

What matters most to the consumer, however, is the price that they pay for their medicines in their street corner pharmacy. With such huge discrepancies between branded and generic (unbranded) forms of medicine, we ask Ruch de Silva, Consulting Analyst, Healthcare, Datamonitor MENA, to shine some light on why drug prices in the region are subject to such large variances:

Why is there such a disparity in the price of certain branded drugs and their generic counterparts? Is this just a simple case of patents expiring, or are there further issues in the equation?

"Firstly, the price of drugs, both prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, are controlled by the Drug Control Department of the Federal Ministry of Health (MoH) in the UAE. The price of a drug consists of three components; the ex-manufacturer price, which goes to the manufacturer, margins for the distributor and profits for the retailer.

The last drug price revision was made by the MoH in October 2008 for 1,129 medications imported from Europe, whose prices had been the same since 2005. This figure comprised 530 drugs used to treat chronic diseases and 599 used to treat acute conditions. The strengthening of the Euro against the dollar made the UAE an unattractive market for European pharmaceuticals and the prices of these European drugs were adjusted to compensate for this. The revisions involved increasing the prices of drugs for chronic conditions by 5.85 per cent, while those used to treat acute conditions rose by up to 21.4 per cent.

Generics, like their branded counterparts, are equally highly priced in the UAE. Datamonitor’s research among drugs used to treat three major chronic illnesses in the UAE; diabetes, hypercholesterolemia and hypertension, found that the range in price difference between the branded and generic versions to be merely 13-59 per cent. In comparison, in markets such as the UK and Germany, generic drugs are priced up to 80 per cent less than the branded versions. However, such discounting is only possible with unbranded generics. Drugs available in the UAE and the rest of the Middle East are usually branded generics which involve marketing costs and even carry the names of their respective companies. An example is the drug Julmentin (co-amoxiclav), which incorporates the name of its manufacturer, Julphar, with that of the generic drug originally developed by GSK, Augmentin. The costs associated with marketing drives the prices of such branded generics up over the volume-driven unbranded generics where all overheads, including profit margins are kept to a bare minimum."

Last year, the Abu Dhabi Health Authority required doctors practising within the emirate to prescribe drugs by their molecular name. The move, it was said, was made to encourage the use of generic drugs. Do you think that this action will boost generic uptake, or will it simply see the decision to prescribe expensive branded drugs taken from doctors and given to pharmacists?

"In February 2009, the Health Authority of Abu Dhabi (HAAD) mandated the prescription of drugs by molecular names through the development of a prescription template. Despite seeming piecemeal and a reform that would merely shift the power of prescribing from a physician to a pharmacist; Datamonitor believes that this reform is part of a series of long-term reforms aimed to deliver cost-effective healthcare to all residents of Abu Dhabi.

Dr Mohammed Abuelkhair, an advisor to the Drugs and Medical Products of the Health Authority of Abu Dhabi (HAAD) revealed to Datamonitor that the shift to generic prescribing had already produced an increase in generic consumption and a drop in branded drug use since the ruling was passed. Dr Abuelkhair also highlighted that HAAD-sponsored patient-focused campaigns have been run in pharmacies to promote the use of generic drugs and that this had contributed to the higher uptake of generics among patients. In a presentation at the Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Middle East (PABME) conference in April 2009, Dr Abuelkhair disclosed that certain branded drugs had seen a fall in consumption of between 36 per cent and 50 per cent (Abuelkhair, 2009) since the implementation of the reforms. Datamonitor believes that such reforms, together with strategies like the development of the positive formulary list for the basic health insurance policy (administered as the Abu Dhabi Plan for low wage expatriate workers by DAMAN) will boost the use of generics over brands."

Pharmaceutical companies often experience a drastic decline in drug revenue upon patent expiry. However, their Gulf Cooperation Council counterparts have managed to grow the sales of products post-patent expiry. Why should this region be different?

"In the UK, branded drugs experience sales erosion of approximately 40 per cent after the first year and 75 per cent after two years of generic competition. The continuing implementation of cost-cutting measures, coupled with an already high use of generics, means that branded pharmaceuticals have to work even harder in the future to protect its market share.

Similarly, Germany’s pharmaceutical market, which is highly genericised, being the oldest and most profitable generic market in Europe, has begun to shift from a branded generic market, towards a commodity generics market. This has been driven by wide-ranging reforms which put negotiating power firmly in the hands of Germany’s sickness funds (krankenkassen) making sales and marketing forces obsolete, with competition simply based on price.

However, this is not the case in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries where pharmaceuticals like GSK have managed to steadily grow the franchises of branded drugs such as Augmentin annually, despite the presence of generic competition for over half a decade.

The reason for this lies in consumer sentiment and the willingness of payers to reimburse the use of branded drugs, even where generic versions are available. Consumers in the GCC, being relatively affluent, are notoriously brand conscious. This mind-set even extends to their consumption of healthcare services and pharmaceutical items. Generic drugs have been always seen as suspicious, despite the large generic manufacturing base in the GCC and Middle East and North African (MENA) region. On top of that, payers, particularly the public sector, have allowed the consumption of branded drugs, which have been paid for by revenues generated from the export of hydrocarbons that the region has in abundance. The recent trend observed in privatising healthcare financing, through the introduction of private health insurance, will see the implementation of cost-cutting measures that will boost the uptake of generics. However, Datamonitor does not expect cost-cutting measures to be implemented immediately, but only as the market matures and competition for premiums and profit-making stiffens."

By   Wed, Apr 07, 2010

SAFE AT HEART

Aims to Drive Down Cardiovascular Disease in the Gulf

"Conducting Gulf-wide research programmes in order to understand the local situation is important to us and we are happy to be partnering with the Emirates Cardiac Society on this project," said Tarek Rabah, President, AstraZeneca Gulf. "CEPHEUS is part of the Safe At Heart program, which is currently running across the Gulf. Safe At Heart is an educational initiative that is focused on building an awareness of heart disease and the importance of controlling cholesterol levels. It aims to both educate the public and provide educational programmes for physicians in order to decrease the levels of heart disease in the Gulf region," he added.

"The Gulf Program for Better Cholesterol Control comprises two major initiatives; the CEPHEUS research project and the Safe at Heart educational program, both of which aim to slash the incidence of heart disease in the Gulf."

The CEPHEUS research project involves monitoring 5,300 patients across the Gulf who are taking lipid lowering medication. It was devised to assess whether their drug regimes are being effective and is the largest such survey in the region to date. The study forms part of a larger, earlier European project that looked at 15,000 patients, with the results revealing that only 55.3 per cent of those receiving drugs for elevated cholesterol levels were successful in reaching their treatment goals. The study found that poor compliance often resulted when the therapy was frequently changed, or doses increased and one of the conclusions drawn was that patients should be better informed and encouraged to stick firmly to their treatment regime.

The Safe At Heart campaign was rolled out during the recent Family Health Festival, which ran in conjunction with the Dubai Shopping Festival 2010. During the month-long event, educational activities, free health checkups and cholesterol testing was made available to the public at various malls and shopping centres across the emirate. Under the program, the public is being educated about the two types of cholesterol; the good kind (HDL), which helps to remove lipids from the body, preventing them from building up in blood vessels and the bad kind (LDL), which can lead to blockages in the arteries. It is being advised that a 10 per cent overall reduction in cholesterol levels can cut heart disease by half, with scientists saying that men over 40 years of age (a group who are particularly at risk) only have to reduce their cholesterol levels by 10 per cent in order to lower their risk of heart disease by 50 per cent.

Safe At Heart continues in April, with this second phase of the campaign targeting patients who are already on cholesterol lowering treatment. Important information gleaned from the CEPHEUS study, which revealed that some of these patients were not complying properly with their treatment regimes, will form a central aspect of the strategy to address the issue. Planned activities will focus on raising awareness of the importance of continuing to lead a healthy lifestyle and to adhere to prescribed medication in order to protect the heart. A timetable of events will take place in selected hospitals and clinics across the UAE, with continuous medical education programs for medical professionals also being set up. These will focus on the importance of treating patients according to international guidelines and are being made available to physicians across the country.

It is hoped that Safe At Heart’s multi-faceted approach will soon bring health dividends in the form of a reduction in cardiovascular diseases in the Gulf. "Safe At Heart is educating the medical community, the public at large as well as patients with existing high cholesterol levels in order to significantly reduce the incidence of heart disease in the region," said Tarek Rabah. "Community programs such as this reach out to people in public settings and can make a huge difference to individuals’ health, something that has incalculable benefits for the wider society," he added.

By   Wed, Apr 07, 2010

CERVICAL CANCER is preventable with Regular Pap Screening

Pap smears are probably the most successful of all screening procedures ever devised to detect cancer early

With International Women’s Day being commemorated just last month, it is perhaps pertinent to examine one of the major global female health issues — cervical cancer. Carcinoma of the cervix is the second-leading cause of cancer death worldwide and the second most common life-threatening cancer among women after breast cancer. The statistics for the region show that there is an incidence rate of the disease of 4.8 per 100,000 women per year in the Middle East and 9.9 per 100,000 women in the UAE. The UAE’s Cancer Registry Program reveals that the annual average of reported cervical cancer cases tripled in 2005, when compared with the period 1998-2004.

Cervical cancer develops when abnormal cells in the lining of the cervix begin to multiply out of control. Abnormal cells can gather to form a lump, or tumour, which can be either benign or malignant. Benign (non-cancerous) tumours do not spread and are usually not harmful, whereas malignant (cancerous) tumours spread from their original source, with cells being moved to different parts of the body via the body’s circulatory and lymphatic systems.

Pre-cancerous changes and the early development of cervical carcinoma may well be symptom free, but as the disease progresses, women may notice one or more of the following symptoms; abnormal vaginal bleeding, bleeding that occurs between regular menstrual periods, bleeding that occurs after either intimacy, douching or a pelvic examination, bleeding after menopause, menstrual periods that last longer and are heavier than before, an increase in vaginal discharge, pelvic pain and pain while having relations.

Virtually all cervical cancers are caused by some type of Human Papillomavirus (HPV). This is a common organism that infects half of all people at some point in their lives, but more than two-thirds of cervical cancer cases are attributed to high-risk HPV types 16 and 18. In 2006, a vaccine against HPV, Gardasil, was introduced to help prevent medical conditions caused by HPV types 6, 11, 16 and 18; conditions that included cervical cancer. However, the vaccine is no substitute for routine cervical screening and women who receive it should continue to undergo this procedure.

Gaby Khayata MD, Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at the Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Centre in Dubai Healthcare City, explains why regular Pap screening can detect issues before they become life threatening. "With regular Pap testing, you can help prevent cancer of the cervix. Although the HPV vaccine helps to prevent the disease, it does not replace regular screening. In the early stages, cervical cancer may not show any symptoms, but if caught early, it is almost 100 per cent curable," he says. "The chances of detecting cervical cancer at an early stage are greatly increased by having regular Pap smears, hence, I always recommend my patients to have regular gynaecological checkups. Most importantly, the test is a very quick and hassle-free procedure that does not hurt and is a very simple step that could save your life," he adds.

About one-third of women who should have regular Pap tests don’t. Women who forego the screening at recommended intervals are far more likely to develop cervical cancer than women who regularly attend for the procedure. Between 60 per cent and 80 per cent of women newly diagnosed with cervical cancer have not had a Pap smear within five years, with some of these never having been tested.

As pre-cancerous changes and early cancers of the cervix generally do not cause pain or other symptoms, it is important to receive regular Pap screenings to detect these conditions at a stage when they can be treated most effectively. It is the increased use of the Pap test that is mostly responsible for the decrease in the number of cervical cancer deaths. The simple, highly effective screening procedure can detect pre-cancerous conditions of the cervix and more than 90 per cent of all cervical cancers. It is credited with significantly reducing cervical cancer deaths since its widespread introduction in the 1950s. Dr Khayata believes that the continued deaths associated with the disease are solely due to poor compliance with undertaking this simple, yet life-saving procedure.

"The fact that thousands of women die each year of a disease that can be prevented or cured reflects widespread failure to have Pap tests as often as we recommend," he says.

Risk Factors

By   Wed, Apr 07, 2010

How to Protect your skin from SUNBURN

Sunscreen Applications

The Sun has been romanticised throughout the ages and was even worshipped by ancient civilisations, its force being recognised as the ultimate giver of life. As science has progressed, we have discovered just how important direct sunlight can be for our health. Its role in the production of vitamin D (an essential element that ensures the growth of healthy bones and strong teeth) is a case in point. However, the technological advances that have allowed us to break sunlight down into its component parts have also enabled us to ascertain the sun’s negative effects on health and the dangers of over-exposure.

The sun gives off ultraviolet (UV) radiation that is divided into categories based on wavelength, which is measured in nanometers (nm). UVC radiation is absorbed by the atmosphere and does not cause skin damage. UVB (290-320nm) radiation largely affects the outer layer of skin (the epidermis) and is the primary agent responsible for sunburn. This form of radiation does not penetrate glass and its intensity depends on the time of day and the season. UVA (320-400nm) radiation penetrates more deeply into the skin and its intensity is more constant than UVB. It is not filtered by glass and does not experience diurnal variation. Exposure to UVA and UVB from sunlight accounts for 90 per cent of the symptoms of premature skin ageing, such as wrinkles and skin cancer.

But how does this science behind the sun’s effect on skin translate into practical realities, particularly if you are resident in the UAE and are likely to receive a great deal of exposure even when going about your daily business? Certainly, if you are not using a sunscreen, you should avoid the sun around mid-day, as this is when it is most potent. If you do venture into strong sunlight, whatever the time of day, ensure you are wearing protective clothing that covers your skin. Wide-brimmed hats are also important to provide shade for the face, shoulders and nape of the neck.

Many of us, however, will still choose to expose our bodies to the sun’s rays, perhaps when we head to the great beaches and other open spaces that we have in this part of the world. With the weather at this time of year perfect for such activities, it is imperative that sunscreen is used to when the skin is exposed to prevent damage. Sunscreen is the most important skin-care product available to prevent both wrinkles and skin cancer, but its correct use is vital. With this in mind, here are 10 essential pointers you should consider when applying a sunscreen lotion, cream or spray:

1- Get to know your personal skin phototype (SPT), which will determine how likely you are to burn. There are six different skin phototypes: people with SPT1 and SPT2 are at one end of the spectrum and burn easily with short exposure; they either never tan, or tan with difficulty. SPT3 types have some sunburn with short exposures, but can develop marked tanning over time. SPT4 persons tan with ease and do not sunburn with short exposure. Persons with constitutive brown skin are termed SPT5 and those with black skin, SPT6.

2- A good broad-spectrum sunscreen should have an SPF of at least 15 and contain avobenzone, titanium dioxide, or zinc oxide. A sunscreen with an SPF of 15 provides protection against 93 per cent of UVB rays, while one with an SPF of 30 provides 97 per cent protection. An SPF factor of 15-30 should therefore be adequate, irrespective of skin type.

3- Most people do not use sunscreen correctly and miss important areas of the body that can be easily burnt, such as the hands and feet. The lotion or spray should be applied liberally enough to all sun-exposed areas so that it forms a film. A sunscreen with built-in moisturiser may be required for those with sensitive, dry skin.

4- It takes 20-30 minutes for a sunscreen to be absorbed by the skin, so it should be applied at least a half an hour before venturing out in sunlight. If you wait until you are already outside and your skin shows signs of redness, then it is already being damaged.

5- If other skin products are being used, the sunscreen should be the last to be applied, especially on the face. This is because some sunscreens break down in the presence of the water contained in water-based foundations and moisturisers.

6- Most instructions on sunscreen labels recommend reapplying sunscreen ‘frequently,’ but this is a vague and subjective definition. Sunscreens should be applied every two to three hours throughout the daylight period, with additional applications after bathing or excessive sweating. Using a sunscreen in this manner has been shown to be more effective in preventing skin damage than using a higher SPF factor cream less frequently.

7- No sunscreen is truly waterproof. They can be water-resistant, but even these creams need to be reapplied every few hours, or according to the manufacturer's instructions.

8- No sunscreen really provides all-day protection. Even creams with an SPF of 50+ should be reapplied every two hours, or more frequently if you have been in the water, or have been sweating a lot.

9- Clouds don't block the UV rays that cause sunburn, so you can still become sunburned even when the sun is obscured. UV rays can also be reflected off of water, sand, snow, and concrete, so you can even become sunburnt in the shade!

1o- Insect repellents reduce the sunscreen's SPF by up to one-third. When using sunscreen and insect repellent together, a higher SPF should be used and the lotion reapplied more often.

"Life is very short, try everything you've dreamed about
(within the perimeters of sanity and the law) and regret nothing.
Oh, and don't forget the sunscreen."

By   Wed, Apr 07, 2010

Weathering the Storm
How has the Global Recession Affected the UAE Healthcare Sector?

Two weeks ago, Thomson Reuters released its annual study identifying the 100 top U.S. hospitals based on their overall organisational performance. The Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospital: National Benchmarks report revealed that even in the current tough economic times, the country’s top hospitals are continuing to show a profit. So all is well and good for the strongest healthcare institutions in the world’s largest economy, but how are their counterparts in the UAE faring?

We ask two of the UAE’s healthcare leaders to answer the question… “What have been the implications of the global recession for you?”

David Hadley
Chief Executive Officer EHL Management Services

“On the negative side, the recession has affected us because the oversupply of patients has been reduced. Many supporting clinics, particularly within Dubai Healthcare City, have closed and these would have been users of our facilities.

Also, many of our staff who came to Dubai primarily because their spouses gained employment in the booming real estate and construction sector, have had to return to their home countries due to the fact that their partners have lost their jobs. This has left us with critical vacancies, particularly in nursing and physiotherapy, which we have had to fill. On the positive side, however, less competition has come into the market place and the barriers to entry are now greater for new entrants, thus creating additional opportunities for us. Added to this, accommodation prices have normalised, which has assisted us in being able to attract professionals to the region at a price that the consumer can afford.

Due to the fact the we opened The City Hospital; our total growth during this period of recession has been almost 100% within the group. We are less bullish about opening new facilities within Dubai, but are still planning on a few, including the current clinic in the IBN Battuta Mall, which is currently under construction. We are now more focused on growth and investment in other parts of the UAE and GCC and are presently looking at immediate opportunities in Abu Dhabi.

We are satisfied that our business model is what the residents of Dubai are looking for, as we are focused on ethical, professional and quality healthcare at an affordable price and we remain very positive that we will continue to grow. We are supportive of the country’s overall healthcare ambitions and will partner these initiatives where possible. We believe that there will eventually be consolidation within the industry in many facets.

Firstly, the regulatory bodies of Dubai in the Dubai Health Authority and Dubai Healthcare City’s Center for Healthcare Planning and Quality will hopefully partner with the federal Ministry of Health in delivering unified healthcare regulations that are applicable for the entire UAE. Secondly, we believe that there will be a consolidation in the healthcare insurance sector and that this sector will in turn, direct its attention to supporting proven quality initiatives, especially in terms of secondary and tertiary care.

Lastly, we think that there will be a more conservative approach by healthcare operators entering the UAE market.”

Raza Siddiqui Executive Director,
ETA Star Healthcare and Dubai Lifestyle City

 “The UAE population has grown substantially during the last five years, which has affected the supply and demand situation and has left a current gap for approximately 2,000 beds. There was substantial supply of hospital beds in the pipeline from various health providers globally, which are on hold due to various reasons.

We at ETA star health care also have 500 hospital beds in the pipeline temporarily on hold because banks are still not open to support construction activity, even for a hospital, meaning that some new projects are being delayed. This unavailability of finance has made things difficult in terms of working capital and short term loans, but health care is an essential service, which means that the industry is not as impacted by an economic down turn. We are quite optimistic, as our current health care businesses have not been affected. On the contrary, in 2009, we showed tremendous growth and we also see the revival of pending projects happening in the near future. It is estimated that the total GCC healthcare spending will reach more than $60 billion by 2025, up from $12 billion today.

Right now, the government shoulders more than 75 per cent of healthcare expenditure, which will change in the near future as private players becoming much more active in the market. There have already been impressive improvements seen because of the substantial investments made by GCC Governments in each and every aspect of healthcare. This investment is reflected in the overall improvement in basic health indicators, which are comparable to those of developed countries. Life expectancy in the region rose from 60.5 years in 1978 to 73 years by 2004 and in the same period, infant mortality fell from 69 deaths per 1,000 live births to 18. It is predicted that in next two decades, the population of GCC countries will double, with the number of people aged 65 and over increasing by more than sevenfold. Add to this other demographic changes and risk patterns for diseases and a substantial rise in demand for healthcare treatment in the region will be seen. By 2025, demand for hospital beds will have more than doubled and the region will require almost 162,000 beds in total. Saudi Arabia and UAE are expected to register the greatest percentage increases in demand.”

By   Wed, Apr 07, 2010

Quintessential Cuisine

Fortunately, staying in tip-top condition isn’t necessarily all about subjecting yourself to vigorous workout regimes, as a healthy diet can go a long way in helping to maintain your fitness. And if the recipe ideas for such meals come from a top chef renowned for creating delectable dishes from nutritiously balanced ingredients, you can relax in the knowledge that you are satisfying your taste buds while at the same time providing your body with high-quality fuel to power your way through the day. Here, Albert van Rheede, Executive Chef and cookbook author, gives two healthy recipes, with explanations on how the ingredients work to keep you in shape:

Recipe 1:
Boiled Lobster with Spicy Avocado Crème and Grilled Mango

Ingredients:
- 1 fresh lobster (500 grammes), 1 avocado, ½ mango (thinly sliced)
- ½ red pepper sliced, mix of lettuce for salad, chervil
- 5 drops of Tabasco, salt and pepper
- Court bouillon (chopped leaks, onion, carrot, celery in boiling water)
Preparation:
- Boil the lobster for seven minutes in the court bouillon
- Mash the avocado with Tabasco, salt and pepper
- Add the thinly sliced red pepper
- Grill the mango for short time
- Dress the salad on a large flat plate
- Cut the lobster body and claws in half and take out the meat
- Place the lobster meat on the salad and garnish with avocado crème
- Place the grilled mango around the lobster and finish with a touch of chervil

The avocado is a fruit of the Persea americana, a green tree that can reach 20 metres in height and its name is derived from the Aztec word "ahuacatl". The fruit is endemic in Central and South America and has been grown for over 10,000 years. There are three main varieties of avocado; the Mexican, Guatemalan and West Indies types. The avocados commonly found in stores are Hass avocados, which can be recognised by their rough skin and brownish-green colour. Avocados are best consumed when they are just ripe. You can test this at the supermarket by gently squeezing the fruit — they will yield gently to finger pressure when ripe and it is at this stage that they are best for consumption. If left any longer, they will start to turn black. Drops of lemon juice or vinegar can slow this process down, but only for a little while. The avocado is commonly known to be one of the healthiest fruits, as they contain lots of vitamin E. They also contain large amounts of oleic acid, the same healthy fat found in olive oil that helps to guard against heart and vascular disease. Avocados also contain lecithin, known to be beneficial for brain function and the nerve and muscle systems. Athletes can gain benefits from eating the fruit, as after a workout, the minerals contained within them, such as potassium, calcium and magnesium, ensure that acids in the body are neutralised. Avocados are rich in lutein, which helps to prevent cataracts and also contain beta-sitosterol, which helps to lower blood cholesterol levels and reduces the hormonal changes that can cause prostate cancer.

Recipe 2:
Seafood Herbs Melange and Asparagus: 
Ingredients:
- Eight stems of asparagus
- Seafood mix of mussels, scallops, crab, lobster, or any mix you like
- Herbs for the salad mix (chives, basil, tarragon, dill, chervil, parsley
- Olive oil, salt and pepper
- Vinaigrette (olive oil and half portion of balsamic vinegar)
Preparation:
- Slice asparagus into half lengthways
- Fry asparagus for a short time in olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper
- In another pan, fry the seafood mix in olive oil
- Add a pinch of salt and pepper
- Steam the seafood after frying for two minutes
- Pluck the herbs by hand and make a nice salad bouquet
- Dress the salad in the middle of a plate
- Top it with the asparagus and seafood mix
- Finish with the vinaigrette

Consumption of fish and seafood in general has consistently proven to be healthy for the heart, by lowering blood pressure, reducing the incidence of atrial fibrillation (a cardiac rhythm disturbance) and decreasing the risk of cancer. Eating seafood also increases the intake of vitamin D and leads to a faster metabolism and quicker reaction times, especially in the brain and eyes. The consumption of fatty/oily fish, such as tuna or salmon, is recommended by health experts because of the rich source of omega-3 fatty acids found within them. Lean white fish, such as cod and plaice, are commonly prepared by frying and have less cardiac benefits. Cooking and poaching fish will result in greater health benefits than frying them, as unhealthy free radicals can be released both in the fish and the frying oil. Barbequed and deep fried fish can be quite unhealthy. In fact the shellfish used in this recipe, such as the mussels and scallops, along with the crustaceans, including the lobster, crab and shrimp, are rich in vitamin B12, protein and minerals. The low-calorie asparagus in this recipe can help in normalising blood pressure levels, lower blood cholesterol, reduce the incidence of varicose veins and promote good skin. The herbs that are used also have health benefits. The chervil helps to cleanse the blood and the fragrant basil has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

Author Details:
Albert van Rheede,
Executive Chef and Author of Spa and Wellness Cuisine & Dutch cookbook Kuren and Koken
Currently employed at the Scandic Sanadome Hotel, Netherlands.
Quintessential Cuisine comes courtesy of hospitalityinhealth.com (HIH)

By   Wed, Apr 07, 2010

First Aid on the Slopes
Ski Dubai’s Ski Patrol ensures a rapid response for visitors who take a tumble

Skiing and snowboarding are the most common forms of snow sports activity and these too can carry a high degree of risk and injury, particularly for amateurs and those who are new to the pastime. A lack of skills on the slippery medium of powder snow can translate into a difficulty in stopping once underway, meaning that all too often the final cessation of movement comes courtesy of an obstacle or a tumble, leading to bruising, broken bones, or worse.

Figures for injury rates among skiers are often expressed as Injuries Per Thousand Skier Days (IPTSD). IPTSD has been traditionally used to denote an overall injury rate and is derived by dividing the number of injuries seen by the total number of skier/boarder days. This figure is then multiplied by 1000. Alpine skiing and snowboarding carries an injury risk of around three to 10 injuries per 1000 skier days; in other words, for every 1000 people skiing on any particular day, up to ten will sustain an injury that requires medical attention.

Despite the potential for injury, skiing and snowboarding remain popular pastimes, even in this part of the world. Thanks to Ski Dubai, the region’s first indoor snow sports centre, winter sports enthusiasts no longer have to travel to Alpine resorts and cooler climes to indulge in some downhill fun. The iconic leisure destination welcomes around 800,000 people a year to avail the artificial snow and sub-zero temperatures that enable them to practice their existing skills, or learn new ones, under the watchful eye of skilled instructors. The centre has also hosted international winter games events for more experienced practitioners, such as the Skiboard World Cup, which took place in May 2008.

Safety for its users was a prime consideration factored into Ski Dubai’s construction, with the anticipation that it was likely to attract hordes of enthusiasts, both novices and aficionados, who would want to make the most of the only snow to be found in the region. "Ski Dubai is the largest indoor ski resort in the world. It was opened in December 2005 and has hosted almost 3.5 million visitors since then," says Lucas Marchand, Operations Manager at the centre. "Safety has been a primary focus since the very early stage of the project and specialists from indoor slopes, as well as outdoor ski resorts, have been involved to ensure Ski Dubai is designed and operated around the best existing safety standards and practices," he adds.

Even the safest skiing environment however, still holds an element of risk of accidents for users, particularly through falls and collisions with other skiers and boarders. It is for this reason that Ski Dubai trains its entire complement of staff in basic first aid, with selected personnel in the ‘cold area’ departments (the slope-side areas of Ski Dubai) having additional instruction in ‘activity first aid.’ Some of these highly trained responders man the piste in the form of the Ski Patrol team, which is trained and certified by the National Ski Patrol (NSP) body and is a part of the organisation’s European division.

The Ski Patrol team has a permanent presence on the slope during opening hours at Ski Dubai. In the event of any incident, the response is immediate and once at the scene, the patroller will follow basic NSP guidelines. An initial assessment is made by the rescuer, which takes into account the precise location of the accident and its environment – an important consideration, as a skier may have fallen directly in the path of other slope users who could be rapidly bearing down. Once the area has been deemed safe, the patroller will perform a rapid examination to determine the mechanism of any injury; an assessment that will also include enquiring about any previous medical history to ascertain any possible complications.

Once stabilised, the patient will need to be transferred to the Ski Dubai clinic for a more formal assessment in a controlled ‘warm area’ medical setting; a facility that is staffed by personnel from an outside hospital. However, first they need to be transported from the slope safely and this movement is one area in particular that requires additional training, as ferrying an injured party necessitates the use of a specialist evacuation sled. To ensure a safe transfer for the patient, the Ski Patrol team receives vital toboggan skills instruction as a part of its extensive ‘Outdoor Emergency Care’ programme. The title of this training course recognises that Ski Dubai has achieved its aim in having its environment closely mimicking that of an open air Alpine setting, therefore requiring a high degree of expertise in rescue skills.

All of the advanced first aid techniques practiced by the Ski Patrol team are refreshed annually and assessed by a Ski Dubai qualified NSP instructor. Lucas Marchand states that the centre follows closely existing European laws designed to protect the public. "The health and safety management system is an essential part of the Ski Dubai operation. It has been developed based upon local and UK health and safety legislation and ensures that Ski Dubai operates to best practice standards. Accident prevention is of paramount importance within Ski Dubai," he says.

 As with all high-risk activities, prevention is infinitely better than cure. Horst Bruggraber, Executive Consultant of Premium Health Solutions in Austria, represents hospitals that have developed leading expertise in the treatment of skiing injuries and his homeland hosts some of the most popular pistes in the world. Serious accidents at Ski Dubai that require extensive treatment are rare; thanks to the safety measures in place and the instant response of the Ski Patrol team to any incident. But, as Horst points out, the situation in his home country is somewhat different. The outdoor terrain and often vertiginous slopes that have bred some of the best skiers in the world have also taken their toll in terms of injuries. Every year Austrian hospitals and rehabilitation centres have to deal with more than 40,000 severe injuries caused by skiing accidents; a situation that has led to Austria leading the way in the treatment of snow sports injuries. Horst has himself over 40 years of skiing experience without sustaining significant injury and his professional responsibilities, along with his personal enthusiasm for downhill sports, means that he is well placed to offer sound advice for anyone who is thinking of taking to the slopes, whether at Ski Dubai or a conventional resort. Among the recommendations he advocates are a pre-slope flexing routine, recognition of limitations and a careful selecting of equipment to minimise the risks of harm resulting from a tumble.

"A good set of warm-up exercises will make sure that any over-stretching that results from falls or uncontrolled movements will not lead to injuries of the muscles or ligaments," he says."It is also important to adjust the speed and the challenge level of the slope to your ability. Your equipment plays a very important role; don’t wear short sleeves or use too long skis and always wear a helmet. Boots are extremely important. Make sure that your skiing footwear gives you firm support. They need to be the right size and be closed tightly when you are skiing — they can always be removed to offer relief when taking the ski lift up afterwards. Boot binding should be well adjusted to your weight and your skills level. The binding should not open during normal skiing, but has to be able to be released after a fall. If the binding does not work properly, serious injuries such as broken legs, ligament and ruptures may be the consequence," he continues.

Horst states that Austrian doctors have made the diagnosis and treatment of injuries that result from winter sports activities into an art, with the country becoming the first choice for those who have hurt themselves on the slopes; including Olympic champions and famous politicians and celebrities. But despite the potential for injury, he says that snow sports activities are a great way to keep fit, whether out on an Alpine piste — like the ones he frequents in Austria — or indoors at a specialist leisure centre, such as Ski Dubai.

"Skiing, snowboarding and other winter sports are exhilarating activities and if undertaken with a firm focus on safety, are wonderful ways to enjoy life to the full," he says. "Participating in these sports is a very social activity and opens up a whole new world that allows you to meet fellow enthusiasts at the same level as yourself. As long as you take care to follow the advice of your instructor and stay within your limits, you will improve on your skills, remain safe and enjoy years of trouble-free downhill fun ahead," he adds.

By   Wed, Apr 07, 2010

Keeping Healthy is a Family Affair...

Maintaining a healthy regime, as part of a family is much more likely to be successful if everyone is involved. Dr Jadzia Mierzejewska, Head of Pediatrics, Gulf Diagnostic Center Hospital, gives some tips for parents on how each member of the household can benefit from some simple considerations:

• Make sure your child is vaccinated — Many diseases, such as measles, mumps and polio, can be prevented through inoculation. Giving a vaccine to your child stimulates his or her immune system to produce antibodies, which are proteins that fight illnesses. Once immunised against a disease, your child will have the ability to fight it off if they come into contact with it.

 • Eat healthily and together — Everyone should eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. The easiest way to achieve this is to include at least one fruit or vegetable portion with each meal (a glass of fruit juice counts as one portion). Eating together as a family is a great opportunity to encourage children to try new foods and to catch up on everyone’s busy schedules. Taking the time to talk to each other at mealtimes can help reduce stress levels.

• Consider vitamins and supplements — If you do not have a balanced and varied diet, or you follow a vegan or vegetarian diet, you may need to take additional vitamins or supplements. If fish is lacking from your regular meals, for example, Omega oil supplements can be taken to promote your heart’s health and keep your joints supple.

• Exercise together – These days, there are a lot of sedentary entertainment activities that both adults and children partake in, such as playing computer games, surfing the Internet and watching television. Indulging in these pastimes while excluding more physical pursuits can result in obesity. Try to find activities for all the family to enjoy, like a game of football in the park, a badminton match on the beach, a swim in the sea, or a walk along the corniche. 

• Stay safe in the sun — Some sun exposure is beneficial, as its rays are a primary source of vitamin D. This substance helps us absorb calcium for stronger, healthier bones. Too much sun, however, can cause the skin to burn and lead to cancer. Make sure you and your family stay protected — it is recommended that adults use a sun lotion with an SPF of at least 30 and children 50, regardless of skin type. Cover your children’s heads in strong sunshine and try to avoid the hottest parts of the day; 12 noon until 3pm.

• Keep those teeth tiptop — The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends that your child visits a dentist within six months after the first tooth appears, or by the child’s first birthday. After this, they should have a regular check-up at least every six months.

• Be alert for allergies — Constant colds, itchy eyes and breathing problems could be an indication of an allergy. If a member of your family experiences any of these symptoms, a simple test can be carried out to establish any possible cause. Commonly, reactions such as these are down to household pets, dust, or other environmental factors.

Dr Jadzia Mierzejewska
Head of Pediatrics
Gulf Diagnostic Center Hospital

By   Wed, Apr 07, 2010

PROTECT CHILDHOOD CAMPAIGN is launched in Dubai
Dubai Foundation for Women and Children tackles important subject of child abuse

The Dubai Foundation for Women and Children (DFWAC) has a reputation for confronting important social issues and its latest campaign is no exception. The organisation, which is dedicated to protecting the most vulnerable members of society, has just launched the ‘Protect Childhood Campaign;’ an April awareness initiative to highlight the pressing subject of child abuse. The topic has not received a great deal of exposure in open forums within the UAE before and the activities taking place form part of the largest public programme in the country to address the problem.

Speaking after a press conference on March 31 to announce the launch of the campaign, Ohood Al Suwaidi, Communications Director at DFWAC, explained why her Foundation felt it necessary to tackle the subject.

"Child abuse is something that has serious ramifications for the emotional and physical health of the youngest members of our community; children look towards adults for protection," she said. "It is an issue that is prevalent across all strata of society and all nationalities and we need to be brave enough to recognise this and not to shy away from what can be perceived as a difficult and uncomfortable subject to discuss," she added.

The Protect Childhood Campaign is being taken to the UAE public through the form of promotional stands in popular shopping malls, with brochures and leaflets being distributed to visitors to educate about the specific signs and symptoms of abuse.

This is the first time that the topic of child abuse has been given such a high-profile public exposure; something that Al Suwaidi says will be the key to its success. "The family is the ideal model to approach in broaching the subject of child abuse, as they are best placed to spot any signs of concern," she said. "Public welfare associations and other institutions can only do so much when addressing such an issue. Child abuse can be insidious and it is family members who are best placed to observe behavioural changes or signs of physical injury in younger members that can flag potential problems. The family provides children with psychological safety and security. This safeguard is the first step towards preventing such abuse," she added.

DFWAC was established in July 2007 by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai and acts in accordance with international human rights obligations, which the UAE government adheres to through its ratification of the United Nations’ Women and Children’s Convention. The organisation functions as a humanitarian initiative and as such, is the first licensed non-profit shelter in the UAE for women and children who are victims of domestic violence, child abuse, and human trafficking.

DFWAC assists women and children residing in Dubai regardless of their race, class, ethnicity, religion or legal status and it does so in accordance with the humanitarian vision of the government of the UAE.

"DFWAC operates through a culturally-relative human rights framework and in-line with internationally recognised standards, providing free emergency shelter, case management, medical care, counselling, legal assistance, consular and immigration support, psychological assessment and referral services," revealed Al Suwaidi. "We also offer secondary support services for vulnerable clients, such as children’s education, recreational and physical fitness activities, female empowerment workshops and skills training," she added.

The Protect the Children Campaign is running throughout April at various malls throughout Dubai. The programme of events has been arranged in conjunction with ExHealth; an organisation that promotes regional community-based health initiatives. "We are very pleased to be partnering with DFWAC for this important activity," said Dr. Prem Jagyasi, CEO and MD of ExHealth. "Children are our future and we need to protect them as best we can. Looking after the interests of the younger members of our community means that we will have a strong and healthy society in the future," he added.

By   Wed, Apr 07, 2010

ORAL CANCER
A Devasting Form of Carcinoma

April 12-18, marks Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week, a public information campaign hosted by the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance (HNCA). The organisation, which was established in 2008, was formerly known as the Yul Brynner Head and Neck Cancer Foundation, after an abnormality was found on the famous The King and I actor’s vocal chords in the 1980s and he decided to spread awareness of the condition. HNCA now exists to highlight carcinomas of the head and neck region, promote their early detection, enable funding for research and pressure for legislation to combat the use of tobacco, which counts for 85 per cent of all such cancers.

Facts about Oral Cancer

Oral cancer remains one of the most devastating and disfiguring of all malignancies. It has a higher ratio of deaths per cases than that of breast and cervical cancer. The rate of secondary cancer in these patients is also higher than that of any other malignancy. Mouth cancer has a long waiting period and spreads very quickly.　

By   Wed, Apr 07, 2010

DOLPHINS OFFER HOPE FOR DIABETICS

Researchers have discovered that dolphins share a similar form of Type 2 diabetes to humans, but that the mammals have the ability to ‘switch off’ the condition when they need to. The findings could pave the way for an eventual cure for the disease, which would benefit thousands of sufferers in the UAE. The country has one of the highest incidences of diabetes in the world, with an estimated 25 per cent of the population having the disorder.

The unexpected discovery was made by scientists in the United States, who were studying blood samples taken from 52 bottle-nosed dolphins. They found that when the dolphins had been made to fast overnight, their blood sugar levels remained high in much the same manner as their land-based diabetic counterparts. However, when they had been fed, the dolphins’ sugar levels returned to normal, unlike in humans with Type 2, or insulin resistant diabetes. It is hoped that the animal’s mechanism for doing this will be discovered, taking scientists closer to finding more effective treatments for the disorder and perhaps even eradicating it entirely.

It is thought that the reason why dolphins maintain intermittent high blood sugar levels is related to their intelligence and diet. The aquatic mammals have very large brains that are only smaller than human brains when corrected for size. These organs require high levels of energy to function effectively, but dolphins consume an almost exclusively high protein diet of fish, which contains little in the way of carbohydrates to provide this necessary fuel. The creatures also go for long periods without eating, so keeping blood sugar levels raised when there is no food available ensures that they have enough energy to hunt for their next meal. Once fed, their insulin resistance then returns to normal to prevent damage.

The human Type 2 diabetic condition is associated with permanently raised blood sugar levels that require dietary changes and medication, as sufferers lack such a mechanism to naturally revert the condition. The elevation is associated with damage to blood vessels and can ultimately lead to a range of health complications, including heart attacks, strokes, kidney damage, eye disorders and amputations.

 Scientists think that humans may have developed a similar ability to transiently increase glucose levels in the blood during the last Ice Age, around 20,000 years ago. During this period, edible foliage was harder to find and our ancestors were forced to switch from a predominantly plant-based diet, containing high levels of carbohydrates, to a mainly meat diet from hunting. As with dolphins, this would have kept the large human brains adequately supplied with energy. It is thought that diabetes may have developed from this earlier condition, which would have been a distinct advantage, to one that became a complication associated with the Western diet of sugary, starchy high carbohydrate food.

"It is thought that the reason why dolphins maintain intermittent high blood sugar levels is related to their intelligence and diet. The aquatic mammals have very large brains that are only smaller than human brains when corrected for size."

The surprise findings from the US study are particularly significant, as there is no ideal animal model of diabetes. Rodents, cats and certain primates, demonstrate similar characteristics of the disease, but none come as close as the insulin resistance model seen in the dolphins. However, the very reason for the similarity of the condition between humans and dolphins — the need to give large brains energy — may well preclude further in-depth research. Both species are intelligent and social creatures and keeping dolphins as laboratory animals for the benefit of mankind would be unethical, despite the potential of finding a cure for such a serious and prevalent condition that affects so many people across the globe.

Dolphins offer hope for diabetics

By   Wed, Apr 07, 2010

Applied Behaviour Analysis – A Treatment Methodology for Autism

Autism is characterised by difficulties with social settings and communication. Typical challenges faced include a difficulty with pointing to items, a difficulty in giving objects to others and an absence of pretend play skills. These deficits can lead to a lack of integration for the autistic child. A treatment called ‘Applied Behaviour Analysis’ (ABA), however’ is helping to address the issue and to integrate autistic children into the community fold.

ABA has become widely accepted as an effective and successful treatment for autistic spectrum disorders. The therapy analyses existing behaviour in conjunction with research findings to effect meaningful change. ABA has been shown to reduce inappropriate behaviour and increase communication, learning and appropriate social behaviour. It was basic research undertaken by Ivar Lovaas and his colleagues at the University of California, Los Angeles, which called for an intensive, one-on-one child-teacher interaction for 40 hours a week. This laid a foundation for other educators in the search for further effective early interventions. The result of all this work to date has been the development of successful ABA programmes and today there are highly trained providers that specialise in these services within the UAE. To be effective, an ABA programme should comprise the following components:

Intensity

By   Wed, Apr 07, 2010

 Seven Tips for the Right Diet when Exercising

Whether you are a seasoned gym junkie or a novice exerciser, the right food intake to help you sustain your regime is essential. Rob Richards from Fitness First gives seven tips that will help you maximise the benefits of your programme:

1. Eat every two to three hours.

You don’t need to eat a full meal every two to three hours if you are exercising, instead you should eat six to eight smaller meals and snacks that also conform to the following rules:

2. Eat lean protein foodstuffs each time you eat.

Eat a form of protein every time you have a meal or snack, as this will help you maintain the positive effects of your workout regime. If you don’t eat meat, this rule still applies – you need complete protein and should find a vegetarian source, such as whey protein shakes, which are available from health shops.

3. Eat vegetables every time you eat.

As well as a complete, lean source of protein, you should ensure that there are vegetables on your plate each mealtime.

4. Eat non-vegetable carbohydrates only after exercise.

If you want to eat carbohydrates that are not in fruit or vegetable form (such as rice, pasta, potatoes and bread), you should ideally wait until after you have exercised, as your body best tolerates these foods post-workout. Reward yourself after building up a bit of sweat by having a carbohydrate meal afterwards. For the rest of the day, eat your lean protein and a delicious selection of fruit and vegetables.

5. Eat healthy fats.

There are three types of dietary fat — saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated. Eating all three kinds in a healthy balance (equal parts of each) can dramatically improve your health and even help you to lose body fat. Saturated fats are found in meat, but are also contained in palm oil and coconut products for vegetarians. Monounsaturated fat should come from mixed nuts, olives and olive oil and polyunsaturated fats should be derived from flaxseed oil, fish oil and mixed nuts as well.

6. Drink more water and green teas.

Fruit juice and sodas should be removed from your daily intake, as most of these contain high levels of sugar. High fructose corn syrup in soft drinks has been linked by some experts to obesity. Your best choices are water and green tea.

7. Focus on whole foods.

Most of your dietary intake should come from whole foods. There are a few times where supplement drinks and shakes are useful, but most of the time you’ll do best with whole, largely unprocessed foods.