With the aim of ac-knowledging and ap-preciating exceptional

contributions in healthcare, Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and Thumbay Group are join-ing hands to launch the Annual Health Awards 2018.

His Excellency Humaid Al Qutami, Chairman of the Board and Director General of DHA, and Thumbay Moideen, President of Thumbay Group, last week signed the MoU to launch the award.

Al Qutami said the award reflects the competitiveness of the emirate of Dubai in various fields, including health. It has become a platform for innova-tion and creativity. The award aims to provide an incentive

for health institutions in Dubai and their personnel to elevate the level of performance and provide quality services to de-velop the health field in the emirate to achieve customer satisfaction.

Al Qutami invited health institutions to be a part of the awards as they were an import-ant indicator of the quality of medical services provided.

Moideen commended the ef-forts of the authority that aim to elevate the level of health services in Dubai. He also em-phasised the important role the authority played in promoting investment in the field and en-couraging international health institutions to take advantage of Dubai’s facilities.

“The region, particularly Dubai, is a favourite medi-

cal tourism destination, with high standards of quality and expertise available at afford-able costs. Improvement in the quality and facilities will

attract more numbers of med-ical tourists, transforming the region into a medical tourism hub,” he added.

Health Awards aim to recog-

nise and celebrate individuals, companies and innovations in two categories, as follows:

Corporate: Hospitals, clinics, laboratory services, radiology services, pharmacies, pharma-ceutical companies, medical insurance companies, fitness centres, medical equipment and supplies providers, organ-isations for innovative tech-nology, organisations for CSR contribution, medical tourism, hospital infrastructure devel-opment and entity for treating people of determination.

Individuals: Leaders in healthcare (founders/owners/entrepreneurs), executives in healthcare, physicians, sur-geons, medical specialists, women in healthcare, innova-tive researchers in healthcare, nurses and pharmacists.

Better HealthYOUR WEEKLY DOSE OF HEALTH

A GULF NEWS SPONSORED SUPPLEMENT

Infographic: John Catherall | Pictures: Shutterstock

This week in

Global News

Pic

ture

s: S

hu

tter

stoc

k

NOOR NAZZAL

H.E. Humaid Al Qutami with Thumbay Moideen after signing the MoU

Ph

oto:

Su

pp

lied

04What should you snack on? We list the best foods

06Fitness activities for people of determination

ISSUE 59: OCTOBER 30, 2017

� PROTEIN WITH KEY ROLE IN DIABETIC BLINDNESS FOUND

Researchers at University of Utah Health have identified a protein (ARF6) that when inhib-ited reduces diabetic retinopathy, which results when blood vessels at the back of the eye leak fluid into the eye, impairing vision.

Studies were conducted in rodents treated to simulate the diabetic condition. “What is exciting is that we identified a compound (NAV-2729) that in-hibits ARF6, which is crucial for the development of diabetic retinopathy,” said Weiquan Zhu, co-author of The Journal of Clin-ical Investigation study.

� DAYDREAMING IS A SIGN OF YOUR SMARTNESS

A new study from the Georgia Institute of Technology suggests that daydreaming at work and during meetings isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It might be a sign of your intelligence and creativity.

Scientists came this conclu-sion after measuring the brain patterns of more than 100 peo-ple. “People with efficient brains may have too much brain ca-pacity to stop their minds from wandering,” said Eric Schum-acher, the Georgia Tech associate psychology professor who co-au-thored the study.

� ROLE OF HEALTHY DIET IN CONTROLLING HIGH TRIGLYCERIDES

A new study from nutrition researchers at the University of Illinois shows that some individ-uals with variations of a “gene of interest” may be at an even high-er risk of developing high tri-glycerides. Despite genetic pre-disposition, the study highlights that maintaining a healthy body weight or changing diet can help reverse the risk.

A type of fat in the blood, triglycerides are important for good health, but too many may increase risk of heart disease. DHA AND THUMBAY GROUP TO LAUNCH

HEALTH AWARDS 2018Awards will be an incentive for hospitals and personnel to further elevate their performance

Ensuring quality through

AccreditationThe authority’s health facilities set benchmarks for next year

80The percentage of

hospitals in Dubai that are internationally

accredited

11Number of DHA Primary

Healthcare Centres holding international

accreditations

4The number of times in a row that DHA hospitals received international

accreditations by 2016

DUBAI DIABETES CENTREJoint Commission International accreditation for ambulatory care standards

LATIFA HOSPITALCertification for management of neonatal hypoglycaemia in the immediate neonatal period

MEDICAL FITNESS SERVICE CENTRES10 centres are pursuing network accreditation

HATTA HOSPITALCertification for management

of hypertension

RASHID HOSPITALRenewal of JCI certification for

management of AMI

Thalassemia Centre earned JCI’s Gold

Seal of Approval for Ambulatory Care

Accreditation for the fourth time

Airport Medical Centre got JCI’s Gold Seal of Approval for

Ambulatory Care Accreditation for the

third consecutive time

Joint Commission International’s

Gold Seal of Approval for Hospital

Accreditation LATIFA HOSPITALDUBAI HOSPITAL

RASHID HOSPITAL HATTA HOSPITAL

DUBAI HOSPITALAdvanced JCI Clinical Care

Programme Certification for management of acute myocardial

infarction (AMI), chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal failure

Better Health

Dubai Health Author-ity’s ongoing roll-out of a series of policies and plans across dif-ferent specialities in

order to meet the objectives of the Dubai Health Strategy 2016-

2021 is on track, said a top-level official at the recent DHA quar-terly strategy meeting.

His Excellency Humaid Al Qutami, Chairman of the Board and Director General of DHA, said, “The strategy has been chalked out after comprehen-sive research and analysis and

is divided into three waves — immediate, medium and long term. It has 15 programmes and more than 100 initiatives under those programmes so that we can implement, track and mon-itor progress.

“We have achieved signif-icant progress in several key

initiatives such as the imple-mentation of electronic med-ical records. It is important to analyse the progress of the ini-tiatives and support those that are facing challenges through analysis and evaluation. These initiatives will directly benefit patients, hospital management,

health investors and thus the overall health sector.”

Dr Mohammad Al Redha, Di-rector of the Office of Organisa-tional Transformation at DHA, highlighted the initiatives be-ing implemented and those that have already started off. Here are some of them.

“Cardiology

is one of the most

important fi elds of

medicine and DHA

is aware of the

growing demand

for its specialised

health services

across hospitals,

primary care

centres and

specialised

centres. The move

to develop a centre

of excellence is

in line with our

vision to provide

specialised

healthcare for our

population and

visitors alike.”

His Excellency Humaid Al QutamiChairman of the Board and Director General of DHA

INITIATIVES• 3D printing: A strategy for 3D printing is already in place. In fact, the

dental department of DHA has already begun using 3D printing technology. DHA has also used this technology to carry out complicated surgeries such as heart surgeries. By the end of 2017, certain 3D services such as 3D-printed casts for fractures will be available at DHA health facilities.

• Telemedicine: A regulatory framework for telemedicine has been completed and in

future, people will have helpline numbers that they can call for medical queries. Doctors will address their queries and direct them for specialised consultation and advise on whether they need to visit ER and even book appointments based on their condition.

• New apps: DHA recently implemented the Smart Mazad app and the Blood

Donation app to add to its list of existing apps, with more in the pipeline.

INITIATIVES • DHA-wide patient medical record project: The project, known as Salama, is

on track and will be implemented across DHA by the end of 2017, ensuring all DHA health facilities have electronic medical records and that the authority moves to a paperless system.

The project is in phase three, with DHA’s IT department having unified about 1.4 million records and more than 112 million transactions having passed through this system during the first phase that took place in April. Until now, 115,181 new electronic medical records have been created in the system with close to an additional 30 million transactions having been migrated to support the phase two roll-out.

The DHA-wide project, while ensuring the availability of electronic patient medical records across DHA’s health facilities, will additionally help provide patients access to their medical records through a patient portal. Healthcare providers will receive consolidated and integrated patient information, which gives providers a rapid, complete overview of the patient’s condition. Moreover, allergy warnings will be displayed on the screen, which directly results in minimising any medication errors.

INITIATIVES• School Health Policy and Non-Communica-ble Diseases (NCDs) policy have been

developed.

• Genetic mapping and social prescribing: DHA researchers

are working on a project to understand how genetics play a role in disease manifestation. On completing the research, the results and conclusions will be incorporated into the complete health spectrum, which includes everything from prevention strategies and primary care to extended care and lifestyle modifications.

• Public Health and Safety Programme: This programme focuses on how

to create healthy indoor and outdoor environments. This includes occupational health and safety as well as home health and safety.

INITIATIVES• Focus on the urgent-care model across primary healthcare

centres: After the successful implementation of the 24-hour urgent-care facilities in Al Barsha and Nad Al Hamar health centres, DHA is now working on initiatives to implement them across other healthcare centres.

• Dental care: Child dental health sessions were expanded to 5,000 sessions a year

in 2016. The team is working on a complete continuum of care programme, which includes oral hygiene strategy in schools, including prevention and screening programmes.

• Mental and behavioural disorders: DHA is working on a complete

mental health strategy.

• Medical Tourism Programme: Under this programme, medical tourism

insurance, patient protection plan and other such measures have been implemented in 2016 to ensure patient safety and further bolster the Dubai Medical Tourism initiative.

INITIATIVES• Focus on speciality centres: A new DHA-run dialysis speciality centre will

be built in Al Barsha.

• Workforce and medical education: DHA is working on developing medical

educational programmes for nationals in areas of need.

• Insurance and health financing programme: Insurance pricing

models and fraud detection programmes are in the pipeline to further strengthen the functioning of the overall health sector.

• Public-private partnerships (PPP) and investment: A PPP and investment

promotion plan is in the pipeline.

• Centres of Excellence: In order to provide highly specialised care,

DHA will establish Centres of Excellence with a MoU having been signed recently, involving the DHA, GE Healthcare and Columbia Heart Source, establishing an International Centre of Cardiology.

CARE MODEL INNOVATION PROGRAMME

DATA AND TECHNOLOGY (MEDICAL INFORMATICS) PROGRAMME

PREVENTION AND HEALTHY LIFESTYLE PROGRAMME PRIMARY CARE PROGRAMME

CHRONIC DISEASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME

2 Health News

A number of DHA services closed to customers on October 26 for transactions that can be completed on smart channels, in line with the one-day initiative, A Day without Service Centres.

The initiative was launched by His Highness Shaikh Mo-hammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to boost the use of government apps and e-services.

Shaikha Al Rahoomi, Director of Customer Relations at DHA, stressed the importance of the initiative, which aims to achieve Dubai Government’s strategy to transform the city into a smart one. “By promoting the use of online services, we are not only achieving the Dubai government strategy but we are also sav-ing time, money and reducing crowdedness at DHA centres.”

DHA announced during the weekly Leaders at Your Service initiative that the authority will continue to focus on medical education and providing training opportunities for DHA staff.

The Leaders at Your Service initiative provides an opportu-nity for the public to express their feedback, suggestions and complaints to senior DHA leaders. It provides customers with a direct platform to communicate with the authority’s leaders and share their suggestions, feedback or complaints.

Dr Yousef Al Bastaki, Director of Medical Education at DHA, addressed queries received via phone calls during the live one-hour event. He discussed various topics related to medical ed-ucation and training programmes in the health sector.DH

A Ne

ws

Pictures: Supplied

Monday, October 30, 2017

DHA holds meeting to discuss and update the initiatives

KAMAKSHI GUPTA

DUBAI HEALTH STRATEGY 2016-2021 ON TRACK

His Excellency Humaid Al Qutami, Chairman of the Board and Director General of DHA, said the strategy has been chalked out after comprehensive research

� A DAY WITHOUT SERVICE CENTRES � DHA TO CONTINUE PROVIDING TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STAFF

� DUBAI HOSTS THIRD NUTRITION CONFERENCE

His Excellency Humaid Al Qutami, Chairman of the Board and Director General of DHA, inaugurated the third Dubai Nutrition Conference, which took place over three days last week at the InterContinental Festival City.

“It is a known fact that a majority of non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes and obesity are lifestyle-related,” explains Al Qut-ami. “These diseases are a burden on individuals and commu-nities and the prevalence can be greatly reduced through life-style modification, which includes nutrition and exercise.”

The conference was held in line with the vision of His High-ness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-Presi-dent and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

3Health NewsMonday, October 30, 2017

About 8,000-10,000 people suffer a stroke every year in the UAE, says Dr Su-hail Al Rukn, Stroke and Neurology Consultant

and Head of Stroke Unit at Rashid Hospital, the only hospital with a dedicated 24x7 stroke unit in the emirate. He was talking about the importance of awareness and life-style modification in light of World Stroke Day, which was on Sunday.

A stroke or brain attack occurs when blood supply to the brain is reduced or interrupted. It can hap-pen when a blood vessel car-rying blood to the brain bursts or is blocked. Without enough ox-ygen, brain cells can’t function and die. “Stroke awareness is par-ticularly import-ant in the UAE,” says Dr Al Rukn. “About 50 per cent of the stroke pa-tients in the UAE are below the age of 45, as compared to the global av-erage, where 80 per cent of stroke patients are above 65. For the UAE, this is an alarming statistic and calls for urgent lifestyle changes and an increase in awareness.”

He blames sedentary lifestyles, diabetes, obesity, and dependence on fatty foods and diets high in salt. “In the UAE, 18-20 per cent of the population is obese and 20 per cent is diabetic. Moreover, high salt consumption is a major issue. The

average amount of salt needed on a daily basis is 2g. However, the av-erage amount of salt people in the UAE consume a day is 15g, which is way above the required limit.”

Dr Al Rukn says stroke is the world’s

third-leading cause of death and the main reason

for adult disability. According the latest WHO data, stroke is the leading cause of death in upper–middle-income countries, followed by cardiac diseases.

In the UAE, after road accidents, stroke is the second-leading cause of disability. Annually 7,000-8,000 pa-tients in the UAE get a stroke; this means every hour, one person gets a stroke. Internationally the number is 100 to 120 cases per 100,000, so we are within the international range. How-ever, unfortunately in the UAE stroke

patients are much younger than those in Western countries.

WHO’S AT RISK?Dr Al Rukn says it’s essential for

people to be aware of risk factors and to conduct yearly health screenings. Those with one or more risk factors can opt for the stroke risk calculator test, which tabulates the likelihood of a person getting a stroke in the next ten years. The risk factors include di-

ger it takes a person to get medical assistance, the more the brain dam-age. An adult brain has five to six billion brain cells. When a stroke occurs, they start to die. It has been estimated that 1.9 million brain cells die per minute in a stroke case. Therefore, the level of disability can be quite severe as the effects of a stroke on the body are immediate.”

Dr Sarathchandran says people should know what needs to be done if a person has a stroke. “Unfortu-nately, many people die every year and many are left to endure severe or prolonged disability because they didn’t get to a hospital quick enough after having a stroke.”

She says a simple process can help family members identify if a person is having a stroke or not. “It’s called the FAST test. Face: Check whether the person’s face has fallen to one side and whether the person can smile or not. Arms: Can the person raise both arms or not? Speech: can the person speak or is their speech slurred? And time: If any of the three signs are visible, it’s important to call the ambulance right away.”

The first four and a half hours after the person gets a stroke are crucial for doctors to minimise damage to the brain. Ideally, the pa-tient should be taken to the hospital as soon as the symptoms are rec-ognised, within the first three hours.

“This leaves doctors with time to start treatment before the four-and-a-half-hour window is over.”

People above the age of 30 should check their blood pressure every year, Dr Sarathchandran adds, as there is a strong link between hy-pertension and stroke.

HOW TOPREVENT

abetes, obesity, hypertension, high cho-lesterol, smoking, heart disease, previ-ous stroke, alcohol use and being older than 55 years.

Dr Pournamy Sarathchandran, Se-nior Specialist Neurologist at Rashid Hospital, says the most important fac-tor in minimising the disability caused by a stroke is immediate medical atten-tion. “The thing about stroke is that it occurs suddenly and the damage takes place very quickly,” she says. “The lon-

BRAIN ATTACK

EFFECTS OF STROKEEvery stroke is different and it affects all bodily functions. A stroke on the right side of the brain generally causes problems on the left side of the body while a stroke on the left side of the brain causes problems on the right side of the body. Some strokes happen at the base of the brain and can cause problems with eat-ing, breathing and movement. For most people, the left side of the brain controls language (talking, reading, writing, and comprehension). The right side controls perceptual (making sense of what you see, hear and touch) and spatial skills (judging size, speed, distance and position).

DHA urges people to make meaningful lifestyle changes to avoid a cerebrovascular accident

Pictures: Shutterstock

KAMAKSHI GUPTA

DHA ADOPTS MODERN TECH IN CARDIOLOGY

Dubai Health Authority’s heart team has adopted a state-of-the-art technol-

ogy that prevents strokes using an expandable implant that blocks off the left atrial append-age by angiography.

Dr Fahad Baslaib, Head of Cardiology Department at Rashid Hospital, says the new device has successfully been implanted on six high-risk pa-tients, saving them from suffer-ing from any stroke.

The left atrial appendage clo-sure (LAAC) by angiography is a minimally invasive treatment to prevent strokes caused by blood clots forming in the left atrial appendage in patients who suf-fer from atrial fibrillation (irreg-ular or rapid heartbeat).

“Atrial fibrillation is a com-mon disease that affects more than 1 per cent of the popula-tion and one of its complica-tions is brain stroke,” he says. “It is common among elderly patients, diabetics, hypertensive patients and patients with heart diseases.”

The left atrial appendage closure is a minimally invasive procedure that can prevent brain attacks caused by blood clots

New research suggests that left atrial appendage occlusion can lower the risk of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation

Pictures: Supplied

NOOR NAZZAL

The risk increases in patients who have suffered from previ-ous brain strokes.

Therefore, this procedure could be an option for patients who have atrial fibrillation and other factors that increase the risk of stroke, particularly if they have difficulty managing blood thinning therapy.

New research suggests that left atrial appendage occlusion

or closure can lower the risk of stroke in patients with atri-al fibrillation and a history of intracerebral hemorrhage, a group not usually given chronic antithrombotic therapy due to an increased risk of bleeding.

Explaining the device’s mech-anism, Dr Basliab says that a small implant is led into the body and up to the heart.

The size and shape of the ap-pendage are determined. The right fitting device is inserted that expands to block off the left atrial appendage. The implant is then unlocked from the device and removed.

Adopting the latest state-of-the-art technology is part of the authority’s strategy, says Dr Baslaib, which aims to achieve customer satisfaction by pro-viding quality health services in Dubai.

“The new device has

successfully been implanted

on six high-risk patients,

saving them from suff ering

from any stroke.”

Dr Fahad Baslaib Head of Cardiology Department at Rashid Hospital

NUTRITIOUS NIBBLES

Monday, October 30, 2017Monday, October 30, 20174 5Nutrition Planet Nutrition Planet

Erratic meal times and nibbling in between are a way of modern life. We find out their health implications and how to make better food choices

Many of us were raised to believe that a healthy diet involved three square meals a

day, but as lifestyles change people are tending to grab bits of food as they run around ful-filling their daily tasks, with meal times and the types of food ingested varying widely.

As the fast-paced modern world and increasing levels of stress alter the way we eat, ex-perts say a better understand-ing of nutrition is the best way to combat health problems in the culture of snacking.

PREVALENT BAD HABITS According to a 2015 report

from market intelligence firm Mintel, Snacking Motivations and Attitudes, nearly all Amer-icans (94 per cent) snack at least once a day. What’s more, half of adults snack two to three times per day with 70 per cent agreeing that any-thing can be considered a snack these days.

And it is a scenario being played out in many countries across the globe, including the UAE.

“People don’t have time to sit and enjoy their meals any-more, and when they decide to eat they turn to fast food meals that fill their stomach

but don’t necessarily nourish their bodies,” says Maya Ko-beissi, RD, Director of Nutri-tion Programmes at Omnicare Medical Centre.

“Stress can also affect our body’s hormonal regulation, which can increase our fatigue and cause weight gain. Be-cause of this fast lifestyle, we are seeing a high tendency of meal skipping. What people don’t know is that meal skip-ping impacts their food choic-es and serving sizes in the long run. When we skip a meal, we are more likely to make bad food choices and eat more quantities because we are su-per hungry.”

Kobeissi says having small meals more frequently allows individuals to be in control on a daily basis, and that it helps them make better decisions at meal time because they are not making a decision on an emp-ty stomach.

“By doing this we are also allowing the body to regulate hormones such as cortisol, which lowers our stress and helps us manage our weight.” The nutrition expert adds that two snacks a day with three main meals should be enough to help manage hun-ger throughout the day.

THE HORMONE EFFECTFor the morning snack

she suggests opting for fresh

If you are going to pick at food during the day, here are some nutritional tricks to stay healthy

and trim:

KEEP CHEWINGOne study found that people who chewed almonds thoroughly (up to 40 chews) felt full longer than those who chewed the same

amount of nuts fewer times.

COMBINE PROTEIN AND CARBOHYDRATES

Try pairing protein-rich foods with a carbohy-drate, perhaps a few almonds with an orange, or snacking on roasted chickpeas, which are a good natural mix of carbs and protein. They’re also high in fibre, which research suggests can help prevent weight gain and may even help you lose weight.

TOSS GRAPES IN THE FREEZERBecause they’re cold, you have to savour frozen grapes slowly to avoid brain freeze. Research shows that eating slowly helps you cut down on how much you eat because your brain can reg-ister how full you are. You’ll get a lot of sweet satisfaction for just a handful of calories.

SNACK MINDFULLYMunching mindlessly in front of the television is a sure-fire way to gain unnecessary kilos. In a recent study published by the American Jour-nal of Clinical Nutrition, people who ate a meal without distractions felt more satisfied and ate less later in the day.

USE SNACKS TO FILL NUTRITIONAL GAPSMake your snacks count. Since most people

don’t get enough fruit and vegetables, consider snacking on celery with a little peanut butter or yogurt with fruit as an easy way to get more produce in your diet. Fruit and veg provide essen-tial vitamins and minerals and are low in calories and high in fibre.

BAG YOUR SNACKSkip the vending machine and satisfy af-

ternoon munchies with a healthy snack you packed at home. You’ll save money and most likely get a bigger bang for your nutritional buck.

CHOOSE THAT MIDNIGHT SNACK WISELYIf you need a little pre-slumber snack, there may be a food combination that promotes sleep. Specialists recommend a snack that’s rich in carbohydrates and contains a bit of protein; this combination is said to increase the tryptophan levels in the brain, causing you to sleep more soundly. Try low-fat yogurt with a sprinkle of granola, a small bowl of oatmeal, or a sliced ap-ple with a bit of peanut butter.

— E.P.

fruit or dried varieties such as apricots, raisins and dates. She explains that in the after-noon because the cortisol level drops, people usually feel the urge to have something sweet.

“That is why most of us choose chocolates and sweets for a snack or drink a coffee or energy drink to try to curb the hunger and get our energy levels up.

“The best snack we can have is a mix of protein and carbo-hydrates, for example some raw nuts with dried or fresh fruits, a homemade milkshake or smoothie, a yogurt topped with berries and nuts, or some

organic peanut butter with a sliced apple.”

Kobeissi warns to stay away from temporary fixes such as sweets, chocolates, pastries or even salty snacks such as chips — they will not give enough energy and will only make you hungrier later on.

Modern ways of living don’t have to be bad news for our digestive system and overall health. Interestingly, snacking throughout the day can be turned to our benefit if done right.

Many studies suggest that eating more frequently may offer benefits by decreasing hunger and food intake at sub-sequent meals. Several studies found that those who ate at least six times a day ate fewer calories, consumed healthier

DR WAFAA AYESH Clinical Nutrition Director, Dubai Health Authority

DO OR DIET

All your nutrition queries answered by...

I have been hearing a lot about a raw diet and would like to try it, but is it safe and healthy? A raw food diet is any food that is cooked no more than 48°C. This is based on the theory that keeping raw food’s natural enzymes intact allows the body to better absorb nutrients. Some people who follow a raw diet report experiencing in-creased energy, improved skin appearance, better digestion, weight loss and reduced incidence of heart disease. However, there is no evidence that it can cure any condition, and it may lead to potential nutritional deficiencies over time.

There are a number of benefits and drawbacks to a raw diet. Benefits include less trans and saturated fats, cholester-ol and sodium. Certain compounds such as isothiocyanates, which are protective against cancer, are more prevalent in raw food than cooked food.

On the flip side, the evidence to support raw food diets is limited. Cooking some foods allows the body to more easily di-gest proteins and carbohydrates and absorb certain nutrients. For example, lycopene, a plant chemical, is found in greater abundance when a tomato is cooked than when eaten raw. Similarly, cooking a carrot releases a greater quantity of beta carotene than eating a raw one. Cooking also helps destroy cer-tain bacteria and prevent food-borne illnesses.

Is it bad to chew sugar-free gum?In general, chewing sugar-free gum presents more health benefits than risks. The risks associated with the artificial sweeteners that are added are minimal. There isn’t conclu-sive evidence to suggest that artificial sweeteners such as as-partame are unsafe. Moreover, frequent chewers who prefer their gum with sugar have been associated with higher rates of tooth decay and damage.

Chewing gum is a great way to exercise the jaw and neck, prevent clenching your teeth and keep your mouth occupied without consuming excessive amounts of food. Chewing sug-ar-free gum after eating is effective because it boosts saliva production and flow, which help to wash away digestive acids and food particles from the teeth. Some studies have found that chewing gum can lower stress and depression.

Sugar-free or not, excessive chewing of any gum does pres-ent certain risks. Using too much force can lead to temporo-mandibular joint disorder, a painful condition that affects the jaw, face, neck and back. Also you need to avoid chewing gum if you are prone to bloating, which occurs as the result of in-creased swallowing of air.

Q

DIET ADVICE

HOLISTIC NUTRITION

■■ I HAVE BEEN LOSING A LOT OF HAIR. CAN DIET HELP COMBAT HAIR LOSS?According to Ayurveda, hair is a by-product of bony type tissues. It has an indirect relationship with metabolism. The quality of the by-product depends on your digestion and the food you eat.

In general anything that supports deep tissues such as bone is good for hair as well. Good-quality seasonal fruits, bone and meat soup, organic dairy products, fresh live yogurt, coolant vegetables such as carrots, beetroot and greens, sesame and other seeds, tahini and ghee are recommended. However, these are general suggestions. The digestive ability of people, any hormonal imbal-ances and underlying diseases will need to be considered as well.

As a basic line of approach, cleansing to improve digestion and intake of mild spices and adequate liquids are recommended for people experiencing hair loss.

Massages with herb-infused coconut oil are suggested to strengthen the root. Massages generally improve circulation and have been found to be effective in at least certain types of hair. They have shown positive results in preventive hair care.

Hair cleansing agents need to be selected based on your scalp condition and hair type.

Reasons of hair loss are many and a holistic physician will have to evaluate general nutrition, scalp issues such as seborrhoeic dermatitis (dandruff) and hormonal conditions before deciding on the course of action.

Thehealersclinic.com (04 385 5677)

Dr Hafeel Ambalath Ayurvedic Practitioner, Founder and CEO, The Healers’ Clinic

Find out more about the Ayurvedic approach to various conditions

SAVVY SNACKING

EMMA PROCTER foods and had a lower body mass index than those who ate fewer than four times over a 24-hour period.

CONTROL THE IMPULSEResearch has also shown

that increased meal frequen-cy has positive effects on cholesterol and insulin levels. However, while eating small frequent meals can discourage large swings in blood sugar, decrease hunger and prevent impulsive snacking through-out the day, it is also crucial to note what the constituents of these meals are. If you end up consuming unhealthy, high-fat, high-calorie during these meals, it will cause more nega-tive effects than positive.

“The clear definition of snacking is still elusive since the components and nutri-tional composition of a snack are not often discussed with clarity,” explains Dr Wafaa Ayesh, Clinical Nutrition Di-rector at DHA.

“Most people tend to think that anything eaten in be-tween meals is considered a snack. However, as any healthy dietary principle states, eating healthy snacks is important to reap its benefits. Try to stay away from high-sugar, fried, fatty snacks and instead eat more of fresh fruits, raw nuts, vegetables, yogurt and so on. You can make healthy combi-

nations with these foods such as chopped fruits in low-fat yogurt, carrot sticks with hum-mus, nuts or dried fruits with a glass of milk or unsweetened fruit smoothies. If you are watching your weight, ensure that the snack is not more than 150-200 calories.”

When it comes to snack tim-ings, Dr Wafaa says it is ideal to plan your snack intake between meals, especially when there is a long gap between them, to avoid binge eating or a heavy meal after the gap due to exces-sive hunger.

“Since kids and adolescents are often drawn to unhealthy sugary snacks, encouraging them to eat healthier options such as fruits, unsweetened juices and smoothies can help beat sugar cravings.

“For the elderly, besides sug-ar, also pay attention to their salt intake during snacking and keep it low. In general, making sure that taste preferences are considered while choosing from healthy options increases the acceptance of them as food.” n

“For the elderly,

besides sugar, also

pay attention to

their salt intake

during snacking

and keep it low.”

Dr Wafaa Ayesh Clinical Nutrition Director, DHA

While it’s advisable to consume more frequent light bites, avoid fatty, high-salt content

Having smaller meals more frequently can help you maintain control of your diet

Healthy snacks such as carrots and celery in hummus can keep hunger at bay between meals

Pictures: Shutterstock

WHAT SHOULD YOU SNACK ON?

BLACK BEAN TACOS GARLICKY ROASTED BRUSSELS SPROUTS

Ingredients

● 1 onion, finely diced● 2 tsp olive oil● 1/2-1 green chilli, chopped● 1 tsp ground cumin● 1/4 tsp smoked paprika● 400g tin black beans,

drained● 1 ripe tomato, chopped or

handful cherry tomatoes, halved

● 1 bunch coriander, chopped● Lettuce cups and tomato

salsa to serve (optional)

Ingredients

● 600g fresh Brussels sprouts, halved

● 10 whole garlic cloves, peeled● 110ml butter

Method

1. Sauté onion in a pan over medium heat with olive oil. Add the chilli, cumin and paprika. Cook for a minute.

2. Add the black beans and tomato, then toss through. Cook until beans start to collapse slightly. Add a splash of water if needed.

3. Season with a little sea salt and black pepper, then fold through some of the coriander. Divide between lettuce cups. Top with tomato salsa if using. Serve.

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 220�C. 2. Place Brussels sprouts and

garlic in a roasting pan and dot with butter. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper and cover the dish with tinfoil.

3. Roast in oven for about 20 minutes. Remove foil. Return the pan to oven and roast sprouts for another ten minutes or so, until tender. Serve.

SERVES

4

SERVES

6-8CULINARY CORNER

Wholesome snacks for people on the run

Recipes and pictures: CameraPress

6 Maximum Fitness Monday, October 30, 2017

FITNESS FOR ALL ABILITIES

“Exercise and being fi t is for everybody,” says Danil Bornventure, owner and head train-er at FittHPC. “Exercise is a key factor in maintaining and improvin g overall health.

It’s even more important for someone with a disability as they may lead a more sedentary lifestyle. Regular ex-ercise promotes confi dence and a healthier and happier life for all.”

FittHPC holds an Abilities Fitness Programme for people of all abilities to train and introduce fi tness into their everyday life. Every individual participating in the session needs to have a medical fi tness check-up before training. Determination sports will be a key feature of Skydive Dubai carnival, which takes place on November 3-4 and is a part of Dubai Fitness Challenge.

Here are some tips from an Abilities Fitness session on how to safely and effectively train people of determination.

Better Health finds out how people of determination can safely exercise to stay healthy

WORKOUT� Warm-up/mobility (10 minutes)� Four rounds of workout, each of 20 seconds, followed by 20 seconds recovery � To warm up just bounce gently with both feet on the trampoline

MINI TRAMPOLINE JACK Begin the jumping jack by standing still on the trampoline. Move your legs until you become accustomed to the feel of bounc-ing while spreading your feet apart. Move your arms above your head as you would with a jumping jack on the floor.

MINI TRAMPOLINE TOE TOUCHES Stand on the trampoline with feet in a shoulder-width stance. Bend from your hips while keeping your knees straight to touch your toes, then stand up straight.

STRETCHING (5 MINUTES)

CHEST AND GLUTE STRETCHING Lie down on your back with both arms stretching outward away from your body. Slowly let your right knee fall across your body to the ground. Keep your shoulders as � at as possi-ble. Hold for a few seconds. Return to starting position and repeat with left knee.

HAMSTRING/LOWER BACK STRETCHING Sit on the � oor with a leg stretched out straight and the other bent out of the way. Rotate the straight leg inwards and lean forward at the hips to feel a stretch under the thigh. Repeat with the other leg.

FOREARM AND ARM STRETCHING Kneel on a mat with your palms � at and your � ngers pointing back towards your knees. Slowly lean back keeping the palms � at on the � oor until you feel a stretch in your wrists and forearms.

WALL SQUAT (5 sets x 40 seconds hold; 60 seconds recovery)Stand with your head and back against a wall. Position your feet shoulder-width apart, about 18 inches from the wall, and keep your arms at your sides. Lower your body into a squat position until your thighs are parallel to the � oor. Hold.

WALL PUSH UP (5 sets x 12 reps; 60 seconds recovery)Stand 2 feet from a wall with your arms out. Your palms should be on the wall at shoulder-level height and shoulder-width apart. Bend elbows, leaning your body towards the wall. Push back to starting position, repeat.

STRENGTH TRAINING

FITLIGHT TRAINING(15 minutes) This workout is done with a Fitlight trainer that includes eight RGB LED coloured lights controlled by a tablet. The lights are used as targets for the user to deactivate as per the reaction training routine. Participants are given a colour, for instance when the light blinks yellow, the participant whose colour is yellow should immediately react and run towards the yellow light. The reaction training system captures attributes of human performance such as improving reaction times, peripheral vision and coordination.

CRUNCHESLie on your back, bend your knees, keeping feet � at. Rest hands on your thighs, lift shoul-ders towards the ceiling using the ab muscles as you slide hands up on your thighs. Don’t lift your entire back o� the � oor.

HIP RAISELie � at on your back, knees bent, arms by your hips, feet hip-distance apart with heels inches away from your glutes. Push through your heels to lift your hips. Pause, then lower back down.

BACK EXTENSIONLie � at on the � oor, arms on the sides, palms facing up and toes touching the ground. Slowly raise yourself by pulling your shoulders back, lifting your legs up. Look straight ahead throughout the move.

KNEE PLANK SHOULDER TAP Assume a knee push-up posi-tion, keep trunk � xed, don’t bend at the waist. Lift one hand along a diagonal, tap opposite shoulder. Repeat process with other hand.

CORE TRAINING� 30 seconds x 4 rounds (One-minute recovery each round)

12

3 4

5THE WORKOUT SESSION CONCLUDES WITH A COOL DOWN/ STATIC STRETCHING

CHILD’S POSE Start in a kneeling position. Drop your buttocks towards your heels as you stretch the rest of your body down and forward. In the fully stretched posi-tion, rest your arms in a relaxed position along the � oor, rest your stomach comfortably on top of your thighs, and rest your forehead on the mat/ � oor. You should feel a mild stretch in your shoulders and buttocks and down the length of your spine and arms.

KRITA COELHO

UNITY RUN

The Emirates NBD Unity Run on November 24 at Dubai Silicon Oasis, organised by FittHPC, celebrates inclusiveness in the UAE, especially for those with disabilities. The event, organised under the patronage of Shaikh Mansoor Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Higher Committee for the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, is supported by the CDA — My Community Initiative, Dubai Sports Council and the Hamdan Bin Mohammad Community Sports Initiative, Red Crescent, Dubai Police, RTA, Dubai Ambulance and Emirates NBD.

The event supports two centres of excellence, Senses and Al Noor and is free for people of determination.

ELEVATED KNEE PUSH-UP Kneel down and place hands on the edge of the trampoline or any elevated surface with arms slightly wider than shoulder width. Start with chest touching the edge of the elevated surface then push body up until arms are fully extended all the while keeping your body straight, then lower body until your chest touches the trampo-line by bending elbows. Repeat.

Pictures: Anas Thacharpadikkal

The UAE Champions team — From left: Mohammad Yahya (21), Head Trainer Danil Bornventure, Ali Al Ameri (17), Fares Al Shamsi (19) and the Team Coordinator Firas Al Ameri

6

7Life AlternativesMonday, October 30, 2017

UNDER PRESSUREAn understanding of the signs and symptoms of hypertension could

save you from deeper medical complications. Dr Nada Al Mulla, Family Medicine Specialist at DHA, gives the low-down on the condition

PETER FEELY

What are the main symp-toms people should look for if they suspect they’re suffering from hypertension?

The main symptoms patients should pay attention to that can indicate organ damage are confusion, visual disturbanc-es, swelling of feet, numbness, and headache not responding to medications.

What steps can people take to reduce the risks of contract-ing hypertension?

Maintaining a healthy life-style is the key. This should in-clude daily exercise for at least 30 minutes. In terms of diet, I recommend adopting a Dash (Dietary approaches to stop hy-pertension) eating plan, which is consuming foods that are rich in fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products with a reduced

content of saturated and total fat. It’s also important to ensure you have enough sleep as blood pressure is highly affected by a lack of sleep.

Another important factor is reducing the amount of salt in your diet and drinking enough water, which should be between two and three litres a day.

How signifi-cant is a fam-ily history of hypertension in someone’s probabili-ty of contracting it?

Hypertension is around twice as common in subjects who have one or two hypertensive parents, and multiple epidemio-logic studies suggest that genet-ic factors account for about 30 per cent of the variation in BP in various populations.

Here in the UAE, hyperten-sion is a significant problem. What steps are DHA taking to tackle the problem?

DHA pays special attention to non-communicable diseas-

es and chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes by offer-ing constant policy updates for managing the conditions. The au-thority also conducts campaigns to create awareness and we have plans for a dedi-cated clinic for chronic diseases, where con-sultation times are longer and a more

comprehensive level of care is offered.

Once diagnosed, how is hypertension treated and what steps can people who have been diagnosed take to alleviate the symptoms of the condition?

Hypertension is treated first with lifestyle modifications, then drug therapy is initiated based on the patient’s condi-tion. The drug therapy might be a mono (single medication) or combined (two or three medi-cations), depending on the indi-vidual’s needs.

Patients must be aware of the importance of adhering to their

medication and not skipping or stopping their prescription be-fore consulting a physician.

They also need to ask about possible side effects and blood pressure goals while tak-ing the medicines.

Monitor the blood pressure if you’re on medication. It is crucial that patients report any possible symptoms that they experience while taking their medications.

What complications can peo-ple with hypertension suffer from if left untreated?

Left ventricular hypertrophy is a condition often found in pa-tients with hypertension.

The condition is associated with a higher incidence of sub-sequent heart failure, myocardi-al infarction and sudden death, and stroke.

Hypertension is the most common and most important risk factor for ischemic stroke. The incidence of strokes can be markedly reduced by effective antihypertensive therapy.

The condition is also a risk factor for chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease.

Hypertension is also a lead-ing risk factor for ischemic heart disease, including myo-cardial infarction and coronary interventions.

Headaches that don’t respond to medication may indicate hypertension

Pictures: Shutterstock

SURVIVING A STROKEIt’s all about timely intervention and effective rehabilitation

CHIRANTI SENGUPTA

On September 12, 2016, 48-year-old Mubarak Abdulla Omar headed to Abu Dhabi airport to travel to Cairo. He felt

relaxed and rested as he reached the airport, racing to complete formalities to board the flight.

“I suddenly experienced a strange throbbing in my head, breaking out in cold sweat,” says Omar. “Next, I felt terribly weak and dizzy. I took a few deep breaths to mitigate the symp-toms but it didn’t work. I knew something was wrong when the left side of my body became numb and my face droopy. Shortly after that I collapsed.”

Omar was rushed to a hospi-tal in Abu Dhabi for emergency treatment. Tests revealed he suf-fered a cerebral lacunar stroke with left-sided weakness of the face, arm and leg. “Earlier that day, I’d felt a bit fatigued, along with tingling in my arms and legs,” explains the Emirati. “I

Dr Khalid Anwar Consultant in Physical Medicine and

Rehabilitation at Amana Healthcare Medical and Rehabilitation Hospital

“Proper management involves timely

treatment in an acute stroke unit, followed by

rehabilitation in a dedicated stroke unit under

the care of a specialised team

and modifi cation of risk

factors and lifestyle changes.”

Source: Stroke.org

After a week at the hospital, Omar was moved to Amana Healthcare Medical and Reha-bilitation Hospital, also in Abu Dhabi, for a 90-day rehabilita-tion programme to regain his physical movement.

“Omar had weakness in the left side of his body, more so in the arm than the leg, at the time of admission at Amana Healthcare,” says Dr Khalid Anwar, Consultant in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Amana Healthcare Medical and Rehabilitation Hospital. “He also had low muscle tone. He was unable to transfer himself or walk and required nursing assistance in daily activities. He had very high blood sugar and high and fluctuating blood pres-sure. Following three months of intensive rehabilitation, he was able to walk out of Amana fully independent in all activities of daily living and return to work.”

Cerebrovascular accidents, or strokes, are the second-lead-ing cause of death and the

cations, a growing body of ev-idence indicates that patients requiring rehabilitation should have timely access to a multidis-ciplinary team comprising reha-bilitation physicians, specialist nurses, physiotherapists, occu-pational therapists, speech and language therapists, dietitian, social worker and neuro-psy-chologist to expedite their recov-ery and improve quality of life.

“A post-acute rehabilitation programme involves assessing the patient in detail, document-ing all impairments and then formulating a rehab pro-gramme with the aim of increasing the functional status of the patient and minimis-ing the effects of stroke so that the pa-tient is able to resume his normal life,” says Dr Anwar. “A rehabilitation programme always sets specific long-term goals and weekly short-term goals. These goals are re-viewed on a weekly basis and the team works towards attain-ing the long-term goals.”

Omar adds, “The rehabil-itation treatment at Amana Healthcare, involving physio and speech therapies, and ed-ucation and tips on preventing further incidences of stroke, helped me return to a normal life fast. While I still have a bit of difficulty in my left arm, I am exercising regularly to regain my full strength.

“Though I have not been able to completely quit smoking, I have reduced the number of cig-arettes I smoke daily. I also take my medications regularly to keep my blood sugar in check.”

Dr Anwar highlights that an important part of a rehabilita-tion programme is educating the patient and their family about the risk factors for a stroke to help reduce recurrence.

For him, stroke is something that can be prevented in many cases. There are identifiable risk factors, some of which are modifiable while others are not, he says. Some of the most im-portant modifiable risk factors

include hyperten-sion, diabetes, smok-

ing, hyperlipidaemia, obe-sity, high alcohol consumption and certain heart conditions including ischemic heart dis-ease and atrial fibrillation (ir-regular heartbeat).

“Most of these risk factors are due to unhealthy lifestyles and diet,” Dr Anwar. “About 70 per cent of strokes can be avoid-ed by preventive measures and lifestyle modifications. Hyper-tension, or high blood pressure, is the single biggest risk factor for stroke. It is a silent killer and if it’s not treated properly, it in-creases a person’s stroke risk by four to six times. Similarly, early diagnosis and treatment of dia-betes and heart conditions such as atrial fibrillation can help prevent a stroke.”

Omar urges people to seek as much information as possi-ble on strokes to reduce their risk of one. “With a very high incidence of diabetes and high blood pressure, healthcare or-ganisations in the UAE must work together to educate people on the warning signs of stroke. You must also listen to your body. If something is wrong, get professional help right away.”

third-leading cause of disabili-ty worldwide, according to the WHO. However, prompt treat-ment, complete with effective rehabilitation therapies, can prevent long-term disability in stroke patients. “Proper stroke management involves three es-sential elements: timely treat-ment in an acute stroke unit, followed by a period of rehabil-itation in a dedicated stroke unit under the care of a specialised rehabilitation team and modifi-cation of risk factors and lifestyle changes,” explains Dr Anwar.

While early acute treatment minimises damage to the brain and prevents further compli-

THINK FAST. ACT FAST

F

A

S

T

Identify the warning signs of stroke to help a victim

FACE Ask the person to

smile. Does one side of their face droop?

ARMSAsk the person to raise

both arms. Does one arm dri� downward?

SPEECHAsk the person to

repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred

or strange?

TIME If you observe any

of these signs, call 998 immediately.

was not aware of the warning signs of strokes, so I didn’t pay any attention to these symp-toms. If I recognised what was going on in my body, I could have possibly avoided the sever-ity of the stroke.”

One of the most common types, lacunar stroke results from a blockage in one of the ar-teries that provides blood to the brain’s deep structures. High blood pressure is a critical risk factor for this type.

“I had uncontrolled diabetes, high blood pressure and cho-lesterol,” says Omar. “All these, combined with stress and smok-ing, caused the stroke.”

Mubarak Abdulla Omar (right) with physiotherapist Declan (left) and occupational therapist Tereshai. He credits the Amana team with helping him get back to a normal life quickly