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Weight Management
Increasing rates of Obesity and Diabetes in the UAE

Obesity is on the rise and UAE is not looking good compared to other countries. Over 2.1 billion people, which is approximately 30% of the global population, are overweight, according to data presented by the World Health Organization. A major consequence of people being obese and overweight is a high risk of getting type 2 diabetes. The International Diabetes Association has released data showing that, during the World Diabetes Day in November last year, there were 803.900 diabetics in the UAE, which is approximately 19% of the entire population. This is a huge number. Just imagine what the number will be in 2030! We need to take care of ourselves, especially the younger generations. It is estimated that 1.8 million people in the UAE could get diabetes within a few years. Diabetes is a major health issue and the number of diabetic people is on the rise, so we need to raise awareness about this disease. Diabetes can be avoided by simply losing weight, eating better and doing more exercise. Obesity in UAE Is Twice the World Rate According to a disease study report, obesity in the UAE is double the world’s average. A report entitled “Global Burden of Disease Study 2013” shows that over 66% of men and 60% of women living in the UAE are obese and overweight. Almost 47.5 percent of UAE residents are obese, with a BMI between 25 and 30. The average BMI is 25.6, so the average UAE resident can be considered overweight. Almost 40% of children ages 11 to 16 years and 5% of children under the age of 11 are obese, so these kids are likely to grow into obese adults. When compared to global numbers, UAE doesn’t really stand well. This a substantial issue in the UAE, and all the evidence is showing that it is only getting worse. The economic burden of obesity is $6 billion every year. Obesity is costing the world $2 trillion a year, which is almost as expensive as smoking and armed conflict. The obesity rate represents a national crisis and it is basically a ticking time bomb. How Do People End Up Being Obese In the UAE? Obesity and Diabetes Rates Increase in the UAE. Many point out that this is due to a poor lifestyle, lack of activity, long working hours and mainly because of the high temperatures during the summer. Also, the readily available fast food is not of much help. But, are these the right excuses? Many experts say no. They do not agree that the UAE lifestyle has contributed to the rise in obesity. People who are obese are 85% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, and almost 50% of people who have it, especially type 2, don’t know that they have it. So, people need to get screened on time. Anyone who has a family history of diabetes or leads an unhealthy lifestyle and notices a growing “tummy”, needs to get screened for diabetes because if caught on time, it can be reversed. Diabetes is also called the chronic silent disease, where sugar levels in the blood rise to an extremely high level or drop so low that the person can go into a coma. If this disease is not treated, the high sugar will damage the blood vessels, and these high sugar levels can cause blindness. The same goes for nerves; it can make them overly sensitive or, quite the opposite, cause the loss of sensation. Basically, if you are obese, you are abusing your body, and diabetes is not the only disease you can suffer from. Obesity can also cause cardiovascular diseases, cancer, skin diseases, blockage of arteries and osteoporosis. So, do not wait any longer and book your appointment with a certified team of doctors and get screened today, because prevention can sometimes be the best cure. Start taking care of yourself, and get screened for diabetes as soon as you can.

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February 02, 2019
Lifeline Hospital
Health & Wellness Partner
Atheletics
PRP: Pain Relief Fit For a King… of Clay

The world’s top athletes, whose very livelihood depends on speedy recovery from injury and pain, have highlighted the effectiveness of Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) in pain management and healing. The list of luminaries who have made successful comebacks following treatment includes Usain Bolt, Steven Gerrard, Paula Radcliffe and the world number one in men’s singles tennis, ‘King of Clay’ Rafael Nadal. Luckily, unlike high-priced, top-secret celebrity perks, PRP is available to us non-famous folk too. The reason behind PRP’s immense popularity is self-evident – it is natural, efficient, non-addictive and its effects don’t wear off over time as a painkiller’s do. It harnesses the power of our body’s own blood platelets, which means there is no risk of an allergic reaction either. So, how does it work, and what can it treat? The Science Behind PRP PRP treatment uses our body’s own remarkable healing agents to help speed up recovery and provide pain relief. It does this by utilizing our blood’s platelets, which we usually think of as clotting agents, but which also play a key role in the healing process. During the treatment, a little of your blood is extracted and processed (spun) in a centrifuge to isolate the plasma concentrate, which is then injected back into the painful area. The platelets concentrated in this plasma contain a class of proteins, called growth factors, that are key to healing muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Our blood is normally made up of 93% red blood cells, 6% white blood cells, 1% platelets, and plasma. The concentration of platelets after processing might be five times greater in PRP than in your normal blood. What Conditions can it Treat? PRP works quickly, usually after a few injections, and has proved particularly effective in chronic ligament and tendon sprains where other treatments have failed. However, it is useful in treating all sorts of conditions, including: Lumbar spine disc pain Rotator cuff injuries Shoulder pain Osteoarthritis (including shoulder, hip joint, knee and ankle arthritis) Tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Strains (hamstring and hip) and sprains (knee and ankle) Patellofemoral syndrome, patellar tendonitis, Achilles’ tendonitis, plantar fasciitis Sacroiliac (SI) joint dysfunction and pain Lumbar and cervical facet dysfunction and pain Is PRP an Alternative to Surgery? PRP is a remarkable treatment, but should not be seen as a miraculous cure-all. The effectiveness will depend on the nature of the complaint and how much damage has already occurred. In mild arthritis, for example, PRP treatment could potentially stop any further degeneration and thus prevent surgery down the line. However, in cases of severe degeneration, the aim of using PRP would primarily be to ease the pain. That said, combining PRP with stem cell treatments has shown very promising results in preventing orthopedic surgery. How Long Will It Take to Work? One of the main advantages of PRP treatment is its longevity – it is categorized as a permanent fix. The timeframe for seeing results will depend on the nature and seriousness of your injury, as well as which area of your body is affected. On average, most patients begin to see signs of improvement such as reduced pain or increased function within four to six weeks.

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February 02, 2019
Novomed Integrative Medicine
Health & Wellness Partner
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Atheletics
A guide to possible sports injuries

Dubai offers many sports activities that are fun and engaging. There is something for every sports fan. This applies to people looking for that moment that will mark their vacation and give them a wonderful memory to come back home with, and the ones with a permanent or temporary residence in Dubai. Playing sports is incredibly beneficial for your health. Unfortunately, it is common to get injured while having fun and engaging in your favorite sports activity. If you love playing football, Dubai is the right place for you. There are many football stadiums available both outdoors and indoors. Whether it is a chronic injury that causes pain or a new one, you will need to seek help and look for professional care. Here is a list of the most common sports injuries you can get while having fun engaging in this activity in Dubai. Ligament Sprain Ligaments connect bones to other bones and can be injured after an accumulation of stress. It is common to experience recurrent sprains in that region, accompanied by acute pains especially if you try to lean on the injured hand or leg. This injury is very common among football players. It is important to seek help because you cannot know if you’ve completely torn your ligament unless you have it checked by a professional. Muscle Strain and/or Pulled Muscle This can happen if you’ve engaged in a challenging physical activity before warming up. For example, when you enter an ongoing football match as a substitute. If you have a sprained or pulled a muscle with acute pain in that particular muscle, both in the exact moment of the injury and afterward, it is important to know that muscles form groups and that they support each other. This is why you need to see a professional and have that taken care of. Otherwise, you can develop a chronic history of repeated muscle strains. Groin Pull This can happen to you when you engage in a side to side motion. This can cause a strain in the inner thigh muscles or the groin. It can occur when playing tennis or football. You can put some ice on it and rest. In case you see the area swelling, you have to see a doctor to assess the severity of your injury. Shoulder Pain Normal shoulder function is accomplished by four muscles. If you injure any of them, you can experience pain in your shoulder when you try to rotate or raise your arm. Surrounding muscles and bone areas need to be examined by a specialist in order to determine the exact origin of your pain. Don’t take pain killers on your own and expect the shoulder to heal by itself because you can develop a chronic issue. Knee Injury Injures that occur in your knee can have origins in the knee ligaments or meniscus. This can be a serious injury with considerable consequences. It is imperative that you take it seriously, even if you don’t experience disabling pain. This injury is very common in any sport that requires sudden movements like tennis or skiing and sandboarding. Shin Splints This injury is common in sports that involve running, especially when played on firm surfaces. This problem can develop due to flat feet or if you’re running in shoes that don’t have proper support. To be sure what the origin is and how to treat this injury, it is important to check it with your doctor. Dislocations and fractures Whether you get your bone broken or a joint falls out of alignment, you have to see a doctor as soon as possible. Some of these injuries may need surgery to completely heal. The more common injuries that can occur are finger and hand dislocations, both of which need to be addressed by a professional. There are many outdoor and sports activities you can do in Dubai. The list we provided includes the most common injuries that can happen while you play football or any other sports activity. It is important to know that there are professionals who can take care of you while you are staying in Dubai. You can always consult our specialists, orthopedic surgeons at our hospital.

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February 02, 2019
Lifeline Hospital
Health & Wellness Partner
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