Month: March 2014

Executive council nod for Dubai medical tourism plan

The DEC members discussed the plan to transform Dubai into a global hub for health tourism as proposed by the Dubai Health Authority.

The Dubai Executive Council (DEC) on Wednesday approved a plan to implement the strategy to turn Dubai into a world hub for medical tourism.

A meeting of the council chaired by Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, also discussed a proposal to invest wisely the plots of land set aside for housing with the aim of earning sustainable profits to support the housing projects in the emirate and to give a backup to the government.

The DEC members discussed the plan to transform Dubai into a global hub for health tourism as proposed by the Dubai Health Authority. According to the plan, Dubai would provide selected, distinctive and quality health services at competitive prices which would attract tourists visiting the emirate.

The plan aims to build a system which would boost excellence in the field of healthcare, which would attract people willing to get curative services to the emirate of Dubai.

The Dubai Health Authority has laid down a comprehensive strategy to achieve a number of investment targets in health tourism in six medical areas of specialisation, including dentistry, plastic surgery, ophthalmic surgery, general medical checkups, orthopedic surgery and sports medicine, in addition to recuperation and healing from skin diseases.

The executive plan has been developed to include four main pillars: competition and prioritisation; Dubai’s global status; increasing the number of tourists and medical revenues through delivery of high-quality medical services; and achieving medical sustainability.

The other proposals and projects discussed during the meeting included the investment of land allocated for housing to achieve a sustainable income to support housing projects and government’s support for these projects and providing sites for the delivery of public services near residential complexes that the Mohammed Bin Rashid Housing Establishment has embarked on constructing.

Source: Khaleej Times

Sodium intake double in Bangladesh

As many as 12 million people suffer from high blood pressure in Bangladesh which is the main cause of heart attacks, brain strokes and kidney diseases, says a study

Excessive intake of sodium is resulting in serious health problems like high blood pressure, as people have been found to be taking more than double the required amount of sodium through salt.

As many as 12 million people suffer from high blood pressure in Bangladesh which is the main cause of heart attacks, brain strokes and kidney diseases, according to a survey conducted by National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute (NHFHRI).

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), an adult man or woman should take only five grams of salt every day. The NHFHRI survey, however, found that in urban areas, people take 10.3 grams of salt a day, with males taking 11 grams and females 9.3 grams.

Findings of the survey was disclosed at a seminar organised by the NHFHRI at the institute’s auditorium in the capital yesterday. The seminar was titled “World salt awareness week-2014” while Dr Sohel Reza Chowdhury, Professor of the Department of Epidemiology and Research at NHFHRI, presented the keynote paper.

The keynote paper said heart attacks and strokes are the leading causes of death globally. Each year, 1.73 crore people die of these diseases while more than 80% of the deaths occur in lower and middle income countries.

In Bangladesh, the prevalence of non-communicable disease (NCD) is on the rise while heart attacks and strokes are the most common among the NCDs.

Health minister Mohammad Nasim spoke as the chief guest at the seminar. He said in order to ensure proper investigation into the incidents of deaths due to negligence of doctors, the government was planning to introduce new rules for Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BMDC).

“BMDC will be given the power to cancel the registration of a doctor if the allegation of negligence against him is proved. The health ministry will sit with renowned and senior health professionals to discuss the issue,” he said.

The minister urged the authorities of big hospitals to provide the poor patients with special facilities.

Source: dhaka Tribune

Medical Council of India cuts seats in medical colleges

Medical colleges in the state are facing heat from the Medical Council of India regarding increase of PG medical seats.
Several medical colleges that had secured additional seats last year have failed to upgrade infrastructure facilities and appoint the required faculty in accordance with the seat hike.

The MCI, which has started inspections of the colleges to grant approvals for this year, is upset with the poor facilities in the colleges and the inspectors are recommending taking away the increased seats.

Recently, MCI recommended cutting down PG medical seats in Andhra Medical College, Vizag. Finding deficiencies with regard to infrastructure facilities and faculty in the college, the inspection team has recommended slashing five seats each in MD (Paediatrics) and Ms (ENT), which were increased last year. Similarly, other old medical colleges such as Osmania, Gandhi etc. too face the risk of losing seats that were increased last year. MCI teams have already inspected Osmania Medical College twice and are apparently dissatisfied with the inadequate infrastructure.

The MCI had given “conditional approval” for increase in intake last year after taking an undertaking from the state government that it would upgrade the facilities within a year. However, the state government failed to do so due to a delay in release of funds.
Meanwhile, the MCI is set to begin inspections to grant approvals for MBBS seats for this year and it is being feared that the deficiencies in infrastructure and faculty might affect the MBBS seats too as it has happened for PG.

Source: Deccan Chronicle

Alcohol-Related Brain Damage

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It’s hardly a secret that alcohol affects the brain — its initial effects include wobbly walking, blurred vision, and slurred speech. But although drinking in moderation isn’t necessarily harmful, and can even help with creativity, researchers in the UK are warning that the long-term effects of drinking may go further than the liver, affecting the brain in more permanent ways.

The report, “All in the Mind,” from Alcohol Concern Cymru, a charity based in London, is a supposed “wake up call” for both the public and health care providers. It highlights the dangers of alcohol-related brain damage (ARBD), an umbrella term for a range of conditions resulting from long-term drinking. These include confusion, poor concentration, memory loss, and depression, as well as other issues that may arise from drinking, like traumatic brain injuries (from falling while drunk) and ophthalmoplegia — a weakness or paralysis of the eye.

Many of these problems are also characteristics of a disease known as Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (WKS), a debilitating and long-lasting syndrome that actually consists of two separate conditions, according to the National Institutes of Health. One of them, known as Wernicke’s encephalopathy, is defined by mental confusion, eye paralysis, and problems with muscle coordination — oftentimes not altogether. Korsakoff’s psychosis is the other condition, characterized by persistent learning and memory problems.

“Most of us know that alcohol can damage our liver, but the fact that it could undermine our long-term brain function is much less well-known,” said Andrew Misell, director of Alcohol Concern Cymru, in a statement. “And when alcohol-related brain damage is on the radar, the focus is often on older street drinkers. But staff on the frontline have been seeing younger people, and other people who don’t fit the stereotype of a homeless dependent drinker, coming in with ARBD. … We hope this paper will be a wake-up call for all of us who drink.”

Alcohol Concern says that while moderation is key, many people instead go through periods during which they drink heavily, then abstain. The charity notes that vitamin deficiency is a major contributor to ARBD — 80 percent of alcoholics are vitamin deficient — and suggests increasing intake of vitamin B1, also called thiamine, which can be given through injections or pills

Source: medical daily

10 foods you must eat to stay healthy this summer

It’s summer time, that time of the year when there is abundance of fresh, healthy and delicious choices of food. Be it a slice of watermelon, or a handful of berries, these are all classic summertime foods and as it turns out, also great choices to keep you healthy.

Here are 10 food items you should stock this summer.

1. Watermelon: One often feels dehydrated and weak in summers. Watermelon keeps your body cool during hot months. It not only keeps you hydrated but also keeps your memory sharp and mood stable. It also delivers more nutrients per calorie, as it is very water-dense.

2. Tomatoes: Many studies claim that tomatoes contain lycopene, the carotenoid that makes tomatoes red. This component helps in protecting skin from sunburn. Other studies suggest that in Japan, a compound in tomatoes can help break down lipids in the bloodstream, reducing the risk of vascular diseases.

3. Blueberries: These berries, one of the few foods that are naturally blue, have sky-high levels of antioxidants, which combat the damage done by inflammation. Anthocyanins, the natural plant compounds that give blueberries their deep color, may have antidiabetic effects as well.

4. Peaches: Summer’s favorite stone fruit, peaches are rich in betacarotene, which promotes eye health. Vitamin A and C make peaches a great natural moisturizer. These are often used in cosmetics. These vitamins can help regenerate skin tissue. Peaches are often referred to as the ‘Fruit of Calmness’ in Hungary. It’s a healthy stress reliever that helps reduce anxiety.

5. Cherries: Tart cherries have been shown to reduce inflammation in the body. Sweet cherries have cancer-preventive components including fiber, Vitamin C and carotenoids, according to the USDA. Cherries are also an excellent source of potassium, which helps lower blood pressure by getting rid of the excess sodium in our body.

6. Cucumbers: This water-packed vegetable easily bulks up salads without adding calories and contributes to your daily hydration needs. Cucumbers contain high amounts of dietary fibre. These are extremely rich in Vitamin Bs, which help regulate the functioning of your adrenal glands and counters the harmful effects that stress can have on your body.

7. Zucchini: Thanks to relatively high water content, zucchini can be used as a healthy, low-calorie baking substitute. Regular intake of zucchinis can reduce painful symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Phosphorus and magnesium found in zucchini are useful in maintaining healthy bones. It helps women to keep osteoporosis at bay.

8. Yellow squash (summer squash): Summer squash and other members of the squash family are high in beta-carotene and antioxidants. Like most vegetables, yellow squash contains little fat and no measurable cholesterol. It’s also abundant in antioxidants that keep free radicals at bay

9. Sugar snap peas: It contains many vitamins that benefit the entire body. They are a source of Vitamin K, which activates osteocalcin and helps keep calcium in bones.

10. Corn: It is very high in fibre, which helps you fight digestive problems like constipation. Fibre also helps lower cholesterol levels, reduces the risk of colon cancer and is also useful in helping to lower blood sugar levels in diabetics.

Source: Khaleej times

ADHD treatment may increase obesity risk

Previous studies have linked ADHD with an increased risk of obesity. Now researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health say the reason may be because of ADHD stimulant medications, rather than the condition itself.

Using the electronic health record data from the Gesinger Health System, the researchers analyzed 163,820 children between the ages of 3 to 18 years. They found that children who had ADHD and were treated with stimulants experienced a fast adolescent BMI growth compared to children with no ADHD history or stimulant use. Also, the earlier children began using stimulants, the stronger these weight effects were.

This research, published in the journal Pediatrics, backs current research indicating a relationship between ADHD and obesity. However, more research is needed to determine the exact reason behind this connection.

Source: health central

75% seasonal, pandemic flu sufferers have no symptoms

Researchers have said that around 1 in 5 of the population were infected in both recent outbreaks of seasonal flu and the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic, but just 23 per cent of these infections caused symptoms.

The Flu Watch study tracked five successive cohorts of households across England over six influenza seasons between 2006 and 2011. The researchers calculated nationally representative estimates of the incidence of influenza infection, the proportion of infections that were symptomatic, and the proportion of symptomatic infections that led to medical attention.

Participants provided blood samples before and after each season for influenza serology, and all participating households were contacted weekly to identify any cases of cough, cold, sore throat or ‘flu-like illness’. Any person reporting such symptoms was asked to submit a nasal swab on day 2 of illness to test for a variety of respiratory viruses using Real-Time, Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) technology.

The results show that on average 18per cent of the unvaccinated community were infected with influenza each winter season-19per cent during prepandemic seasons and 18per cent during the 2009 pandemic. But most (77per cent) of these infections showed no symptoms, and only around 17per cent of people with PCR-confirmed influenza visited their doctor. Compared with some seasonal flu strains, the 2009 pandemic strain caused substantially milder symptoms.

The study has been published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine journal.
source: zee news

Get rid of dark circles with these yoga asanas

Even with good skin and great make-up, a woman can look tired and fatigued due to dark circles. Thought to be caused due to stress, lack of sleep and in some cases due to constant ill health, dark circles are also known to form due to lack of oxygen and blood flow to the face. That is why Ayurveda and yoga practitioners believe that by increasing the blood flow to one’s face it can help resolve the problem. So instead of trying various chemical and cosmetic methods to get rid of them, here is an all natural way to zap those dark circles away.

Hastapadotasana: Also known as the standing forward bend pose, this asana is the first one you should perform in this series. Hastapadotasna stretches out the muscles of almost all parts of the body, invigorates the nervous system, resolves digestive disorders and helps increase the blood flow to your face. It is also know to help tone the muscles of the abdomen and relieve any stomach disorders.

Steps to do this pose: Stand straight with your legs shoulder width apart. Now, stretch both your hands forward and upwards, making sure you feel a stretch up your spine. Now start bending slowly until your palms are touching the floor and your head touches your knees. For most people touching their hands to the floor might be difficult, so don’t fret, keep trying till you start feeling comfortable. Once in this position, breathe normally and hold the asana for as long as you are comfortable.

Tip: Avoid doing this pose if you suffer from spondylitis, high blood pressure or heart disease.

After you have performed hastapadotasana, you can perform the other asanas in this series. Do not do the other poses before you do this asana.

Viparitakarani: Also known as the legs-up-the-wall pose, is great when it comes to beating dark circles. It not only increases the blood flow to your head and face but is also beneficial in stretching out the back, relieving lower back pain and calming the mind. One of this aasana’s greatest benefits is that it helps relieve cramps in the back and leg and calms the mind. According to Ayurveda lack of sleep and stress are the number one cause for dark circles and this asana targets exactly those areas.

Steps to do the asana: Lie down flat on the floor, near a wall. Now, raise your legs such that they are rested comfortably along the wall and the base of your back is touching the wall. Stretch your arms out on either side of your body and relax. You may choose to raise your chin towards the ceiling, but do not stress your neck while doing this pose. Close your eyes and breathe in deep allowing yourself to relax. Hold this pose for as long as you are comfortable.

Tip: Avoid doing this pose if you are menstruating, have serious eye disorders like glaucoma or suffer from high blood pressure.

Sambhavi mudra: Is a form of yoga practice that helps awaken the ajna chakra. Although it is called a mudra, this is a form of meditation that is meant to awaken the most important chakra in our body. Apart from that this mudra helps calm the mind, stretch the muscles around the eyes and relaxes those present between the eyebrows.

Steps to do this pose: Sit comfortably in a calm corner of your house and place your palms on your thighs. Make sure your palms are facing upwards so that there is an equal distribution of energy. Now turn both your eyeballs so that you are literally trying to look at the centre of your eyebrows. Breathe normally and hold this pose for five to six counts. To intensify the mudra you can choose to hum ‘Om’. This is not religious in any way but is based on scientific evidence that the word ‘Om’, when chanted produces a type of vibration throughout the body, that is very beneficial to massage the nervous system and activate the chakras. To stop doing the mudra, close your eyes and slowly bring your eyes back to their normal position. Keep your eyes closed for a short while and then slowly open them.

Surya Namaskar: Surya Namaskar has a deep effect in detoxifying the organs through copious oxygenation and has a deeper relaxing effect. It is a series of 12 physical postures. These alternating backward and forward bending postures flex and stretch the spinal column giving a profound stretch to the whole body. You can find out how to do the asanas correctly in our post about surya namaskar.

Source: health

10 things you should think about before buying for your baby

So your new born has arrived and you have made a comprehensive shopping list to get all the baby essentials at one go. But before you start to splurge, wait and think. Does your baby need all that is there on offer at the baby store? If you don’t have a definite answer read on to know about things you should never buy for your newborn or at least limit its usage. These products though make life a lot easier but come with some perils.

Here goes your ‘not-to-buy’ list.

Walkers: Did you know that prolong use of walkers can hamper the bone development in the legs and hips of your growing baby? ‘Your baby doesn’t need a walker but instead vitamin D from the sun and calcium from foods to develop strong bones and limbs to start walking soon. Babies start to walk without any support by 13 months of age. From around nine months onwards they can stand holding on to the sofa or the bed and take their first baby steps with some help. Parents often rush to buy a walker at this stage to make the process easy and fast. But putting your child into a walker is going to cause harm than any good as mentioned before,’ cautions Dr Rohit Agarwal, past president of the Indian Association of Pediatrics attached to Chandrajoyti Children’s Hospital, Mumbai. In fact due to the hazards these walkers pose to baby’s natural development many countries in the west like UK, Canada has banned the use of walkers for babies.

Pacifier: ‘They can lead to nipple confusion; hinder development of the oral cavity and teeth alignment in future, lead to colic and a host of other infections,’ says Dr Agarwal. Before you pick up this product just ask yourself why you need it. If you are picking up a pacifier because you want to free yourself from the demands of comfort suckling or soothe baby during teething it isn’t a very bright idea. A pacifier can help your baby soothe the aching gums and suckle for comfort but it has some hidden dangers attached to it with those instant solutions

Feeding bottles: Mommies don’t freak out at this. But believe us feeding bottles do a lot of harm to your baby than any good. Though there are recent studies that suggest that they aren’t as harmful as thought by the experts, but they still aren’t the best substitute of your breast. ‘One reason that you should not give the bottle is that your baby would suckle in large amounts of air along with the feed, which can then lead to colic. Also there is always a chance of infection with bottle feeding in case the bottles aren’t sterilized properly or the feeding nipple is contaminated,’ says Dr Agarwal. If at all you need to use feeding bottles make sure they are BPA-free and limit the usage to one or two feeds while you are out with your baby.

Electronic gadgets: They can cause damage to the cells in the brain. Sure you are not going to buy your newborn a mobile but limit its exposure to your baby. For the same reasons don’t use a tablet or iPad to read poems or short stories, invest in baby books. Limiting your own usage of gadgets at home especially around your baby will help them learn more from the environment sans the interference of harmful rays.

Gripe water: Many parents swear by this but not all doctors recommend using gripe water, even for a baby with colic. ‘Parents should refrain from using gripe water for babies, the ingredients used in the gripe water or also janam gutti, a traditionally used mixture for treating colic can in fact irritate the baby’s innards,’ says Dr Agarwal. If you are still optimistic on using gripe water for your baby talk to your pediatrician before buying one over the counter. Try not to give newborn babies gripe water unless advised by your pediatrician.

Kajal or kohl: Whether applying thick kajal or kohl under your baby’s eyes will ward off evil spirits is not known scientifically but it can cause those delicate orbs great damage. ‘Chemicals in these cosmetic products can cause allergic reactions in the eyes and interfere with your baby’s eye health,’ says Dr Agarwal

Diapers: Wondering how another of the baby essential item made it to this list? Well what experts suggest is that it would be ideal to keep baby off diapers and toilet train naturally. The mess would be bothersome for mothers, but being off diapers will help baby breathe easy and help keep painful diaper rashes at bay. ‘Practically this isn’t possible. So at least keep your baby off diapers while at home,’ says Dr Agarwal.

Stuffed toys: We aren’t telling you to ban them totally. But keep it off your newborn at least. The fur shed by these toys can give rise to breathing problems in babies and can also lead to SIDS (Sudden infant death syndrome). Keep stuffed toys away from your toddler while sleeping to avoid any incidence of suffocation by accident.

Expensive fancy clothes: Cotton jhablas are the best bet for your babies. Do not get tees or dresses that need to be worn over the neck of your new born. Even with all your care and attention there can be unavoidable accidents.

Baby toiletries: Babies smell good by birth naturally. Don’t lather baby lotion or be tempted to use too much baby powder. The powder, if inhaled by your baby can reach the lungs and result in breathing troubles or irritation. Similarly lotions even with herbal ingredients can trigger skin rashes or allergies. As a thumb rule stay away from baby products that are high on fragrance, they are bound to be heavy on chemicals and allergens.

source: the health site

Electronic media associated with poorer well-being in children

The use of electronic media, such as watching television, using computers and playing electronic games, was associated with poorer well-being in children. Researchers noted that using electronic media can be a sedentary behavior and sedentary behavior is associated with adverse health outcomes, and may be detrimental at a very young age.

The authors of the new study used data from the European Identification and Prevention of Dietary- and Lifestyle-Induced Health Effects in Children and Infants (IDEFICS) study to examine the association of using electronic media between ages 2 and 6 years and the well-being of children two years later. Questionnaires were used to measure six indicators of well-being, including emotional and peer problems, self-esteem, emotional well-being, family functioning and social networks.

Among 3,604 children, electronic media use appeared to be associated with poorer well-being. Watching television appeared to be associated with poorer outcomes more than playing electronic games or using computers. The risk of emotional problems and poorer family functioning increased with each additional hour of watching TV or electronic game and computer use.

“Higher levels of early childhood electronic media use are associated with children being at risk for poorer outcomes with some indicators of well-being. … Further research is required to identify potential mechanisms of this association,” the authors have concluded.

Second Study Examines Monitoring of TV, Video Games With BMI
A second study published in JAMA indicates that more maternal monitoring of the time children spend watching TV or playing video games appears to be associated with lower body mass index (BMI).

Children’s media consumption (time spent in front of TVs and computers) is associated with childhood obesity, as many studies have found. However, parental influences, such as media monitoring, have not been effectively studied.

In this study, the authors examined the potential association of parental monitoring of their children’s exposure to media and general activities with the children’s BMI in an analysis that included 112 mothers, 103 fathers and their 213 children at age 5, 7 and/or 9 years.

The results showed that less monitoring by mothers of the time their children spent watching TV or playing video games appears to be associated with higher BMI for children at age 7 and increasing deviance from child BMI norms between the ages of 5 to 9 years. The finding was not evident for paternal monitoring.

“Low maternal media monitoring does not seem to reflect more general parent disengagement or lack of awareness regarding children’s behaviors and whereabouts. The association between lower maternal media monitoring and higher child BMI was primarily explained by a tendency for these children to spend more hours per week watching television and playing video games. This supports the validity of our interpretation that child media time has direct effects on BMI, is under substantial control by parents, and therefore is a prime target for family intervention,” the authors noted.

Source: Science daily