The Harmful Effects Of Passive Smoking

March 12, 2018 devops Leave a comment

If you smoke or have a family member who does, passive smoking and its effects on those who live with you must have crossed your mind at times. And it should!

The non-smokers who face tobacco smoke at work or home develop 25-30% higher chances of suffering from heart diseases. Passive smoking poses a major health concern and can turn fatal if the non-smoker in question is already sick and at high risk for heart diseases.

The Cardiology doctors in Dubai suggest keeping expecting mothers away from smokers. If a pregnant lady is exposed to cigarette smoke, the baby could have low birth weight and higher chances of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

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Never Hold Back A Sneeze: Here’s Why!

January 21, 2018January 21, 2018 devops Leave a comment

Sneezing is a reflex by which our body fights away irritants that are inhaled into the nose. Ever wondered why you sneeze more than once in a row sometimes, it is because at times it takes more than one go to clear off all the irritants.

Holding your nose and mouth when a forceful sneeze urges might seem like a simple and harmless thing to do, but did you know that this act could result in severe medical consequences? Firstly one needs to understand that sneezing is a reflex to infiltrate the nasal lining and clear its passages to be able to breathe clean air. In case of an irritation, the chest muscles contract/tighten leading to pressure build up. The tongue then pushes against the roof of the mouth forcing breath to push out through the nose, hence causing a sneeze.

It’s always the wrong time when there is an urge to sneeze in the middle of a movie theater or a meeting. A sneeze travels at about 100 miles per hour, which is probably the reason why people tend in hold in their sneeze as they do not want to spread the germs all over. Moreover in some social situations like on a public transport or in between a presentation, one doesn’t feel its right to push out a big sneeze and hence being polite, you hold it back. But, have you ever thought what this could do to your body?

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Defeating Diabetes

November 16, 2017 devops Leave a comment

The International Diabetes Federation states that 415 million people globally have diabetes. As per research conducted by the International Diabetes Federation, 19.3% of the population in UAE are living with Diabetes. [1]

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder in which a person has high blood sugar caused by discrepancies in producing sufficient insulin. It is a serious chronic condition caused when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body is unable to effectively use the insulin it produces. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas and is responsible for regulating and maintaining the blood sugar levels in the normal range. Insulin deficiency causes an imbalance in the blood sugar levels, raising it to higher than normal levels, resulting in Diabetes.

Every year, the 14^th of November is recognized as World Diabetes Day, in order to spread the word about diabetes and its health consequences of being left untreated and ineffectively managed. World Diabetes Day 2017 goes to the theme Women and Diabetes – Our right to a healthy future.

Half of the people affected by diabetes globally are women. The burden of diabetes on women is unique because it can affect a woman and her unborn child. There are majorly 2 types of diabetes; Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body’s immune system attacks the pancreas considering it to be a foreign body. The pancreas stop functioning and there is no insulin production, hence causing the buildup on sugar levels in the blood. Type 2 diabetes generally develops after the age of 35 and is caused when the body doesn’t develop sufficient insulin or becomes insulin resistant. Women, however also suffer from a condition called as Gestational Diabetes.

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Let’s talk about Men’s Health

October 26, 2017 devops Leave a comment

From time to time men are brought up with ideas like not to cry, not to complain and always show they are strong. This could also be the reason as to why a lot of men have a lazy attitude towards their health. Even amongst general talk, the most conversations lean towards women’s health and issues, how much do we really talk or know about men’s health?

A recently conducted survey revealed that men would rather talk about sports, current affairs, their jobs, kids etc. and not about health. [1] Women are always advised to get regular screenings and tests done in order to make sure they are healthy, but don’t men need to follow the same?

There is a need to create awareness among men about the various health conditions that could affect them in order to urge them to visit a healthcare professional regularly in order to get tested and treated. Urological conditions are rather common in men, they affect a variety of diseases affecting the urinary tract or the reproductive organs. Below listed are 5 of the most common urological conditions in men, their causes, symptoms and treatment options:

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Don’t take Obesity lightly

October 10, 2017 devops Leave a comment

A 2016 health survey conducted by the Dubai Health Authority stated that 36.1% of the total population was considered to be in the pre-obesity stage, i.e. they were overweight and nearing obesity unless the necessary actions were taken. And 11.9% of the total population included obese individuals.[1]

Obesity is a growing health concern across the world, causing various chronic health conditions and reducing people’s life expectancy. Obesity and being overweight are terms used to describe weight that is generally unhealthy for a given age and height.

As defined by the WHO, obesity is abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health. Excessive fat accumulation is caused by a combination of factors including, genetics, high-calorie intake, lack of exercise, sedentary lifestyle practices etc. A crude population measure of obesity is the body mass index (BMI) – a person’s weight (in kilograms) divided by the square of their height (in meters). A person with a BMI of 30 or more is generally considered obese, while a person with a BMI equal to or more than 25 is considered overweight. Obesity is now a growing phenomenon across the globe and is directly linked to causing some of the preventable chronic diseases like diabetes, blood pressure, knee and joint problems, stroke, conditions of the heart, as well as certain cancers.

So why are people in Dubai becoming obese? Genetic and cultural factors do play a role in determining an individual’s chance of becoming obese, however, most people blame it on their sedentary lifestyles, long working hours, unhealthy food practices, lack of physical activity, and easily available fast food options. We all give these excuses, but do we realize that we are letting these factors get in the way of good health. Are these really the causative factors for obesity?

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