Category: health and fitness

A mother of autistic twins spoke of her joy after a Dubai health clinic chief stepped in to offer support after hearing about her financial challenges.

Ambreen Suhaib, 35, told The National last month how she and her husband, who live in Dubai, spend more than Dh300,000 ($81,600) a year to provide the best possible care for their nine-year-old boys, Ahmed and Hadi.

She called for insurance cover for vital therapies to be made more widely available to parents.

Her views echoed those of Mohammed Al Emadi, director of Dubai Autism Centre, who in March said insurance companies should be mandated to provide cover for key autism treatment to ease the financial burden on families.

Aviv Clinics Dubai will assist the family through its Aviv Cares initiative, which includes a three-day evaluation for children aged between 4 and 18 with neurological conditions such as autism, as well as cerebral palsy, strokes and traumatic brain injuries.

The assessments look at cognitive and physical abilities using a range of tests, including advanced brain imaging tests, to identify the root cause of the child’s condition and determine suitable treatment options.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, neurocognitive training, occupational therapy, and physiotherapy are core components of subsequent treatment, which is delivered free to those children found to be eligible.

Lifeline for family

Ambreen Suhaib with twin sons Hadi, left, and Ahmed, who both have autism.

Ahmed and Hadi will be evaluated under the programme.

“It’s going to be a huge financial and emotional relief for us,” Ms Suhaib said.

“Getting such detailed assessments by professionals requires a hefty amount of money, which obviously is a lot of pressure when you have multiple children with a condition,” she said.

She is grateful that her children will benefit from further medical expertise.

“The procedure at Aviv Clinics is really detailed and they are very precise,” she said.

“After the assessment, they will let us know if oxygen therapy can help our twins or not. We are humbled beyond words for this help.”

The clinic has so far identified 16 children eligible for treatment.

“We saw The National’s article on Ahmed and Hadi and felt we could support them. So the goal is to give back, and to continue to work for insurance cover to make this into a more inclusive society,” said Craig Cook, chief executive of Aviv Clinics.

“I say this not only as the CEO of the clinic but as a parent of a non-neurotypical child myself.

“The key is to correctly diagnose the child, and for that we have a dedicated paediatric and youth team.”

An in-depth analysis will follow the assessments, then results are shared with parents before an individualised programme for each child is designed around the results.

“It’s a unique protocol that combines hyperbaric oxygen therapy with tailored cognitive training and other adjunct therapies.

“It has shown promising results for individuals with autism and cerebral palsy,” Mr Cook said.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurised chamber, which increases oxygen levels in the blood and brain.

Aviv said the value of individual treatment programmes can be up to Dh200,000, with patients typically seeing results within three months.

What is autism?

Autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition affecting verbal and non-verbal communication, social interaction and behaviour.

About one in 100 children globally are believed to be on the autism spectrum, the World Health Organisation says.

In April 2021, the UAE cabinet approved the National Policy for People with Autism.

It set out ways to provide people with autism with easy access to services, to ensure their inclusion in education and wider society and to train more qualified professionals while bolstering community awareness.

Mother’s inclusive vision

Ahmed and Hadi were found to have moderate to severe autism after a diagnosis in 2017.

Since the diagnosis, Ms Suhaib and her husband have spent a fortune on care centres – moving their children from one to another in search of the best support.

They tried to secure insurance for the cost of treatment but were told the therapies their children need almost every day are not covered.

“The financial aspect of autism is the most draining and frustrating part for a parent, because the only therapies that can help your children are not covered,” she previously told The National.

Ms Suhaib also believes more work must still be done to create a more inclusive society for those with autism, as there remains a lack of understanding and acceptance.

“Inclusion is considered a favour, not a right, for autistic children and much work is needed for that,” she said.

She called for more awareness campaigns to help better integrate people with autism into everyday life.

While Ozempic, Saxenda, Wegovy or Mounjaro may effectively aid weight loss, the post-usage side effects may outweigh the benefits.

Unnamed health complex and health centre closed until action taken to improve hygiene and reduce infection risks.

A health complex and a health centre have been shut by the Department of Health Abu Dhabi due to several safety violations.

Regulators took action against the unnamed facilities after they failed to follow strict rules in dealing with medical waste disposal – including the storage of blood containers.

Other violations reported by the authority were a failure to follow safety protocols and implement effective infection control measures.

The two facilities were also found to be using expired medical equipment and materials, while there was also a lack of qualified medical professionals working there.

An investigation by regulators found medical staff were failing in their duty to complete prescribed vaccinations and a non-compliance with the engineering and technical layout of the facility’s plan according to Department of Health guidelines.

“This decision came mainly to protect the health and safety of patients, and to allow the facilities to take all necessary rectification actions,” the Department of Health said in a press release.

“The Department of Health Abu Dhabi calls on all healthcare facilities operating in the emirate to comply with its policies and regulations to preserve the health and safety of all community members, and to resume its operations and provide healthcare services in accordance with international best practices.”

A follow-up visit will check on a plan to tackle these issues before the facilities will be allowed to reopen.

Just 41 per cent of smokers are aware of less harmful alternatives to cigarettes.

A lack of clear information around less harmful cigarette alternatives is preventing more smokers from quitting, new research shows.

In a recent survey commissioned by British American Tobacco (BAT) and carried out by market analysts Kantar, 41 per cent of adult nicotine users in the UAE and Saudi Arabia were aware of how to reduce the harm imposed by smoking.

Data also showed 85 per cent of adult UAE smokers were open to switching to nicotine products such as vapes, compared with 35 per cent of smokers in Saudi Arabia.

However, a recent study by the US National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute found long-term use of e-cigarettes can significantly increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

“We continue to be clear that smoking causes serious health risks, and the only way to avoid these risks is not to start or to quit,” said BAT Middle East’s general manager, Alexandre Ghanem.

“For those who would otherwise continue to smoke, we encourage them to switch completely to alternative nicotine products with reduced risk potential compared to smoking, backed by robust science.

“This is in part driven by growing acceptance of the credible body of scientific evidence that confirms nicotine alternatives to smoking emit fewer and lower levels of toxicants compared to conventional cigarettes.

“With vaping in particular, the harm reduction potential is a fraction of the risk of smoking.”

Nicotine, which is found in both tobacco and e-cigarettes, has proven to be as addictive as cocaine and heroin.

Doctors said caution should be applied to e-cigarette use, due to their nicotine content.

“Vaping can be a good alternative to cigarettes provided the nicotine content in e-cigarettes is reduced,” said Dr Amal Louis, a consultant interventional cardiologist at Canadian Specialist Hospital, Dubai.

“Some vapes contain more nicotine than cigarettes and can be more harmful to the heart as it is the nicotine that has deleterious effect on the heart rather than smoke from burning.

Dr Louis emphasised that while nothing is burnt in vaping, the harmful effects of vapes on the lungs are yet to be known.

“The main concern is more and more teenagers and schoolchildren getting into vaping as vapes seem to be more attractive and a ‘cool’ option for teenagers compared to conventional cigarettes.

“Vaping can be part of a smoking cessation strategy if adopted cautiously with reducing dosage of nicotine in e-cigarettes.”

Developing alternatives

The global tobacco industry is aiming to reduce the health impact of its business, with several tobacco harm reduction strategies in place.

Methods include technology to develop healthier alternatives, such as e-cigarettes and heat-not-burn products that produce fewer harmful emissions, although they still contain highly addictive nicotine liquid.

BAT aims to encourage 50 million smokers to switch to non-combustible products by 2030, with 22.5 million consumers already making the transition, the company said.

“While the scientific consensus recognises that nicotine is not the primary cause of smoking-related diseases, misperceptions on nicotine still persist that perpetuate the idea that the nicotine alternative products such as vaping products are equally harmful or even more so than cigarettes,” said Mr Ghanem.

“We believe this is the result of a disconnect between science and public perception, which is one of the key challenges facing the acceptance of Tobacco Harm Reduction.”

Surge in use of smoking alternatives

A 2017 UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention Cancer Incidence report showed lung cancer was the third most common cause of cancer deaths.

There has been a huge spike in e-cigarette and vaping usage in recent years, with some countries adopting the products for their stop-smoking strategies.

Pregnant women in the UK will be offered £400 (Dh1800) in shopping vouchers as an incentive to quit smoking, while free vaping kits will be handed out to a million smokers to help wean them off cigarettes.

Meanwhile, in New Zealand, health officials have backed the potential of vaping products to help improve public health by offering a route out of cigarette use for the country’s 550,000 daily smokers.

According to market researchers Euromonitor International, e-cigarette users have increased globally from 7 million in 2011 to around 80 million in 2021. Mordor Intelligence’s Middle East & Africa E-Cigarettes Market report the region’s vaping market is forecasted to grow at a rate of 9.74 per cent from now until 2027.

However, these figures do not include youth vaping or illicit vapes sold illegally.

Despite its popularity, there are concerns over the uptake of vaping among young non-smokers, particularly teenagers in schools, which has been described as an ‘epidemic’ in the UK. Some schools have installed cameras and strict penalties for those vaping on school grounds.

“While vaping is a preferable alternative to smoking for adults, we are concerned about the rise in youth vaping, particularly the increasing use of disposable vaping products,” said UK health minister Neil O’Brien in a recent government release.

Industry regulations

The vaping industry is under pressure to self-regulate to keep devices out of the hands of children. It comes after watermelon-flavoured Elf Bars were found to contain at least 50 per cent more nicotine liquid than the recommended amount, which led to a temporary ban in the UK.

Relx International is another vape manufacturer that sells e-cigarettes across Europe, the UK and the Middle East.

Robert Naouss, Relx external affairs director for Mena and Europe, said the industry had a responsibility to ensure vapes are not used by children.

“We do not approach non-smokers, former smokers or underage consumers and we ensure people are of legal age in the countries in which we operate,” he said.

“We do not want to be targeting children, it is bad for business and unethical. I want to sleep at night.”

Relx is involved in the vaping sector’s first clinical research project.

Reviewed by the China Clinical Trials Registry and the World Health Organisation’s International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, the three-month study investigated the metabolic kinetics of nicotine in humans and the effects on human biomarkers, following the replacement of conventional cigarettes with Relx devices.

Meanwhile, the company’s Guardian Programme aims to market products to smokers over the age of 18 by using neutral packaging and conducting spot-checks on retailers.

“The e-cigarette industry in this region is still young, but many countries around the world have accepted that regulated vaping products are a better alternative to cigarettes,” said Mr Naouss.

“They do not burn anything, but they are not risk-free.”

Dr Gopal Chawla, a pulmonologist at NMC Speciality Hospital in Dubai said standardised vaping products would improve product safety.

“It is important to market vaping as an alternative to smoking and not as the beginning of something new,” he said.

“Various flavours are being used indiscriminately without the actual knowledge of their byproducts, which can be hazardous.

“There is a need for standardisation of vaping products because all that is available to us in the market is not entirely safe.”

Technology can help to plan complex operations and keep patients out of hospital.

From holographic surgical planning for complex procedures to predictive tools to keep patients out of hospital, artificial intelligence is playing a growing role in health care.

Robots may never replicate the human touch or the bedside manner required in the care profession, but the technology is helping medics become more efficient with their time.

AI algorithms can analyse data to identify population health patterns and offer insights to improve patient care and outcomes.

Experts say that as Al and data analytics play a bigger role than ever, digitalisation has the potential to transform care.

“Digitalisation has changed the face of the healthcare industry,” said Naser Al Riyami, chief operating officer at Burjeel Medical City in Abu Dhabi.

“It has improved access to care, enhanced patient engagement, enabled personalised medicine, and driven overall efficiency in healthcare delivery.

“Al and data analytics play a bigger role than ever in health care today.”

Meanwhile, mobile apps ease the appointment process, allowing patients to access reports, and help healthcare providers manage their conditions.

Holographic surgery

Since 2021, Burjeel Medical City has used holographic technology to improve surgical planning.

Holographic surgery is an FDA-approved system used to create replicated 3D images of a patient’s organs.

It gives surgeons greater insight into a patient before surgery, allowing them a new opportunity to familiarise themselves with the patient’s anatomy before surgery.

As part of its radiation oncology programme, the hospital also uses the ExacTrac dynamic patient positioning and monitoring system by German tech firm Brainlab, which combines surface, thermal and X-ray tracking technology to achieve pinpoint accuracy during treatment.

“AI algorithms can help us identify patients at risk of developing certain conditions, allowing for earlier intervention and treatment,” said Mr Al Riyami.

“In personalised medicine, AI algorithms can also identify patterns that can help healthcare providers customise treatments.”

Despite progressive steps, limitations have been found in some areas of health care.

In radiology, researchers at Hospital Cochin in Paris found the OpenAI ChatGPT interface gave incomplete or inaccurate answers to questions posed by interventional radiologists.

When asked for the treatment for bleeding after a Whipple procedure — a major surgery to remove part of the pancreas in cancer patients — the same procedure was reported three times, but with three different descriptions by the AI software.

Researchers concluded ChaptGPT and similar chatbot models were capable of generating coherent, grammatically correct text, but were unable to respond accurately to more specific, technical questions.

The findings were published in the Canadian Association of Radiologists Journal.

Elsewhere in the UAE, Prime Hospital is one centre to adopt AI to help manage patient flow.

It uses an AI global healthcare technology platform called Heaps to track deviations in a patient’s care to ensure the right interventions are made.

The system allows health professionals to monitor patients with chronic conditions and predict what could go wrong with their future care, so a more proactive approach is taken to keep them out of hospital.

“The primary objective is to reduce the rate of avoidable hospitalisation and repeat hospitalisation,” said Mohammed Hamid, regional head for Heaps.ai in the GCC and Mena.

“Traditional care co-ordination models are labour intensive and often build on manual processes.

“AI models provide a low-cost high effectiveness solution which allows organisations to expand their services and coverage elsewhere.”

While AI is efficient at analysing vast data sets of data, faster and more accurately than humans, it still lacks a humane qualities that are pivotal in healthcare.

Dr Mrudul Ramachandran, a specialist of internal medicine, at Aster Clinic in Arabian Ranches, Dubai, said incoming AI would make doctors stronger, more capable and efficient in terms of treating people, but the role of medical professional was far from obsolete.

“AI can be a smart assistant to a doctor, it cannot replace a human doctor,” he said.

“Compassion and empathy are two inevitable qualities a doctor must possess.

“Treating a patient involves being compassionate and empathetic to their emotional and physiological needs, AI as a technology cannot help in this case.

“It is not fool-proof. AI analyses data and interprets it based on the data sets on which the AI models have been validated.

“If the data set is biased or lacks quality – it might generate false results so AI cannot make a final judgement on the diagnosis.

“A doctor has to use his skills to confirm the diagnosis. AI can only support the process.”

They were primarily from Asia, Europe, Arab and GCC countries, emirate’s health authority says

Dubai received 674,000 medical tourists who spent Dh992 million ($270 million) last year, an increase of Dh262 million from 2021.

Thirty-nine per cent of the medical tourists who came to the emirate last year were from Asian countries while 22 per cent were from Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States, and 21 per cent from Arab and GCC countries, the Dubai Health Authority said.

“Dubai’s ability to provide high-quality patient-centred medical care has accelerated its growth as an Arab, regional and international health care destination,” said Awadh Al Ketbi, director general of the DHA.

“Dubai’s strategic location, safety, exceptional infrastructure and world-leading amenities add to the factors that have raised its status as a medical tourism hub.”

Dubai received 630,000 international health tourists in 2021, a DHA report said last year. Spending by international patients stood at about Dh730 million in 2021, the findings showed.

The UAE and Dubai have established themselves as leading medical tourism centres.

The Emirates was ranked as the leading medical tourism destination in the GCC, according to a 2021 report by the US-based Medical Tourism Association.

Dubai, in particular, was ranked by the Medical Tourism Index as the number one Arab destination for medical tourism and was six on a list of the 46 most unique international medical tourism countries.

The GCC’s current healthcare expenditure is expected to reach $135.5 billion in 2027, implying an annualised growth rate of 5.4 per cent from $104.1 billion in 2022, according to Alpen Capital.

The three specialities that reported the highest number of medical tourists in Dubai last year were dermatology, dentistry and gynaecology, the latest DHA report said.

Medical tourists from Asia, Europe and Africa, including those from GCC and Arab countries, also visited the emirate to see medics in the orthopaedic, plastic surgery, ophthalmology and fertility treatment fields, the findings showed.

Dubai’s vision to provide a world-class healthcare model and an integrated medical care system — which offers state-of-the-art centres and treatment methods, advanced technology, smart solutions and highly-qualified professionals across all fields of medicine — has driven its global competitiveness in the sector, Mr Al Ketbi said.

The DHA is committed to attracting investment in the health care sector by collaborating with international institutions to establish centres that can meet growing treatment needs across all specialities, he said.

Thirty-five per cent of dermatology patients in Dubai last year were from Asian countries, followed by 26 per cent from Europe and 20 per cent from Arab and GCC countries, according to the DHA.

Meanwhile, 37 per cent of dentistry patients in the emirate hailed from Arab and GCC countries, followed by 29 per cent from Asia and 19 per cent from Europe, the report found.

Similarly, 54 per cent of gynaecology patients last year were from Asia, followed by 18 per cent from Europe and 13 per cent from Arab and GCC countries.

Fasting during Ramadan can be a challenging period for those who struggle to maintain healthy habits.

Ramadan is the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, during which Muslims around the world fast from dawn until dusk. It is a time of reflection, spiritual renewal, and increased devotion to God.

Fasting during Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, which are the basic acts of worship that are central to the practice of the Islamic faith. During this month, Muslims abstain from food, drink, and other physical needs during the daylight hours as a form of worship and to gain a deeper understanding of their faith.

The fast is broken each day at sunset with a meal called iftar, and it is customary to invite friends and family to share in this meal.

However, it can be a challenging period for those who struggle to maintain healthy habits and avoid overindulging in food during the pre-dawn suhoor or the evening iftar meals, according to Maha Shahin, Clinical Nutrition Consultant at Allurion Dietitian Board.

According to research, only some people lose weight during Ramadan, and nearly 60 percent of individuals put on weight during the holy month despite fasting, Shahin said.

That being said, she shared a five top tips with Arabian Business reads to stay healthy and even lose weight during Ramadan.

1. Choose ‘whole foods’

The first tip is to plan ahead and recognise the difference between fasting for Ramadan and regular or intermittent fasting.

While intermittent fasting allows for zero-calorie liquids like water, tea, and coffee, Ramadan fasting requires not eating or drinking anything between sunrise and sunset.

“Therefore, the strict requirements around Ramadan make it even more critical to plan ahead and ensure a healthy intake of vitamins and nutrients and enough hydration during the holy month,” she said.

Do not skip suhoor, Shahin recommends, as it provides a wholesome start to your day and fuels your body with the energy it needs to power through daily activities without feeling tired or fatigued.

Choose whole foods and complex carbohydrates like eggs, beans, lentils, chickpeas, oats, fruits, and vegetables that provide a steadier energy source throughout the day, she said.

In contrast, processed foods and simple carbohydrates are digested and processed more quickly, often leaving you feeling hungry soon after eating, she added. “Also, try low-fat dairy products like Greek yogurt and foods that include unsaturated fats – unsalted nuts and salmon are good options.”

2. Break your fast with healthy snacks

Breaking your fast thoughtfully and intentionally is also crucial in achieving your weight loss and healthy eating goals during Ramadan.

“Avoid eating a large iftar right after the Maghrib azan, which can result in over-eating. It’s better to break your eating down into smaller portions to give the body time to properly digest the food. Iftar can always be followed by healthy snacks afterwards if required,” Shahin explained.

She recommends following iftar with healthy snacks like dried fruits and raw nuts to boost natural sugar and energy levels.

3. Reduce screen time for a good night’s sleep

Getting a good night’s sleep is essential during Ramadan to help you plan and eat healthy meals. Poor sleep can affect hormones, change appetite and hunger, and make fasting even more challenging, Shahin said.

“Reducing screen time before bed or having a relaxing bedtime routine can help your body and mind wind down and prepare you for sleep. Some people aim for a minimum of four hours of sleep after iftar. They then wake for suhoor and fajr before getting a few more hours of sleep and starting the day.”

You can also consider taking a 20-30 minute nap in the afternoon if your schedule allows it, she added.

4. Take a 15-minute walk daily

Lastly, staying active during Ramadan is critical to maintaining a healthy lifestyle and weight.

Daily walks of 15 to 20 minutes can work wonders for circulation, digestion, energy levels, and mental health.

Short resistance training sessions can also be an excellent way to fit in a burst of exercise on a busy day.

“Exercising about two hours after iftar can help to aid digestion and ensure you don’t go to bed feeling too full. While activity levels are key to a healthy lifestyle and maintaining a healthy weight, combining them with mindful eating is also essential,” she said.

Combining activity levels with mindful eating is essential for staying healthy during Ramadan.

5. Set realistic goals

Getting into a healthy routine for suhoor and iftar before the first day of Ramadan can set realistic goals and patterns of eating that are easy to stick to.

Prioritising eating healthily and exercising regularly all year round is crucial for maintaining a healthy weight and lifestyle.

“When it comes to diet, your food should be balanced and varied – and if you’re looking to lose weight, Ramadan can be a great time to start the wheels in motion,” Shahin concluded.