Dubai to be world medical tourism hub

dubai

DHA meets with all stakeholders to discuss turning proposal into reality
With world-class health facilities and internationally accredited hospitals, Dubai is all set to be the top hub for world medical tourism.

The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) convened a meeting earlier this week with all stakeholders in the medical tourism initiative to tap into the possibility of turning this proposal into reality.

The meeting was organised under the leadership of Director General of DHA, Engineer Eisa Al Maidour, with representatives of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDFRA), Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), Department of Economic Development (DED), Emirates airline, Emirates Holidays and Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC), among others.

“We look forward to collaborating with all stakeholders to ensure we devise a comprehensive system that provides patients with convenience from the time they enter Dubai right through treatment and even follow-up. Dubai is the world’s leading destination for tourism and leisure and since Dubai offers excellent health-care facilities, medical tourism is an extension of the hospitality that Dubai is synonymous with. Ensuring that all players work hand-in-hand with us and are aligned with the overall medical tourism strategy will ensure smooth functioning of a dynastic health sector and will benefit both medical tourists as well as the health-care providers,” he said.

According to DTCM statistics, the city had a record number of visitors — 10 million — in 2012 and aims to have more than 20 million visitors by 2020. If medical tourism is properly organised it can become a viable source of revenue. If we go by the global medical tourism revenues these are estimated at $30 million (Dh109.80 million) and are expected to only grow by leaps and bounds. Dubai can perhaps be a major contributor to this world-wide phenomenon if all stakeholders work according to a plan. Currently the total number of health facilities in Dubai are 2,518 and more than 70 per cent of hospitals here have international accreditations.

All these figures work in favour of world medical tourists coming here for complex treatments.

Dr Ramadan Ebrahim, director of medical regulation and medical tourism programme at DHA, said that he would be working closely with hospitals to ensure that they fulfil the medical tourism eligibility criteria. “Hospitals will be asked to chalk out medical tourism packages. The package will include treatment, visa, hotel accommodation as well as recreational activities for families who accompany the patient.

“The first package will be launched in October this year and will be wellness and preventive services package. This includes executive full body check-ups etc. In addition to medical facilities, we will also evaluate health-care facilities on the basis of the comfort and ease they provide patients. This includes checking whether they have translators, chauffer services, etc, which will all be part of the medical tourism package. At the end of the day, it’s about providing both excellence in medical service.”

Dr Ebrahim also added that the Dubai medical tourism website will be launched by the last quarter of this year — all member details and hyperlinks will be on the comprehensive site.

Source: gulf news

Bangladesh on alert over fruits sprayed with deadly chemical

1

Bangladeshi police are to set up check posts at the main entry points to the capital Dhaka to prevent the import of fruits which have been sprayed with alarming levels of a deadly chemical, officers said Monday.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) unveiled the move after it found high levels of formalin, an illegal chemical which is sometimes used as a preservative and disinfectant, in almost all the fruits it checked in Dhaka’s markets, DMP spokesman Masudur Rahman said.

“The check posts will be set up from June 11 at eight entry points of the city.
Armed with formalin detection kits, our officers and magistrates will check every lorry carrying fruits to the capital,” he said.
Anyone found to have carried formalin-laced fruits could be jailed for up to two years or fined up to 200,000 taka ($2,531), he said.

A huge public outcry over formalin-mixed fruits prompted the “unprecedented” police move, as repeated tests by laboratories and food inspectors have found fruits sold in Bangladesh contain an “alarming level of formalin” in an effort to extend their shelf life.

On Sunday, Dhaka’s police chief Benazir Ahmed equated the situation to an attempt at slow poison mass killing and pleaded with residents “not to get involved with buying, selling or consuming formalin contaminated fruits.”
His comments echoed those of civic and doctors’ groups who said Bangladesh was on the verge of a massive health crisis as reflected in a rising number of kidney and cancer patients, with toxic chemical-mixed food items playing a key role.
Rahman said fruits could naturally contain 0.03-0.15 ppm (part per million) level of formalin, but during inspection in Dhaka’s markets police found the level between 3.5 ppm to 46 ppm.

“It’s a extremely dangerous situation. This level of formalin mixed in fruits can kill a lot of people,” said Rahman.
Police concern was also partly sparked by a two-year-long test by a government health laboratory which found an unprecedented level of adulteration of other food items.

The Institute of Public Health (IPH) has conducted the test on 10,289 samples of 50 items and found that 47 items were adulterated, according to mass-circulated The Daily Star.

The items include edible oil, spices, sweets, milk products, lentils, pulses, juices, pickles, biscuits, jellies, dried fish, flours and tea leaves.

Source: arab news

4 ways to make bath time more therapeutic

n-TAKING-BATH-large570

Nothing beats a hot bath on a cool winters night, or when one needs to relax and let the troubles of the day wash away. The simple act of bathing has benefits related to hygiene but the benefits increase dramatically when these 4 things are incorporated into your bath time routine.

Magnesium flakes

Magnesium flakes are a great way to improve the health benefits of bath time by infusing your water with this ‘miracle mineral’ and allowing its healing action to take place by absorbing through the skin.

Soaking in magnesium flakes can:

• Improve skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema
• Speed wound healing
• Decrease inflammation
• Relieve stress and anxiety
• Help flush toxins and heavy metals

The fact that magnesium is needed for over 300 biochemical reactions in the body indicates the importance of this mighty mineral. Combine that with the generally accepted truth that the population is becoming very magnesium deficient, and it becomes evident that magnesium baths are a ritual that one should strongly consider.

Clay

Clay baths have been used safely for centuries. Due to its excellent toxin extracting effects, clay literally has the ability to pull out toxicities through the pores of the skin.

Soaking in a pure and beneficial clay bath can:

• Help eliminate toxic substances such as heavy metals, chemicals, radiation, and chemotherapy
• Stimulate the lymphatic system
• Cleanse the skin
• Relieve stress
• Remove parasites

Clay baths may also be a safer way to detoxify than other methods as the burden placed on the digestive system and major organs of the body, that traditional protocols often cause due to release of toxic byproducts, are eliminated. This saves the body from a great deal of toxic stress, which could even lead to toxic shock. Clay in a bath interacts directly with the body’s immune system and helps to remove that potential toxic burden, without adding more toxins to the mix.

Essential oils

Essential oils have been used for thousands of years for their healing and purifying effects on the body. They come from raw plant material such as flowers, leaves, wood, bark, roots, seeds and peels.

Depending on the oil, they have many healing applications, from antibacterial defense to pain relief and emotion therapy. Some common essential oils and their therapeutic benefits include:

• Lavender – Relaxes and relieves pain
• Chamomile – Calms nerves and improves digestive health
• Lemon – Removes toxins
• Peppermint – Enhances mood, sharpens focus, and aids in digestion
• Eucalyptus – Alleviates respiratory issues and acts as a decongestant

These benefits along with the beautiful aroma will make bath time a pleasure.

Candles

Although certain candles can be toxic, ones that are based on a healthy wax (such as coconut) and use essential oils can be very therapeutic.

Relaxing in a bath with no artificial lighting and just the glow of a candle flame in itself can be very calming to the body, mind and soul. Add in the aromatherapy of essential oils like peppermint, eucalyptus and lemon, and the healing benefits multiply.

In addition to these therapies, one can also consider detox teas, meditative music and steam therapy to improve the healing benefits of a bath. They will stimulate the detoxification organs, calm the mind, moisturize the skin, increase circulation and open up the pores of the skin for a truly beneficial and gentle cleansing.

Source: natural news

Tea drinkers have reduced risk of breast cancer

drinking-tea-woman2

Tea is rich in polyphenols, including catechins and gallocatchins, which have been reported to have antioxidant activity and potential anti-tumour effect.

Tea drinkers could have less of a breast cancer risk as it increases the functions of blood vessels, says a new research.

The aim of this latest analysis was to evaluate the links between tea consumption and physical activity and breast cancer risk among Chinese women, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

Commenting on the new research, women’s health specialist Catherine Hood said: “Compared with non-drinkers, regular tea drinkers had a 21 per cent decreased risk of breast cancer. This beneficial finding is likely to be associated with the polyphenol content of tea.”

Tea is rich in polyphenols, including catechins and gallocatchins, which have been reported to have antioxidant activity and potential anti-tumour effect.

Hood said 39 studies involving 13,204 breast cancer cases and 87,248 controls were identified for the entire study. Among the total number of studies, 16 involved tea consumption with a total of 28,737 cases and 60,936 controls.

A new study also says that black tea improves the function of the blood vessels.

Looking at this research further, another health expert, Tim Bond, said: “Several previous studies have found that black tea and its flavonoids have direct effects on the blood vessels improving vascular function.”

“The aim of this study was to see if tea improves vascular function by helping to prevent injury of the blood vessels in the face of ischaemia (restriction in blood supply), which is a frequent occurrence in cardiovascular disease.”

Source: khaleej times

Can curd help treat acidity?

curd-and-acidity

Acidity is a common problem that affects everyone at some point in life. And many of you must have heard that curd is a good solution for dealing with recurring bouts of acidity and heart burn. Let’s find out if actually holds any truth.

Acidity is caused when the stomach starts overproducing gastric acids that instead of helping in digestion of food cause problems like heartburn, burning sensation in the stomach and belching. Now, if you’re suffering from these symptoms, consuming something spicy and hard to digest can exert stress on your digestive system, increasing your acidity and reflux symptoms.

Curd is a dairy product obtained by coagulation of milk. Milk has a high amount of calcium in it that prevents build up of acid by eliminating the excess amount, making it an efficient home remedy for acidity. Other nutrients present in curd are easily digestible. Additionally, curd also helps in absorbing nutrients from other foods you eat, promoting healthy digestion. Curd contains probiotics, useful bacteria that help digestion. A study even showed that curd may cure infection caused by the bacteria Helicobacter Pylori, the most common cause of acidity due to stomach infection.

Source: the health site

Naloxegol may help treat constipation caused by pain relief medicines

research

A new research has revealed that the drug naloxegol may be able to help patients suffering constipation caused by pain relief medicines.

Globally, approximately 28 million to 35 million, or nearly half, of patients taking opioids for long-term pain develop constipation and they get sub-optimal results from laxatives.

William Chey, the gastroenterologist said that the results showed rapid and sustained improvement in the patients, without compromising their pain management.

Naloxegol is an investigational peripherally-acting mu-opioid receptor antagonist, which has been specifically designed for the treatment of opioid-induced constipation (OIC), a common and often debilitating side effect of prescription medicines used to treat osteoarthritis and chronic back pain.

A New Drug Application (NDA) for naloxegol was accepted by the US Food and Drug Administration on Nov. 19, 2013 and it is also under regulatory review with health agencies in the European Union and Canada.

The study is published online in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Source: Zee news

3 hydrating face masks you can make at home

face-pack

 

The harsh summer heat can play havoc with your skin by robbing it of its moisture and sheen and leaving you with a dull-looking, tanned appearance. Not just this, it can also give you age spots, fine lines and wrinkles. It is essential to keep your skin hydrated at all times to prevent these from happening. Apart from moisturising your skin, you can make hydrating face masks at home using natural ingredients such as mango, multani mitti, lemon juice, etc. Priti Mehta, founder and director, Omved, suggests a few DIY hydrating face masks.

Mask 1:

Mango and chia hydrating mask: Suitable for all skin types, the summer mask revitalises and rejuvenates by balancing and moisturising your skin.

Ingredients:

  • Two tablespoons of mango pulp
  • One teaspoon of chia seeds
  • One teaspoon of aloe vera gel

Directions:

  • Blend or mash half a mango until smooth and creamy. Do not mash the mango with peels.
  • Soak the chia seeds in one tablespoon of cool water. Mix with a whisk and let it stand for a few minutes. Whisk again, and let stand for 10 minutes. Whisk the mixture again and let it sit in the refrigerator for 15 minutes or till they expand into a gel.
  • Scrape the gel fresh from the inside of aloe vera leaves.
  • Combine all the ingredients in a clean and dry mixing bowl and you can add or decrease the chia seeds gel according to the consistency you want for the mask.
  • Apply it on your face and leave on for about 15 minutes.

Use a warm and moist washcloth to remove the mask gently. Follow up with a splash of cool water on the face to rinse completely and pat dry with a soft towel.

Mask 2:

Sabudana and lime exfoliating face mask: The thick and gentle exfoliating mask made with sabudana will do wonders to your skin leaving it clean, smooth and soft! Good for all skin types, it works best for sensitive and oily skin.

Ingredients:

  • One tablespoon of small sabudana
  • Three tablespoons of lime juice
  • One tablespoon of brown sugar
  • One teaspoon of Fuller’s earth (Multani mitti)

Directions:

  • Add sabudana and lime juice in a pan and let it thicken over low fire, stirring occasionally.
  • Remove from the heat and let it cool.
  • Add sugar, Multani mitti and the cooled ingredients in a dry bowl and mix well.
  • Gently massage scrub on your face while avoiding eye area.
  • Let the scrub stay on the face for 10 to 15 minutes.

Use a warm and moist washcloth to remove the mask gently. Follow up with a splash of cool water on the face to rinse completely and pat dry with a soft towel. Follow up with a moisturiser.

Mask 3:

Khus Cocoa glow mask: It is effective in nourishing your skin and reversing sun damage.

Ingredients:

  • Two tablespoons of khuskhus
  • Two tablespoons of cocoa powder
  • Three tablespoons of raw milk
  • Three tablespoons of oatmeal powder
  • Half teaspoon of mint powder or two drops of mint essential oil

Directions:

  • Soak the khuskhus in raw milk overnight.
  • Next morning grind it to a paste.
  • If you don’t have oatmeal powder, simply blend some oats in a processor.
  • Mix all ingredients and apply the paste on the face and neck, avoiding the eye area.
  • Massage in the upward direction for a few minutes. Place some cucumber slices on the eyes.
  • Let the scrub stay on the face for 10 to 15 minutes.

Use a warm and moist washcloth to remove the mask gently. Follow up with a splash of cool water on the face to rinse completely and pat dry with a soft towel. Follow up with a moisturiser.

Source: the health site

Air Pollution Linked to Autism and Schizophrenia: Study

air pollution

A new research shows a potential link between pollution and autism.

Researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center found that exposure to air pollution is tied to increased risk of autism and even schizophrenia.

The research conducted on mice shows swelling of brain areas that are usually seen in schizophrenia or autism patients.

For the study, the research team exposed newborn mice to air pollutants for nearly four hours each day. This continued for eight days.

Following this, the researchers examined brains of one set of mice after 24 hours. They found inflammation in almost all regions of the brain. The lateral ventricles, which are cerebrospinal fluid-containing chambers, were two to three times larger than those seen in normal brains.

“When we looked closely at the ventricles, we could see that the white matter that normally surrounds them hadn’t fully developed,” Deborah Cory-Slechta, Ph.D., professor of Environmental Medicine at the University of Rochester and lead author of the study, said in a press release. “It appears that inflammation had damaged those brain cells and prevented that region of the brain from developing, and the ventricles simply expanded to fill the space.”

The study showed that the inflammation in the brains of the mice was observed 40 and 270 days after air pollution exposure. This means that the negative effects were permanent. Moreover, researchers found an increase in glutamate levels, which is seen in humans with autism.

“Our findings add to the growing body of evidence that air pollution may play a role in autism, as well as in other neurodevelopmental disorders,” Cory-Slechta said.

The study was published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.

Source: HNGN

Is Your Gym Making You Sick?

At home gym istock

Want to know the places inside a gym that are most likely to get you sick? Sure you do!
Barbells, dumbbells, and weight plates. A basic sneeze can send 100,000 infectious particles into the air at 200 miles an hour–when someone catches those buggers with their hand instead of a tissue (or even an elbow), they can transfer easily to handheld gym equipment. Before you lift weights, spray down the equipment (gym etiquette says to do this after you’re finished with your set, but how many people really follow that?).

Water fountains. A study from the University of Arizona found that 28 percent of gym surfaces are gym havens, and water fountains scored high on the list. One way to head off those bacteria? Bring your own water bottle!

Locker room floors. The moist floors are ripe for fungal and wart viruses . Bring your flip-flops for showering, and never reuse the sweaty socks you’ve just worked out in

Source: yahoo shine

Why we need to make school lunches healthier

Healthy_Lunch_Reuters

For some reason that I’ll probably never understand, First Lady Michelle Obama has repeatedly been criticized by the press and blocked by lawmakers in her efforts to make school lunches healthier in this country. By no means do I think government should be dictating diet to people; however, nobody wins when we continue feeding our kids lackluster lunches comprised of pizza, French fries, and other unhealthy options.

Childhood obesity begets adult obesity, and associated health problems like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, pre-diabetes, bone and joint problems, sleep apnea, and more, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Some schools have claimed that healthier governmental standards, such as increased whole grains and decreased sodium, have been difficult to implement because students complained they were still hungry, or didn’t like the texture of certain foods. Others note that requiring students to take a fruit or vegetable with every lunch leads only to healthier trash cans, as that is where the fruits and vegetables often wind up. For some schools switching to whole grains has been a challenge.

And yet, other schools have observed that while students were not happy at first, they have gradually adapted to the new standards, and now enjoy the fruits, salads, vegetables, and other healthier alternatives available for purchase. Transition is not easy for any of us, and it can be particularly tricky for kids. When the companies peddling unhealthy foods lose money, hire lobbyists, and get lawmakers involved, it doesn’t make that process any easier.

Michelle Obama and others are repeatedly forced to defend and explain why they want to promote better eating habits among the youth in this country, and prevent childhood obesity. Unfortunately, in many households, a healthy school lunch might be the only worthwhile food some kids eat all day. Fortunately, this provides an opportunity to expand their culinary horizons, if just once a day, and maybe even take some of these inadvertent nutritional lessons home.

Critics say that healthier school lunches can’t, won’t, shouldn’t, don’t work. But one community in New York City has been making it work for the last 12 years. The Bilingual Head Start program at the East Harlem Council for Human Services, where I am on the board, has been making strides against childhood obesity in its mostly Hispanic community by shifting everybody’s attitude – children, parents, grandparents – about food.

Among other activities, the program offers a community garden where children help grow, harvest, learn about and cook fruits and vegetables. The center has eliminated sugary juice drinks and sodas, and has created a “Sugar-Free Zone” that discourages vendors from selling sweets nearby. Children are served organic milk, cut-up fresh fruit and cooked dried beans. They and their families are taught how to adopt healthier eating habits from the ground up by having a nutritionist on site to offer basic, accessible lessons. Miraculously, they have done all of this and more while staying within budget.

As Rita Prats-Rodriguez, the program’s director, wrote in a 2010 article in the Amsterdam News, “To beat childhood obesity, we must always be ready to try new things.” The residents of East Harlem were ready for this significant change in their children’s diet — healthy eating! Not only have they embraced new eating habits, but they are making strides against obesity: Between 2010 and 2012, the average body mass index of children in the program declined by more than 7 percent.

When any of us seeks to make a change on any scale, support from friends, family, colleagues, teachers, and the community is key. If students don’t feel as if the people around them support healthier eating habits – at lunch, or elsewhere – then they may not feel as encouraged to make substantive change.

From my perspective, we have two choices: offer our children nutritious foods, or live with the fact that we might be contributing to certain illnesses, rather than preventing them.

Source: Fox news