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From superfoods to sugar-free, we explore the truth behind marketing terms You are what you eat, the old chestnut goes — but what you eat may not be what you think it is. Supermarket shelves are crammed with foods proclaiming their apparently healthy credentials with labels such as fat-free, natural or sugar-free — but while these claims may offer a sense of confidence, they rarely reflect the actual nutritional quality of the food. Reduced doesn’t mean a healthier product, say researchers at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill, after studying data that included more than 80 million food and beverage purchases from over 40,000 households from 2008 to 2012. “In many c...

Diseases can come in any form and shape. However, there are a few of them that we assume only affect adults. Although arthritis has been a problem more evidently found in adults, children too are seen affected by it. More commonly known as Juvenile Arthritis, this condition is caused by the inflammation of the joint (where two or more bones meet). If your child has been complaining of pain, swelling, stiffness or loss of motion lately, it is advisable to seek help from a doctor at the earliest. TYPES OF JUVENILE ARTHRITIS Several types of arthritis affect children; however, the most common type is called Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (idiopathic means “from unknown causes”). It includes s...

By: Peter Feely   The disorder can affect children in profoundly different ways In 2013, the pre-eminent psychiatry handbook, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder, redefined how healthcare professionals should approach autism. The different autism-related disorders, such as Asperger’s syndrome — where children suffer from social interaction deficit but no language impairment — were dismissed in favour of the term autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Children are now diagnosed as either mild, moderate or severe. Critics of the new definition were concerned it would mean that children suffering from certain mild autism-related disorders would fail to meet the diagnosis criteria...

Peter Feely, Editor Commercial Publishing For diabetics, it is important to manage blood sugar levels and take precautions COVID-19 is a global virus that has significantly impacted all of our lives. It has also been widely reported that people with underlying health conditions, such as diabetes, are more susceptible to complications if they do contract the coronavirus. Dr Muhammad Hamed Farooqi, Director and Consultant Endocrinologist, Dubai Diabetes Centre, says that the global uncertainty could also be a cause for people with diabetes to see an elevation in their blood sugar levels. “These are unusual times and you may find that your blood sugar readings are not to your expectations....

Has Covid-19 kept you off from a visit to the gynecologist? Published:  July 29, 2020 │ By: Jennifer Kasirsky So you've probably put off going to the doctor the last few months. Covid-19 was a great excuse, but let’s face it not many women enjoy the trip to the gynecologist. Something about the anxiety of finding something wrong makes women postpone the all-important exam.What exams are really needed for a woman to keep herself healthy? The answer is age dependent. The younger you are the less your need for preventative care. PREVENTIVE CARE BASICS Do you know the difference between screening tests and diagnostic tests? A diagnostic test tells you “yes” you have a specific disease or “no...

Early and regular checkups are critical to manage complications during pregnancy.Published: July 20, 2020 By Priya Mathew You might begin your pregnancy with no apparent health problems but there is a possibility that during gestation you may develop medical conditions, which have the potential to put you and your unborn child at risk.Pregnancy-associated complications may suddenly appear during the course of gestation, explains Dr Prashanth Hegde, Specialist Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Thumbay University Hospital. “These include possible rise in blood pressure (gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia) and gestational diabetes where the sugar level may start shooting up.” Gestati...

New research show strongest link yet between mother and infant transmission of COVID-19 There is "strong evidence" that COVID-19- positive mothers can pass the virus on to their unborn infants, scientists said Thursday, in findings that could affect how pregnant women are shielded during the pandemic. While there have been isolated cases of babies infected with the virus, the findings show the strongest link yet between mother and infant transmission. Researchers in Italy studied 31 pregnant women hospitalised with COVID-19, and found the virus in an at-term placenta, umbilical cord, the vagina of one woman and in breast milk. They also identified specific COVID-19 antibodies in the umbi...

UAE HEALTH AUTHORITIES PROVIDE DOS AND DON’TS FOR CLOTH MASKS If you have been wondering how you can safely wear a face mask made of fabric, the UAE’s Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) has provided detailed guidelines on all you need to know. A fabric mask can protect others around you, something referred to as “source control” by the World Health Organization (WHO). To protect yourself and prevent the spread of COVID-19, MOHAP also advised people to maintain social distance, clean hands frequently and thoroughly and avoid touching their face and mask. Face masks help in preventing asymptomatic carriers from spreading the disease, protecting others. However, coupled with regula...

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we live our lives in a variety of ways. The stark reality is that the coronavirus crisis has even affected the way and manner many of us care for (and use) our eyes. There are some specific strategies you should consider employing when it comes to your eye care and eye health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Contact Lenses and COVID-19 Early on during the coronavirus health crisis, a considerable number of news reports indicated that people should abandon their contacts during the COVID-19 pandemic. As infectious disease experts and eye doctors continue to have a better understanding of COVID-19, there no longer is a general recommendation th...

Huda Tabrez, Senior News Editor If you going back to the gym is stressing you out, here are some basic guidelines that you can follow to make sure your fitness regime does not unnecessarily expose you to the new corona virus. The Dubai Health Authority issued guidelines on its social media channels for gym operators as well as customers to follow: The hygiene and social distancing guidelines were issued to curb the spread of COVID-19. According to the Dubai Sports Council (DSC) and Dubai Economic Department (DED), gyms in Dubai are allowed to operate at 50% capacity. Each Emirates has issued regulations on the maximum number of people allowed in gyms, if they have reopened, and need to...