The news and events happening this month that will help you on your way to #healthyliving.
Events
May 28
Free talk on sugar
Dr Nigel Umar Beejay, a consultant physician, gastroenterologist and nutrition expert, will give a free talk on the harmful effects of sugar in the diet at Bodytree Studio in Abu Dhabi. He will discuss how excessive consumption of sugar leads to heart disease, diabetes and even cancer. The talk runs from 6pm to 7.30pm. For more information, contact Bodytree Studio on 02 443 4448 or www.bodytreestudio.com.
May 28-30
Youth Football Scholarship Camp
Young footballers between 12 and 18 years old will have the opportunity to meet and work with American university coaches this weekend at a camp at Dubai Sports City. The camp is open to players who are academically minded with passion and talent for the sport. The camp costs Dh500 and participants can register by contacting Tariq Al Khamil at OT Sport on 050 844 0898 or tariq@otsport.org.
May 28-30
Yoga and detox retreat
Detoxify your mind and body in time for summer at Madinat Jumeirah's yoga and detox retreat at Talise Spa. Suitable for those with previous yoga experience, the retreat includes five yoga sessions with Talise's yoga master Vijay Sharma, two healthy breakfasts, a juicing class with Talise chef Gabi Kurz, a detox theory seminar, two-hour spa detox treatment, two infrared sauna sessions and two days of unlimited spa and beach access, and costs Dh1,590 per person. Contact Talise Spa on 04 366 6818 or visit www.jumeirah.com/mjyoga.
May 29-30
Heart & Soul of Yoga
Learn the fundamentals and foundations of hatha yoga at a two-day course by Jacquie Sadek at Bodytree Studio. The course will focus on the seven chakras, the organs and systems in the body and the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual practice of yoga. The course costs Dh750 and can be booked through Bodytree Studio on 02 443 4448.
June 5
Fresh Fitness Challenge
Pit your fitness against other entrants in the fifth instalment of the Al Ain Fitness Series. Open to ages 16 and above, the competition is held in three stages, but only the top 10 athletes compete in the final stage. Cash prizes of up to Dh1,000 are up for grabs. Registration costs Dh100 and can be done online at www.fitnesslink.me.
June 12-13
Max Strom workshops
Renowned yoga teacher and author Max Strom presents a series of workshops at Zen Yoga in Dubai, aimed at dealing with life’s challenges.
Workshop topics include overcoming stress and anxiety, reversing the effects of long-term computer use, transformational breath work, breath-initiated movement and chanting. The workshops cost from Dh250 and can be booked by contacting Zen Yoga or Exhale Studio. Packages including all five workshops are also available.
News
Free cervical cancer tests for women
Zulekha Hospital is offering free cervical cancer screening tests until August 31 as part of its “Smear, Don’t Fear” campaign.
The campaign targets women in the high-risk, 35-65-year age group, although cervical cancer can affect anyone over the age of 25. The World Cancer Research Fund International says it is the fourth most common cancer in women, yet more than 92 per cent of cases diagnosed in the early stages of the disease can be successfully cured. Typically, symptoms are not noticeable until the cancer has spread to the surrounding organs, which is why early detection is crucial.
Zanubia Shams, chief executive of Zulekha Hospital in Dubai, said the campaign aims to highlight the importance of smear tests. “Together we can help prevent cervical cancer if the disease is identified at an early stage,” Shams said.
Speaking at the campaign’s launch, Dr Pamela Munster, a cancer expert from the University of California in San Francisco, said: “Early detection means it is possible for the majority of cases to be cured and we also want to help remove the stigma that is sometimes associated with the disease. Our goal is to encourage women to have regular checks at least every three to five years.”
To register for a free cervical cancer screening test and consultation, visit www.you.zulekhahospitals.com/ and complete the 'Free test' section.
New clinic offers full body assessment
A new clinic with a multidisciplinary approach to obesity treatment in Dubai Marina is offering a free full medical assessment to celebrate its launch. Quality Life Medical Clinic, which opened this month, provides medical, nutritional and psychological assessment, as well as surgical options where necessary.
Current statistics show that more than half of all Emirati adults are obese and this figure is expected to rise. This is a significant increase over statistics for the rest of the world, which suggest 13 per cent of adults are obese and 39 per cent are overweight, according to the World Health Organization.
The medical team at QLMC includes Dr Fawaz Torab, a professor of weight-loss and metabolic surgery, and Dr Wayne Smith, a professor of plastic-reconstructive and cosmetic surgery. There is also a team of dentists, dental surgeons, nutritionists, exercise therapists and psychologists to provide a full assessment of the patient’s health.
To make an appointment for the free medical assessment, contact 04 558 7322 or info@qlmc.ae.
Grip strength linked to heart health
A strong handshake could hold the key to good health. A study published in The Lancet medical journal this month found that weak grip strength is linked to a greater risk of heart attack and stroke.
The international study of almost 140,000 adults from 17 countries concluded that grip strength is a stronger predictor of death than systolic blood pressure and suggested it be used by healthcare professionals to identify patients at high risk.
Researchers found that for every five-kilogram decline in grip strength there is a 17 per cent increase in the risk of cardiovascular death.
Grip strength was also linked to a greater risk of non-cardiovascular diseases, such as cancer. Professor Avan Aihie Sayer, from the University of Southampton, and Professor Thomas Kirkwood, from Newcastle University, said: “Loss of grip strength ... might be a good marker of underlying ageing processes, because of the rarity of muscle-specific diseases contributing to change in muscle function.”
Diabetics at greater risk of Alzheimer’s
Researchers in the United States have discovered a link between diabetes and Alzheimer's disease. The research, published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation, suggests that the elevated blood-sugar levels associated with diabetes could contribute to the onset of Alzheimer's.
“Our results suggest that diabetes, or other conditions that make it hard to control blood-sugar levels can have harmful effects on brain function and exacerbate neurological conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease,” said lead author Shannon Macauley, a postdoctoral research scholar.
The experiments involved injecting glucose into the bloodstreams of mice that had been bred to develop an Alzheimer’s-like condition.
atomlinson@thenational.ae