Am inside pages by Virgie Santillan

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RUNNING AROUND

THE WORLD Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one of the most gruelling tests a man can put on himself, both physically and mentally. In more ways than one, a triathlon is truly not for the weakhearted. But for those up to the challenge, the rewards are immense. Just ask one-time Ironman winner, Faris Al Sultan.

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t was such a dramatic moment that my brain obviously was not able to store it.” That is how Faris Al Sultan remembers his win at the 2005 Ironman World Championship. If that is any indication on what to expect from competing in a triathlon, then many would rush into it, dreaming of the euphoria that awaits. This however, is no ordinary sport, but rather one that takes commitment to a whole different level, and forces one to embrace and face pain head-on. It takes a unique type of person to rise up to the occasion. Al Sultan is one such man. UNEXPECTED CALLING Al Sultan was born on the in 1978 in Munich to an Arab Iraqi father and a German mother. Unlike the lean machine he is now, he went through some weight issues early on in his life. “I was an overweight kid,” says Al Sultan, recalling how at 14 years of age, he went through a crash weight-loss programme, losing 15kg in the process by simply not eating. “It was an unhealthy way to lose weight. I lost a lot of muscle as well, and wanted to gain some of it back, while still staying slim. Luckily, the competition team of the swimming club was looking for new athletes.” Unfortunately Al Sultan was not picked for the team, but enjoyed the training process nonetheless. “We were running as part of the conditioning exercise for swimming, and I liked that and I practiced more running on my own.” Then came the turning point in his life. “At 16, I signed up for my first marathon (illegally, as you had to be 18). Later, I saw TV coverage of the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. I could already swim, run, and learnt how to cycle properly, so I decided to do my first triathlon when I was 18.” But for a long time, that passion was his and his alone, and he had to work to gain the necessary support. “Of course, my parents, they aren’t really interested, and still don’t understand fully what I’m doing. They wouldn’t have cared whether I became a chess player or a triahlete. As most parents, they wanted me to become a lawyer or a doctor. But I had their total support whether it was financially or time-wise.” To add to his difficult task, there was no form of government funding for triathlon as that distance is ‘not Olympic’. “I was training during my university time. Slowly, it developed from getting some equipment and making a little prize money to getting bonuses from companies and then earning a salary. There are also more responsibilities

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regarding sponsors and partners as you make your living doing triathlons.” THE COMPLETE ATHLETE From an ‘extreme’ sport, triathlons are getting more popular with today’s generation. “It became bigger and more professional on every scale. When I started Ironman Lanzarote in 1997, there were 600 competitors. Now it is sold out with twice the number of athletes. And even small-scale regular races in Germany are sold out months before. More

We were running as part of the conditioning exercise for swimming, and I liked that and I practiced more running on my own.

sponsors became involved, and instead of two dozen pros that compete at every distance, there are hundreds that try to excel at all the new races that are on.” To Al Sultan, triathlon is truly a sport that anyone can participate in, saying ‘it combines three sports everybody knows at least to some degree’. But if one chooses to be a professional triathlete, he advises that “one must have, apart from physical talent, the mental willingness to suffer, as well as patience, as it takes years of training before the body adapts to perform on top level”. Like other triathletes, Al Sultan went through different phases in his career, ones which contributed to his overall skill. “It (strongest segment) used to be swimming, then it was cycling. But with the years, you become more balanced at all three disciplines. At endurance disciplines, you need many training years to perform on top level. That is the reason why the best Ironman athletes are around 30-years-old.” But the nearer the competition gets, the preparation takes a marked shift towards the mental side. “There isn’t a real mental preparation other than a quite natural one,” he points out. “You think of the course, decisive parts and a possible outcome.” And it is during the race that mental strength is truly tested and focus is required. “During the long distance races, your mind starts to wander between the necessities of the present (eat, drink, steer your bike, etc.) and places far off (have I switched off the lights in the apartment?).

The longer you are on your way, the slower your brain becomes and the more selective your perception gets.”

a lot of tactics. He had that willingness to risk a being caught on the run by riding as his nickname says ‘hell on wheels’.”

Despite winning the Iroman title, Al Sultan feels that he still has a long way to go in the sport. “My main motive is still to reach my personal limits. Of course, after winning the most important race, you move through a mental roller coaster, and after some health issues in ‘08 and ’09, I’m very motivated to get back to the top,” claims the ‘Sultan of Sweat’. If he ever needs any push, he can simply remember the South Bavarian cross running championships 1998, his self-proclaimed most memorable race to date. “Right from the start, it was me and another opponent. Both of us went for the victory. Running a hard pace on a three loop course, I knew if I’d keep the pace, I’d be second, which would have been a success, but I could also try to go harder and win, or maybe go too hard so that I’d fade and lose second place. I attacked on the last uphill section, never looked back, and won.”

AMBASSADOR Besides his own goals and accomplishments, Al Sultan is also keen to expand the sport in the region. He is the team founder and leader of the Abu Dhabi Triathlon team. “I’m proud to be the captain,” he professes. “Together with my friends and partners Dr. Werner Leitner, Swen Sundberg, and the ADTA, we work hard to make the team a good role model for others, from athletic performance, to social engagement, to interaction with amateur triathletes. Of course, it is an ongoing process we still learn a lot and improve from day to day. But it is a lot of work but with that, one of my dreams has come true.” At the moment, he laments that there is a huge gap between the triathletes from

the region when compared to those from the rest of the world. “Triathlon is a rather young sport. So far, there are no professional athletes from the Middle East itself. There is a Spanish guy with Arabic ancestry, a few Turks and Syrians, but nobody on world-class level. There are really very few, and sometimes, the ones that are there expect to be treated as professionals although they don’t perform on a professional level. And some aren’t fully aware of the sacrifices that you have to make to become world class.” He also admits that culture does contribute to this fact. “The idea of doing sport to keep fit and enjoy, without doing it for money, is not so deeply rooted in the Arab world as it is in Europe.” But Al Sultan has high hopes that things will change for the sport in the Middle East. When asked as to what needs to be done to bridge the gap and bring about positive change for the sport in the region,

Also, the goal to emulate his role model will push him on, perhaps even further than he expected. “Thomas Hellriegel, who was the first German who won the Ironman World Championship on Hawaii, was the guy who motivated to become a triathlete. He did races I like to do without

One must have, apart from physical talent, the mental willingness to suffer, as well as patience, as it takes years of training before the body adapts to perform on top level

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THE KING OF ONLINE

SHOPPING Some say it’s foresight. Others argue it’s nothing more than pure luck. Whatever the case, perfect timing is a blessing when you’re starting a new business. Just ask Saeid M Hejazi, Founder & Managing Director of Nahel.com.

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erhaps it’s in the genes. And like father like son, Saeid M. Hejazi is now an entrepreneur, following the footsteps of his ‘genius entrepreneur’ father. “Being half of what he is would be a tremendous achievement,” he says. Looking at the way things are, and where it’s going, it seems like Hejazi is on his way to being his own man. STARTING OUT During Fall of 2008, on the cusp of the credit crisis that was about to hit the Middle East, Hejazi secured funding and launched the company Nahel.com, with a vision that it would be the leading eCommerce website in the Middle East for consumer goods. Although it was initially set up in his apartment, the idea gained critical acclaim, even winning the University of Toronto’s ‘National Business Plan’ Competition. “I entered Nahel’s original business model at the competition, and won first place out of 478 teams,” he recalls. “Winning the competition, one which took six months and four rounds to complete, gave me confidence in the idea that it might actually work. I decided to replicate it out of the Middle East, based out of Dubai.” Hejazi began mapping out a clear action plan, adhering closely to his vision of Nahel.com as an all-rounded online shopping caterer; there’s something for everyone, regardless of age, sex, race or income. “I didn’t know that anyone could start a company. I was young at the time, naïve and excited. I had nothing to lose, and besides, I was having fun – no one thought I could do it.” The work though was only beginning. “From the start, I understood very well what I knew, and understood what I didn’t know,” he admits. “I would ask anyone for help, including governments, banks, friends and family. I handled one problem at a time, and depending on what it was, I would find someone who could help me best.” And each step is a climb up the steep learning curve. “Being the first in the region to launch a company at this scale, you have to learn and establish ways to do things yourself. We did not have competitors to look at and try to replicate their business models. Every step seemed to be an obstacle, and these obstacles were overcome with a lot of trial and error. A lot of errors. It has to be said that Nahel is still a start-up, we’re still in our infancy stage and have a long way to break-even. We’re growing, but we

first step, there’s no going back. There’s no reason to.”

Just do it, you really have nothing to lose if you really believe in your idea. Sleep on a friend’s couch until you make money if you have to. If you don’t, someone else with your idea will sacrifice more, work harder, and become more successful. Ideas are a dimea-dozen, it’s the execution that counts. Entrepreneurs are not smart, they’re dedicated.

haven’t made it yet.” To add that little bit of extra challenge, consumers were still reluctant to turn to the internet for their shopping needs, believing that it’s not a reliable method and that security breaches will occur. “We need to educate the public on the benefits of shopping online; the savings they are making, the convenience they experience, etc. Once people take that

It is this sort of scepticism that Hejazi had, and still has, to contend with. On the flip side, technological advancements mean that the tide is flowing in his favour. Higher internet penetration and connectivity speeds, more sophisticated logistics solutions, as well as the availability of secure credit card payment gateways ensure that there is a recent big push towards e-Commerce. Nevertheless, Hejazi concedes that when it comes to the global stage, the Middle East industry is light years behind. “The difference is about USD175 billion,” he proclaims. “The e-commerce market is still very young, but is beginning to show signs of growth. Throughout the Middle East, Internet penetration averages at 29.5 per cent. Compare that to Europe where penetration is at 53 per cent, with countries that have penetration as high as 90.9 per cent, like Norway. E-commerce in this region will grow faster than the growth rate of Internet users, but will obviously be limited by the small numbers of users. Once this obstacle is tackled, e-Commerce will begin to mature.” THE BUSINESS As with many other small businesses, headaches and uncertainties are a given, and Hejazi has had his fair share of what he calls ‘controlled chaos’. “Having a start-up is an emotional rollercoaster; one morning everything is going great and you see yourself as a Fortune 500 company, and by lunch time, you feel that you’ll be closing your doors for the last time. It’s all part of the thrill,” he professes, before going on to say that it is exactly that drive to succeed is what instills fear into the big corporations. “You have to be willing to eat, sleep and breathe your company. There is no secret to success, you just have to be very dedicated – failure cannot be an option. Everything has a solution. Might not be easy to get it, but it’s there, you just have to find it. If you have that mentality, no one can stand in your way.” As Nahel.com gets into full swing, Hejazi has to learn to play a new role: the boss. “I hate micro-managing,” he declares. Fortunately for him, he believes that in his team, he has the most capable of hands to run his business. “I have the hardest and most dedicated team a manager can ask for. I don’t have to worry about decision bottle-necking at my desk.” It is also this belief that has allowed Hejazi to place his trust and confidence in his

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expose COVER STORY team. “Letting loose, and willing to take risks is something very important to us. We’ve made countless mistakes, but the learning process has been priceless.” Due to the fact that Nahel.com was launched at the beginning of the credit crisis two years ago, Hejazi was in a unique position to implement policies that would ensure the sustainability of the company right from the start. “Successful entrepreneurs, regardless of their industry or the condition of the economy, have to be very disciplined when spending their cash,” he asserts. “There are pros and cons to launching a company during an economic crisis. For example, some of the benefits are that you’re saving money. Your dollar goes further when everything from rent, costs of goods or human capital drops. With that said, entrepreneurs also realise that consumer spending drops, and your cash-flow will be red longer.” However, Hejazi fully realises that the crisis has also worked in his favour. “When the economy starts going through a crisis, consumers become far more conscious about where they are spending their hard-earned money. It is during these times that they look online for their daily purchases.” While being an online business takes a lesser amount of capital, Hejazi agrees that when compared to a running a physical store, the challenges are arguably greater. “Driving traffic to your website is far more difficult. Also, converting those visitors to buyers is a science on its own. In addition, offline stores do not require the same 24/7 call center that Nahel.com operates. Lastly, not having a store means you have to deliver every package, streaming and automating order fulfillment is a sophisticated operation on its own. Having a scalable logistics operations means keeping your promises to your customers on when their orders will arrive.” BEING THE BEST Being an eCommerce website, Nahel. com’s competition comes from around the world, where online shoppers can easily compare it to other e-stores from around the world. So what makes Nahel. com stand out from the pack? “Nahel. com strictly focuses itself to its region and bases it services on what its own customers need,” answers Hejazi. “We focus heavily on offering our customers the lowest price, the best service and the largest variety of products.”

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We need to educate the public on the benefits of shopping online; the savings they are making, the convenience they experience, etc. Once people take that first step, there’s no going back. There’s no reason to.

The eCommerce industry may still be young, and may still be trying to find its feet, but for Hejazi, Nahel.com is currently at the top of the game, and may continue to do so for a very long time. “As the leaders in our industry – B2C online shopping – we see companies launching on what seems like a weekly basis. Most of which will fail, we already see it happening. Once the industry matures, you will see that it is led by two major players. These two players will be regional with scalable and sustainable business models. The rest will be more local and niche-oriented. Question is, who will be number 2? It’s still hard to answer that.” One of the major contributing factors in getting Nahel.com to where it is today is Hejazi’s emphasis on customer service, whereby an excellent score in this department will ensure customer retention. “As a start-up, our primary concern is perfecting our product. It’s a constant learning process that is constantly being improved. Our focus is building relationships with our customers,

and understanding how to serve them better. But to say we have perfected customer care would be a lie,” he clarifies. “For us, customer service is not just about a friendly voice; it’s about service, whether the person is a customer or not, or whether there is an issue long after the order was completed. Who do you know has a 60-day return policy, or offers its own warranty on electronics that go further than the manufacturers? It’s also about under promising and over-delivering; getting your customer’s order delivered faster than you said you would.” And just to drive home the point of his ‘bend-over-backwards’ policy, Hejazi states some recent examples. “When our courier was sick, our inventory manager made 12 deliveries, using public transport. In fact, I recall a particular week where everybody, from me to the business development managers, made deliveries to customers in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Umm Al Quwain on a Friday.” He then went on to relate other instances. “A customer called from India and wanted to gift his fiancé in Ras Al KHaimah a brooch, something which we do not carry. But we found what he wanted, gift-wrapped it, wrote a letter, and had it delivered on time to the lady, with her favourite chocolate to add. Also, another customer, who had bought gifts for his kids, was running late for his flight. We met him at the airport with everything gift-wrapped. We have countless emails of customers thanking us for going above and beyond.”

entrepreneurs who are inspired to venture out on their own. “Just do it, you really have nothing to lose if you really believe in your idea. Sleep on a friend’s couch until you make money if you have to. If you don’t, someone else with your idea will sacrifice more, work harder, and become more successful. Ideas are a dime-a-dozen, it’s the execution that counts. Entrepreneurs are not smart, they’re dedicated.” He also urges them to think outside the box and utilise whatever resource available. “Any entrepreneur can tell you that to launch an idea or product, there is no formal degree that can set you up. You need to have a constant hunger for knowledge to fulfill tasks you never thought you would have. Never underestimate the power of Google, and what you can learn with it.” As for his goals in the near future? “To break even, and go on vacation.” That may come sooner rather than later.

With that, Hejazi knows that he has the recipe for continued success. “Nahel. com will remain focused on constantly improving its services, maintaining the lowest prices in the market, and constantly increasing the variety of its products. We are now the leading business-to-consumer online store in the region and we will sustain our position.” THE MAN For all his successes, Hejazi is thankful for the support that he received. “I have to thank everybody; my family and friends who have been a tremendous support and my current business partners that gave me the opportunity to do what I love to do, as well as lending me their expertise and experience. But most of all, my team, without their dedication, hard work, and drive, we wouldn’t be where we are today.” And he has this to say to would-be

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expose INTERVIEW SPECIAL

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LIFE OF A

FOOTBALLER Ever so often, one would hear an inspirational story about the small town guy leaving his home to fulfill big dreams, and ultimately have his name up in lights. From Oman to Norway to England, Ali Al Habsi has lived a big part of his life on the road, simply to live out his own fairytale. Faizal Dahlawia chats with Omanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favourite footballing son.

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expose INTERVIEW SPECIAL

t may be as clichéd as you can get, but we can never get enough of success stories with humble beginnings. “I am a proud Omani, born to a big family of nine brothers and six sisters,” exclaims Ali Al Habsi, adding, “Like all Omani children, I began playing in the streets of my village when I was very young, maybe as a five year-old. Football is a way of life for children in Oman.” Al Habsi may now be a top-notch goalkeeper playing in arguably the most exciting football league in the world, and gaining many awards and accolades to his name, but without some acute talent scouting, he might have never reached the heights that he achieved today. “I began playing as striker in my village, but when I was 16, my brother, then the coach at Sultan Qaboos Stadium, saw that I might have potential playing as a goalkeeper,” he recalled. “So I took a chance and tried it out, and in the process, found that I not only showed some real ability, but I also enjoyed it very much. I haven’t looked back since.” CHASING THAT ELUSIVE DREAM In a football crazy world, it’s not an exaggeration to say that most boys dream of being a professional footballer. Sadly though, it not only takes special talent, but also the right kind of support. This is exactly why Al Habsi never forgets the people that

he is indebted to. “Of course, the journey to becoming a professional footballer is incredibly hard, but everyone around me was very supportive, and I will be eternally grateful to my family for their support of my dream to play football professionally,” he says. His family aside, one man in particular stood out for a special mention: John Burridge, Oman National Team’s goalkeeping coach. Burridge literally changed Al Habsi’s life with his belief, arranging the trial which would eventually bring him to England. “I must thank John for his support and contribution to my success,” muses Al Habsi. “He said right from the start that when he saw me playing in goal that he knew I would be a professional goalkeeper in the English Premier League, and I am grateful to him for having such faith in me.” Possessing such great promise, Al Habsi was ready to move and hit the big time in England. But roads to success are never easy, and he had his fair share of bumps. “One of the hardest things for me was to leave Oman, and be without my family and friends. My family and friends mean everything to me, and of course it was hard,” he admits. “But I knew I would stay in touch with them. Moreover, I left in pursuit of my dream, which made the difficulties in leaving worthwhile. It also helped that everyone was so supportive and happy that my dreams were becoming a reality.” Apart from that, there were also difficulties securing a work permit for him in the UK because at this time, Al habsi was still only 17, and not playing for the Oman National team. So he moved to Norway, where work permit regulations were more relaxed, playing for Lyn Oslo for three seasons. REALISING THE DREAM During the three seasons with Lyn Oslo, Al Habsi was voted Arab Goalkeeper of the Year and Norwegian Goalkeeper of the Year in 2004. He finished his Lyn career with a third-place finish in the league, thanks in part to his outstanding goalkeeping exploits. In January 2006, Al Habsi signed for English Premier League side Bolton Wanderers. And in the process, history was made. “I felt fantastic,” Al Habsi recounted. “I am sure that any other player in the English Premier League would tell you the same. It is the best league in the world, and it is every footballer’s dream to play for a Premier League side. For me, to be the first Gulf Arab and first Omani player to break through into the league made it

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I began playing as striker in my village but when I was 16, my brother, then the coach at Sultan Qaboos Stadium, saw that I might have potential playing as a goalkeeper. So I took a chance and tried it out and in the process, found that I not only showed some real ability but I also enjoyed it very much. I haven’t looked back since.

all the more special. The move put Omani football on the map - when Europeans write about me it is about Ali Al Habsi, the Omani goalkeeper.” But with his great pride came a feeling of great responsibility, one in which the burden of his people’s hopes, dreams and even abilities, rested on his broad shoulders. “There is exceptional footballing talent across the Arab world, and it is very interesting to see what is going on in the UAE, Oman and Saudi at the moment,” he said. “There is a part of me that wants to demonstrate what Arabs are capable

of, of course. I hope that I have paved the way for other Arab footballers to play professional football in Europe.” Unfortunately, chances were few and far between, mainly due to the exceptional Jussi Jaaskelainen, Bolton Wanderer’s firstchoice goalkeeper. Despite not featuring regularly for the past couple of seasons, Al Habsi is determined to stay on and fight for his place. “I have patience, I have respect for my club, and respect for my contract. It is hard behind Jaaskelainen because he’s one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League, but I am happy here. Bolton is a fantastic football club, fantastic people to work with, and you never know in football. You never know what tomorrow brings.” Al Habsi adds that he is in no hurry to impose himself in the Premier League and biding his time, carefully learning the intricacies of the trade. “I am taking my career step by side. I feel that as a goalkeeper, time is definitely on my side. I look at Van der Sar – he is 39 years-old and still playing for Manchester United

week in, week out. Goalkeepers are lucky in that we can have a long career. I have time to improve, and through experience, InshaAllah, I hope to do just that and be playing for the Bolton Wanderers first team at some point.” While Premier League success is still elusive to Al Habsi, back home, he’s making everyone sit up and take notice of his skills. In the regional football tournament, the Gulf Cup, Al Habsi has won the best goalkeeper award four times in a row. He attributes the success to the invaluable experience he has gained in Europe. “I think the training I have received at a Premier League side sets me apart from a lot of goalkeepers from the Gulf, in that I have actual experience of playing against sides such as Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur – I feel privileged to play against some top class talent and that kind of experience really serves to improve my personal game, definitely.” Despite his outstanding form for his country, Oman could not qualify for the

2010 FIFA World Cup. But Al Habsi remains hopeful. “We didn’t qualify this year, but InshaAllah, we will make it to Brazil for the next World Cup. Oman has a very good side. We won the last Gulf Cup without conceding a single goal. I think that we need to be more consistent, to be on top form all of the time.” At the same time, Al Habsi is also confident that the work undertaken by the Omani Football Association will bear its fruits soon in the future. “I am excited about the future of football in the Gulf, and in Oman in

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use

CAREER ADVICE

NO TIME TO WASTE

eople work p t a th d n u fo niversity has U l to ou’re eyeing s ri y B if t , a o S . m s a y a te d A study by a days than on non-gym ductivity by ro p r u o y e m s y a better on g at you incre le? Think again. th re u s n e , n o that promoti your lunch hour. Impossib g working durin

unchtime is a great opportunity to get away from your desk, stretch your legs, and refresh your body and mind. Research associate Jo Coulson from Bristol University said, “If people try to fit an active break into their working day, they might also experience the added bonus of their whole day feeling much more productive. And that always feels good in our busy lives.” So don’t fall into the trap of working through lunch or the conventional ‘gossip’ session with your workmates. Instead, sweat it out at an exercise class or the gym. And before you even ask, the answer is yes, it can definitely be done. All you need is a little preparation and discipline. Here are a few tips to get you started: •

Come in to work 20 minutes early so that you can extend your lunch break to work out. Also, eat lunch at your desk or pack some food so you can eat after the workout

•

Push your lunch timing further back so as to avoid the peak hour rush with other similar health enthusiasts

•

Thoroughly pack your gym bag with all the essentials the night before and put it in front of the door so you won’t miss it when you leave for work

•

Find out what drives you in terms of food. Some people

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may find that a snack half an hour before a workout boosts their performance •

Obviously, choose a gym that is near you. Do not forego a decent gym nearby for a swanky one further away, unless of course you don’t mind the risk of running late after your session

•

Go for high-intensity interval training on a treadmill or bike, working at that pace for three to five minutes, before lowering the intensity to allow yourself to recover briefly. Then go for another high-intensity burst

•

You may not have time to hit the weights and work all your muscle groups. So in this case, target just a few and then target another group on a different day

•

If you’re afraid to sweat too much before going back to work, choose a low-intensity workout instead. It doesn’t always have to be the treadmill or the weights. Choose to go for a nice leisurely swim while still ensuring that you still get the proper amount of workout required.

Finally, no matter the physical activity, always allow time to shower, or at least a good wiping and towelling off your perspiration. Make sure that you’re fresh-looking and smelling when you get back to the office. You don’t want to be known as the ‘hot bod but with the smell’, now do you?

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expose 50 THINGS REPORT

When people talk about schizophrenia, they immediately think split personality. But is it really what people think it is? We put the real facts down. hrenia Schizop ase c is not a split g n i v a h of lities. persona th wi People renia h p o z schi oblems have pr ting e interpr ut b y realit ot n o d they lt u iple have m lities. a person

The word â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;schizophreniaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; comes from the Greek roots schizo (s plit) and phrene (m ind) to describe the fragmented thin king of people with the disorder. The term was first introd uced in 1933. It ca n de grad v ually elop cour , ove se o r th f or m e onth weeks s, or can s on v eem to c it ery sudd ome and enly the , s of s chizo igns phre are nia ea misu sy to nder stan d.

s may Symptom hildren c occur in as 12 as young and years old ough h t younger, . e r very ra

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born or People n dense i raised e reas ar urban a to ly e k s li twice a renia h p schizo p lo e v de the le from as peop . country Stress, despite popular belief, is not confirmed as a risk factor for developing schizophrenia.

The family enviro nment and ‘expressed em otions’ have been found to be associated with re lapses.

he ong t s am ty in k n a r i enia sabil wide. zophr ses of di ld r o Schi w u 0 ca tries a are to top 1 ped coun i ntry o phren l deve of schizo from cou ent of c r s Rate lly simila .5-1 per a 0 r t e u n ge abo try; coun tion. l opu a the p

ot s n ut it e o b d gs ms nia dru phre mpto ia g sy izo en kin Ta e sch n the zophr s i d e u h e s sc spos ca wor er i n g d g a c tri pre and ier in ls. l ear vidua i d n i

Men and women are at equal risk of developing the illness. While most males become ill between 16 and 25 years old, most females develop symptoms between ages 25 and 30. It is thought that women may be protected for these extra years by estrogen and progesterone produced in their bodies.

rs occu a i n e zophr s Schi societie lass, c l l f a o n i less on or d r a reg ligi r, re colou e. r cultu

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Violence is not a sym ptom of schizop hrenia. P eople with schizo phrenia a re far more likely to harm themselve s than be violent toward th e public. In fact, man y people w ith schizophre nia live a stable life, work , an relationshi d have ps. Depression is the most prevalent cause of suicide for people suffering from schizophrenia. Research revealed that four in 10 sufferers will attempt suicide and one in 10 will die.

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use

DRâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S DOSSIER

THOSE ACHES AND PAINS For arthritis patients, there is an 11-month average delay in diagnosis, and another 10 months in delay for treatment. More often than not, sufferers are told that they can only take pain medication to deal with the symptoms. And these statistics are only with the patients Dr. Ayman Mofti and his team at the Al Biraa Arthritis & Bone Clinic in Dubai sees. More patients are left in the dark and in pain. am explores.

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rthritis means inflammation of the joints but it is used as a general term to acknowledge that there is something wrong with the body’s musculoskeletal system. However, one cannot simply be diagnosed with arthritis and announce that the doctor’s work is done, because under this illness, there are more than 200 different types to deal with. The most common form of arthritis comes with the wear and tear of the joints, the one usually associated with the elderly and commonly called old people’s disease. However, if you take this type out, what is left is a huge number that may affect younger people – a reality that the Emirates Arthritis Foundation (EAF) is trying to spread with its continues information and awareness campaigns. Arthritis can be divided into two main types: non-inflammatory arthritis such as osteoarthritis caused by daily wear and tear of the joints, and inflammatory or auto immune arthritis, which occurs when the body’s immune system attacks itself and causes inflammation of all the major organs of the body. The cause for the latter is not known, and when this happens, the patients may feel fatigue, stiffness, can lose motor function, and damage to the bones because of the inflammation of the joints. Arthritis is a dangerous disease that increases mortality. It affects the patient’s quality of life, making him or her unable to move with ease, eventually affecting the patient’s social life and livelihood, which, on an overall outlook, also affects the country’s economy significantly. For example, one study says that patients of Rheumatoid Arthritis, a systemic form of inflammatory arthritis affecting one’s health as well as a variety of one’s joints, become disabled two years after diagnosis. Another study says 10 years. In developed countries, 40 per cent of patients are unable to work full time five years after diagnosis. “Sufferers of rheumatoid arthritis can feel worse than patients with cancer or heart problems. The latter may know they have a disease but there is no pain, unlike rheumatoid arthritis patients who live with pain every day,” Dr. Mofti explains. He adds, “The risk of heart attacks, infections and developing certain types of cancer called lymphomas also increase.” The key here is in spreading information and awareness about the disease. When symptoms are commonly known, patients themselves or their families and friends can recognise it and seek the help of a specialist.

“If I had been more aware of the symptoms as I was growing up or my parents were more aware, we could have been tested. I may have had something for a long time which was not diagnosed, it was a car crash that brought it on. We need to learn more about arthritis,” shares Claire Townsend, who after being involved in a car crash, discovered that she had Rheumatoid Arthritis. Dealing with the condition, she switched careers, from massage therapist that relies on

If I had been more aware of the symptoms as I was growing up or my parents were more aware, we could have been tested. I may have had something for a long time which was not diagnosed, it was a car crash that brought it on. We need to learn more about arthritis

her hands heavily to interior designer where she can delegate work that may cause her harm. She also started working out with a trainer and watching what she eats as part of the lifestyle changes that became necessary to cope with the disease. Not all pains though mean arthritis. It is only when it is prolonged, that you need to be concerned. “All of us have back pain and

neck pain, it lasts a few days and it goes away – that’s okay. If it’s not better after a few days, see your doctor. If it’s not better within a month or more, go see a specialist. Do not wait for your doctor to refer you, at the end of the day, it’s your health at stake,” Dr. Mofti advises. It is also not easy to diagnose arthritis. “The diagnosis is not based on blood test alone, that is why it is important to see a specialist,” Dr. Mofti stresses. He adds, “The diagnosis is based on a combination of things: symptoms, examination of the patient, blood test and special tests like X-ray and/or MRI. We put the information together, and that’s when we decide if they have arthritis, what type and what is the treatment. Blood test alone can be very misleading, only 30 per cent of patients who have Rheumatoid Arthritis test positive during their first year. So if I’m going to rely on a blood test, I will miss the other 70 per cent. On the other hand, there are many people who test positive and do not have the disease. That is why we need to interpret the results in light of all the other tests. Sometimes, it may take one visit, sometimes weeks before we determine what type we are dealing with.” The different types of arthritis can affect different genders differently. “It depends on the type of arthritis, with Rheumatoid Arthritis, it’s three is to one with women. Spondylities, a different type of arthritis which affects the back and the spine in addition to the joints, mainly occurs in men. Gouty arthritis is also mainly with men. Seronegative arthritis, also commonly occurs in men in the UAE, with an estimated 1 per cent of the total population affected,” Dr. Mofti adds. “Arthritis is a chronic problem, like any other chronic diseases like high blood pressure, and diabetes, it could be life-long,” explains Dr. Mofti further. “In about 10 per cent of Rheumatoid Arthritis cases, the disease can go away. The patients stop medication and they are disease-free. This is different than remission. When it comes to remission, some studies find that 5 to 10 per cent of patients can go into remission. But the majority, about 90 per cent, still have the disease. They take medicine and if they stop, the disease will act up again. About 90 per cent of patients may need to be on medication throughout their life.” With newer medication called Biologics given on top of traditional medications, the number of patients who go into remission may reach up to 20-30 per cent but Dr. Mofti stresses that this depends on how early the treatment started. “This is one of the main issues, if you start early, the statistics

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CINEMATTER

GOOD TIME ALL AROUND RED DAWN

Director: Dan Bradley Writer: Carl Ellsworth, Jeremy Passmore Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Adrianne Palicki, Josh Hutcherson, Isabel Lucas Genre: Action, Drama, War An American city awakens to the surreal sight of foreign paratroopers dropping from the sky – shockingly, the US has been invaded and their hometown is the initial target. Quickly and without warning, the citizens find themselves prisoners and their town under enemy occupation. Determined to fight back, a group of young patriots seek refuge in the surrounding woods, training and reorganising themselves into a guerrilla group of fighters. Taking inspiration from their high school mascot, they call themselves the Wolverines, banding together to protect one another, liberate their town from its captors, and take back their freedom.

THE TOURIST

Director: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck Writer: Julian Fellowes, Christopher McQuarrie, Jeffrey Nachmanoff, William Wheeler Cast: Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie, Rufus Sewell, Clement Sibony, Timothy Dalton Genre: Thriller A remake of the 2005 French film written and directed by Jerome Salle, ‘The Tourist’ is a thriller concerning an American tourist who finds his life in danger when a female Interpol agent uses him as a dupe to flush out an elusive criminal with whom she once had an affair.

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DUE DATE

Director: Todd Phillips Writer: Alan R. Cohen, Alan Freedland, Adam Sztykiel Cast: Robert Downey, Jr., Zack Galifianakis, Jamie Foxx, Juliette Lewis, Michelle Monaghan Genre: Comedy Peter Highman (Robert Downey Jr.) is an expectant first-time father whose wife’s due date is a mere five days away. As Peter hurries to catch a flight home from Atlanta, his best intentions go completely awry when a chance encounter with aspiring actor Ethan Tremblay (Zach Galifianakis) forces Highman to hitch a ride with Tremblay on what turns out to be a cross-country road trip that will ultimately destroy several cars, numerous friendships and Highman’s last nerve.

FASTER

Director: George Tillman Jr. Writer: Joe Gayton, Tony Gayton Cast: Carla Gugino, Dwayne Johnson, Maggie Grace, Moon Bloodgood, Billy Bob Thornton Genre: Action, Adventure A stint in prison usually breaks a man, or makes him stronger. For Driver (Dwayne Johnson), a 10-year sentence only fuelled his hunger to avenge the murder of his brother during the botched bank robbery that led to his own imprisonment. Untouchable on the inside, he made plenty of enemies in prison, men who are also waiting for his release so they could exact their own revenge on the outside. Within hours of Driver’s freedom, he methodically eliminates the people on his list. But hot on his trail is Cop (Billy Bob Thornton), a veteran police officer, and Killer (Oliver Jackson-Cohen), a young egocentric hitman with a flair for the art of killing. Now the hunter is also the hunted.

Here’s an exciting list of new releases this month that will satisfy every member of the family – from the kids and teens to moms and dads. Pick one or pick them all – be entertained.

TANGLED

Director: Nathan Greno, Byron Howard Writer: Dan Fogelman Cast: Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi, Donna Murphy Genre: Animation, Adventure, Romance When the kingdom’s most wanted – and most charming – bandit, Flynn Rider (Zachary Levi), hides in a tower, he is taken hostage by Rapunzel (Mandy Moore), a feisty teen with 70 feet of magical golden hair. Rapunzel’s on the hunt for her ticket out of the tower where she’s been locked away for years. The unlikely duo sets off on a hilarious, hair-raising escapade filled with adventure, heart, humour and hair lots of hair.

LITTLE FOCKERS

Director: Paul Weitz Writer: John Hamburg, Victoria Strouse, Larry Stuckey Cast: Robert De Niro, Ben Stiller, Jessica Alba, Owen Wilson, Barbra Streisand Genre: Comedy It has taken 10 years, two little Fockers with wife Pam and countless hurdles for Greg to finally get in with his tightly wound father-in-law, Jack. However, Jack’s suspicions about his favourite male nurse come roaring back after the cash-strapped dad takes a job moonlighting for a drug company. When Greg and Pam’s entire clan, including Pam’s lovelorn ex, Kevin (Owen Wilson), descends for the twins’ birthday party, Greg must prove that he’s fully capable as the man of the house. But with all the misunderstandings, spying and covert missions, will Greg pass Jack’s final test and become the family’s next patriarch, or will the circle of trust be broken for good?

TUBE TALK

TV !! BLOOD FEST

a-la-carte

All hallow’s eve may have gone and passed, but the blood and gore continues with these exciting new programmes SHOW

MOONLIGHT

THE WALKING DEAD

TRUE BLOOD

STORY

Mick St. John is a captivating, charming – and immortal – private investigator from LA who defies bloodsucking norms and uses his wit and powerful supernatural abilities to help the living.

Rick Grimes wakes up from a coma to find the world ravaged by a zombie epidemic of apocalyptic proportions. He bands with a small encampment of survivors but can they hold on to their humanity as they fight to live in this terrifying new world?

In season 3, Sookie Stackhouse and the townspeople of Bon Temps face a new calamity ushered in by a pack of vicious, bloodsucking werewolves – that makes the bacchanalian evils of Maryanne Forrester seem tame by comparison.

CAST

Alex O’Loughlin, Sophia Myles, Jason Dohring

: Andrew Lincoln, Jon Bernthal, Sarah Wayne Callies

Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, Sam Trammell, Ryan Kwanten

CHARM FACTOR

Dohring salvages the soul of this series with his fun and refreshing acting as an immortal hedge fund trader.

It’s the best continuing TV series – need we say more?

: Intriguing and definitely mesmerising. Paquin may take some getting used to but Moyer is a visual treat.

WHEN & WHERE

Dubai One, Saturdays UAE 19:30 | KSA 18:30

Fox Series Mondays UAE 19:00 | KSA 18:00

OSN Series, Wednesdays UAE 23:00 | 22:00 KSA

G81D’C

ask one In the spirit of popular talk shows such as ‘Oprah’, ‘Rachel Ray’ and ‘Dr. Phil’ comes Dubai One’s brand new show ‘Ask One’, which seeks to find the answers to the questions that affect your life, your family and your health. From questions such as ‘how to lose 10kg in two weeks’ to ‘which are the best schools for your kids’, the show will answer it for you. The interactive show allows viewers to the questions and through investigative reports and a weekly panel of great experts, answers will be provided.

Dubai One, Tuesdays, UAE 19:30 | KSA 18:30

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Starring as the titular holder ‘Veronica Mars’, Kristen Bell is making waves in the Middle East as a spunky 17-year old who will not let crime rest in their seaside community where the rich and powerful makes the rule. Bell’s character buckles down to business after her best friend was murdered and her father, the county sheriff, was removed from office. Early in the series, the young star drew parallelism with real life and her character. Bell’s best friend also passed away and her parents are divorced. The series was cancelled in 2004, but fans and critics have given Bell the thumbs up. Many felt that she deserved an Emmy Award nomination for

her character. After that, we saw Bell as Elle Bishop with the natural power to generate electricity in the popular TV series ‘Heroes’. Top that with projects suchas ‘Assasin’s Creed’ which appeared in PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC and voicing of Cora in the 2009 film ‘Astro Boy’ and Bell has indeed captured the hearts of nerds, geeks and ‘originals’ alike. With plenty of films in the line-up, you can catch her in current movies such as ‘Get Him to the Greek’, ‘You Again’ and ‘Scream 4’. In the meantime, you can have your fill every Friday at Dubai One, UAE 09:30 | KSA 08:30 in ‘Veronica Mars’

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FILM SPECIAL

A DIFFERENT

EXPERIENCE

This month, every film buff in the city and beyond is looking forward to the seventh instalment of the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF). am brings you the not-to-be-missed highlights. Welcome Europe One of the festival’s most popular segments is the ‘Cinema of the World’, which features the year’s best cinemas from around the world. And this year, we look forward to a diverse contribution from Europe, which draws from a wide array of genres, geographies and subjects to offer a powerful array of biopics, horror, adventure, comedy and drama. This year’s European slate includes ‘127 Hours’, the nail-biting new film from Academy Award-winning British director Danny Boyle about a solo mountain climber forced to make tough decisions after being trapped under a boulder in Utah, Swedish mystery psycho-thriller ‘Corridor’ (Isolerad) about a medical student whose peaceful life is jeopardised when he meets the girl upstairs, and the Javier Bardem-starred ‘Biutiful’, shot in Barcelona by Mexican director Alejandro González Iñárritu, the story of a sensitive street criminal who discovers that his time is running out and struggles to leave something behind for his family. From France comes ‘Copacabana’, a comedy starring real life mother-

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daughter pair Isabelle Huppert and Lolita Chammah about a mother who fights social conventions and her relationship with her more conservative daughter. The biographical ‘Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child’ pays tribute to the life and works of the star African American artist with the added benefits of insider interviews, archival footage and wonderful images of his paintings, whilst Sophie Fiennes’ ‘Over Your Cities Grass Will Grow’ is a hypnotic realtime record of German artist Anselm Kiefer as he transforms an abandoned silk factory in France with the creation of fantastic sculptures.

returned from Italy to take his younger brother back with her. Russia serves as the backdrop for two DIFF 2010 films: Polish drama ‘Tomorrow Will be Better’, which charts the life of three homeless Russian boys who strike out for Poland in search of a better life, and Russian-language ‘My Joy’, a Ukrainian film about a truck driver whose routine delivery into the Russian hinterland takes a dark turn after a series of chance encounters.

From Germany comes ‘Suicide Club’, in which five strangers meet on a high-rise rooftop with the intention of jumping, and ‘When We Leave’ (Die Fremde), a powerful story of a young woman of Turkish descent fighting for an independent life despite resistance from her family.

Indian cinema We’re in for a treat with films from the four corners of India and its arthouse and mainstream traditions showing at DIFF. Drama and comedy documentaries, features and short films from Mumbai, Kerala, West Bengal and Kashmir from rising and established filmmakers are included in DIFF’s Muhr competition as well as its out-of-competition programme.

An engrossing example of the new wave Romanian cinema is the drama ‘If I Want to Whistle, I Whistle’, the story of a teenager five days away from his release from juvenile detention who is provoked to violence when he learns his mother has

‘Ita Mrinalini’ (An Unfinished Letter/Yours, Mrinalini), the first Bengali film from renowned filmmaker and actress Aparna Sen in nearly a decade, will make its Gulf premiere at DIFF. Sen, the winner of three National Film Awards and a number of

inform

FILM SPECIAL

A DIFFERENT

EXPERIENCE

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