Health Check Qatar - February 2016

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ISSUE 23

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

EDUCATIONAL HEALTH SUPPLEMENT SPONSORED BY MINISTRY OF PUBLIC HEALTH

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Healthcare Teams Join Forces to Beat Cancer THE MINISTRY OF PUBLIC HEALTH, HAMAD MEDICAL CORPORATION (HMC) AND THE PRIMARY HEALTH CARE CORPORATION (PHCC) TODAY JOIN MILLIONS AROUND THE WORLD IN MARKING WORLD CANCER DAY 2016

Qatar Free From Zika Virus

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his year’s theme – “We Can – I Can” underlines the fact that everyone in our community from healthcare providers and policy makers through to members of the public can play a part in beating cancer.

Following the launch of the National Cancer Strategy in 2011, the National Cancer Program was established to drive the implementation of the 62 recommendations in the strategy from prevention and education through to screening programs and treatment options.

“Cancer touches everyone in our community in some way,” said Her Excellency Dr Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari the Minister of Public Health.

“We are well advanced in the implementation of the National Cancer Strategy and this is a reflection of the truly collaborative effort between healthcare partners and organizations. Everyone can play a part in beating cancer – from the partners in the National Cancer Program who are developing processes and services to facilitate prevention, early detection and diagnosis, treatment and long-term transitions, to the general public who make a decision every day about their lifestyle.

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he Public Health Department is working closely with the WHO EMRO office to ensure that all needed actions are taken. The entire health sector has been alerted to be ready to deal with any suspected case amongst returning travelers. The Aedes aegypti mosquito that transmits the virus is not present in Qatar; further studies are however ongoing. WHO has advised no travel restrictions; however, the Ministry of Public Health advises all residents to postpone non-essential travel to the 24 affected countries; in particular women who are pregnant or plan to become pregnant in the near future should consider delaying travel to areas with Zika virus present.

Zika virus infection is a mild febrile viral illness transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito from the Aedes genus, mainly Aedes aegypti in tropical regions. The most common symptoms of Zika are fever, rash, joint pain, or conjunctivitis (red eyes). Other common symptoms include muscle pain and headache. Reports from several countries, most notably Brazil,

demonstrate an increase in severe fetal birth defects and poor pregnancy outcomes in babies whose mothers were infected with Zika virus while pregnant. Additional international research is necessary and ongoing to determine the link between Zika virus and fetal damage.

Zika virus is transmitted by mosquitoes mostly active during daytime, it’s important that all travelers visiting affected areas continue to take protective measures to prevent mosquito bites throughout the day; including the following: • Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants • Use insect repellents • Use permethrin-treated clothing and gear (such as boots, pants, socks, and tents).

• Use bed nets as necessary • Stay and sleep in screened-in or air-conditioned rooms.

All suspected cases should be notified to Health Protection and CDC Hotline numbers 66740948 / 66740951

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Wednesday, February 24, 2016

... REPORT ...

(Continued from page 1...)

Healthcare Teams Join Forces to Beat Cancer

“PHCC’s rapid and definitive diagnosis will save lives if the community supports our efforts by helping us detect issues as soon as possible. Early detection of cancer enormously increases the chances of successful treatment.”

Ms. Fiona Bonas, Director of the National Cancer Program highlighted the improvement in cancer services and prevention across the country over the last four years, since the launch of the strategy, which he puts down to the collaborative working with all partners in the strategy.

“A strategy of this size with 62 key recommendations could only be met by all key stakeholders working closely and consistently together,” Ms. Bonas said. “It is noticeable that the implementation process has been successful when all teams have pulled together. This is particularly relevant to recommendation 5.3 of the National Cancer Strategy, which stated the need for an introduction of a population based cancer screening service in Qatar.”

HEALTH TIP

lives by encouraging women aged 45 years or older with no symptoms to book breast cancer screening through a mammography.

Experts recommend that women should repeat breast screening every three years. The campaign also calls on both men and women aged 50 years or older with no symptoms to undergo bowel cancer screening through FIT (Fecal Immunochemical Test). This is a simple test which can be undertaken on an annual basis, as recommended

by PHCC. Dr. Mariam Ali Abdulmalik, Managing Director of PHCC, said: World Cancer Day and the “We Can - I Can” theme are proudly supported by Qatar’s primary care provider.

“We are very pleased to have the new breast and bowel screening services in place so people can be pro-active in safe guarding their precious health,” Dr. Abdulmalik said.

“Together ‘We Can’ ensures no one feels alone or unsupported after a cancer diagnosis. We would also like to remind cancer patients and their families that they can ask for support if they need it. All partners in the National Cancer Program are working together to ensure that cancer support and services in Qatar are accessible and supportive.”

World Cancer Day 2016 is also an opportunity for members of the community to take steps to reduce the impact of cancer. For example choosing to eat healthily, stop smoking or educate themselves on the signs and symptoms of cancer.

Another proactive way in which the public can mark World Cancer Day this year is to make a pledge to take up breast and bowel cancer screening. ‘Screen for Life’, a life-saving program, was officially launched promoting education and awareness of the benefits of early detection of cancer in Qatar. The program aims to save precious

Super-Foods for New Moms • Salmon • Low-Fat Dairy Products • Lean Beef • Legumes • Blueberries • Brown Rice • Oranges • Eggs • Whole-Wheat Bread • Leafy Greens • Whole-Grain Cereal • Water

Losing those pregnancy pounds might be at the front of your mind. But there’s something that’s even more important for your body after your baby arrives: eating foods that give you the energy to be the best mom you can be.

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Wednesday, February 24, 2016

... MEDICAL NEWS ...

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Do the Seasons Affect How We Think?

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hen do you think more clearly: winter or summer? What time of year is your short-term memory at its best?

A small new study suggests your brainpower may be stronger at certain times of year. The research isn’t definitive, and the apparent differences don’t seem to be noticeable beyond brain scans. But study co-author Gilles Vandewalle, a research associate with the University of Liege in Belgium, said the study of 28 young adults shows that “season matters.”

And it may matter more to some people than others. In particular, Vandewalle said, people with seasonal affective disorder -depression during certain months -- may be even more vulnerable to the effects of season on the brain.

It has long been known that seasons are crucial in other ways. “Seasons are important in animals in terms of reproduction and hibernation,” Vandewalle said. And, in humans, “mood is well known to be impacted by seasons.”

An estimated 5 percent of people in the United States suffer from seasonal affective disorder, which triggers depression-type symptoms, typically during the fall and winter. Light therapy is commonly used to treat it, a sign that the condition may be linked to the seasonal differences in sunlight.

Seasons also affect hormones, the immune system and neurotransmitters, which are chemicals in the brain, Vandewalle pointed out. Some research has suggested that seasons affect thinking abilities, but the findings haven’t been conclusive, he said.

In the new research, Vandewalle and colleagues studied 14 men and 14 women, average age 21, at different times of year between May 2010 and October 2011. The participants spent 4.5 days in laboratories where they had no indication of the season outside, such as daylight, and no access to the outside world.

Researchers then used brain scans to study how participants handled tasks testing their abilities to pay attention and remember things on a short-term basis.

The scans suggested that participants’ attention skills were best near the summer solstice in June and worst near the winter solstice in December. Their short-term memory was best in fall and worst in spring.

Vandewalle said the differences in brain function wouldn’t be noticeable in day-today life, but the amount of brain activity did change.

“Season is most likely responsible,” Vandewalle said.

(Source: Web MD)

A SMALL NEW STUDY SUGGESTS YOUR BRAINPOWER MAY BE STRONGER AT CERTAIN TIMES OF YEAR

Skipping Breakfast May Raise Stroke Risk

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A MAJOR RISK FACTOR FOR CEREBRAL HEMORRHAGE IS HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

ating breakfast every day may help prevent strokes, particularly the brain hemorrhage type, new research suggests.

For the study, 82,772 Japanese men and women aged 45 to 74 years without a history of heart disease or cancer were followed from 1995 to 2010. Participants were asked about their breakfast-eating habits and were grouped as having the morning meal 0 to 2, 3 to 4, 5 to 6, or 7 times per week.

During the 15-year follow-up, there were a total of 3,772 strokes, including 1,051 of the brain hemorrhage type, along 870 cases of coronary heart disease.

Analysis showed that those who never ate breakfast had higher risks for heart disease and stroke, and a particularly higher risk for brain hemorrhage strokes, compared with those who ate breakfast every day. The researchers didn’t find a link between the frequency of breakfast eating and the risk for heart disease.

A major risk factor for cerebral hemorrhage is high blood pressure -- especially an increase in blood pressure in the morning.

The researchers say people in the study who ate breakfast every day were less likely to have high blood pressure compared with those who skipped the meal.

(Source: Web MD)

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Wednesday, February 24, 2016

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How to Manage Your Anger THERE ARE SOME SKILLS, THOUGH, THAT YOU CAN DEVELOP TO HELP YOU IMPROVE YOUR ABILITY TO MANAGE ANGER

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nger is an emotion that all humans share, and so there is nothing inherently wrong with experiencing it. However, we associate anger with getting hot; and so, by fueling our anger, we risk burning ourselves — and others — with it.

Sometimes people think that they can vent the anger out of themselves… if only they can yell, hit, or get vengeance on those who have insulted or hurt them.

But anger doesn’t work this way. Mostly, venting anger is like fanning a flame; encouraging it to blaze anew.

For example, screaming at someone certainly vents anger; but it also increases angry thoughts. And, it increases the other person’s anger and defensiveness, furthering the cycle of anger.

There are some skills, though, that you can develop to help you improve your ability to manage anger. If anger often gets the better of you, I suggest that you

work on these when you are not in its grip. Just like with any other skill set, it’s best to practice when you don’t have the pressure of needing to be doing it well in that moment. Think of it this way: No one learns to swim by jumping into the deep end of the pool alone. With this in mind, consider the following ABCD approach: Activity: Exercise regularly, and then also do it when you feel your anger building. If you don’t already have an exercise routine, explore different types of exercise to find the ones you most enjoy (e.g. jogging, weight lifting, Pilates).

Breathing: Deep (or diaphragmatic) breathing can be very helpful in calming down or reducing anxiety.

You breathe slowly, taking time to pause at the end of each inhale and exhale. With this kind of breathing, your stomach will ‘inflate’ like a balloon when you inhale, and ‘deflate’ when you exhale. Meanwhile, your

5 Gut-Busting Diet Mistakes Y

ou’re working to slim down, but your belly hasn’t budged much yet.

Maybe you’re making one of these mistakes. Shifting these habits could make all the difference. Losing the extra belly fat can lower your odds of getting heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and more.

You may be confident that you can make up for it in the gym, but think twice.

“There’s a myth about the role of exercise in weight loss,” says Brett White, MD, a family medicine physician in Newport Beach, CA. “Exercise is critical for [heart] health. But realistically, losing weight starts with what we put in our mouths.”

San Francisco-based nutritionist Manuel Villacorta, RD, founder of theweight management web site EatingFree.com, sees many men in their 40s and older who have discovered the shortcomings of exercise in their weight loss efforts.

“It’s what worked before,” Villacorta says, “but now they’re finding that it doesn’t have the same effect.”

Of course, you need to be active to lose weight and keep it off. Just don’t count on exercise alone

to cover your calories -- especially when you’re packing away too much too often.

It’s not just about what you eat. When you eat it also matters.

Eating on the run or at odd hours, you may be throwing off the brainsignals that tell you when you’re hungry and when you’re satisfied. And that might lead to eating more than you should.

Skipping meals to slim down is also a bad idea.

When you put off eating, your metabolism slows down, and your body begins to store fat.

“Anything that affects the metabolic rate will contribute to fat buildup,” Villacorta says. The bulk of that fat, he adds, gets stored in your midsection.

Your metabolism slows naturally as you age, Villacorta says, but you can keep it as active as possible by eating regularly. That meansbreakfast, lunch, and dinner, with healthy snacks in between.

Bonus: You’re less likely to overdo it at your next meal if you don’t let yourself get too hungry in the first place. “Excessive hunger is often followed by gorging,” White says.

(Source: Web MD)

chest will not expand. If this is difficult for you, try lying on your back with your knees pulled up and your feet flat on the floor. It can also help to place a hand on your stomach to feel its rise on your inhale.

Calming activity: Find a hobby or activity that you enjoy and can engage in with your full attention. Examples are gardening, yoga, painting, or playing music.

Deepening Understanding — of yourself and the other person: It can be extremely helpful to be aware of what ‘pushes your buttons.’ By fully understanding this, you can step back and see it happening, which also means that you will not be as caught up in it and can choose to respond differently. So, for instance, you might say to yourself, “There I go again. Every time someone even implies that I’m not doing a good job, I get furious.”

(Source: Web MD)

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Wednesday, February 24, 2016

... WOMEN HEALTH ...

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Women With Asthma May Have Fertility Problems W

omen with asthma may take longer to get pregnant and have a lower pregnancy rate than those without the lung disease, new research suggests.

The study included 245 women, aged 23 to 45, who had unexplainedfertility problems and were undergoing fertility treatment. Ninety-six of the women had been diagnosed with asthma The women were followed until they had a successful pregnancy, stopped treatment or the study ended. The median time for women without asthma to get pregnant was about 32 months compared to more than 55 months for those with asthma. Median means half took more time to conceive; half, less.

About 60 percent of women without asthma got pregnant, compared with just under 40 percent of those with asthma, the findings showed. The gap between the two groups increased with age, according to the study published Feb. 12 in the European Respiratory Journal.

The trial finding adds new weight to evidence suggesting a link between asthma and

fertility, lead author Dr. Elisabeth Juul Gade said in a journal news release. Gade is with the department of respiratory medicine at Bispebjerg University Hospital in Copenhagen, Denmark.

“We have seen here that asthma seems to have a negative influence on fertility as it increases time to pregnancy and even more so with age,” she said. “We do not yet know the causal relationship; it may be complex with different types of asthma, psychological well-being,asthma medication and hormones all playing a role.”

Gade said doctors should encourage women with asthma to become pregnant at an earlier age and step up their asthma treatment before conceiving.

“Patient education is also of paramount importance as adherence to treatment may be enhanced if patients are informed of this link,” Gade said in the news release.

While the study found an association between asthma and difficulty conceiving, it did not prove cause-and-effect.

(Source: Web MD)

ABOUT 60 PERCENT OF WOMEN WITHOUT ASTHMA GOT PREGNANT, COMPARED WITH JUST UNDER 40 PERCENT OF THOSE WITH ASTHMA

Women’s Heart Attacks Are Different Than Men’s H

PLAQUE BUILDUP IN THE ARTERIES - A FREQUENT CAUSE OF HEART ATTACK -- CAN DIFFER BETWEEN THE SEXES.

eart attacks in women often have different causes and symptoms than those in men, and they’re deadlier, too.

That’s the premise of a scientific statement from the American Heart Association (AHA) that hopes to raise awareness about key differences in heart attack indicators and treatment in women.

Women who don’t recognize their heart attack symptoms won’t seek needed medical care, said Dr. Gregg Fonarow, professor of cardiology at the University of California, Los Angeles.

“These delays in care contribute to higher mortality rates experienced by women, particularly younger women,” he said.

Worldwide, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for women. Since 1984 in the United States, heart attack survival has improved for women. But the heart death rates among women still outpace heart deaths in men, according to the AHA statement.

The new statement reviews current scientific evidence, points out gaps in knowledge and discusses the need for more research in women, said Dr. Laxmi Mehta. She is chair of the statement writing group and director of the Women’s Cardiovascular

Health Program at Ohio State University Medical Center.

Mehta knows firsthand the dangers that heart disease pose to women. “I was inspired to write this [statement] as both my grandmothers died from heart attacks at age 60 and had presented with atypical [not typical] symptoms,” she said.

Plaque buildup in the arteries -- a frequent cause of heart attack -- can differ between the sexes. Women are less likely to need stenting to open a blocked artery, but they still suffer blood vessel damage that reduces blood flow to the heart, causing a heart attack.

High blood pressure is a stronger risk factor for women than for men. And diabetes raises a young woman’s heart disease risk up to five times higher compared to young men.

Guideline-recommended medications are underused in women, compared to men, and women are referred less often for cardiac rehabilitation.

When they are referred, they are less likely than men to go or to finish it.

For men and women, chest pain or discomfort is the most common heart attack symptom.

(Source: Web MD)

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Wednesday, February 24, 2016

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How Mindfulness Can Help Your Health Y

Mindfulness, the art of being fully present in the moment, may give your mind and your body a boost

ou’re on a conference call while responding to an email and eating your lunch. Sound familiar?

Most people divide their attention between several tasks at once without being truly engaged in any of them. But your well-being could suffer as a result.

If you want to jump-start your health in the New Year, then just be. Mindfulness, the art of being fully present in the moment, may give your mind and your body a boost.

“There’s consistent evidence that mindfulness reduces stress,depression, and anxiety, and that flows into other things,” says Karen O’Leary, PhD, a researcher in applied psychology at University College in Cork, Ireland.

It’s linked to physical perks too, she says. O’Leary studies mindfulness as a way to improve women’s quality of life during pregnancy, reducelabor pain, and improve their babies’ birth weight.

The concept of mindfulness comes from ancient Buddhist meditation, but Westerners often practice a modern, secular form. Usually starting with deep focus on the breath, a mindful person pays full attention to the present moment and all the thoughts, feelings, and sensations associated with that mo-

ment.

“You don’t judge the moment as good or bad,” O’Leary says. “You just live it, with the knowledge that it will soon pass.” During that moment, she says, let go of any thoughts about the past, the future, or anything other than now.

What benefits does mindfulness offer? Plenty, according to recent research. It can better your test scores and working memory -- the type of memory you use to do a math problem in your head. It may help improve depression, anxiety, and sleep quality, too.

Mindful people might have lower blood pressure, lower blood sugar, and better heart health. One study found that people who got a flu vaccine after 8 weeks of mindfulness training developed more antibodies against the flu than those who only got the vaccine.

It may relieve symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and cut down on migraines, too.

It could also ease pain -- or at least your perception of it. That’s because it trains you not to dwell on the hurt, O’Leary says.

(Source: WebMD)

What Causes Anxiety Disorders?

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he exact cause of anxiety disorders is unknown; but anxiety disorders -- like other forms of mental illness -- are not the result of personalweakness, a character flaw, or poor upbringing.

As scientists continue their research on mental illness, it is becoming clear that many of these disorders are caused by a combination of factors, including changes in the brain and environmental stress.

Like other brain illnesses, anxiety disorders may be caused by problems in the functioning of brain circuits that regulate fear and other emotions. Studies have shown that severe or long-lasting stress can change the way nerve cells within these circuits transmit information from one region of the brain to another. Other studies have shown that people with certain anxiety disorders have changes in certain brain structures that control memories linked with strong emotions.

In addition, studies have shown that anxiety disorders run in families, which means that they can at least partly be inherited from one or both parents,

like the risk for heart disease or cancer.

Moreover, certain environmental factors -- such as a trauma or significant event -- may trigger an anxiety disorder in people who have an inherited susceptibility to developing the disorder.

If symptoms of an anxiety disorder are present, the doctor will begin an evaluation by asking you questions about your medical history and performing a physical exam. Although there are no lab tests to specifically diagnose anxiety disorders, the doctor may use various tests to look for physical illness as the cause of the symptoms.

If no physical illness is found, you may be referred to a psychiatrist,psychologist, or another mental health professional who is specially trained to diagnose and treat mental illnesses. Psychiatrists and psychologists use specially designed interview and assessment tools to evaluate a person for an anxiety disorder.

(Source: WebMD)

Like other brain illnesses, anxiety disorders may be caused by problems in the functioning of brain circuits that regulate fear and other emotions.

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Wednesday, February 24, 2016

... PAEDIATRICS & CHILD HEALTH ...

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Eye Defects in Some Babies With Zika Microcephaly E

ye defects may occur in babies born with microcephaly that seems to be linked to infection with the mosquito-borne Zika virus, researchers report.

Since a Zika virus outbreak began in Brazil last April, there has been an unusual rise in the number of babies born with microcephaly (an abnormally small head). As of January, there were more than 3,000 newborns in that country with the birth defect, according to Brazilian health officials.

In this new study, the eyes of 29 infants with microcephaly were evaluated. Of the 29 mothers, 23 reported suspected Zika virus infection signs and symptoms during pregnancy, including rash, fever,joint pain, headaches and itching.

Of those 23 mothers, 18 said they had symptoms of Zika during thefirst trimester of their pregnancy, the investigators found.

Eye abnormalities that can threaten vision were detected in 10 of the 29 infants, according to the study published online Feb. 9 in the journalJAMA Ophthalmology.

The findings could help guide doctors treating infants with microcephaly, Dr. Rubens Belfort Jr., from the Federal University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, said in a journal news release.

However, Dr. Lee Jampol and Dr. De-

bra Goldstein, from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, pointed out in an accompanying journal editorial that microcephaly may have several causes. The birth defect may be genetic, metabolic, drug-related or due to problems during pregnancy such as malnutrition, infection or lack of oxygen.

“The present 20-fold reported increase of microcephaly in parts of Brazil is temporally associated with the outbreak of Zika virus,” they wrote. “However, this association is still presumptive because definitive serologic testing for Zika virus was not available in Brazil at the time of the outbreak, and confusion may occur with other causes of microcephaly,” Jampol and Goldstein explained.

“Similarly, the currently described eye lesions are presumptively associated with the virus,” they added.

However, the association does not prove a cause-and-effect relationship.

While the Zika epidemic first surfaced in Brazil last spring, Zika virus has since spread to 30 countries and territories in South and Central America and the Caribbean. The World Health Organization now estimates there could be up to 4 million cases of Zika in the Americas in the next year.

Children of East Asian descent are genetically predisposed to nearsightedness, but children’s habits in those regions may be increasing the rates of myopia even more.

Lunchbox Strategies: What to Pack W

ill your child’s lunchbox make the grade this year? It may sound shocking, but a recent study found that packed lunches from home are often less nutritious than those served at school.

That’s right, researchers found that the homemade lunches in the study had less produce and dairy, more sodium, and fewer whole grains than lunches in the National School Lunch Program. Even worse, the study showed that the home-packed lunches were full of sugar: 90% contained sweetened beverages, snack chips and dessert. So while you’re busy buying pencils, notebooks and backpacks, don’t forget to stock your kitchen with healthy foods that provide important nutrients so that your little learners can perform their best in and out of school.

Lunch box essentials include: • A whole grain serving for energy • A source of protein like almond butter or lean protein meats for staying power • A fruit and/or veggies for vitamins and fiber • A low fat dairy serving like milk, yogurt or cheese • Water for hydration (Source: WebMD)

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Wednesday, February 24, 2016

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