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29 March 2024

Only 19% of Dubai residents exercise

Published
By Staff

We know that most of us in Dubai don’t live a very healthy life but it’s quite alarming to know that only 19 per cent of us in the city are exercising enough – levels that are required to keep the body and the heart healthy.

Join these 19 per cent of the healthy lot today by exercising on World Heart Day, September 29, 2014, and add to the numbers to make the city healthier.

For those who are not doing enough may be inviting a whole lot of heart related problems. According to a study by Dubai Health Authority, only 19 per cent of Dubai’s population gets sufficient exercise putting them at risk for heart disease. It was found that one in five deaths happens because of heart disease.

As per Dr. Georgie Thomas, Specialist – Cardiology, at Burjeel Hospital, Abu Dhabi, the most common cardiovascular diseases include rheumatic, hypertensive, ischemic, cerebrovascular and inflammatory heart disease.

The main cause of heart disease is when the arteries are blocked gradually with fat and calcium deposits.

Lifestyle habits like high intake of cholesterol, obesity and smoking aid the clogging of arteries resulting in heart disease. Prolonged period of stress causes blood pressure to rise, thereby causing hypertension and eventually heart disease, say Dr. Thomas.

According to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation more than 66 per cent of men and 60 per cent of women are obese or overweight in the UAE. The figures were high for the UAE and other Arabian Gulf countries. The UAE results include some data from expatriates – if not the percentages would be higher according to the study. The study attributes it to the notion in the region that being round is a sign of prosperity.

Another World Health Organisation study found that six countries in the region – the UAE, Bahrain, Egypt, Kuwait, Oman and Saudi Arabia – are in the world’s top 10 countries for prevalence of diabetes. The risk of heart attack is three times more and the risk of stroke is two to four times more for diabetes sufferers. The study further showed that close to 50 per cent of diabetics died from heart diseases.

Smoking also has its role to play. According to Dubai Health Authority, 17.2 per cent of Dubai’s residents are smokers with nearly one third of the population of Dubai are to the risk of smoking. Further a Ministry of Health study in 2013 revealed that 28 per cent of residents under 18 smoke.

However, preventive measures can have a positive impact. Healthy eating is one thing that everybody should take seriously. Avoid food options that are high in saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sodium and processed sugars. Enjoy a diet of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish and seeds.

Limit your consumption of meat and try and do a vegetarian meal at least once a day, advises Dr. Thomas.

Exercise and exercise. Start by brisk walking for an hour every day before gradually switching to intense physical activity like jogging. At the same time, beat some bad habit and manage stress.

(Home page image courtesy Shutterstock)