Public Health

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT MONDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2017

PHCC urges the elderly to be more active

Healthy lifestyle must become a regular practice

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As our societies become more sedentary, more people are spending their days surfing the web, socializing online

and generally avoiding exercising.

In the drive to promote healthy living in Qatar and to mark the month in which Qatar National Sports Day falls, Primary Health Care Corporation is keen to drive forward the nation’s efforts to pro-mote healthier living. The Corporation is committed to rais-ing awareness of the benefits of regular sports and physical activ-ities, by promoting a healthy culture and encouraging citizens to take up the habit of exercising regularly.

Given the overwhelming evi-dence of the benefits of sports, it seems obvious that we should all be physically active, this is essen-tial if you want to live a healthy and fulfilling life into old age. It is medically proven that participat-ing in regular physical activity not only aids physical and mental health but also has numerous pos-itive effects later in life. Participation in sports not only offers excitement and fun, it reduces the chance of being over-weight, building healthy bones and muscle and reducing the risk of chronic disease, such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer

Active people tend to live longer with a stronger circulatory system, including cardiovascular, reducing the risk of atherosclero-sis diseases, increasing muscle fiber size and reducing the chance of aging diseases. For example, aerobic exercises (walking, swim-ming, cycling) increases the level of good cholesterol in blood, there-fore reducing triglycerides, which

leads to positive impact on our health.

Many studies have also con-firmed regular exercising can also boost self-esteem, mood, sleep quality and energy, as well as reducing your risk of stress, depression, dementia and Alzhe-imer’s disease.There are several types of exercises that increase the ability to deal with stress and social pressures, and help defeat depression.

To stay healthy, adults should try to be active daily and aim to achieve at least 150 minutes of physical activity over a week through a variety of activities. PHCC is supporting the nationwide drive towards fostering a health-ier active society through online

campaigns on their social media platform and sharing educational material across health centers and in public platforms. Citizens are encouraged to take advantage of the various programs provided by health and wellness facilities across the health centres.

The Emiri Decree No. 80 of 2011 designated the second Tuesday of February of each year shall be a Sports Day for the State, when everyone

is encouraged to participate in sporting activities with colleagues and family .

The first National Sport Day was held in 2012 and was designated for sporting endeavors by the citizens of Qatar .

The day’s main purpose is to promote sports and to educate the local population on ways to reduce health risks associated with an inactive lifestyle, such as coronary heart disease and diabetes .

Many government ministries and private sector companies organize hundreds of activities and sport day events for employees and the general public. Notably the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH), Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), Aspire Zone, and various other sporting organizations play a prominent role at a number of events across Qatar .

Activities range from football to basketball, ten-nis to taekwondo, cycling to swimming, with countless free sporting sessions and social compe-titions, available to all .

The day is also viewed as an opportunity to bring communities closer together through sport, based on the sporting principles of team building, inclu-sion and unity, participation, fitness and health.

Along with the extensive sporting events across the country, National Sport Day also focuses on Qatari culture with traditional Al Shawahef rowing championships, acting as a reminder of Qatar’s ancient sporting heritage and the role it has played in the country’s most recent developments.

Every year, the Sport Day is getting bigger with the participation of more companies and already participating companies expanding the range of their actitivities.

The National Sport Day, since its launch in 2012, has had a positive impact on the general culture of the community. The event over the past years has helped increase women's participation in sports activities and nurture a sporting culture in the younger generations in the country, according to H E Salah bin Ghanem Al Ali, Minister of Culture and Sports.

“NSD, which is marked on the second Tuesday of February every year, is much awaited by all. The day is not just about competition, but the public events that are open to all to express the extent of community involvement in sports,” the Minister said. “We are also seeing an increased participation of women in sports activities, as a result of the sport day initiative. Women account for half of the com-munity here and they have a key role in creating sport values among the children, which builds coop-eration and social coherence,” he added.

With more women participating, the NSD com-mittee this year has prepared exclusive facilities to cater to them.

The exclusive facilities ensuring privacy are being set up in collaboration with the Ministry of Sport and Culture, Aspire Park and women sport commit-tee. Special trainers and sport activities are also planned, according to the authorities. Meanwhile, the minister also stressed that all National Sport Day venues in the country will be made available to everyone.

The Corporation is

committed to raising

awareness of the

benefits of regular

sports and physical

activities by promoting

a healthy culture and

encouraging citizens

to take up the habit of

exercising regularly.

PHCC calls on residents to

improve quality of life

through physical activity

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MONDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2017

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PHCC urges the elderly to be more active

Stemming from its commit-ment to educate and raise the awareness of the community about healthy lifestyles which can enhance individ-

uals’ health and as part of celebrating the country’s Sports Day, the Primary Health Corporation calls upon all seg-ments of the community to take up physical exercises to encourage bet-ter health , particularly that of the elderly people. The older we get, the weaker our bodies become and every 10 years we lose about 2-5 Kgs of our muscle mass, reducing strength which can only be combated by regular exercise

Dr Mahmoud Al Duraini, Family Medicine Doctor at PHCC has stressed the the importance of staying active for people of different age groups, highlighting that regular exercise can be considered a great weapon to fight old age and diseases. He commented

“energy levels of the elderly are much less than those of young people, there are some exercises that are well suited for the elderly, such as walking which is considered an ideal activity because it is easy and has many useful bene-fits on mental abilities, energy levels and can also help maintain healthy functioning organs.”.

Commenting on the importance of practicing sport activities, Dr Duraini said, “Regular exercise can help old people reduce the risks of cardiac, brain and cancer diseases. It also helps reduce sleeping disorders and insomnia. Sport helps us to sleep well because the elderly people who do not do any sport activities can lose 30% of oxygen consumption, whereas the elderly who do practice regular sports consume the same amount of oxygen a person at the age of thirty who does not do physical activities consumes. Therefore, sports can

improve the general con-dition of our bodies through consuming and distributing more oxygen to all cells and organs as well as strengthening muscles, lig-aments and joints. This would inevitably help the elderly to remain independent without the need for help from others and reduce the risks of bone fragility. Sport can prevent strokes, heart attacks and chronic diseases.”

The older we get, the weaker

our bodies become and every

10 years we lose about 2-5kg

of our muscle mass, reducing

strength which can only be

combated through regular

exercise.

l con-throughistributing ells and organsning muscles, lig-ts. This would

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MONDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2017

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Nutrition and sports: Step up your game

There is no doubt that good nutrition is one of the most important factors that benefits our

health and encourages the uptake of physical activity by providing the body with the right level of energy particu-larly athletes require a balanced diet, consistent with his effort and practiced sport. In order to learn more about nutritional diets for athletes, Dr Modi Al Hajere, Nutrition-ist at PHCC shares some tips on a healthy diet required for practicing regular sports and how sport enthusiasts can fol-low a good and balanced diet that helping to achieve the best results in physical fitness and sport.

She commented, “When a person completes a set of exercise, he will burns more calories, so it is important to achieve a healthy balance between exercises and nutri-tion. One should follow a balanced diet, and try to have foods rich in carbohydrates, such as whole-grain pasta, rice, sweet potatoes and grain meals, because carbohydrates are the most important fuel for muscles, and the key source of energy for the brain and central nervous system. Whereas carbohydrate are stored in muscle and liver as glycogen.

Dr Modi highlighted that the needed carbs and protein for the body vary depending o n t h e t y p e o f

sports; therefore, it is better to consult a qualified specialist to determine the individual needs

Regarding the appropri-ate time to eat during exercise, Dr. Modi pointed out that when you have a meal, you should not exercise before one hour to 4 hours, the body needs time to complete the process of digestion, the meal should contain lots of carbo-hydrates, little amount of fat and low amount of protein, because eating a large amount of protein or fat slows the food in stomach, and that’s what makes a person feel uncom-fortable. The Nutritionist concluded that food and drinks play a major role in the restoration of body condition after exercise. Good recovery is important to avoid drop in energy levels, and help in muscles growth and repair.

Too much sitting ages you fasterYou might age a lot faster if you sit too much, a new

study warns.Researchers who assessed nearly 1,500 older

women found those who sat most of the day and got little exercise had cells that were biologically older by eight years than the women's actual age.

"Our study found cells age faster with a sedentary life-style. Chronological age doesn't always match biological age," said lead author Aladdin Shadyab. He's from the University of California, San Diego's School of Medicine.

The women, aged 64 to 95, answered questionnaires and wore a device for seven days to track their activity levels.

The study doesn't establish a cause-and-effect relation-ship between accelerated aging and lack of exercise.

Still, "discussions about the benefits of exercise should start when we are young, and physical activity should con-tinue to be part of our daily lives as we get older, even at 80 years old," Shadyab said in a university news release.

Specifically, the researchers found that women who sat for more than 10 hours a day and got less than 40 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity daily had shorter telomeres. These are caps on the end of DNA strands that protect chromosomes from deterioration.

Telomeres naturally shorten with age, but health and lifestyle factors -- such as smoking and obesity -- can accel-erate the process. Shortened telomeres are linked with heart disease, diabetes and cancer, the researchers explained in background notes.

"We found that women who sat longer did not have shorter telomere length if they exercised for at least 30 min-utes a day, the national recommended guideline," Shadyab said.

He and his colleagues plan future studies to examine the link between exercise and telomere length in younger adults and in men.

The study was published online Jan. 18 in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

Qatar National Sport Day celebrations are set to be held as an integral part of commitment to pro-moting a healthier

lifestyle among the nation’s pop-ulation and to building a sports-loving culture in Qatar.

It aims to promote a sporting culture in the society in order to increase awareness about the importance of physical activities and adopting a healthy life style.

Experts at the Al-Ahli Hospital highlight that adopting a healthy lifestyle isn’t something limited to a day, it has to be adopted as a practice. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle from young age is impor-tant and promoting healthy habits early encourages a lifetime con-tinuum of healthy choices.

Dr Ahmad Alkhayer, Head of physical and Rehabilitation Med-icine at Al- Ahli Hospital says, “If you limit activities to the sports day, that’s not useful. You should follow it every day of the year to achieve the real goal of the Qatar National Sport Day. You should do regular exercise, at least for 20 to 30 minutes a day outside the nor-mal work routine.”

“One should start exercises at a low level of intensity and then build up the intensity. If someone is deciding to make a resolution on the Qatar National Sports Day and adopt a healthy life style, they should start walking for 20 min-utes a day: five days a week and make sure walking on a proper surface. Then should gradually increase the time and activities as exercises or riding bikes or to swimming. What is most impor-tant is to do what you like to do. Then over a time of six weeks the person will develop it as a habit,” he added.

According to Dr Alkhayer over doing exercise, taking wrong posi-tions and doing high intensity exercises at the beginning or when starting to exercise after a break can lead to shoulder, elbow, knee and hip injuries.

“Two types of theology is there in into developing a injury, either a person is beginning or a person who is returning to exer-cise after a break or somebody who is doing it for long time and is over confident. If you are starting fresh or staring after a break, you shouldn’t go beyond your limit. If

you are doing exercise for a long time also shouldn’t be over chal-lenging yourself,” said Dr Alkhayer.

He also said that some people who aren’t doing physical activi-ties on daily basis should be cautious while taking part in the sports day activities.

They should always listen to their body. Stop when a pain devel-ops, don’t over exhort the body, have a good sleep the day before and do activities rationally , don’t overdo ,” said Dr Alkhayer.

Learning healthy habits at a young age is important for living a fulfilling lifestyle as an adult. Start-ing healthy habits at an early age makes it much easier to stick to them later in life.

Dr Stanly Jones, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, who is a specialist in pediatric orthopedics said, “If they don’t do some exer-cises, and eat healthy at the very young age we are finding children being overweight, once you get into a routine at the young age then you grow healthy.”

Parents should encourage chil-dren to take part in sports activities not expecting to win a race or score goals in football but participate.

It’s good for children’s muscles, posture and it makes the bones strong, if the bones are strong frac-tures wouldn’t happen easily,” he added.

According to Dr Jones, frac-tures on the wrist bones, collar bone, leg bones and sprains are common among the teenagers.

“Keep children engaged and taking part in sports activities shouldn’t be limited to one occa-sion. Activities they do on the Qatar National Sports Day should be fol-lowed through the year,” he said.

A healthy lifestyle is not com-pleted without healthy eating habits. A combination of healthy eating and physical activities will lead to a healthy lifestyle.

A balanced diet, scheduled eat-ing time, proper planning of the meal will help body be healthy, says V Jayanthi, In Charge of Die-tary Department at the Al - Ahli Hospital.

“Eating is an art and discipline makes some one fit,” she said.

A balanced diet is getting the right types and amounts of foods and drinks to supply nutrition and energy for maintaining body cells, tissues, and organs, and for sup-

Public Health

MONDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2017

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MONDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2017

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Healthy lifestyle must become a regular practice: Al-Ahli Hospital experts

Parents should encourage children

to take part in sports activities not

expecting to win a race or score

goals in football, but participate. It’s

good for children’s muscles, posture

and it makes the bones strong. If

the bones are strong, fractures

wouldn’t happen easily.” Dr Stanly Jones,Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon

If you limit activities to the sports

day, that’s not useful. You should

follow it every day of the year to

achieve the real goal of the Qatar

National Sport Day. You should

do regular exercise, at least for

20 to 30 minutes a day outside

the normal work routine.” Dr Ahmad AlkhayerHead of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine

porting normal growth and development.“Schedule the eating time, have balanced

food, avoid deep fried items, have home-made food, have whole fruit and avoid sugar and canned food,” says Jayanthi.

“Either a person is a sportsman or not all need stamina. For that people need to incorporate, proteins, vitamins, minerals, carbohydrate and little amount of fat in every meal,” she added.

According to Jayanthi every person need different percentage of calories per day, depending on height, weight, body struc-ture and nature of lifestyle.

She says that many people get mislead by promotions and myths about weight lost and healthy living. “Don’t go for a dramatic weight lose , many promote weight lost pro-grams and supplementary saying it will help weight lost within a short period. This is not true, what happens is that people lose the muscles not the fat and carbohydrate,” she said.

Not food alone, water is also part of a healthy diet. Water does more than just quench thirst and regulate body's temper-ature. moderate to vigorous exercise or other activities increases the loss of some miner-als, mostly through sweat.

Adults should drink an average of two liters of water for every 20 kilos of their body weight.

Schedule the

eating time, have

balanced food,

avoid deep-fried

items, have

homemade food,

have whole fruit

and avoid sugar

and canned food.” V Jayanthi,In Charge of Dietary Department

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MONDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2017

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Triglycerides are the most common fat in the body. Most of the foods that people eat, whether from animal

or plant sources, can have an impact on the levels of triglycer-ides in the blood.

There are many different types of fats, from polyunsatu-rated fats found in olive oil to the saturated fats found in red meat. They all contribute to triglycer-ide levels in the body, but they do so in different ways.

When a person eats more calories than their body needs, the body stores these extra cal-ories in the form of triglyceride fats. Then later, when the body needs more energy, it consumes these fats instead of needing more calories.

Triglycerides are important for health, but high levels of trig-lycerides in the body can lead to conditions such as heart disease, which is the leading cause of death in the United States. Tak-ing steps to lower triglyceride levels and reduce other risk fac-tors can decrease a person's chances of developing heart disease.

It is important to understand triglyceride levels in order to adjust them. The normal range for triglyceride levels is consid-ered to be less than 150 milligrams per deciliter.

At-risk levels are anywhere from 150-199 milligrams per deciliter, and high triglyceride levels range from 200-499 mil-ligrams per deciliter. Anything above 500 milligrams per decili-ter is considered very high.

Ways to lower triglyceride levels

There are many ways to reduce triglyceride levels safely. These can depend on the reasons why triglyceride levels are high in the first place.

If an individual regularly consumes more calories than the body can burn, it will result in an excess of triglycerides in the body. One way to lower triglyc-eride levels in the blood is to reduce the overall number of cal-ories ingested every day.

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), there is evidence that a 5-10 percent weight loss can decrease triglyc-eride levels by 20 percent. The decrease in triglycerides is directly related with losing weight.

What to eatIn order to lower triglycer-

ide levels, an individual must watch what they eat and adopt a nutrient-rich diet. Eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds is a great way to increase the nutrients consumed, while also reducing calories.

A diet that is good for the heart and the blood also includes

reducing the amount of sodium, refined grains, added sugars, and what are known as solid fats in the diet.

FatsSolid fats come from meat,

full-fat dairy products, and some tropical oils, such as coconut and palm oil. These foods contain trans fats and saturated fats.

Trans fats and saturated fats raise triglyceride levels, so peo-ple should try to replace them wherever possible. Unsaturated fats, especially polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs), actually lower trig-lyceride levels.

Omega-3 fats found in cod liver oil, cold-water fish, such as salmon and sardines, and flax-seeds are great ways to add PUFAs to a diet. For example, instead of a steak or hamburger, which are high in saturated fats, people can opt for a filet of salmon or a tuna sandwich.

Animal products, such as lean meats, skinned poultry, fat-free or low-fat dairy, and seafood are also good options.

CarbohydratesIndividuals should limit their

total carbohydrate intake to below 60 percent of their rec-ommended daily calorie allowance. Diets with a carbo-hydrate intake above 60 percent are associated with a rise in trig-lyceride levels.

Ways to avoid carbohydrates include, for example, choosing

lean burgers wrapped in lettuce instead of a high-carb bun. For dessert, opting for fresh or fro-zen blueberries, blackberries, or raspberries instead of sugary baked goods can reduce sugar cravings while also lowering overall carb intake.

SugarsThe types of carbohydrates

in the diet can also contribute to triglyceride levels. Foods high in simple sugars, especially refined fructose, are known to raise trig-lyceride levels.

Drinks make a large contri-bution to overall carbohydrate intake. Fruit drinks, soft drinks, and other sugar-sweetened bev-erages are some of the main sources for added sugars in the diet. Added sugars should be avoided to help reduce triglyc-eride levels.

Added sugar comes in many forms, including:

White sugar,Brown sugar, Honey, Cane juice or cane syrup, Corn sweetener or corn syrup, Fruit juice concentrate, Glucose, Fructose, Dextrose, Maltose, Lac-tose, Sucrose, Syrups, such as maple, agave, and molasses

Taking steps to avoid drinks containing added sugars can greatly reduce overall calories. Every 4 grams of sugar is equiv-alent to 1 teaspoon of sugar. The recommended daily maximum sugar intake for women is 24 grams (6 teaspoons) or 36 grams (9 teaspoons) for men.

Instead of drinks that con-tain high levels of added sugars, people can opt for low calorie drinks, such as water or tea. On a warm day, instead of reaching for a soft drink, a splash of 100 percent fruit juice to a glass of sparkling water is a better option.

Alcohol also has a direct effect on triglyceride levels in some people. In people with high triglyceride levels, refraining from drinking alcohol is a help-ful step to reducing triglycerides.

People should work directly with their healthcare provider to gradually make any changes to the diet, and be certain there are no complications with any med-icines they are taking.

ExercisePhysical activity also plays

an important role in reducing triglyceride levels. Burning cal-ories ensures that more triglycerides from within the body are being used up.

Any exercise is beneficial, but the effects of exercise will vary based on initial triglyceride lev-els, the amount of exercise, and the level of intensity of the exer-cise. A 30-minute walk each day is a great way to begin, as is

engaging in low-stress activities, such as cycling or swimming.

The AHA recommend at least 30 minutes of moderate physi-cal activity a day, 5 days a week.

Why are triglyceride levels important?

If the triglyceride levels in the body are too high, the risk of cer-tain diseases and disorders is also increased. According to a study posted to the Lancet Diabetes Endocrinology, high triglyceride levels play a role in cardiovas-cular diseases, such as coronary a r t e r y d i s e a s e a n d atherosclerosis.

This can happen because high triglyceride levels in the blood can cause a buildup of plaque in the arteries. Plaque is a combination of cholesterol, triglyceride fats, calcium, cellu-lar waste, and fibrin, which is the material the body uses for clotting.

Plaque buildup increases the risk of heart diseases, as the buildup blocks the normal flow of blood in the arteries. Plaque may also break off, and the sud-den clot formed can cause a stroke or heart attack. Triglyc-erides and cholesterol levels make up two of the most

important things to monitor for a healthy heart.

There is also an increased risk of damage to the pancreas if the levels of triglycerides get too high.

Causes of hightriglyceride levels

The most common causes of high triglyceride levels relate to diet and metabolism. A study posted to Nutrients listed the most common contributing fac-tors of high triglyceride levels.

These include:Family genes, Obesity, High-

calorie diet, High-fat diet, Alcohol consumption, Diabetes (mainly type 2), Renal diseases such as uremia, Pregnancy, Some medications, such as oral estrogen, corticosteroids, antiretroviral drugs, and tamoxifen, among others.

Statistically, some groups of people are more at risk for high triglyceride levels than others. These groups include:

People who have developed heart disease before the age of 50 Women, especially pregnant women or women taking estrogen.

How to lower How to lower high triglycerideshigh triglycerides

When a person eats more calories than their body needs, the body stores these extra calories in the form of triglyceride fats. Then later, when the body needs more energy, it consumes these fats in-stead of needing more calories.

High triglyceride levels in the blood can cause a buildup of plaque in the arteries. Plaque is a combination of cholesterol, triglyceride fats, calcium, cellular waste, and fibrin, which is the material the body uses for clotting.

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MONDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2017

7

There are many different types of doctors. Knowing some of these types and what they do will be helpful

in an emergency. When a doctor has to be channeled, the specialization should be chosen as per the illness.

Doctors are categorized into different types according to their specialties. There are doctors for heart problems, ENT problems and for bone and muscle problems to name a few. Having a proper knowledge of these different specialty areas of doctors will be quite useful when you need to make a visit to the doctor for a particular illness. Certain designations for doctors are common. These include general practitioner who is a neighborhood doctor and provides medicines for almost any ailment, and trauma doctors who offer medical aid in emergency rooms.

Below is a list of some medical professionals.

Audiologist This is a doctor who handles

problems with hearing. These doctors also help hearing impaired children learn to communicate.

Allergist This is a doctor who helps

with allergies. Any allergies you may have, such as, hay fever or asthma will be checked out by this doctor.

Andrologists An andrologist is a specialist

doctor that helps in diagnosing and treating male reproductive system disorders.

Anesthesiologist This is the doctor that helps

you to sleep through painful operations and medical diagnoses. They are responsible for administering the anesthesia

and be present during surgeries to help in complications arising from anesthesia medications.

Cardiologist A cardiologist is certified to

treat any problem dealing with h e a r t d i s e a s e s a n d cardiovascular diseases.

Cardiovascular Surgeon This doctor carries out

surgical and invasive techniques dealing with cardiovascular diseases.

Clinical Neurophysiologist This is a doctor that

diagnoses any problem dealing with the central, peripheral and autonomic nervous system with the aid of electrophysiological tests.

Dentist Any dental problem from

tooth decay to dentures to retainers are handled by a dentist. They also treat any gum diseases and oral defects.

Dermatologist This is a doctor that treats

any ailment related to the skin and its appendages such as hair, nails etc.

Emergency DoctorsThese doctors handle trauma

and emergency conditions in the Emergency room (ER) and are available at all times. Emergencies treated may vary from poisoning to broken bones, burns, heart attack concussions, accident trauma etc.

EndocrinologistThyroid problems, hormone

problems or any problems with the endocrine system is handled by an endocrinologist.

Epidemiologists This is a doctor who

specializes in epidemic illnesses which are highly viral. They are more of scientists who identify

new diseases, virus mutations and develop cures and modes of prevention of diseases with vaccinations, etc.

ENT Specialist This doctor treats problems

with the ear, nose and throat. An ENT surgeon would be a specialist who will be performing surgeries on these parts of the anatomy.

Family Practitioner A family physician is the

neighborhood doctor who is general physician treating illnesses and medical issues of all sorts, at all ages & medical non-emergency conditions. If the condition is serious they will refer to a specialist relevant to the field of the illness.

Gastroenterologist A doctor for illnesses related

todigestive system including the common problem of gastritis and acid reflux.

Gynecologist Any problems with the female reproductive system is referred to and treated by a gynecologist.

General Psychiatrist Any person with mental

illnesses such as, schizophrenia, depression and anxiety problems is treated by the general psychiatrist.

Hematologist Blood and its diseases is

studied by a hematologist.

Hepatologists This doctor is responsible for

diagnosing and treating diseases

of the liver.

Immunologist This is a doctor responsible

for studying everything about the immune system and treats any diseases related.

Infectious Disease Specialist

An IDS studies and treats diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites and will identify outbreaks of epidemics and pandemic situations.

Internal Medicine Specialists - These doctors are responsible for diagnosing any illnesses and managing them with nonsurgical treatment. These are usually unusual or serious diseases.

InternistsThese doctors focus on

medicines related to adults and have special expertise in the areas related to the prevention and treatment of adult diseases.

Medical Geneticist A doctor who is responsible

for testing, identifying and treat-ing patients with genetic diseases and disorders.

Microbiologist A microbiologist is a doctor

who studies the causes, diagno-sis and treatment of infectious diseases where microbes are involved.

Neonatologist A doctor for new-born

babies, premature or critically ill babies.

Nephrologists This is a specialist doctor that

treats kidney diseases and renal problems with treatments such as dialysis.

Neurologist This doctor studies various

brain disorders, such as, Parkin-son's disease and Alzheimer's disease.

Neurosurgeons These are the specialist doc-

tors who carry out surgeries on central and peripheral nervous system diseases and the brain.

Obstetrician This is a sub specialization in

the gynecological field of study and handles various aspects of the female reproductive system, such as, childbirth, caesareans etc.

Oncologist An oncologist is a specialist

physician that diagnose and treat cancer patients with drugs,

chemotherapy, radiation and where needed, surgical interventions.

Ophthalmologist This is a doctor that treats

eyes and various eye defects, blindness and performs differ-ent eye surgeries.

Orthopedic Surgeon If you suffer from arthritis

and osteoporosis and other bone related illnesses, or broken bones, an orthopedic surgeon needs to be consulted.

Orthopedist Broken bones from falls or

osteoporosis is treated by an orthopedist.

PrimatologistIf someone is having a high

risk pregnancy, this is the doc-tor who should be consulted for special care and treatment.

Pale pathologist A doctor that studies ancient

diseases.

Parasitologist A doctor that is responsible

for study of parasites, their pathology and parasitic diseases and treatment of these diseases.

Pathologists Specialist scientists who are

doctors that study abnormalities in living organisms and study DNA, tissue, blood and other var-ious human and animal cells. They are also responsible for performing autopsies on dead bodies to determine the cause of death.

PaediatricianThis is a doctor who treats

children for any illness from birth to adolescent.

Plastic SurgeonIf you are not happy with

how you look, a plastic surgeon can change your appearance by performing cosmetic surgery on you.

Physiologists A physiologist is a life science

doctor who specializes in phys-iology and help rehabilitate.

Physiatrist The doctor whose specialty

is medicine and rehabilitation of the body and muscles.

Plastic Surgeon A plastic surgeon is a doctor

that can transplant skin, muscles or change the structure of a face or other body parts for cosmetic

and reconstructive purposes.

Podiatrists This is a specialist doctor

who treats disorders of the foot and ankle.

Psychiatrists These doctors specialize in

mental illnesses and will study, diagnoses and counsel and treat mental illnesses such as Bipolar, dementia, depression, Alzheim-er's etc.

Pulmonologist A doctor who is responsible

for diagnosing and treats lung conditions and treating or man-aging critical care patients admitted in the ICU with venti-lator support.

Radiologists A doctor who specializes in

use of X-rays or other imaging technologies in order to diagnose various illnesses.

Reproductive Endocrinologist

This doctor treats various reproductive problems that include sexual disorders and infertility problems etc.

Rheumatologist A physician responsible

forhandling autoimmune disor-ders and allergic conditions.

SurgeonA surgeon is a doctor that

specializes in surgical operations and will have their own special-ties such as orthopedic, ENT, brain, nuro, cardiovascular, max-illo-facial surgery, plastic surgery, and transplant surgery.

Thoracic Oncologist This doctor deals with can-

cer of the lungs, esophagus and chest.

Urologist Any urinary problems and

urinary tract infections are treated by an urologist.

Veterinarian While other doctors are

responsible for treating humans, the veterinarians are responsi-ble for the treatment of sick animals.

Apart from these main cat-egories of specialization, there are other lesser known special-ization areas for doctors. However, having a proper knowledge of these common types of physicians is a good starting point.

Doctors and their specialisationsPathologists are specialist scientists who are doctors that study abnormalities in living organisms and study DNA, tissue, blood and other various human and animal cells. They are also responsible for performing autopsies on dead bodies to determine the cause of death.

Public Health

MONDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2017

8

Although research interest on physical activity and health dates back to the 1950s, the break-

through in the scientific evidence on health benefits of physical activity largely took place dur-ing the 1980s and 1990s. There is an overwhelming amount of scientific evidence on the posi-tive effects of sport and physical activity as part of a healthy life-style. The positive, direct effects of engaging in regular physical activity are particularly appar-ent in the prevention of several chronic diseases, including: car-diovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, hypertension, obesity, depression and osteoporosis.

The Report from the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on Sport for Development and Peace states that young people can benefit from physical activ-ity as it contributes to developing healthy bones, efficient heart and lung function as well as improved motor skills and

cognitive function. Physical activity can help to prevent hip fractures among women and reduce the effects of osteoporo-sis. Remaining physically active can enhance functional capac-ity among older people, and can help to maintain quality of life and independence.

Physical activity and psycho-social health

The WHO has estimated that “one in four patients visiting a health service has at least one mental, neurological or behav-ioural disorder, but most of these disorders are neither diagnosed nor treated”. A number of stud-ies have shown that exercise may play a therapeutic role in addressing a number of psycho-logical disorders. Studies also show that exercise has a posi-tive influence on depression. P h y s i c a l s e l f - w o r t h

and physical self-perception, including body image, has been linked to improved self-esteem. The evidence relating to health benefits of physical activity pre-dominantly focuses on intra-personal factors such as physiological, cognitive and affective benefits, however, that does not exclude the social and inter-personal benefits of sport and physical activity which can also produce positive health effects in individuals and communities.

Sport and physical activity as part of a healthy lifestyle

A number of factors influ-ence the way in which sport and physical activity impacts on health in different populations. Sport and physical activity in itself may not directly lead to benefits but, in combination with other factors, can promote

healthy lifestyles. There is evi-dence to suggest that changes in the environment can have a sig-nificant impact on opportunities for participation and in addition, the conditions under which the activity is taking place can heav-ily impact on health outcomes. Elements that may be determi-nants on health include nutrition, intensity and type of physical activity, appropriate footwear and clothing, climate, injury, stress levels and sleep patterns.

Sport and physical activity can make a substantial contri-bution to the well-being of people in developing countries. Exercise, physical activity and sport have long been used in the treatment and rehabilitation of communicable and non-com-municable diseases. Physical activity for individuals is a strong means for the prevention of dis-eases and for nations is a cost-effective method to improve public health across populations.

An understanding of the most prevalent diseases and asso-ciated risk factors is crucial to conceptu-

alise the role of sport in health prevention and promotion. In developing countries, sport is widely used as a tool to educate individuals and communities on the risk factors associated with HIV/AIDS. There is a sig-nificant increase in the global burden of non-communicable diseases related to lifestyle changes in physical inactivity, unhealthy diets and tobacco use.

Cardiovascular diseases

Cardiovascular diseases include coronary heart disease and stroke and are the leading causes of death globally. Causes of cardiovascular disease are unhealthy diets, physical inac-tivity and tobacco use. Physical activity reduces the risk of car-diovascular disease by improving glucose metabolism, reducing body fat and lower-ing blood pressure.

DiabetesDiabetes is a disease which

occurs when the body does not produce or properly use insu-lin and this may result in Type I or Type II diabetes. Diabetes may be prevented, or at least delayed, by weight loss, a healthy lifestyle, in particular, regular physical activity. Diet, drug therapy and physical activity are also major compo-nents of the treatment of diabetes.

ObesityObesity is an abnormal

accumulation of fat that may impair health and unlike other diseases, social and environ-mental factors play a significant role in defining obesity. The incidence of obesity is a grow-ing concern internationally with an estimated 400 million obese people in 2005. The glo-bal rise in the incidence of obesity is related to a shift in diet and decreased physical activity levels.

CancerCancer is not a single dis-

ease with a single type of treatment and in fact, there are

over 200 types of cancer involving abnormal growth of cells in different parts of the body. It has been estimated that 40% of all cancers may be pre-vented by a healthy diet, physical activity and no tobacco use.

Mental healthOne in four patients visit-

ing a health service has at least one mental, neurological or behavioural disorder (such as depression, anxiety or mood disorders) that may not be diag-nosed or treated. There is evidence to suggest that phys-ical activity can reduce the symptoms of depression and can also be help to ameliorate mental well-being through improved mood and self-perception.

Communicable diseases

Global trends in physical inactivity claim that more than 60% of adults do not participate in sufficient levels of physical activity and physical inactivity is more prevalent among women, older adults, people from low socio-economic groups and people with disabilities.

In 2005 it was estimated that 80% of cardiovascular dis-ease deaths occurred in low- and middle-income coun-tries. The prevalence of those suffering from overweight and obesity is increasing in devel-oping countries and even in low-income groups in richer countries. The rise of chronic disease, coupled with the exist-ing burden of communicable diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, pro-duces a ‘double burden of disease’ on low- and middle-income countries.

There are a range of meth-odologies utilised around the world to deliver health promo-tion and prevention strategies and an interesting example is the emergence of internet-based health information for developing countries. Sport and physical activity, however, remains an attractive low-cost strategy to promote healthy behaviours and lifestyles throughout the lifespan and reduce the burden of chronic diseases on public health systems.

Sport, physical activity and risk factors for major diseases

Providing physical education both inside and outside of schools is crucial in helping young peo-

ple to learn and develop life skills.

A number of crucial com-ponents to the delivery of quality education have been identified by UNICEF. These include sport and opportuni-ties for play, consistent with the rights of the child to opti-mum development.

Despite recognition of the positive impact sport has on education and child develop-ment, physical education is being increasingly challenged

within education systems across the world.

Challenges include a decrease in:• The amount of time allo-

cated to physical education

• The number of trained staff• The amount of training

provided for physical edu-cation teachers, and spending on resources required to deliver physi-cal education in schoolsGirls and young people

with disabilities face additional barriers, which limit (and in many cases prevent) partici-pation in physical education and sport in many countries.

Whilst physical education systems are vastly different across the world, a recent study conducted in 126 coun-tries indicated that the marginalisation of physical education is near universal.

A large number of researchers are focusing on comparative studies in physi-cal education and there have been examples of good prac-tice, however, the situation in developing countries and regions has changed little in the past decade. This has seri-ous implications for access to holistic and quality education for young people, particularly those living in developing countries.

It is important to note that in some countries where phys-ical education is minimal or non-existent within the school system, children and young people may access sport and physical activity through com-

munity programmes.These may be introduced

by community clubs, a range of other organisations, or through unstructured or cas-ual games and play. Given the very poor rates of school attendance, opportunities for physical education and sport outside of schools can also pro-vide educational advantages to children and young people.

For the period 2005 to 2006, UNICEF estimated that 90 million children were not enroled in school. Net second-ary school enrolment is only 52 percent for boys and 44 per-cent for girls, compared to 90 percent enrolment rate for both boys and girls in devel-oped countries. Young people in developing countries there-fore face an uncertain future given these reports on school enrolment.

Physical education in schoolsDespite recognition of the positive impact sport has on education and child develop-ment, physical education is being increas-ingly challenged within education systems across the world.

Sport and physical activity, however, remains an attractive low-cost strategy to promote healthy behaviours and lifestyles throughout the lifespan and reduce the burden of chronic diseases on public health systems.

The health benefits of sport and physical activity