An ongoing study by Jebel Ali Hospital in Dubai supports evidence that Asians are more vulnerable to heart disease. According to the results based on initial tests, GCC Nationals have a higher risk of heart problems than other nationalities, too.
Jebel Ali Hospital, which was officially inaugurated by the UAE Health Minister, H.E Mr. Humaid Mohammad Obaid Al Qutami, last month, runs free blood pressure and blood sugar tests in association with LifeScan of Johnson & Johnson at Ibn Battuta Shopping Mall. The hospital also provides free first aid facilities at the mall.
In a five-day study, Jebel Ali Hospital medical staff tested a random sample of 150 shoppers. Around 15 per cent of Asians tested, mostly Indians and Filipinos, showed high blood pressure.
The same percentage of GCC Nationals also had high blood pressure readings. The remaining 12 per cent of the sample, made of up Europeans, Africans and other overseas nationalities, had normal blood pressure.
Dubbed the ‘silent killer’, high blood pressure is a leading cause of Essential or Primary Hypertension.
Dr. Talha Saeid, Medical Director of Jebel Ali Hospital, said: “Liberal use of salt in the Asian diet is the main reason for Essential Hypertension. Salted fish is a staple meal of Asian communities, especially Indians and Filipinos, and this can aggravate high blood pressure.”
Dr. Saeid added: “Groups that have a high intake of salt, more than 5.8 grammes per day, are at greater risk of Essential Hypertension. Obesity and diabetes are other factors, and these are big problems in the Gulf National community. Other causes can include age, stress, smoking, high alcohol consumption, pregnancy, and kidney disease. They can also be hereditary.”
Normal blood pressure ranges between 80 and 110mm Hg (mm=millimetres Hg= mercury). Values above a range of 90 and 140 mm Hg are considered high. Men tend to have higher blood pressure than women under the age of 55, but the statistics are reversed in old age*.
According to the World Health Organisation, around 60 per cent of strokes and half of all heart attacks are caused by high blood pressure. The condition kills 7.1 million people every year*.
High blood pressure is described as the silent killer, because it usually has no symptoms until critical organs have been seriously or fatally damaged.
Advet Bhambhani, CEO of Jebel Ali Hospital, added: “The idea behind free medical checks at Ibn Battuta was to introduce the concept of preventive healthcare, and to encourage people to proactively monitor their own health. The results of the study support existing research, and we aim to build on the survey by extending the health check programme to other shopping malls and public places.”
People diagnosed with high blood pressure should modify their diet to reduce salt intake, get more exercise to lose weight and undergo annual health checks. Free Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar checks will continue at the Jebel Ali Hospital kiosk in Ibn Battuta Mall for another month.
Part of the Lifeline Medical Group, Jebel Ali Hospital is a boutique hospital in The Gardens, New Dubai serving The Gardens, Emirates Hill, Dubai Marina, and other nearby communities.
Open 24 hours, the hospital handles routine emergencies as well as more complex medical, surgical and trauma cases.
Fully operational for nearly six months, Jebel Ali Hospital already has a database of more than 4,000 registered patients.
