UAE health: Respiratory illness rise in winter

Dubai - During the winter months, there is also an increase in the number of viruses and a general drop in immunity

 Respiratory illnesses rise by 20 to 30 per cent in winter with mostly children being affected since they are still developing their immunity, according to doctors from Dubai Health Authority (DHA).
"A link between an increase in number of patients with decrease in temperatures has always been there and now research points out that this is due to inhalation of cold air which leads to reduction in nasal temperature," said Dr Bassam Mahboob, head of respiratory department at Rashid Hospital and head of Emirates Respiratory and Allergy society.
"During the winter months, there is also an increase in the number of viruses and a general drop in immunity, which leads to a peak in respiratory illness, especially upper respiratory tract viral infections (URTIs) such as influenza, common cold, bronchitis etc. People with allergies also find that symptoms are aggravated in the cold season," he said.
Dr Mahboob said in Dubai, the flu season is typically from December to February, although the increase in patients can be witnessed from mid-November. He advised people at high risk to consult their doctor on whether they need a flu shot or not.
Dr Mahboob said that children are particularly susceptible to get URTIs due to lower immunity. Children prone to getting recur-rent infections should opt for the flu vaccine. "Parents should also ensure children get adequate sleep, eat healthy foods and they should limit sugars and unhealthy fats to the maximum extent possible be-cause these foods lower the immunity," he said. For Vitamin C, it's best to stick to natural sources such a lemon, oranges, kiwi and other healthy foods. "Parents should also check the iron levels of children who get recurrent colds be-cause they may be anaemic. Once the iron levels are normal, the number of times a child catches a cold drastically reduces."
Stay at home
Ali Al Rahma, health educator in DHA's Primary Healthcare Sector, added that parents should not send their sick children to school. They should ensure that the child is fever-free for 24 hours and the child has fully recovered from cold and cough before sending to school. "Viruses spread rapidly through a school environment. Common-sense and good hygiene may pre-vent the passing on of most viruses and bacteria that cause URTIs. Good hygiene practices include proper hand washing techniques and covering your mouth with a tissue when coughing and sneezing." Shaima Qayed, clinical dietician at Nad Al Hammar Health Centre, said: "People should consume foods rich in vitamin C and zinc and flavour it with immunity boosting foods such as ginger, cinnamon, garlic and turmeric. In winter, it's best to have warming foods such as soups that contain protein and plenty of vegetables."
asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com
Girls have much more than just looks
Rachna Buxani-Mirpuri
During one of the presidential campaign talks in the US, a 15-year-old girl questioned Hillary Clinton with regards to the unfair emphasis on a girl's body image and what she would do to advocate that girls are so much more than what they look like. She expressed that in her school, body image was a really big issue.
This was probably one of the most pertinent questions asked that evening. Clinton replied that, "There is so much more to girls than what they look like" and that women "should be the best we can be and be proud of who we are." According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately three per cent of teenagers between the ages of 13 and 18 suffer from an eating disorder. Fifty per cent of teenage girls use unhealthy weight control behaviours such as skipping meals, fasting, smoking cigarettes, vomiting, and taking laxatives to control their weight. Body image is an individual's feelings and thoughts with regards to her physical appearance.
A substantial number of girls re-port being bullied about their body shape. The impact of body image on ones self-esteem is heightened during adolescence. Girls are beginning to develop concerns about body image at much younger ages now.
Children as young as five years old express dissatisfaction with their bodies and say that they would like to be thinner, fairer and prettier. Media has a very important role to play in the way girls see themselves and the pressures they feel to have an almost untrue idealistic body. Parents need to do what they can to ensure that girls are nurtured with healthy self-esteems.
Some steps we can take in that direction are:
1:Model a healthy body image yourself by not being overly concerned about your own body. Most girls pick up on these attitudes from their mothers. As mothers we should be watchful of what messages we are giving to our daughters with regards to our bodies and theirs.
2:Dad is the first man in a girl's life. Hearing how beautiful she is from her dad will go a long way in ensuring that your daughters feel that they are appreciated and admired.
3:Try to ensure that your children have a healthy relationship with food. Over or under eating can be harmful.
4:Talk to your daughter about who your daughter is rather than what she looks like. Parents are so likely to say things like "you're so pretty" to our daughters, instead we need to start complimenting them for what they do like being a great friend, being helpful, brave, etc.
5:Listen to your daughter when she expresses concerns about her body image. Understand why your daughter feels the way she does and help her through the process of accepting herself for all the beauty that is within her. The writer is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor from Florida, USA and a certified School Counselor from Massachusetts, USA. She is also a Certified Distance Counselor.
The writer is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor from Florida, USA and a certified School Counselor from Massachusetts, Distance Counselor