Food, Health, and Environment in Qatar

Truth and Myth

jason282pnv — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 04:40:38 +0300

*adapted*

Doctors may sound like broken records as they lecture to various
audiences even in far-flung areas (usually pro bono) but nothing can be
more encouraging to see that at the end of these forums, the lay
participants have a clearer and more accurate picture of what can
potentially maim them. With that, they are in a better position to
prevent hypertension’s serious complications.

Myth 1: High blood pressure is usually associated with symptoms, particularly headache, dizziness, nervousness and anxiety.

Truth: Practically all hypertensive patients will not have any
symptom in the first 10-15 years of being hypertensive. Symptoms may be
associated with damage to the vital organs such as the brain, heart and
kidneys. Symptoms associated with hypertension are also nonspecific and
may be felt with other conditions.

Myth 2: Medications should only be taken whenever one has symptoms attributed to hypertension, or on an as-needed basis only.

Truth: This myth has led to many heart attacks and strokes in previously nonsymptomatic individuals.

Myth 3: Severe elevation of the BP when under stress is normal and requires no treatment.

Truth: Even labile elevation of the BP may require treatment. Once
the BP breaches the limit equal to or more than 140/90 mmHg (especially
if it reaches 180/110 mmHg) and persists at this level for quite
sometime, this should be treated with concern.

Myth 4: Anemic patients have low BP; it’s impossible for them to become hypertensive.

Truth: Unless the anemia is due to acute massive blood loss, many
anemic patients might even be hypertensive because of the increased
heart rate. Anemic patients due to chronic kidney disease might even be
severely hypertensive.

Myth 5: If one has elevated cholesterol, one must also be hypertensive and vice-versa.

Truth: Although hypertension and cholesterol problems may share the
same lifestyle risk factors, and may cluster together with diabetes and
obesity in a condition called metabolic syndrome, they don’t coexist
all the time.

Myth 6: Hypertension becomes only complicated in men but not in women.

Truth: After menopause, when the female reproductive hormones are
already low and women lose their inherent protection from these
hormones, the incidence of heart attacks, strokes and other
cardiovascular complications become higher in women compared to men of
the same age.

Myth 7: Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs for colds and weight reduction are safe for hypertensive patients.

Truth: Decongestants, flu pills and some weight-reducing drugs can
trigger sudden BP increase. Some herbal preparations containing ephedra
or ma huang have also been reported to increase the BP. Always check
first with your doctor before taking these drugs or food supplements.

Food, Health, and Environment in Qatar

tips

jason282pnv — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 02:54:17 +0300

There are many things you can do to help stay safe and healthy that don't take much time or effort. Take a few minutes each day to protect yourself and your family.

Being healthy and safe takes commitment, but it doesn't have to be time-consuming, painful, or boring. Most things are so simple and take so little time, that you'll wonder why you've been avoiding them. You can get big rewards just by taking small steps to prevent illness and injury.

You won't necessarily "see" the rewards, such as the extra pounds you don't gain, the high blood pressure you won't get, or the emergency room visit you'll avoid. That's a good thing!

Find out what you can do in five minutes or less to make a difference to your health and safety, and take action! Some things even take less than one minute. Here is a sample of things you can do to help protect yourself and your family:

• Wash hands

• Buckle up

• Test smoke alarms

• Eat healthy

• Take the stairs

Also, find out what things may take more than five minutes but are worth the time, including preventing falls and being prepared.

Take a few minutes to help make yourself and your family safer and healthier.

Food, Health, and Environment in Qatar

Coffee

jason282pnv — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 06:39:20 +0300

Caffeine consumption by pregnant women can increase the risk of miscarriage, a new study reports.

And, it doesn't matter if the caffeine comes from coffee, tea, soda or hot chocolate. What does matter is the amount -- the study found that when women drink more than 200 milligrams of caffeine daily, the risk of miscarriage increases twofold.

Food, Health, and Environment in Qatar

The top five cancer-causing foods

junarc2003 — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 14:28:36 +0300

1. Hot dogs
Because they are high in nitrates, the Cancer Prevention Coalition advises that children eat no more than 12 hot dogs a month. If you can't live without hot dogs, buy those made without sodium nitrate.

2. Processed meats and bacon
Also high in the same sodium nitrates found in hot dogs, bacon, and other processed meats raise the risk of heart disease. The saturated fat in bacon also contributes to cancer.

3. Doughnuts
Doughnuts are cancer-causing double trouble. First, they are made with white flour, sugar, and hydrogenated oils, then fried at high temperatures. Doughnuts, says Adams , may be the worst food you can possibly eat to raise your risk of cancer.

4. French fries
Like doughnuts, French fries are made with hydrogenated oils and then fried at high temperatures. They also contain cancer- causing acrylamides which occur during the frying process. They should be called cancer fries, not French fries, said Adams .

5. Chips, crackers, and cookies
All are usually made with white flour and sugar. Even the ones whose labels claim to be free of trans-fats generally contain small amounts of trans-fats.

Food, Health, and Environment in Qatar

www.grassrootsyoga.com class schedule updated

grassrootsyoga — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 16:17:46 +0300

Hi all,

I have now updated my website www.grassrootsyoga.c... to include class
times and location for classes that begin as of Monday 13th August.

For all those who have emailed me expressing your intrest I welcome you to join.

I hope to see as many of you as possible for these fun and informal yoga classes. Invite your friends, everyone is welcome.

Kind Regards,

Shannon Barry

Certified Moksha Yoga Teacher

+974 584 4937

www.grassrootsyoga.c...

Food, Health, and Environment in Qatar

Yoga Classes

grassrootsyoga — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 06:10:35 +0300

Hi everyone, i am a new yoga teacher in Qatar and am looking to provide Moksha Yoga classes should anyone be interested. I am currently looking for a space to hold classes, but if you have a large empty room where you can hold a class then I am more than willing to teach a group of people. For more information about the Moksha Yoga series you can visit my website at www.grassrootsyoga.c....
Regards,

Shannon

Food, Health, and Environment in Qatar

Drinking water

ummsumaya — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 12:07:30 +0300

Hi all,
Regarding drinking water. I remeber there was a thread at one stage on QL that mentioned that we should change the brand of water that we use in order to prevent the build up of certain minerals in our system.

My question - how often is recommended?

Also, do you all use your drinking water for cooking as well? I usually use it for cooking, and even to soak my rice in. But I wash my veges and fruit under the tap water. And I'll cook pasta in tap water.

Any suggestions about what is best?
Thanx

Food, Health, and Environment in Qatar

Air Conditioners

ummsumaya — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 12:03:13 +0300

Hiya all,
I have a query about Air conditioners. With the hot season here some of the ACs in my house are on nearly 24hours! I understand that they are merely recycling the air in the house (plus cooling it).

My question is, how often should we be opening the windows and letting in the (hot) fresh (?) air in to 'change' the air in the house? Back home we don't tend to use the ACs that often, but rely on the afternoon sea breeze to come.

Also, how often should AC filters be cleaned? Can this be done at home (by ourselves) or should this be done professionally?

Thanks

Food, Health, and Environment in Qatar

Logo Design Competition for The Supreme Council for the Environment & Natural Reserves

qatari — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 10:06:27 +0300

The Supreme Council for the Environment & Natural Reserves is announcing an open competition to all amateur and professional designers who are interested in the field of designing logos to design a logo for the council under the below-mentioned conditions. The logo should express the identity of the council that represents the identity of the Qatari environment in its different sectors (marine environment, land environment, and the air sector).

(The winning designer will receive QR20,000.)

[Update : Arabic version of the rules which include the Arabic name to be used on logo is now attached]

Conditions

The logo should express the Qatari environment.
It should include the council's name in both Arabic & English.
It should be characterized by modernism, creativity and simplicity.
The designer should attach an explanation of the idea of the logo and the colors used in it.
The logo should be presented in A4 format and A5 in size.
And it must be reproduced in full color format (four colors only).
The winning design can not be used for other purposes and its ownership will be to the Supreme council only.
It is possible to participate with more than one design but not exceeding three designs.
The Deadline for submitting the logo by e-mail or hard copy will be the 17th of July 2007.
The winning logo will grant a financial reward which is QR20,000.
The Supreme council has the rights to refuse any design if it's not applicable for the above rules.
All designs should be sent on the following address :
The Supreme Council for the Environment & Natural Reserves
Environment Information and Culture Center
P.O Box : 7634
Doha Qatar

Or our e-mail address

mamania [AT] qatarenv.org.qa
aamutawa [AT] qatarenv.org.qa

P.S. If you do submit an entry, please mention that you heard about the contest on Qatar Living :)

Food, Health, and Environment in Qatar

"Finest, Most Durable & Effective Toothbrush Ever Built"

e46M3 — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 00:04:22 +0300

This is the TiFinity toothbrush. It has ultra fine titanium alloy-bristles which easily penetrate hard to reach areas,

It lasts at least 10 times the life span of leading toothbrushes (2-5 year life expectancy), removes more plaque than nylon, repels moisture and resists bacteria and has a $35-$50 price tag.
For that kind of money it had better be and do all that and more!
http://www.tifinityt...

Qatar Technology and Gadget Zone