As Earth tilts her face towards the Sun, temperatures rise. Last week the hottest place on the planet was Mitribah, a province in northern Kuwait, where it reached 51.4C. Some parts of the UAE were not too far behind, either. This rise in temperature brings obvious health risks, such as heat exhaustion, sunburn and heatstroke. It can also have surprising impacts on our psychological wellbeing.
If, like me, you grew up in a relatively cold, wet climate – the north-west of England, in my case – the idea of summertime sadness sounds crazy. My childhood drawings typically included an anthropomorphised Mr Sun, who always sported a beaming grin. Summer was smiles, warmth, long days, ice cream, and trips to the seaside. How could such a season ever be associated with anything other than positivity and emotional wellbeing?
It turns out that some people experience recurring depressive episodes that routinely arise during the summer months. The American Psychiatric Association officially recognised this condition as seasonal affective disorder (SAD) in 1987. In Europe and North America, the most common pattern for SAD is for depression to appear in autumn or winter. There are, however, a small minority of patients whose depressive episodes regularly arrive in the spring or summer. When the disorder follows a summertime pattern, it is typically termed summer SAD.
Summer and winter SAD differ in terms of their typical symptom profiles. Summer SAD is associated with insomnia, agitation, reduced appetite and weight loss, while winter SAD is characterised by hypersomnia (sleeping too much), lethargy, fatigue and weight gain – kind of like a wintertime hibernation.
Summer SAD has received far less research attention than its wintertime counterpart, and we know far less about what might cause it. One idea, however, is related to body clock disturbance, or to use the technical term, circadian rhythm disruption. It is suspected that the extended hours of daylight and the shorter nights, characteristic of summertime in the northern hemisphere, play havoc with some peoples’ sleeping patterns, leading to insomnia and summertime depressive episodes. Another current idea is that summer SAD is connected to allergies, with some allergens, such as pollen, being more common in the spring and summer.
A possible explanation for summer SAD that works for the UAE is that the condition is related to low levels of vitamin D
None of these ideas, though, would explain summer SAD in the UAE. For one, the nation is relatively close to the equator, so daylight length doesn’t vary much between winter and summer – in technical terms, the photoperiod is relatively stable. Similarly, concerning the allergies idea, in the UAE it is the cooler months when the pollen count tends to be higher.
Another possible explanation for summer SAD that does work for the UAE is that the condition is related to low levels of vitamin D, brought on by sun avoidance. If we are heat-averse or don’t like too much sunlight on our skin, then we might avoid the sunshine as much as possible in the hot summer months. Our own research at Zayed University, carried out over a number of years, confirms a link between vitamin D deficiency and depression. There also appears to be a pattern that worsens in the summer and improves in the winter.
For one of our studies titled, "Sunshine, Sadness and Seasonality" and published in the International Journal of Mental Health Promotion in 2011, we followed 197 Emirati college students over a year, assessing vitamin D levels and depressive symptoms in the winter and the summer. Vitamin D deficiency and depressive symptoms were linked, and both were significantly worse in the summer.
Sun on the skin is the greatest source of vitamin D, but when the mercury is rising, we might automatically opt for the cool and calm of the great indoors. In the absence of adequate supplementation, following this path makes us likely to end up deficient in vitamin D. When we feel depressed, we tend to become withdrawn and inactive and, therefore, even less likely to get outside for the limited spells where it is possible at the height of summer. In these circumstances, it is easy to see how vitamin D deficiency and depression could make each other worse.
In another of our studies, published in 2017 in the Community Mental Health Journal, we worked with a group of Emirati college students who had severe depressive symptoms and severe vitamin D deficiency. We developed a 12-week behavioural intervention, which involved making minor lifestyle changes ensuring they got regular and safe sun exposure. By week 12 of the study, all of the participants had significantly improved, showing both increases in vitamin D levels and decreases in depressive symptoms.
The challenge of preventing summer SAD in the UAE might lie in finding a healthy balance between getting safe sun and avoiding the health risks associated with high temperatures and UV exposure. It’s a difficult balancing act, but definitely manageable. After all, people have lived in this region for thousands of years before the invention of air conditioning.
Justin Thomas is a professor of psychology at Zayed University
'Joker'
Directed by: Todd Phillips
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix
Rating: Five out of five stars
Slow loris biog
From: Lonely Loris is a Sunda slow loris, one of nine species of the animal native to Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore
Status: Critically endangered, and listed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature red list due to growing demand in the global exotic pet trade. It is one of the most popular primate species found at Indonesian pet markets
Likes: Sleeping, which they do for up to 18 hours a day. When they are awake, they like to eat fruit, insects, small birds and reptiles and some types of vegetation
Dislikes: Sunlight. Being a nocturnal animal, the slow loris wakes around sunset and is active throughout the night
Superpowers: His dangerous elbows. The slow loris’s doe eyes may make it look cute, but it is also deadly. The only known venomous primate, it hisses and clasps its paws and can produce a venom from its elbow that can cause anaphylactic shock and even death in humans
SPECS
Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
Price: From Dh599,000
On sale: Now
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
Roll of honour 2019-2020
Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners: Dubai Hurricanes
Runners up: Bahrain
West Asia Premiership
Winners: Bahrain
Runners up: UAE Premiership
UAE Premiership
}Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes
UAE Division One
Winners: Abu Dhabi Saracens
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes II
UAE Division Two
Winners: Barrelhouse
Runners up: RAK Rugby
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Cultural fiesta
What: The Al Burda Festival
When: November 14 (from 10am)
Where: Warehouse421, Abu Dhabi
The Al Burda Festival is a celebration of Islamic art and culture, featuring talks, performances and exhibitions. Organised by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development, this one-day event opens with a session on the future of Islamic art. With this in mind, it is followed by a number of workshops and “masterclass” sessions in everything from calligraphy and typography to geometry and the origins of Islamic design. There will also be discussions on subjects including ‘Who is the Audience for Islamic Art?’ and ‘New Markets for Islamic Design.’ A live performance from Kuwaiti guitarist Yousif Yaseen should be one of the highlights of the day.
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
Mazen Abukhater, principal and actuary at global consultancy Mercer, Middle East, says the company’s Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index - which benchmarks 34 pension schemes across the globe to assess their adequacy, sustainability and integrity - included Saudi Arabia for the first time this year to offer a glimpse into the region.
The index highlighted fundamental issues for all 34 countries, such as a rapid ageing population and a low growth / low interest environment putting pressure on expected returns. It also highlighted the increasing popularity around the world of defined contribution schemes.
“Average life expectancy has been increasing by about three years every 10 years. Someone born in 1947 is expected to live until 85 whereas someone born in 2007 is expected to live to 103,” Mr Abukhater told the Mena Pensions Conference.
“Are our systems equipped to handle these kind of life expectancies in the future? If so many people retire at 60, they are going to be in retirement for 43 years – so we need to adapt our retirement age to our changing life expectancy.”
Saudi Arabia came in the middle of Mercer’s ranking with a score of 58.9. The report said the country's index could be raised by improving the minimum level of support for the poorest aged individuals and increasing the labour force participation rate at older ages as life expectancies rise.
Mr Abukhater said the challenges of an ageing population, increased life expectancy and some individuals relying solely on their government for financial support in their retirement years will put the system under strain.
“To relieve that pressure, governments need to consider whether it is time to switch to a defined contribution scheme so that individuals can supplement their own future with the help of government support,” he said.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Company profile
Name: Oulo.com
Founder: Kamal Nazha
Based: Dubai
Founded: 2020
Number of employees: 5
Sector: Technology
Funding: $450,000
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Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Essentials
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Malaysia Airlines all fly direct from the UAE to Kuala Lumpur and on to Penang from about Dh2,300 return, including taxes.
Where to stay
In Kuala Lumpur, Element is a recently opened, futuristic hotel high up in a Norman Foster-designed skyscraper. Rooms cost from Dh400 per night, including taxes. Hotel Stripes, also in KL, is a great value design hotel, with an infinity rooftop pool. Rooms cost from Dh310, including taxes.
In Penang, Ren i Tang is a boutique b&b in what was once an ancient Chinese Medicine Hall in the centre of Little India. Rooms cost from Dh220, including taxes.
23 Love Lane in Penang is a luxury boutique heritage hotel in a converted mansion, with private tropical gardens. Rooms cost from Dh400, including taxes.
In Langkawi, Temple Tree is a unique architectural villa hotel consisting of antique houses from all across Malaysia. Rooms cost from Dh350, including taxes.