The remarkable case of an Indian man found to have five heart chambers instead of four shocked Dubai doctors who had never encountered the rare condition in their careers.
But medics say such startling discoveries are gradually becoming more common – with lifestyle choices a contributing factor.
People starting families later in life and those in consanguineous marriages are at a greater risk of giving birth to children with heart defects, experts said.
The extraordinary diagnosis reported this week involved a 51-year-old patient experiencing chest pains, who thought he was having a heart attack so visited Aster Hospital in Mankool, Dubai.
Some abnormalities that are not severe are compatible with normal life and occasionally there is a possibility of survival to age 50
Dr CG Venkitachalam,
Burjeel Hospital in Abu Dhabi
He was found to have a condition called cor triatriatum sinister, which affects fewer than 0.004 per cent of the population, resulting in three upper chambers of the heart rather than the usual two.
Doctors believe it is the same condition that ended the life of the star of the golden age of Indian cinema, Madhubala, who died aged 36 in 1969.
With few other medical cases from which to refer, doctors said there was little guidance in how to deal with the man’s symptoms after he arrived in hospital in Dubai.
Entering uncharted waters
“First we had to rule out an acute emergency and then evaluate what was the cause of his chest pain,” said Dr Sachin Upadhyaya, a cardiology specialist at Aster Hospital who treated the man, who did not want to be named.
“The most common cause is coronary artery disease and acute heart attack or angina.
“But when we did an electrocardiograph, everything was normal.
“The second step was cardiac imaging and the heart function was OK but we could see something unusual in the left atrium.
“We were careful, as knew there was something there, but none of us had encountered that in real practice before.
“This is so rare, there are no standard treatment guidelines in any European Society of Cardiology or American Society of Cardiology guidelines.”
Doctors were able to treat the man with medication, rather than surgery, and he is now recovering at home – although he must return for regular check-ups.
Will such cases always be so rare?
Congenital heart problems are usually picked up at birth through routine screening, making the discovery all the more remarkable in an otherwise healthy adult.
Defects include structural heart problems and are more common in children born to parents in consanguineous relationships or in those whose parents had heart defects.
Men are more likely than women to have the condition.
More common examples of heart anomalies include holes inside heart walls and narrowed or leaky valves. Severe cases usually involve missing blood vessels or heart chambers or a poorly formed heart and occur in fewer than 1 per cent of births.
Despite the rarity of such problems, doctors said they are beginning to see more cases due to parents starting families later in life.
“The incidence is not small, historically it has been around eight severe defects in 1,000 births worldwide,” said Dr Anil Bansal, a consultant cardiologist at Saudi German Hospital, Dubai.
“Because more people are having children later, it has now risen to around 9.5 in every 1,000 births.
“The age of parents and consanguinity, such as marriages among cousins, is a big issue.
“These are rare defects but corrective surgery is relatively simple.”
One of the more common anomalies is an atrial septal defect where there is a hole in the dividing wall of the upper heart chambers.
A hole can vary in size and may close on its own or sometimes requires surgery.
More than 85 per cent of babies born with an anomaly live to at least the age of 18 but those with more serious defects rarely survive into adulthood.
Surgery is often not a cure for congenital heart defects, with patients needing additional procedures during their lifetime or prolonged medication as adults.
Patient living a normal life
Typically, adults living with a defect face a life of health problems, including issues with growth and eating, as well as difficulty with exercise or developmental delays and even sudden cardiac arrest or stroke.
As the Mankool patient lived an otherwise normal life, doctors said his case was all the more unusual.
“This is an especially rare anomaly, particularly as this patient was 51, which is quite old to have this picked up,” said Dr CG Venkitachalam, a cardiologist at Burjeel Hospital in Abu Dhabi.
“Some abnormalities that are not severe are compatible with normal life and occasionally, like this, there is a possibility of survival to age 50.
“I have seen maybe just one patient in 30 years at that age.
“So if they're picked up early with screening, they can be rectified pretty early on and then the patient can live a long and healthy life.
“In this country, the recognition of this is pretty good and we pick them up very early, mostly before they leave the ICU.”
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The Gentlemen
Director: Guy Ritchie
Stars: Colin Farrell, Hugh Grant
Three out of five stars
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WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
Grand Slam Los Angeles results
Men:
56kg – Jorge Nakamura
62kg – Joao Gabriel de Sousa
69kg – Gianni Grippo
77kg – Caio Soares
85kg – Manuel Ribamar
94kg – Gustavo Batista
110kg – Erberth Santos
Women:
49kg – Mayssa Bastos
55kg – Nathalie Ribeiro
62kg – Gabrielle McComb
70kg – Thamara Silva
90kg – Gabrieli Pessanha
Know your Camel lingo
The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home
Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless
Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers
Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s
Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival
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APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
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In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
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Mane points for safe home colouring
- Natural and grey hair takes colour differently than chemically treated hair
- Taking hair from a dark to a light colour should involve a slow transition through warmer stages of colour
- When choosing a colour (especially a lighter tone), allow for a natural lift of warmth
- Most modern hair colours are technique-based, in that they require a confident hand and taught skills
- If you decide to be brave and go for it, seek professional advice and use a semi-permanent colour
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5 of the most-popular Airbnb locations in Dubai
Bobby Grudziecki, chief operating officer of Frank Porter, identifies the five most popular areas in Dubai for those looking to make the most out of their properties and the rates owners can secure:
• Dubai Marina
The Marina and Jumeirah Beach Residence are popular locations, says Mr Grudziecki, due to their closeness to the beach, restaurants and hotels.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh482 to Dh739
Two bedroom: Dh627 to Dh960
Three bedroom: Dh721 to Dh1,104
• Downtown
Within walking distance of the Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa and the famous fountains, this location combines business and leisure. “Sure it’s for tourists,” says Mr Grudziecki. “Though Downtown [still caters to business people] because it’s close to Dubai International Financial Centre."
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh497 to Dh772
Two bedroom: Dh646 to Dh1,003
Three bedroom: Dh743 to Dh1,154
• City Walk
The rising star of the Dubai property market, this area is lined with pristine sidewalks, boutiques and cafes and close to the new entertainment venue Coca Cola Arena. “Downtown and Marina are pretty much the same prices,” Mr Grudziecki says, “but City Walk is higher.”
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh524 to Dh809
Two bedroom: Dh682 to Dh1,052
Three bedroom: Dh784 to Dh1,210
• Jumeirah Lake Towers
Dubai Marina’s little brother JLT resides on the other side of Sheikh Zayed road but is still close enough to beachside outlets and attractions. The big selling point for Airbnb renters, however, is that “it’s cheaper than Dubai Marina”, Mr Grudziecki says.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh422 to Dh629
Two bedroom: Dh549 to Dh818
Three bedroom: Dh631 to Dh941
• Palm Jumeirah
Palm Jumeirah's proximity to luxury resorts is attractive, especially for big families, says Mr Grudziecki, as Airbnb renters can secure competitive rates on one of the world’s most famous tourist destinations.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh503 to Dh770
Two bedroom: Dh654 to Dh1,002
Three bedroom: Dh752 to Dh1,152
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Director: Romany Saad
Starring: Mirfat Amin, Boumi Fouad and Tariq Al Ibyari
Our Time Has Come
Alyssa Ayres, Oxford University Press
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
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Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
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How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
The years Ramadan fell in May
Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
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PRIMERA LIGA FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Saturday
Atletico Madrid v Sevilla (3pm)
Alaves v Real Madrid (6.15pm)
Malaga v Athletic Bilbao (8.30pm)
Girona v Barcelona (10.45pm)
Sunday
Espanyol v Deportivo la Coruna (2pm)
Getafe v Villarreal (6.15pm)
Eibar v Celta Vigo (8.30pm)
Las Palmas v Leganes (8.30pm)
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Monday
Real Betis v Levante (11.pm)
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Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
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EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
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The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
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MATCH INFO
Aston Villa 1 (Konsa 63')
Sheffield United 0
Red card: Jon Egan (Sheffield United)
