Coronavirus: Stressed out medics and patients at risk of developing dementia later in life, study says


Nick Webster
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Related: Mental impact of pandemic could affect frontline staff and patients for years

Healthcare workers and Covid-19 patients who come under great stress can suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder that can lead to dementia later in life, suggests a new study.

Researchers analysed the results of more than a dozen studies published in The British Journal of Psychiatry and found a direct link between PTSD  and dementia.

Witnessing a trauma like a loved one being hospitalised for Covid-19 or even surviving the virus can cause PTSD

The findings are based on the data collected from more than 1.7 million people across the world. It suggested those with PTSD are 61 per cent more likely to suffer dementia at a later stage.

Tanya Dharamshi, clinical director and counselling psychologist at the Priory Wellbeing Centre in Dubai, said she has seen more patients receive treatment for PTSD as a direct result of the pandemic.

“It stands to reason some people will go on to develop PTSD, particularly, if their recovery is lengthy or their physical health remains impacted,” she said.

“It can also affect those who have lost a loved one, especially when you consider the circumstances, as they are likely to be isolated from their loved ones at the time of their death.”

According to the National Health Service in the UK, PTSD can develop after a very stressful, frightening or distressing event, or after a prolonged traumatic experience.

It is unclear why some people develop the condition while others do not.

People who have suffered from depression or anxiety in the past, do not have emotional and psychological support or have gone through a traumatic event are more likely to develop PTSD.

The sufferers experience insomnia, get angry, confused and anxious, have panic attacks, flashbacks or numbness, and feel detached from reality.

“Those who have had a previous traumatic experience could find Covid-19 triggers the condition again,” said Ms Dharamshi.

“Previous sufferers move into a fight or flight zone when they re-experience similar emotions such as panic, a lack of control, anxiety and a fear of being hurt or dying.”

To combat the psychological ill-effects of the pandemic, several help avenues of support have been set up for healthcare staff, patients and their families.

The ReacHer initiative in the UAE provides counselling to women via WhatsApp, and allows psychologists and life coaches to offer online support to those who have suffered during the pandemic.

A free helpline was also established by the UAE National Programme for Happiness and Wellbeing.

Treatment for PTSD varies, and can include cognitive processing therapy, eye movement desensitisation reprocessing, stress inoculation therapy, prolonged exposure therapy and medication management.

"I have worked with several clients who showed signs of PTSD, with flashbacks, intense and overwhelming feelings when remembering traumatic events," said Anil Arora, a psychotherapist in Abu Dhabi who organises counselling sessions online for Change Therapies, a digital therapy clinic.

“Witnessing a trauma like a loved one being hospitalised for Covid-19 or even surviving the virus can cause PTSD.

“In fact, those people who are front-line workers are prone to PTSD as they are experiencing trauma everyday.”

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  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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Virat Kohli (c), Mayank Agarwal, Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wk), Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Shubman Gill

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Saturday

Borussia Dortmund v Eintracht Frankfurt (5.30pm kick-off UAE)

Bayer Leverkusen v Schalke (5.30pm)

Wolfsburg v Cologne (5.30pm)

Mainz v Arminia Bielefeld (5.30pm)

Augsburg v Hoffenheim (5.30pm)

RB Leipzig v Bayern Munich (8.30pm)

Borussia Monchengladbach v Freiburg (10.30pm)

Sunday

VfB Stuttgart v Werder Bremen  (5.30pm)

Union Berlin v Hertha Berlin (8pm)

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Profile Idealz

Company: Idealz

Founded: January 2018

Based: Dubai

Sector: E-commerce

Size: (employees): 22

Investors: Co-founders and Venture Partners (9 per cent)

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How it works

1) The liquid nanoclay is a mixture of water and clay that aims to convert desert land to fertile ground

2) Instead of water draining straight through the sand, it apparently helps the soil retain water

3) One application is said to last five years

4) The cost of treatment per hectare (2.4 acres) of desert varies from $7,000 to $10,000 per hectare 

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Pushkin Press

Electric scooters: some rules to remember
  • Riders must be 14-years-old or over
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  • Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
  • Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
  • Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
  • Do not drive outside designated lanes

Movie: Saheb, Biwi aur Gangster 3

Producer: JAR Films

Director: Tigmanshu Dhulia

Cast: Sanjay Dutt, Jimmy Sheirgill, Mahie Gill, Chitrangda Singh, Kabir Bedi

Rating: 3 star

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

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Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr

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If you go

 

  • The nearest international airport to the start of the Chuysky Trakt is in Novosibirsk. Emirates (www.emirates.com) offer codeshare flights with S7 Airlines (www.s7.ru) via Moscow for US$5,300 (Dh19,467) return including taxes. Cheaper flights are available on Flydubai and Air Astana or Aeroflot combination, flying via Astana in Kazakhstan or Moscow. Economy class tickets are available for US$650 (Dh2,400).
  • The Double Tree by Hilton in Novosibirsk ( 7 383 2230100,) has double rooms from US$60 (Dh220). You can rent cabins at camp grounds or rooms in guesthouses in the towns for around US$25 (Dh90).
  • The transport Minibuses run along the Chuysky Trakt but if you want to stop for sightseeing, hire a taxi from Gorno-Altaisk for about US$100 (Dh360) a day. Take a Russian phrasebook or download a translation app. Tour companies such as  Altair-Tour ( 7 383 2125115 ) offer hiking and adventure packages.
UAE Premiership

Results
Dubai Exiles 24-28 Jebel Ali Dragons
Abu Dhabi Harlequins 43-27 Dubai Hurricanes

Fixture
Friday, March 29, Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Jebel Ali Dragons, The Sevens, Dubai

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​​​​​​​Bloomsbury Academic

'The worst thing you can eat'

Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.

Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines: 

Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.

Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.

Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.

Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.

Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.

ALL THE RESULTS

Bantamweight

Siyovush Gulmomdov (TJK) bt Rey Nacionales (PHI) by decision.

Lightweight

Alexandru Chitoran (ROU) bt Hussein Fakhir Abed (SYR) by submission.

Catch 74kg

Omar Hussein (JOR) bt Tohir Zhuraev (TJK) by decision.

Strawweight (Female)

Seo Ye-dam (KOR) bt Weronika Zygmunt (POL) by decision.

Featherweight

Kaan Ofli (TUR) bt Walid Laidi (ALG) by TKO.

Lightweight

Abdulla Al Bousheiri (KUW) bt Leandro Martins (BRA) by TKO.

Welterweight

Ahmad Labban (LEB) bt Sofiane Benchohra (ALG) by TKO.

Bantamweight

Jaures Dea (CAM) v Nawras Abzakh (JOR) no contest.

Lightweight

Mohammed Yahya (UAE) bt Glen Ranillo (PHI) by TKO round 1.

Lightweight

Alan Omer (GER) bt Aidan Aguilera (AUS) by TKO round 1.

Welterweight

Mounir Lazzez (TUN) bt Sasha Palatkinov (HKG) by TKO round 1.

Featherweight title bout

Romando Dy (PHI) v Lee Do-gyeom (KOR) by KO round 1.

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