The pros and cons of preventive medicine were under the spotlight late last year, when the US Preventive Task Force issued its latest guidelines. The task force recommended that women over 50 get a mammography screening every two years; women of 40 to 49 get a mammogram only after talking to their doctors; and that health care providers should no longer teach breast self-exams because the instruction is ineffective. This added fuel to the often fiery debate over the best way to protect women against breast cancer. Critics argue that mammography only saves four per 100,000 women, but produces a number of false positives, meaning that perfectly healthy women have to go through the gruelling process of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and even surgery for no reason.
The jury is still out on the efficiencey of mass screening programmes. But experts in preventive medicine (which, as the name suggests, focuses on preventing rather than curing disease), such as Harold M Fain, an Oklahoma-basedl doctor certified in preventive and family medicine, argue that women should receive high-quality information and have the choice about whether to be screened or not.
"Every woman should receive the information necessary to decide if mammography is right for her," he says. "We should allow health care providers and patients to make the best decision for health based on sound medical evidence - not misinformation, rumours, financial conflicts of interest, emotions or politics."
This debate looks set to run and run, with no clear answer yet in sight. But one thing that is clear is the unequivocally positive role of preventive medicine in many other areas. Medical researchers and physicians are increasingly confident about our ability to prevent a whole host of diseases, from cancers such as prostate and bowel cancer, coronary heart disease (CHD), type-2 diabetes, dementia, stroke and osteoporosis. This new approach entails lifestyle changes such as improved diet and increased physical activity, prophylactic treatments like statins to reduce cholesterol and ward off CHD and, crucially, early treatment following screening.
The idea that disease should be prevented rather than cured may prove irksome to the drug companies making billions of dollars a year dispensing pills to cure or mitigate the symptoms of a wide range of ailments - and further pills to counteract the side effects of the original medication. For the rest of us, prevention is a wonderful idea. Let's take bowel cancer as an example. If caught early, there is a 90 per cent survival rate. But if the disease is detected late there is a 90 per cent mortality rate. Clinics that focus on preventive medicine offer clients a rigorous health screening comprising blood and urine tests, ultrasound and MRI scanning, eye and ear checks, neuroimaging and a "structural assessment" to detect problems in the musculoskeletal system.
Dr Garry Savin is medical director of one such clinic, Preventicum (www.preventicum.co.uk), based inWest London, claims to offer Europe's most advanced health assessment. "We are all about prevention here," says Savin, "with tests like MRI scans and ultrasound. We use those because, unlike a CAT scan, they don't emit radiation - we don't think it wise to subject a healthy, symptom-free person to large doses of radiation.'
Many of the clients who pass through Preventicum's doors have no symptoms whatsoever. They might be young and therefore at low risk of age-related diseases like prostate cancer or dementia and feel in the rudest of health. But the philosophy of preventive medicine is to stop these diseases in their tracks by analysing a patient's lifestyle, especially their diet, whether they smoke or take regular exercise, stress levels and family history of disease (one of the best predictors of developing those diseases yourself), and seeking indicators of the early onset of disease, like damage to the carotid arteries, which supply blood to the brain. Problems here can lead to blockages and stroke.
Evidence of damage to the coronary arteries, which supply blood to the heart muscle is also sought. Again, symptoms like chest pains, breathlessness or palpitations are a poor indicator of cardiac problems, because they usually only occur in the advanced stages of the disease. "Most people with coronary artery disease show no evidence of ill health for decades as the disease progresses before the first onset of symptoms, often a sudden heart attack, finally occurs," says Dr Savin. "With a combination of MRI and ultrasound scans of the heart and arterial system, we can get a clear picture of any narrowings, swellings or aneurysms - the dilation of a blood vessel that can lead to haemorrhages. We can also detect scarring in the heart muscle, indicating a 'silent' heart attack, which often goes undetected." If these scans detect any abnormality, Savin's team can immediately recommend a course of treatment or lifestyle changes that will help prevent the onset of coronary heart disease decades before it proves fatal.
Given the fact that CHD is the number one killer of both men and women in the US, Europe, Middle East and throughout the developed world, the importance of catching and preventing it before symptoms occur becomes clear.
Another key component of preventive medicine is tackling ageing - or at least the many diseases that afflict us as the cellular structure of our bodies deteriorates. The Diagnostic Clinic (www.thediagnosticclinic.com), situated near London's Harley Street, is another centre of excellence for preventive medicine. The clinic recently unveiled a new treatment option called Regenerus, which it claims is the most comprehensive anti-ageing assessment and "life-enhancement programme" in the UK. Although ageing is, of course, inevitable, the way we age is the result of the changing conditions and processes happening inside our bodies - our metabolism, genetic inheritance, cell deterioration, nervous system, diet, lifestyle and environment.
Dr Rajendra Sharma, the clinic's medical director, explains its approach. "We specialise in complementary and diagnostic medicine generally, focusing on the underlying causes of disease," he says. "But I have taken a particular interest in gerontology, the study of ageing. While we and many other developed countries are good at treating disease in the elderly, geriatrics, we are less skilful at keeping our youthfulness and extending our life healthily."
Dr Sharma uses the example of rheumatoid arthritis - a common age-related condition - to demarcate the difference between his approach and that of other medics. "An orthodox doctor would start with diagnostics, then prescribe painkillers or steroids to treat the arthritis. But we would go much deeper, asking a whole series of questions. Unsurprisingly, undergoing a battery of tests at either of these clinics doesn't come cheap - for example, the Health MOT (a comprehensive check-up) at Preventicum costs £2,950 (Dh17,700). That makes this type of early screening prohibitively expensive for many of us, though advocates of preventive medicine argue that the cost of screening is relatively low compared with the tens of billions spent on treatment. (One example: the cost of heart disease and stroke in the US, including health care expenditure and lost productivity, is projected to be more than $475bn in 2009.)
Another, rather more low-tech approach to preventive medicine is affordable for more. A burgeoning number of clinics and fitness specialists are combining sophisticated analyses of the musculoskeletal system with individually tailored exercise regimes to correct structural problems and strengthen key muscles, especially those supporting joints or in the "core" (those that stabilise the spine and pelvis, running the entire length of our torso).
Jeff Murray, director of Ambition Health and Performance (www.ambitionfitness.com), is one of this new breed. His London-based clinics offer holistic treatment combining osteopathy, corrective exercise, injury rehabilitation, deep-tissue massage and nutrition. Above all, though, he aims to give clients the tools to keep their bodies in optimum condition.
"Many people spend money on health products and services but are resistant to making the essential changes required for a long-term successful outcome," argues Murray. "Everyone wants a quick fix, but that doesn't really exist. Good health is aligned to several simple principles which should be applied for life and don't cost much at all."
At the heart of Murray's approach is a combination of osteopathy - to realign necks, spines, hips, knees and other joints bent out of shape by our sedentary, sofa/car/desk-based existence - and exercise. After a few sessions with a corrective exercise specialist, the latter is something anyone can do.
"Exercise is the forgotten component of health," insists Murray. "It is just as important as rest, hydration and nutrition, yet less than 20 per cent of us take regular exercise. Our body is designed for movement and requires it to function correctly. Without movement we become ill as our vital organs, muscles, bones and tissue break down from under-use."
Combining nutrition, sufficient rest and corrective exercise is, according to experts like Murray, vital for maintaining optimum health now and staving off a host of stress and age-related conditions in the future.
A word of caution: the internet is awash with unscrupulous websites and "experts" offering all sorts of, at best, useless and, at worst, downright dangerous medical advice and products. Before paying for any kind of treatment, always research it carefully and speak to your doctor to make sure it's medically sound.
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Raha%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Kuwait%2FSaudi%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Tech%20Logistics%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2414%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Soor%20Capital%2C%20eWTP%20Arabia%20Capital%2C%20Aujan%20Enterprises%2C%20Nox%20Management%2C%20Cedar%20Mundi%20Ventures%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20166%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Turkish Ladies
Various artists, Sony Music Turkey
Key features of new policy
Pupils to learn coding and other vocational skills from Grade 6
Exams to test critical thinking and application of knowledge
A new National Assessment Centre, PARAKH (Performance, Assessment, Review and Analysis for Holistic Development) will form the standard for schools
Schools to implement online system to encouraging transparency and accountability
Dark Souls: Remastered
Developer: From Software (remaster by QLOC)
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Price: Dh199
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
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
RACE CARD
6.30pm Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,200
7.05pm Handicap Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m
7.40pm Maiden Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m
8.15pm Handicap Dh190,000 (D) 1,600m
8.50pm Handicap Dh175,000 (D) 1,400m
9.25pm Handicap Dh175,000 (D) 2,000m
The National selections:
6.30pm Underwriter
7.05pm Rayig
7.40pm Torno Subito
8.15pm Talento Puma
8.50pm Etisalat
9.25pm Gundogdu
How green is the expo nursery?
Some 400,000 shrubs and 13,000 trees in the on-site nursery
An additional 450,000 shrubs and 4,000 trees to be delivered in the months leading up to the expo
Ghaf, date palm, acacia arabica, acacia tortilis, vitex or sage, techoma and the salvadora are just some heat tolerant native plants in the nursery
Approximately 340 species of shrubs and trees selected for diverse landscape
The nursery team works exclusively with organic fertilisers and pesticides
All shrubs and trees supplied by Dubai Municipality
Most sourced from farms, nurseries across the country
Plants and trees are re-potted when they arrive at nursery to give them room to grow
Some mature trees are in open areas or planted within the expo site
Green waste is recycled as compost
Treated sewage effluent supplied by Dubai Municipality is used to meet the majority of the nursery’s irrigation needs
Construction workforce peaked at 40,000 workers
About 65,000 people have signed up to volunteer
Main themes of expo is ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ and three subthemes of opportunity, mobility and sustainability.
Expo 2020 Dubai to open in October 2020 and run for six months
The specs
Engine: 4-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: eight-speed PDK
Power: 630bhp
Torque: 820Nm
Price: Dh683,200
On sale: now
Jordan cabinet changes
In
- Raed Mozafar Abu Al Saoud, Minister of Water and Irrigation
- Dr Bassam Samir Al Talhouni, Minister of Justice
- Majd Mohamed Shoueikeh, State Minister of Development of Foundation Performance
- Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research
- Falah Abdalla Al Ammoush, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Basma Moussa Ishakat, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Ghazi Monawar Al Zein, Minister of Health
- Ibrahim Sobhi Alshahahede, Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Environment
- Dr Mohamed Suleiman Aburamman, Minister of Culture and Minister of Youth
Out
- Dr Adel Issa Al Tawissi, Minister of High Education and Scientific Research
- Hala Noaman “Basiso Lattouf”, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Mahmud Yassin Al Sheyab, Minister of Health
- Yahya Moussa Kasbi, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Nayef Hamidi Al Fayez, Minister of Environment
- Majd Mohamed Shoueika, Minister of Public Sector Development
- Khalid Moussa Al Huneifat, Minister of Agriculture
- Dr Awad Abu Jarad Al Mushakiba, Minister of Justice
- Mounir Moussa Ouwais, Minister of Water and Agriculture
- Dr Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education
- Mokarram Mustafa Al Kaysi, Minister of Youth
- Basma Mohamed Al Nousour, Minister of Culture
MATCH INFO
Europa League final
Who: Marseille v Atletico Madrid
Where: Parc OL, Lyon, France
When: Wednesday, 10.45pm kick off (UAE)
TV: BeIN Sports
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
The Saga Continues
Wu-Tang Clan
(36 Chambers / Entertainment One)
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
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
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
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.
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Tank warfare
Lt Gen Erik Petersen, deputy chief of programs, US Army, has argued it took a “three decade holiday” on modernising tanks.
“There clearly remains a significant armoured heavy ground manoeuvre threat in this world and maintaining a world class armoured force is absolutely vital,” the general said in London last week.
“We are developing next generation capabilities to compete with and deter adversaries to prevent opportunism or miscalculation, and, if necessary, defeat any foe decisively.”
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
The Written World: How Literature Shaped History
Martin Puchner
Granta
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley