UAE residents are increasing their risk of an early death by failing to understand how poor lifestyle can damage the heart, doctors have warned.
A new survey has revealed that while public awareness about how to stay healthy is growing, many continue to smoke or fail to take proper exercise.
Researchers asked more than 1,000 residents in the Emirates to identify which of nine potential catalysts of heart disease they believed they suffered from.
The risk factors included obesity, high blood pressure, anger issues and smoking, with 71 per cent of those polled all choosing at least one category.
“This is the tip of the iceberg,” said Dima Quraini, a cardiologist at the Cleveland Clinic, who stressed that people typically underestimated how unhealthy they were when asked in surveys.
“Less than one out of three people reported having no risk factors, so there’s a lot of work for us to do. But the problem is probably much larger.”
Researchers from YouGov polled 1,002 residents from around the UAE between August 21 and 27.
The survey, timed to coincide with World Heart Day next week, was done on behalf of the Cleveland Clinic in Abu Dhabi.
Its results showed one in five people admitted they smoked, 35 per cent said they did not exercise enough and almost a third - 32 per cent - said they were often stressed.
Because the data was self-reported, however, doctors warned the true extent of risk factors were likely to be far higher, particularly in respect of high blood pressure or being diabetic, which can both remain undiagnosed for long periods.
The study also found that many people were open to undergoing weight loss surgery as a way to improve their health.
Across all age groups, 18 per cent said they would consider weight loss surgery, while a further 36 per cent said they would “maybe” consider it.
Potentially undergoing surgery was even higher among the 30-39 age group, with nearly a quarter - 23 per cent - saying they would consider it and a further 37 per cent saying they would “maybe” think about going under the knife.
Dr Quraini said she was concerned that a rising number of people were seeing surgery as a “quick fix” alternative to changing their diets and lifestyles.
“I see young, otherwise healthy patients, who come to see us because they are interested in bariatric surgery,” she said. “I don’t feel like they always exhaust lifestyle changes.
“There are people who can benefit from weight loss surgery, but it’s still surgery and people can get complications.
“So, especially for a young patient, I would strongly advise them to pursue lifestyle changes that will stay with them for life and improve their overall health.”
In recent years, the UAE government has launched a string of campaigns and policies aimed at encouraging people to lead healthier lifestyles.
These include a 100 per cent tax on tobacco products, introduced in October 2017, and a tax on sugary drinks.
The survey also found that those on lower salaries were continuing to smoke at higher levels than residents with bigger incomes.
Among those on salaries of Dh10,000 or less, 22 per cent admitted they smoked. This fell to 16 per cent among those earning Dh25,000 or more.
While health awareness in the UAE had generally increased since the Cleveland Clinic commissioned a similar survey two years age, almost three in 10 - or 29 per cent - were not aware that a high body mass index – a calculation of fat based on height and weight – can lead to an increased risk of heart disease. This rose to 37 per cent among Emiratis.
Large gender differences were also uncovered in the survey. Women were five percentage points more likely than men to admit to being obese, nine percentage points more likely to say they had uncontrolled anger issues, 10 points more likely to admit to a lack of exercise and 13 points more likely to be stressed. However, women were seven percentage points less likely to smoke.
“Our survey shows that while there is a growing awareness among the population of how lifestyle impacts their heart health, there is still a great deal of work to be done in order to tackle the issues that drive high levels of heart disease in our community,” said Professor Murat Tuzcu, Chair of the Heart and Vascular Institute at Cleveland Clinic.
“I encourage people to look at these results and consider what lifestyle changes they can make to reduce their risk of heart disease, which is the number one killer in Abu Dhabi.
“Without a strong focus on prevention, we will continue to see high rates of cardiovascular disease for generations to come.”
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
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
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Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
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FULL%20RESULTS
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl
Power: 153hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 200Nm at 4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Price: Dh99,000
On sale: now
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Biog
Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara
He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada
Father of two sons, grandfather of six
Plays golf once a week
Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family
Walks for an hour every morning
Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Loyola College, Chennai, India
2019 is a milestone because he completes 50 years in business
RACE SCHEDULE
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Friday, September 29
First practice: 7am - 8.30am
Second practice: 11am - 12.30pm
Saturday, September 30
Qualifying: 1pm - 2pm
Sunday, October 1
Race: 11am - 1pm
Day 1 results:
Open Men (bonus points in brackets)
New Zealand 125 (1) beat UAE 111 (3)
India 111 (4) beat Singapore 75 (0)
South Africa 66 (2) beat Sri Lanka 57 (2)
Australia 126 (4) beat Malaysia -16 (0)
Open Women
New Zealand 64 (2) beat South Africa 57 (2)
England 69 (3) beat UAE 63 (1)
Australia 124 (4) beat UAE 23 (0)
New Zealand 74 (2) beat England 55 (2)
The specs
Engine: 2.3-litre, turbo four-cylinder
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Power: 300hp
Torque: 420Nm
Price: Dh189,900
On sale: now
Essentials
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Delhi from about Dh950 return including taxes.
The hotels
Double rooms at Tijara Fort-Palace cost from 6,670 rupees (Dh377), including breakfast.
Doubles at Fort Bishangarh cost from 29,030 rupees (Dh1,641), including breakfast. Doubles at Narendra Bhawan cost from 15,360 rupees (Dh869). Doubles at Chanoud Garh cost from 19,840 rupees (Dh1,122), full board. Doubles at Fort Begu cost from 10,000 rupees (Dh565), including breakfast.
The tours
Amar Grover travelled with Wild Frontiers. A tailor-made, nine-day itinerary via New Delhi, with one night in Tijara and two nights in each of the remaining properties, including car/driver, costs from £1,445 (Dh6,968) per person.
The bio
Favourite vegetable: Broccoli
Favourite food: Seafood
Favourite thing to cook: Duck l'orange
Favourite book: Give and Take by Adam Grant, one of his professors at University of Pennsylvania
Favourite place to travel: Home in Kuwait.
Favourite place in the UAE: Al Qudra lakes
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Swiss fly direct from the UAE to Zurich from Dh2,855 return, including taxes.
The chalet
Chalet N is currently open in winter only, between now and April 21. During the ski season, starting on December 11, a week’s rental costs from €210,000 (Dh898,431) per week for the whole property, which has 22 beds in total, across six suites, three double rooms and a children’s suite. The price includes all scheduled meals, a week’s ski pass, Wi-Fi, parking, transfers between Munich, Innsbruck or Zurich airports and one 50-minute massage per person. Private ski lessons cost from €360 (Dh1,541) per day. Halal food is available on request.
Dubai World Cup draw
1. Gunnevera
2. Capezzano
3. North America
4. Audible
5. Seeking The Soul
6. Pavel
7. Gronkowski
8. Axelrod
9. New Trails
10. Yoshida
11. K T Brave
12. Thunder Snow
13. Dolkong
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
'Morbius'
Director: Daniel Espinosa
Stars: Jared Leto, Matt Smith, Adria Arjona
Rating: 2/5
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About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.