Expats In Bahrain Urged To Avoid Heart Attacks

Due to an increase in the numbers of foreigners in the emirate dying from heart attacks, Bahraini medical professionals are urging expats to adopt a healthy lifestyle.

According to healthcare professionals and social workers, some 50 expats passed away due to heart attacks during the past few months, five of whom died this month. Seven more deaths due to the same cause were listed during July and August, with ten more dying in February. According to a cardiovascular specialist at Shifa al Jazeera Medical centre, diseases such as hypertension and diabetes are linked with heart attacks and are often the result of unhealthy lifestyles.

Common symptoms include chest tightness, shortness of breath, heartburn pains spreading to the jawbone, fatigue and dizziness. Medical specialists agree that stress is also a risk factor, as are high blood pressure, obesity, lack of physical exercise, excessive tiredness, heavy drinking or smoking and high blood cholesterol. Medications can reduce risks after diagnosis, as can drinking a lot of water, sleeping well, avoiding fatty foods and eating large qualities of fruit and vegetables. Expats in Bahrain are also being urged to take advantage of free health check-ups offered at various local hospitals by healthy living campaigns.

Another recent health warning may cause dismay amongst expats determined to reduce their consumption of electricity either to save money or to help save the planet. A report has revealed the ‘blue light’ in LED lighting can cause retinal damage as well as disturbing sleep patterns. According to French report, powerful LED lights are photo-toxic, causing blurring of vision and loss of retinal cells. The good news is that the high levels required to cause chronic damage are rarely found in domestic settings, but chronic exposure over years can cause accelerated ageing of the retina. However, computer monitors or laptop screens aren’t harmful as their luminosity is very low.