Filipinos based in the United Arab Emirates are advised to eat less processed food and make it a habit to exercise regularly as many are falling ill with common lifestyle ailments such as cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol, medical experts say.
Hypertension and cardiovascular diseases, Type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia or high cholesterol, and hyperuricaemia (high uric acid) and respiratory illnesses are the top five illnesses plaguing Filipinos in the UAE, doctors from The Medical City (TMC), the Philippines’ largest health-care network which recently opened in Dubai, said in a report posted at Gulf News.
Besides heredity factors, cute gastroenteritis and peptic ulcer are also on the list of lifestyle-induced illnesses. Diets with high salt and fat content are tagged as primary reasons Filipinos have been diagnosed with such illnesses.
Many Filipinos eat out or order food through delivery or take away numerous times a week, adversely affecting their health, notes Dr Marissa Joson, a cardiologist at The Medical City.
“Finger chips served with fried meat are commonly found in fast food meals. Potato is best consumed baked, not fried. The artery-hardening fries trigger hypertension that is just one step away from a chronic high blood pressure problem,” Joson said.
She added that protein-rich food drives up the body’s uric acid unless protein is used up through strenuous physical activity. Likewise, she warned the public to be more conscious on intake of highly processed meat such as meatloaf or sausage.
“A lot of our patients consume such food in large amounts but do not do anything to counter the negative effects,” Joson said.
