With a specific focus on the Gulf, Dr Syed Husain, lead consultant pulmonologist at King’s College Hospital London Dubai, emphasises the unique environmental factors influencing the prevalence of respiratory conditions in this episode of Know Plan Go, a podcast series by Gulf News in collaboration with Pfizer. It covers the diverse spectrum of respiratory illnesses prevalent in the Gulf, including asthma triggered by environmental factors like dust and allergies, obstructive sleep apnoea linked to obesity, bronchitis following viral infections, and smoking-related issues.
In the first episode of Gulf News and Pfizer’s eight-part podcast series, Know Plan Go, Dr Ali Al Dibbiat explores the vulnerability of individuals with diabetes to viral respiratory infections and discusses vital factors and preventive strategies. Dr Ali, a renowned consultant endocrinologist with over two decades of clinical experience, explains that uncontrolled blood sugar levels weaken the immune system, making the body susceptible to infections. He notes that factors such as the duration of diabetes and poor sugar control play a significant role in this heightened risk.
The podcast highlights the importance of understanding the different types of diabetes, with age being a key factor in assessing risk. It delves into how both type 1 and type 2 diabetes patients face varying degrees of vulnerability to respiratory infections, and how their age and the maturity of their immune system also play a role. The conversation also touches on the impact of fluctuating blood glucose levels
Due to the greater susceptibility of individuals with hypertension to complications from common colds and flu, Dr Sara underscores the importance of seeking immediate medical attention in case of flu-like symptoms. “In the long term, hypertension will affect the wall of the blood vessels and it can lead to complications in different organs. It makes it a challenge for the immune system to fight and kill viruses. So, people with hypertension, especially those who have uncontrolled high blood pressure, are at high risk of getting complications and severe respiratory infections compared to those with normal blood pressure,” says Dr Sara.
In the second episode of the ongoing podcast series, Know Plan Go: Protect Yourself from Respiratory Infections, by Gulf News in partnership with Pfizer, Dr Sara Abdelmgeed, a seasoned medical professional with over 11 years of clinical experience across Dubai and Egypt, discusses the connection between hypertension and the increased risks individuals face when dealing with severe viral infections.
Hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure, can significantly weaken the immune system and compromise blood vessels, amplifying the challenges of combatting viral infections. In this episode, Dr Sarah breaks down different aspects of hypertension, highlighting its impact on blood vessels. She also discusses the ideal blood pressure readings and emphasises the need for consistent monitoring, especially at home, considering that over 40 per cent of hypertensive individuals might be unaware of their condition.
Due to the greater susceptibility of individuals with hypertension to compl
In the first episode of Gulf News and Pfizer’s eight-part podcast series, Know Plan Go, Dr Ali Al Dibbiat explores the vulnerability of individuals with diabetes to viral respiratory infections and discusses vital factors and preventive strategies. Dr Ali, a renowned consultant endocrinologist with over two decades of clinical experience, explains that uncontrolled blood sugar levels weaken the immune system, making the body susceptible to infections. He notes that factors such as the duration of diabetes and poor sugar control play a significant role in this heightened risk.
The podcast highlights the importance of understanding the different types of diabetes, with age being a key factor in assessing risk. It delves into how both type 1 and type 2 diabetes patients face varying degrees of vulnerability to respiratory infections, and how their age and the maturity of their immune system also play a role. The conversation also touches on the impact of fluctuating blood glucose levels