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STRESS CITY
Doctor warns frantic pace of Dubai life is making many residents sick
A top neurologist has warned
By Nichola Jones
that Dubai’s hectic lifestyle is
taking its toll on people’s health. International Labour Organis-
Dr Muhammad Ismail, from ation’s convention on workers
the American Hospital in Dubai, rights in a bid to protect people
moved to the UAE from Florida being forced to work in excess
two years ago and says he has of 48 hours a week but there
been shocked by the number of are claims the regulations are
patients he sees suffering from exploited by some firms.
migraines brought on by stress. But the threat of redundancy is
He said: “I thought there would thought to be the biggest stress-
be more lifestyle stress in the causing factor in the current
United States but I was surprised climate. The latest Ministry of
at what I found in Dubai. I see Labour figures show 405,000
about 20 patients per day and residency visas were cancelled
about 50 per cent have migraines. between October 2008 and March.
“There are many triggers for Three in every four UAE-based
migraines but stress is one of the professionals are worried about
key factors. It’s the fast lifestyle, job security and 57 per cent of
work pressures, family stress and them said their company had cut
balancing everything. jobs, a survey by Bayt.com and
“And there are more people with YouGov showed last month.
migraines since the economic “There is a lack of security
crisis began. People are now now, employees with short-term
worried about the job situation.” contracts are going to be
Carole Spiers, a stress manage- concerned they are not going to
ment expert with companies last as long as they thought,”
across Dubai, said she has seen a Spiers said.
marked rise in the number of Aside from the pressures of
people in Dubai suffering from work, the party lifestyle in Dubai
stress over the past four years. also plays a part in the high
She said: “People are going into number of migraine sufferers.
panic mode in light of the “Migraines more commonly
recession but it’s here and it’s affect younger people and we
affecting the world and Dubai.” have a young population here in
The UAE has signed up to the Dubai,” Spiers added.
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