'Oman residents not exposed to enough sunlight'

Muscat: Sun-starved people in Oman are being urged to top up their vitamin D levels to avoid various kinds of diseases, a health expert said.
“Sunlight is very important to us, may be because of the outside temperature there seems to be a lack of outdoor activities and movement, which results in developing joint problems for many,” Chief Operating Officer of Apollo Hospital Muscat, Debraj Sanyal, said, while announcing the latest steps in enhancing its super-speciality departments for Orthopaedics and Urology.
Doctors say that sunlight may be in abundance in Oman, but the residents are not getting enough of it. That is one of the reasons doctors see patients suffering from vitamin D deficiency all year, but it grows worse in the summer months as soaring summer temperatures keep many indoors.
Osteoarthritis
Doctors say that because of the lack of activities and vitamin D, osteoarthritis sets in early.
“At the time, the bones become soft and the legs start getting deformed,” Professor Dr Vladmir Martinek, senior consultant in Orthopaedics and Traumatology from Germany, who is an expert in treating joints, especially knees, shoulders and hips, said.
The importance of vitamin D lies in its ability to absorb calcium and phosphorus, which are nutrients that play a prominent role in protecting human bones and the strength of muscles, as well help fight diseases, such as colon cancer, breast cancer, heart disease, Type I diabetes, and common flu.
“A considerable number of patients, who are seeking medical care abroad are rising. So, we felt it is our duty as private sector member to provide the services right here. We are committed to bringing global healthcare best practices and standards to Oman at an affordable cost as per the guidance of the Ministry of Health,” Sanyal added.
Urology—genitourinary surgery has been added to Apollo’s portfolio, with the surgical branch dealing with kidneys, urethra, bladder, prostate, male genital organs headed by Dr A N Nagaraj. “As far as Urology is concerned, stones and cancer of the kidney, bladder and prostrate are some of the major concerns here,” pointed out Dr Nagaraj. Martinek also said: “The most common sports injury is Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) in Oman.”