Dubai Health Authority advocates early intervention of abdominal pain.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, December 22, 2016:  While almost everyone will experience abdominal pain at some point in their lives, Dubai Health Authority(DHA) doctors advice that recurrent abdominal pain should not be taken lightly and that timely diagnosis is vital for better.

DHA doctors announced this at the Authority’s weekly smart clinic which is an initiative to dissiminate vital health information to the community through Twitter and Periscope.

H.E. Dr. Nasser Khalifa Al Budoor, Assistant Undersecretary of MOHAP and Director of Dubai Medical District attended the clinic as a guest speaker and highlighted the importance of this clinic and its value to the community. 

Dr Haitham Sawalmeh, senior specialist surgeon at Rashid Hospital, said: “Patients try to solve the problem of abdominal pain using herbs, home-remedies in the initial stages and don’t take it seriously. Often they visit a general practitioner once the pain is quite severe and prolonged. Depending on their condition, they may be referred to see a specialist. Thus, from the time of the initial symptoms to the time of diagnosis the time lapse is huge. This may cause unnecessary complications and a more aggressive form of treatment.”

Dr Sawalmeh said that 80 per cent of all surgeries done by the general surgery department at Rashid Hospital are abdominal surgeries. He further added: “ About 75 per cent of gastrointestinal tract diseases ( GI) can be corrected by lifestyle changes which include diet and exercise. Twenty-five per cent are related to organ pathology and they require intervention, surgical or non-surgical.”

He said that people should be aware of when to see a doctor in cases of abdominal pain. 

Dr Sawalmeh said: “If the abdominal pain is severe or recurrent or if it is accompanied by any of the following symptoms, people should contact their health care provider immediately. The symptoms include fever, persistent vomiting, signs of dehydration, painful urination, pain as result of injury, pain that lasts for hours, inability to pass stool, bloody stools, difficulty breathing and pain during pregnancy.”