Good sleep, exercise vital for better health: Expert
While many are petrified to even think of ageing and some have indulged even in solving the process superficially, a medical specialist from Bangkok has offered five ways to do so.
'Good sleep. Rest is essential for health. Aim for eight hours of sleep each night. Personally, I am in bed at 10pm every day,' said Dr. Tanupol Vurunhagarun.
He also said: 'Eat healthily. Obesity and excess fat are harmful. Choose nutritious food for better health. Exercise regularly. Aim for 30 minutes five days a week. Avoid harmful substances. Stay away from pollution and do not smoke. Reduce alcohol in-take. These increase the risk for cancer. Think positive. Healthy mind equals healthy body. Overthinking and stress are unhealthy. Rest more. Worry less.'
Numerous times repeated by other healthcare workers and consultants as these have yet been so oftentimes ignored because it involves lifestyle change – at least in the past 10 years – Vurunhagarun stressed the importance of these tips from the recent 'Wellness Hub Thailand: The Future of Global Wellness.'
The forum, hosted by the Royal Thai Consulate General in Dubai and attended by healthcare networks across the UAE, is part of the government policy to raise international awareness on the Southeast Asian monarchy, as the place to go to for the holistic approach to over-all health by way of Preventive Medicine.
Interviewed ahead, government emissary Vurunhagarun, the Bangkok Dusit Medical Services chief executive officer, clarified that Preventive Medicine is synonymous to Wellness/Lifestyle Medicine.
On why wellness matters – compared to those years when medical consultation was the course of action when one's health is at its severest, Vurunhagarun, replied: 'Getting sick costs too much money. Obesity is high anywhere in the world. Diabetes is everywhere. We are now in the Ageing Society. We must keep our elderly healthy. Otherwise the world would go bankrupt. The most recent pandemic also taught us to give premium to our health. Or else, we may face the worst.'
Meanwhile on ageing, the United Nations, alongside other international bodies, such as the 38-country Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, into the formulation of policies towards continuous improvements on economic and social well-being around the world, have classified the sexagenarians as the elderly: 'By the late 2070s, the 65-year-old and older are projected to reach 2.2 billion, surpassing the number of children under aged 18.'
A decade by now, there would be 265 million senior citizens, with the octogenarians outnumbering infants.
On his active participation in the Preventive/Wellness/Lifestyle Medicine campaign, Vurunhagarun who had opted to be in this specialisation 20 years back, as an aftermath of the demise of his grandfather due to lung cancer, when he was a medical student, said: 'Why did the family not learn of it earlier? There must have been early preventive measures.'
That led him to enroll at the American Board of Anti-Ageing and Regenerative Medicine in Illinois. Moreover, he studied sexual health, weight loss, bariatric procedures, music wellness for de-stressing and mental health, nutrition specialisation for the deceleration of the ageing process, as well as meditation.
Vurunhagarun, famous in Thailand as Dr. Amp, the medical social media influencer with two million followers, said that with all the non-communicable diseases continually threatening the socio-economic fabric of practically all countries worldwide, the answer is going back to wise healthy living.
'Before the pandemic, while there were people who took care of their health, many did not care. Wellness Medicine has grown tremendously after COVID19. We now have the technology. We can check everything: memory cell, how much is your deep sleep, the age of your cells, the possibility of cancer,' said Vurunhagarun, adding the health and wellness components of Thailand, namely nature and environment, cuisine, traditional medicine and massage, among others.
These, as the Florida-headquartered Global Wellness Institute, the leading non-profit research and educational entity for the wellness industry, noted that as Thailand 'saw a contraction in 2020 due to the pandemic, declining by 31.6 per cent,' a 28.4 per cent rebound growth was noted between 2022 and 2023.
Main instigator is wellness tourism which generated $12.34 billion in 2023. Each international medical tourism guest spends $1,735 per trip. Local medical tourist shells out $367.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Gulf Today
2 days ago
- Gulf Today
Good sleep, exercise vital for better health: Expert
While many are petrified to even think of ageing and some have indulged even in solving the process superficially, a medical specialist from Bangkok has offered five ways to do so. 'Good sleep. Rest is essential for health. Aim for eight hours of sleep each night. Personally, I am in bed at 10pm every day,' said Dr. Tanupol Vurunhagarun. He also said: 'Eat healthily. Obesity and excess fat are harmful. Choose nutritious food for better health. Exercise regularly. Aim for 30 minutes five days a week. Avoid harmful substances. Stay away from pollution and do not smoke. Reduce alcohol in-take. These increase the risk for cancer. Think positive. Healthy mind equals healthy body. Overthinking and stress are unhealthy. Rest more. Worry less.' Numerous times repeated by other healthcare workers and consultants as these have yet been so oftentimes ignored because it involves lifestyle change – at least in the past 10 years – Vurunhagarun stressed the importance of these tips from the recent 'Wellness Hub Thailand: The Future of Global Wellness.' The forum, hosted by the Royal Thai Consulate General in Dubai and attended by healthcare networks across the UAE, is part of the government policy to raise international awareness on the Southeast Asian monarchy, as the place to go to for the holistic approach to over-all health by way of Preventive Medicine. Interviewed ahead, government emissary Vurunhagarun, the Bangkok Dusit Medical Services chief executive officer, clarified that Preventive Medicine is synonymous to Wellness/Lifestyle Medicine. On why wellness matters – compared to those years when medical consultation was the course of action when one's health is at its severest, Vurunhagarun, replied: 'Getting sick costs too much money. Obesity is high anywhere in the world. Diabetes is everywhere. We are now in the Ageing Society. We must keep our elderly healthy. Otherwise the world would go bankrupt. The most recent pandemic also taught us to give premium to our health. Or else, we may face the worst.' Meanwhile on ageing, the United Nations, alongside other international bodies, such as the 38-country Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, into the formulation of policies towards continuous improvements on economic and social well-being around the world, have classified the sexagenarians as the elderly: 'By the late 2070s, the 65-year-old and older are projected to reach 2.2 billion, surpassing the number of children under aged 18.' A decade by now, there would be 265 million senior citizens, with the octogenarians outnumbering infants. On his active participation in the Preventive/Wellness/Lifestyle Medicine campaign, Vurunhagarun who had opted to be in this specialisation 20 years back, as an aftermath of the demise of his grandfather due to lung cancer, when he was a medical student, said: 'Why did the family not learn of it earlier? There must have been early preventive measures.' That led him to enroll at the American Board of Anti-Ageing and Regenerative Medicine in Illinois. Moreover, he studied sexual health, weight loss, bariatric procedures, music wellness for de-stressing and mental health, nutrition specialisation for the deceleration of the ageing process, as well as meditation. Vurunhagarun, famous in Thailand as Dr. Amp, the medical social media influencer with two million followers, said that with all the non-communicable diseases continually threatening the socio-economic fabric of practically all countries worldwide, the answer is going back to wise healthy living. 'Before the pandemic, while there were people who took care of their health, many did not care. Wellness Medicine has grown tremendously after COVID19. We now have the technology. We can check everything: memory cell, how much is your deep sleep, the age of your cells, the possibility of cancer,' said Vurunhagarun, adding the health and wellness components of Thailand, namely nature and environment, cuisine, traditional medicine and massage, among others. These, as the Florida-headquartered Global Wellness Institute, the leading non-profit research and educational entity for the wellness industry, noted that as Thailand 'saw a contraction in 2020 due to the pandemic, declining by 31.6 per cent,' a 28.4 per cent rebound growth was noted between 2022 and 2023. Main instigator is wellness tourism which generated $12.34 billion in 2023. Each international medical tourism guest spends $1,735 per trip. Local medical tourist shells out $367.
The National
3 days ago
- The National
If we find a way to measure compassion, can we use it to solve global problems?
The adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by United Nations member states in 2015 marked a bold global commitment to reimagine a future shaped by justice, equity, peace and sustainability. The agenda's 17 Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs, have led to critical action on climate change, health and education. Yet progress remains uneven and fragile. Over more than forty years of working to protect children, I have seen the harsh reality and can say with certainty that no group bears the weight of injustice more than children. They are disproportionately affected by poverty and conflict, and in many parts of the world, they are pushed into exploitative labour, denied the chance to go to school, face poor health outcomes, and lack access to clean water and nutrition. These are not isolated challenges but interwoven injustices that rob children of their rights and freedom. Despite many initiatives undertaken and millions of dollars spent, last year's UN Sustainable Development Goals Report found that the world is on track to meet just 17 per cent of these SDG targets. I feel deeply ashamed that we have betrayed our children yet again by missing this year's target of achieving SDG 8.7 – a commitment to ending all forms of child labour by 2025 as part of a broader effort to end slavery, trafficking and forced labour, including child soldiers. Our promise to leave no one behind now seems hollow. Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, the world was off track with respect to Agenda 2030. It is appalling that in 2021, the number of child labourers worldwide increased from 152 million to 160 million. These are not mere numbers – these are children who have been denied justice, who are not free to enjoy their childhood, and who have work tools in their hands instead of books and toys. These are children who we have left behind. We have created so many borders, walls and wars. The effect of conflict on children is catastrophic and often irreversible. Children do not create wars, insurgencies or natural disasters nor are they responsible for any other humanitarian crisis. Nevertheless, they end up caught in the crossfire, often literally. More than 47 million children have been displaced by conflict and violence. Do we really want to pass on this legacy of fear, helplessness and violence to future generations? In 2021, the number of child labourers worldwide increased from 152 million to 160 million As a buzzword, the SDGs remain popular. Corporations, civil society groups and the media have embraced SDGs, often aligning their goals with them. But what real progress are we making? How can we claim to have achieved anything if we leave our children behind? For me, the yardstick of progress is that every child receives their fair share of resources under an umbrella of supportive policies and social protection. Why have we failed? The gap between those suffering from problems and those who can solve them is vast and continues to grow every day. We lack the moral accountability and the responsibility to bridge this gap. As global connectivity grows, we are seeing a paradox emerge in the global political environment between aggressive politics, aggressive faith, and aggressive capitalism that is fostering a hyper-competitive and commercial society. Our behaviours have increasingly become transactional; often, we do only what will benefit us, even if it is at someone else's cost. The real, long-term solution is for us to remind ourselves, constantly, of our capacity for compassion. Based on this philosophy, I founded the Satyarthi Movement for Global Compassion (SMGC) last year, which calls for action in a world plagued by inequality, conflict and injustice. We need to 'globalise' compassion. What do I mean by this? The quality of compassion is traditionally perceived – and has been preached for ages – as a soft, gentle emotion. It is, in reality, a powerful force with transformative power. It is like the air we breathe. Without it, humanity will fail. Compassion is the only force that will unite us and allow us to look beyond our differences. A definition of compassion based on my humble experience of almost half a century's struggle for liberty, dignity and justice for every child is that it is the force born from feeling the suffering of others as one's own, a force that drives mindful and selfless action to end that suffering. We need more of this in the world if we are to achieve the SDGs. To increase the capacity of something, you need to be able to measure it in the first place. We are in the process of developing Compassion Quotient (CQ), which aims to measure individuals' compassion in a similar way to measuring their Intelligence Quotient (IQ) or Emotional Quotient (EQ). Using a multidisciplinary approach, we are developing a comprehensive framework to measure and enhance the level of CQ in individuals and organisations. One of our goals at SMGC is to integrate compassion, as a measurable and cultivable trait, into educational curricula and leadership programmes. We also want to develop indices and metrics to assess compassionate action at a policy level, so as to eventually mainstream the idea of compassion being a guiding principle in global governance. Compassion is essential to ending suffering, and while many leaders speak of it in their speeches, it is time we turn those words into action and hold ourselves accountable. We no longer have the luxury of merely showing intent. We have no choice now but to act with compassion and urgency. Collectively, the world has never been wealthier – economically, intellectually or technologically. It is clear that we need to redefine our approach to life and society. We must build compassionate leadership in all walks of life, whether it is education, the judiciary, governance, or healthcare. This evolution in our thinking would benefit everyone, but, again, most of all, it will benefit our children, who will one day be leaders in their own right, responsible for taking these ideas forward. I refuse to accept that, with all the resources at our disposal, we cannot ensure their freedom, safety, health and education. If we do that, they will be better-placed as adults to ensure it for the generations to follow.
Gulf Today
26-05-2025
- Gulf Today
Palestinians to raise flag at WHO for the first time after vote
The Palestinian delegation won the right to fly their flag at the World Health Organization after a symbolic victory in a vote on Monday that its envoy hopes will lead to greater recognition within the United Nations and beyond. The proposal, brought by China, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and others, at the global agency's annual assembly in Geneva passed with 95 in favour and four against – Israel, Hungary, Czech Republic and Germany – and 27 abstentions. It follows a successful Palestinian bid for membership of the UN General Assembly last year and comes amid signs that France could recognise a Palestinian state. In apparent reference to the devastating Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, Lebanon's delegate Rana el Khoury said the vote's outcome provided "a small ray of hope for the brave Palestinian people whose suffering has reached unbearable levels". Walaa Al-Kilani, right, mourns with other relatives over the bodies of her mother and brother, killed in an Israeli military strike on a school sheltering displaced residents, at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, on Monday. AP Israel argued against the WHO resolution and called for a vote. Its main ally, the United States, which plans to exit the WHO, did not participate. Even though almost 150 countries have recognised a Palestinian state, most major Western and other powers have not, including the United States, Britain, France, Germany and Japan. France and Japan voted in favour of the proposal while Britain abstained. "It is symbolic and one act but a sign that we are part of an international community to help on health needs," the Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Ibrahim Khraishi, told Reuters. "I hope we will soon have full membership of the WHO and all UN forums." Palestinians seek statehood in territories Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war. They have official observer state status at the WHO, which is currently undergoing a transformation as it looks ahead to life without its biggest donor the United States. Last week, the Palestinians won the right to receive notifications under the WHO's International Health Regulations – a set of global rules for monitoring outbreaks. Reuters
