WCMC-Q Wellness Day offers tips for happier, healthier lives

November, 2012

Advice on how to maintain a healthy lifestyle was dispensed at an information fair organized by Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar’s (WCMC-Q) Student Affairs division and held in the university’s student lounge.

Stalls run by student groups, faculty members, local businesses and Qatar Foundation (QF) departments offered guidance on nutrition, physical exercise, first aid, family health and emotional and mental wellness at the WCMC-Q Wellness Day event on Monday 12 November.

Addressing a comprehensive variety of factors affecting overall wellness, the event also offered advice on maintaining financial stability and spiritual health, along with a chance to win a one-month subscription to the Diet Centre and two mountain bikes.

QF representatives were on hand with information about the organization’s recreation facilities and fitness classes, while students ran a stall explaining the benefits of traditional Qatari medicine. Trainers from Hamad Medical Corporation’s Education Center gave first-aid demonstrations.

Second-year pre-medical students Sarah Elsoukkery and Ahmed Hammouda ran a stall offering family wellness tips, as well as free healthy snacks in the form of carrots on cocktail sticks.

Elsoukkery said: “Family wellness has a big impact on both the physical and emotional wellbeing of each individual in the family. The main thing we are trying to emphasize is that families should really try to spend time together and incorporate healthy activities into their family time.

 

“For example, family meals are a great way to ensure everyone eats a healthy, balanced diet at the same time as spending time together. Outings like trips to the park or the beach, or playing sport are perfect for families to spend time together while getting some exercise.”

Traditional Qatari medicine was revealed at a stall run by first-year medical student Ameneh Amini.

She said: “We talked to our parents and grandparents to learn about traditional remedies that are still used today. For example, roselle (a species of hibiscus) is used to lower blood pressure, frankincense can be chewed like gum as a treatment for nausea and thyme can be made into a tea to treat a sore throat, alleviate coughing, muscle pain and abdominal cramps.

“The best thing is that these remedies are natural and don’t have  side-effects like some artificial medications do.”

Luma Rayyan, WCMC-Q’s student health, wellness and activity coordinator, organized the event.

She said: “The main purpose was to let people know how to live healthier and happier lives just by making a few simple changes to their lifestyles. Often we don’t need to make a big change in our lives as making small adjustments such as going for a short walk each day or taking a little time off work to spend with family can make a real difference to our wellbeing.”