(MENAFN- The Peninsula) The Peninsula
Doha: Hamad Medical Corporation continues to raise patients and families awareness of Lipedema causes, symptoms and the available treatment options.
Lipedema is a condition that is caused by an abnormal buildup of fat in the upper and lower parts of the body but does not cause a fat buildup in the feet or hands. It usually affects women who must live with this chronic disease and manage with treatment throughout life.
To highlight this condition, the Physiotherapy Department for Lipedema Patients at HMC, being the exclusive facility that provides a specialized treatment for lipedema locally, has organized the first awareness program for patient and family education in lipedema on January 24 at Qatar Rehabilitation Institute with the participation of various departments at HMC to design a treatment and rehabilitation program for patients with lipedema.
The program was launched by Dr. Mohamed Salem Al-Hassan, Medical Director and CEO of the National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Chair of the Corporate Cancer Program in the presence of Dr. Hanadi Al Hamad, Medical Director of Rumailah hospital and Qatar Rehabilitation Institute and Chairperson of Geriatrics and Long Term Care Department and Dr. Hareth Al Khater Dr. Al Hareth Al Khater - Deputy Medical Director of Clinical Affairs, Senior Consultant of Medical Oncology at the National Center for Cancer Care and Research and Ms. Noora Rashid Al Mudahka, Assistant Executive Director of Physiotherapy at Hamad Medical Corporation.
During the opening ceremony, Dr. Al-Hassan delivered a speech to welcome patients with lipedema and their families and to express his appreciation to the organizers of this important awareness event. He also thanked lipedema patients and valued their participation in speaking about their experience with the disease and living with it and the challenges they face.
“The lipedema awareness program is the first of its kind in Qatar and witnessed a participation of significant healthcare professionals at HMC. The program provided clear understanding and management of the disease for patients and families through lectures delivered by different department such as vascular surgery, plastic surgery, rehabilitation and nutrition,” said Mohammad Shafi, Head of Lipedema Rehabilitation Department at HMC.
“The group discussions between patients and healthcare providers and the sharing patients experience with lipedema disease were significant in the program. We continue to encourage our patients and provide them with the information and support through the program and our representatives of lipedema patients who act as support groups for other patients with lipedema. Patients will receive an understanding of the conditions and the available treatment options and their benefits which are usually unclear to patients. The awareness program also provides a patient-led support network between people who live with lipedema and supported by experts and therapists to ensure that patients receive a proper and timely healthcare as we strive to improve the patient's health and wellness,” Shafi added.
“Patients with lipedema have many concerns related to diagnosis, treatment and predictions of the disease. The patient awareness is low as the disease is still not properly highlighted,” said Anita Sondrasikaran, Physiotherapist and LANA Certified Lymphedema Therapist.
“Lipedema is characterized by pain to the affected parts such as touching the affected area, hypersensitivity, easily bruised, the body becomes a barrier and body image for people with lipedema can lead them to becoming insecure which causes functional barriers and reduced social communication and some mental issues,” added Sondrasikaran.
The goal of the lipedema awareness program is to provide patients with support initially and to increase awareness between patients and healthcare professionals across the world and to provide patients and therapists with the latest and evidence based information on lipedema to allow an early detection and treatment of the disease.