Aria Medical group Cosmetic surgery
College clinic Regal House Gibraltar
Vithas Xanit Medical Centre
Unit 1 Lexinton Midtown Queensway Gibraltar.
HC Cancer Centre
HC Marbella International Hospital Spain
Holland & Barratt
53 & 61 Main Street Gibraltar
John W Miles State registered Chiropodist
Midtown Clinic Unit 1 Providence Midtown
Queensway Gibraltar
Vithas Xanit Gibraltar Clinic Launch
The Vithas Xanit Clinic opened its new facility in Midtown in the heart of Gibraltar where it will offer a great number of medical specialities.
The main objective of this new €1 million investment facility is to bring the services of Vithas Xanit International Hospital, a facility accredited by the Joint Commission International which has extensive experience in catering for patients from Gibraltar since 2006, closer to Gibraltarian patients
The new clinic is spread out over two floors and has five multi-purpose consulting rooms, as well as a nursing consultation, a blood-sampling room with a laboratory area and a radiology room using the most-advanced direct digital radiography technology. Patients will have access to a great number of specialities, including general practitioners, ophthalmology, cardiology, cardiovascular clinic services, pneumology, traumatology, urology, neurosurgery and paediatrics.
At the launch in May Mr. Jose Antonio Rodenas, Managing Director of the Vithas Xanit International Hospital, stated that “we are very happy to open this clinic, which will bring Vithas professionals closer to the Gibraltarian population”.
Ms. Mercedes Mengibar, Regional Managing Director of Andalucia for Vithas, added: “Vithas Xanit Gibraltar clinic will stand out for offering the same high-quality service offered in Vithas hospitals, providing the best patient experience”.
Among the heads of service who will lead each medical speciality will be: Dr Benjamin Lopez (Neurosurgery), Dr Juan Arocena (Urology), Dr Angel Cilveti (Ophthalmology), Dr Antonio Narvaez (Traumatology), Dr Pedro Aranda (Vascular Surgery), Dr Gomez Doblas (Cardiology) and Dr Gustavo De Luiz (Pneumology). All these professionals have extensive experience as well as leading the services of their respective specialities at Vithas Xanit International Hospital or Vithas Malaga.
The project has been carried out by Art Designs Ltd, with Lopez Landa Interiors in charge of the construction. The design pays special attention to patient comfort, making the most of natural lighting and using cutting-edge design and technology.
The Vithas Group is made up of 19 hospitals and 31 medical and assistance facilities distributed throughout 13 Spanish provinces, with 11,300 professionals who have successfully made it one of the leaders in Spanish healthcare.
Everyone Deserves a healthy smile
June is the month to smile! The annual Smile Month campaign
provides the opportunity to highlight the importance of good oral hygiene, and stress that everyone deserves a healthy smile.
Why brush teeth?
Dental problems such as tooth decay and gum disease can affect a person’s ability to speak, eat, smile and socialise. Problems can be painful, and in some cases can lead to the need for interventions such as surgery under general anaesthetic to remove decayed teeth.
People with diabetes are more susceptible to dental problems, particularly those with type 2 diabetes. Having high blood sugar levels for prolonged periods of time contributes to this. More sugar in the blood can lead to more sugar in saliva, which feeds the mouth bacteria that cause gum disease and infections, which in turn can further increase blood sugar levels.
Bacteria from the mouth can also travel in the bloodstream and studies show that those with poor dental hygiene have an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes. There is also an association between gum disease and cognitive impairment, particularly Alzheimer’s and vascular dementias.
Local considerations…
According to the Gibraltar Health and Lifestyle Survey (2021) 30.5% of adults report not having a dental check-up in the last three years. This has implications not only in terms of preventing problems, but by discovering them early for a swift resolution.
More than 2000 Gibraltarians are registered as diabetics, and heart disease remains one of our top 3 causes of death reported each year. Anything we can do to prevent poor health and improve our quality of life is worthwhile.
Did you know?…
When you smile your body releases endorphins – feel good hormones – which can have several health benefits e.g. boosting the immune system, reducing stress, relieving pain, reducing blood pressure, and elevating mood. A UK study found that a smile produced the same feel good effect as 2,000 bars of chocolate; now there’s a reason, if you needed one, to smile!
In order to keep your smile healthy, the Smile Month campaign stresses three key messages:
• Brush your teeth ☑
It is essential to brush your teeth twice a day; once at night and once during the day. Brushing before bed is particularly important as the flow of saliva that cleans our mouth slows down during the night, leaving us more at risk of decay.
Toothpaste should contain 1,350 to 1,500ppm fluoride; any excess can be spat out after brushing. Children under the age of 7 years should be supervised when brushing, and those aged 3 and under who do not have tooth decay can use a lower strength of fluoride (at least 1000ppm). Be sure to avoid rinsing the mouth with water straight after brushing as it reduces the paste’s preventative effect.
• Visit your dentist regularly ☑
Not only will your dentist check the general health of your teeth and gums but they will monitor your mouth for any early signs of problems. Leaving any problems untreated may make them more difficult to treat in the future, so it is best to be seen quickly.
• Cut down on sugar ☑
Sugar damages your teeth and causes tooth decay. Over time this can lead to fillings or tooth extractions. You can eat sweet foods, but you should try to limit them and keep them restricted to mealtimes. Having sugary foods and drinks between meals will harm your teeth; they encourages the build-up of plaque (bacteria and food particles that coat the teeth) and prevent your mouth from having the chance to recover.
If you do choose a sweet food as a snack, for example a piece of fruit – which is a nutritional food source containing natural sugar- try to drink water or milk afterwards to reduce your teeth’s exposure. If drinking something sweet or acidic use an open cup or opt to use a straw and position towards the back of the mouth, this helps to protect the tooth enamel (the tough outer covering of the tooth); do not offer babies fruit juice or fizzy drinks in a bottle or sippy cup.
For short discussions around all things oral health, check out some of the Podcasts available on DentalHealth.org
If you have any queries about your own dental hygiene, speak with your dentist.
