Focus on Nutrition and Diet of Psoriasis patients to minimize suffering and increase quality of life

Manama, December 10th, 2006 - The second psoriasis patient support group was held at the Coral Beach Club yesterday. The meeting, sponsored by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals was attended by more than 65 psoriasis patients. The overall aim of the support group is to give patients the opportunity to seek advice from doctors and leading experts in the field of dermatology on how to cope with Psoriasis. The focus of today's session was on how nutrition and diet can help improve psoriasis patient's quality of life.

"Studies have shown a link between psoriasis and obesity," says Dr. Amina El Awady, Head of Dietary Department, Al Salmaneya Medical Complex, Bahrain "Patients with psoriasis, particularly severe psoriasis, may practice different social behaviors. They may not go out as much, may not exercise as much, and may be more sedentary. I am here today to make sure that psoriasis sufferers are aware of the exact diet their body needs to maintain a healthy lifestyle"

Psoriasis is a highly visible, long-lasting skin disease affecting both men and women and is visible on the skin in the form of red scales that can sometimes be very itchy. Although there has been a great deal of research on psoriasis the exact causes are still unknown. There are a number of factors such as stress, changes in the weather, and certain medications than can cause psoriasis to flare up. The prevalence of the disease varies from country to country, but the disease affects approximately 1-2 percent of the population in Bahrain.

"The number of psoriasis patients attending today is almost double the number of patients we had in our first support group session." says Dr. Nedhal Khalifa, Consultant Dermatologist and Head of Dermatology Department, Al Salmaneya Medical Complex, Bahrain. "This shows that our efforts in creating a hub for psoriasis sufferers to confide in, is indeed very successful here in Bahrain. We aim to continue this initiative as we feel that we help in improving the quality of life of individuals suffering from psoriasis."

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About Wyeth
Wyeth is a global leader and research based company in prescription pharmaceuticals, non-prescription consumer health care products and pharmaceuticals for animal health. Wyeth Pharmaceuticals products are sold in more than 140 countries, and its product portfolio includes innovative treatments across a wide range of therapeutic areas. Wyeth's worldwide resources include 52,000 employees, manufacturing facilities on four continents and a unique research and technology base encompassing small molecules, vaccines and biotechnology. With this depth of resources, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals will continue to lead the way in the development of novel therapies that address critical global health needs.

In 1963, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals opened an office in Egypt and two years later established itself in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the UAE. It expanded its regional presence to the UAE in 1995. In 2004 Wyeth Pharmaceuticals established its Middle East & North Africa affiliate in Dubai, UAE.

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James Hawksworth / Alaa Al Shaikh
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© Press Release 2006