August 27th, 2010
The British Medical Journal reports that a portion and a half a day of green leafy vegetables each day can reduce the risk of developing diabetes by 14%.
The study from Leicester University which looked at 220,000 adults found that spinach and cabbage and other green leafy vegetables had a positive effect on type 2 diabetes and they indicated that approx. 100g (1.5 portions) of the vegetables was the ideal amount. 5 portions of fruit and vegetables each day is still the recommended amount.
The researchers also found that although eating more fruit and vegetables in general was not conclusive proof of a lower risk, there appeared to be a ‘trend in that direction’.
The full list of vegetables identified in the study as being beneficial in lowering the risk included cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, Kale and spinach. And although it is unclear about why these vegetables might have a protective effect, the anti oxidant levels (high) of vitamin C, for instance or the level of magnesium contained in them were proffered as possible reasons.
Tags: diabetes, freedom healthnet, health news
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August 25th, 2010
US scientists have found that a protein that is produced when a patient has rheumatoid arthritis appears to protect against Alzheimers reports the BBC today.
In a study reported in the US Journal of Alzheimers Research, tests on mice with memory loss who were given the protein did better in tests. The next step of this research is to see if this drug would work for people with Alzheimers.
Rheumatoid Arthritis is caused by the immune system attacking the body’s own tissue and can cause extreme joint pain. People with this condition have their immune system going into hyperdrive and this causes the production of attacking proteins including one called GM-CSF. This protein – in a synthetic version – is currently used in the treatment of cancer.
The connection between rheumatoid arthritis sufferers and protection from Alzheimers has been known for a while. However, it was thought that the anti- inflamatory drugs given to patients were the cause of this protection until this recent study shed light on the matter.
Following the 20 day study on mice with dementia, planning of trials on people is due to begin in the US.
Tags: alzheimers, alzheimers rheumatoid srthritis, GM-CSF, health matters
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August 23rd, 2010
The North East of England is currently trialling a new health line telephone number – 111 – to help those who need non-emergency medical treatment.
County Durham and Darlington NHS Care Trusts are piloting the scheme which will allow people concerned about health matters to dial 111 instead of the emergency 999. The trial will expand to Luton, Lincolnshire and Nottingham areas and is mooted to replace the NHS Direct service if it is successful.
Many of the calls to the 999 emergency service – about 50% – do not actually need an emergency response and this new number will deal with this and allow emergency calls to be prioritised. Those who do use the 111 number for an emergency, however, will have an ambulance dispatched to them.
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley indicated the need to improve access to urgent health services and said that the 111 number, to run alongside the 999 emergency number, will simplify best serve NHS clients.
The health line provides health advice, information about local out of hours GPs, walk in centres for medical treatment, emergency dentists and 24 hour pharmacies.
Tags: 111, health number, health treatment
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August 20th, 2010
For many people, private medical insurance doesn’t cost anything because they receive medical cover from their employer for themselves and, often, their family. Companies find that employee health insurance means that their workers spend less time off sick so it makes sense in terms of finances and productivity.
Private health treatment is convenient for all because there are shorter (or no) waiting times and because the appointments are tailored to suit the individual. Many private specialists / consultants offer appointments outside of normal working hours and often on weekends in order to suit their patients. This means that people dont have to take any additional time off work.
An additional reason why individuals select private medical insurance is because they are guaranteed to see a consultant. Many people do not realise that, as an NHS patient, you will only see a consultant if your problem is particularly complex whereas private healthcare often allows you to select the consultant or specialist you wish to be treated by.
Not covered by employee health insurance with your company? Why don’t you get a quote for affordable medical insurance to see how little it could cost with Freedom. Then ask for a comparison with all the other insurance providers (from BUPA to Axa to Standard Life, etc.) so you can choose a policy and level of cover to suit you and your family.
Did you know: you can often reduce your premium by increasing your excess?
Tags: company health insurance, Employee Health Insurance, medical insurance, why choose private medical insurance
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August 17th, 2010
A recent study has indicated that women eating a small amount of good quality chocolate a couple of times a week could reduce heart failure risk by 32%. However, eating chocolate daily seemed to eliminate its postive effects.
The study was reported in Circulation: Heart Failure, a journal of the Americal Heart Association, and looked at 31,000 Swedish women over a 9 year period. It found that women who ate an average of one to two small amounts of high quality dark chocolate each week gained the most benefit, with those having 1-3 servings per month has a 26% lower risk with those who ate daily having no reduced risk at all.
Dr Mittleman, director of the Cardiovascular Epidemiology Research Unit at Harvard Medical School’s Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre in Boston, said: “You can’t ignore that chocolate is a relatively calorie-dense food and large amounts of habitual consumption is going to raise your risks for weight gain.
“But if you’re going to have a treat, dark chocolate is probably a good choice, as long as it’s in moderation.”
Tags: chocolate heart failure, heart failure, heart risk
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August 16th, 2010
At least 10,000 NHS jobs are being cut in front line health services, causing concern from the Royal College of Nursing.
There are at least 10,000 jobs which have been or are due to be lost due to redundancies, retirement and recruitment freezes report the College who refer to it as an ‘insidious erosion of staffing’. This reduction in numbers is part of the NHS having to make savings of £15-20 billion over the next 4 years.
With the need to improve services and reduce waiting times, this news is at odds with that process and it is anticipated that the number of people wishing to turn from relying solely on the NHS and moving towards private medical insurance (whether the more affordable cash plan or fully comprehensive PMI) so they have a confirmed way of getting prompt treatment if acute conditions occur.
Health Minister Anne Milton, however, commented: “I understand the RCN’s frustration and concern. The Government has committed to a real terms increase in NHS funding each year. We are seeking £20bn of efficiency savings by 2014. Every penny of this is available to support the delivery of quality healthcare service to patients.”
Tags: cash plan private medical insurance, NHS, nhs job cuts
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August 8th, 2010
There is a planned 1% rise in insurance premium tax (IPT) that will affect all health / medical insurance policies from 4 January next year.
The government has proposed raising IPT from 5 % to 6% from the next year and it expected that this will be confirmed in the forthcoming Finance Bill. The insurance industry, however, is worried that this is just the start of hikes in the tax on insurances and that the government is moving towards a consistent level of taxation across all sectors of the economy.
Health and medical insurance has benefited from a low level of taxation, which has helped to keep it affordable. Health insurance is a necessity for many people to ensure that they can get treated promptly and get back to work swiftly, without having to take a loss in earnings. However some would argue that it is a luxury item and be taxed as such.
There is currently discussion within the industry about how insurance providers will handle this uplift in IPT. Will it affect holders of an existing policy? Will they pay the increased IPT rate as from 4th January, creating an administration nightmare for insurance companies who would have to collect increased premiums from clients OR would the increased IPT rate only come into effect upon renewal after 4th January and on new policies from 4th January?
Additionally, with an increase in IPT on the cards, will this affect the decisions by employers to have a company health insurance scheme? Will that extra 1% for corporates with significant numbers of employees mean the difference between scrapping the scheme or continuing it in these challenging times?
Tags: Company Medical Insurance, IPT, Private Health Insurance
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August 1st, 2010
A recent study shows that people who stay in education for longer demonstrate a reduced risk of developing Dementia, according to Cambridge University.
Education helps people able to cope with changes in the brain much better says the study and the more learning individuals undertake, over a longer period, the less likely they are to develop early dementia.
The partially Bupa-funded study comments on this research and indicates that including ‘purposeful activity and …intellectually demanding activity’ in a health programme could aid in staving off the effects of dementia and the health provider looks at whether keeping the brain active into middle age and beyond can also help to reduce the degeneration.
Tags: dementia
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July 29th, 2010
The government plans to shake up the NHS could mean that health issues will be abandoned (prevention) in favour of health care (treatment).
The proposal, due to be published later this year, is that primary care trusts in England will be abolished and that GP’s will be given control of the budget instead. Public health issues would become the remit of local councils. This could mean that the NHS would no longer deal with issues like smoking and drinking.
‘Public Health’ matters have been handled by the NHS through campaigns to encourage people to adopt healthier lifestyles but this will now come under the control of the local councils.
Think tank the Kings Fund – a charity which seeks to understand how the health system in England can be improved – expressed concern that GPs would only be concerned with treating and not preventing ill health. It also indicated that consortiums of GPs will be in charge of local NHS services instead of primary care trusts.
Tags: freedom healthnet, NHS, NHS revamp, public health
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July 27th, 2010
The government has announced a £50 million injection of capital to pay for new cancer drugs for very sick patients. From October this year, doctors in England will be able to offer cancer drugs that have not been approved by NICE.
The move from the coalition government comes in response to the news that the UK lags behind many developed countries in providing the latest cancer drugs to its cancer sufferers. Health secretary Andrew Lansley commented “I promised that I would help patients in England get cancer drugs that are readily available in the rest of Europe.”
The report, from government cancer Tsar Professor Sir Mike Richards, also looked at drug use for other diseases cuch as heart disease, dementia and arthritis. He also indicated that this increased access to a wider range of latest drugs would not improve survival rates.
What could this mean for people who hold private health insurance policies? Currently, most insurers look to NICE for guidance on approval for drugs for private medical treatment. Insurers will probably continue to do so but will be considering the government initiative.
Tags: cancer drugs, NICE
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