Expatriates in malaria hotspots will be interested to read that researchers are to expand a clinical trial of a new malaria vaccine after promising results in a preliminary study in Burkina Faso.
The trial was designed to test safety, but researchers found that vaccinated children had high levels of protection. Described as a "most encouraging" result, a larger study involving 800 children is now to take place in Mali.
Described as a "most encouraging" result, a larger study involving 800 children is now to take place in Mali. The scientists involved say they are hopeful that the vaccine will ultimately be very cheap to produce.
Around a hundred different malaria vaccine candidates have been developed to date but the MSP3 vaccine tested in Burkina Faso is only the second one to show a substantial level of protection against the illness.
The randomised, double blind study involved 45 children. It set out to test the safety of the vaccine but this follow up study found that children who received it had an incidence of the disease three to four times lower than children who did not.
Initially the children were split into three groups, with two of them receiving the experimental malaria vaccine developed by Dr Pierre Druilhe at the Pasteur Institute in Paris.
"Those two groups had very similar types of immune response, elicited by the vaccine, and the protection is almost identical, so it reinforces the confidence despite the fact that we are still dealing with a small group," he said.
The vaccine is based on the fact that some adults in Africa acquire immunity because they are constantly exposed to the disease. Dr Druilhe and his team discovered a key protein, MSP3, which provokes the body into producing antibodies that kill the parasite. He said the protein is unique as it does not change much between different strains of the plasmodium parasite that causes malaria. This is believed to be a critical factor in developing an efficient vaccine.
He added: "We performed a large number of epidemiological studies that confirm that there was an association between that vaccine candidate and acquired protection, so when you immunise with this molecule you indeed induce protection."
Another scientist involved with the Burkina Faso study was Dr Louis Miller, the former head of the Malaria Vaccine Branch of the US National Institutes of Health. He said: "I was always in favour of this approach as it offered a chance in a field with few successes. I found the results of this preliminary study in Burkina Faso to be most encouraging."
When you are working or living abroad, or have plans of relocating into another country, it is very important that you protect you and your family’s health and their wellness.
Expatriates make sure you are covered for International Medical Insurance, April Medibroker assists & advises clients living or working abroad to both choose & place the right international Health and Medical insurance products, to suit their needs & budget.
April Medibroker is here to help you - from the initial advice on what expatriate health insurance policy to buy, through to any assistance that you may need in the future. Our staff are only a phone call or email away. Whether you need changes to cover or payment, need help with a claim or have questions about your international medical insurance policy we will gladly help.
Thursday, 29 September 2011
Thursday, 22 September 2011
New medical tests for UAE expats
Thousands of expat workers are to be subjected to medical tests in their home countries before they are allowed to enter the UAE, it has been announced.
The new rules will apply to foreign workers from 10 countries, the UAE’s ministry of health said at a recent press conference. The ministry of Health in the U.A.E. (United Arab Emirates) is preparing to implement the new regulations in an effort to cut down the amount of communicable diseases brought into the country.
The U.A.E. is particularly vulnerable to this problem as almost 90% of it's residents are Expats, meaning the potential for diseases to be brought into the country is considerable.
Designed to stop newcomers from bringing dangerous diseases into the UAE, the scheme is expected to be rolled out from October 1, with Indonesia and Sri Lanka the first countries affected. Eight more countries – India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Nepal, Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia – will be added later.
Expats will be screened mainly for contagious diseases, including tuberculosis, hepatitis B and HIV/Aids, at approved medical centres, with those who test positive refused entry. They will also be subjected to confirmatory re-tests once they are in the country.
Dr Sneh Khemka, medical director at Bupa International, said the changes seemed “sensible“. “The UAE has long been very stringent about disease control, as they have many workers coming in from other countries. These workers carry two risks: firstly, transmission, and secondly, a burden on the health system," he said.
He raised doubts however about the effectiveness of the system, as identifying latent cases of diseases such as TB "could be diagnostically challenging". He also said there was a risk that test results from the countries in question, "where there is often medical fraud...might not be 100 per cent reliable".
The changes are being implemented as part of the Gulf Co-operative Council's expatriate worker medical examination programme, which began in 1995.
When you are working or living abroad, or have plans of relocating into another country, it is very important that you protect you and your family’s health and their wellness.
Expatriates make sure you are covered for International Medical Insurance, April Medibroker assists & advises clients living or working abroad to both choose & place the right international Health and Medical insurance products, to suit their needs & budget.
April Medibroker is here to help you - from the initial advice on what expatriate health insurance policy to buy, through to any assistance that you may need in the future. Our staff are only a phone call or email away. Whether you need changes to cover or payment, need help with a claim or have questions about your international medical insurance policy we will gladly help.
The new rules will apply to foreign workers from 10 countries, the UAE’s ministry of health said at a recent press conference. The ministry of Health in the U.A.E. (United Arab Emirates) is preparing to implement the new regulations in an effort to cut down the amount of communicable diseases brought into the country.
The U.A.E. is particularly vulnerable to this problem as almost 90% of it's residents are Expats, meaning the potential for diseases to be brought into the country is considerable.
Designed to stop newcomers from bringing dangerous diseases into the UAE, the scheme is expected to be rolled out from October 1, with Indonesia and Sri Lanka the first countries affected. Eight more countries – India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Nepal, Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia – will be added later.
Expats will be screened mainly for contagious diseases, including tuberculosis, hepatitis B and HIV/Aids, at approved medical centres, with those who test positive refused entry. They will also be subjected to confirmatory re-tests once they are in the country.
Dr Sneh Khemka, medical director at Bupa International, said the changes seemed “sensible“. “The UAE has long been very stringent about disease control, as they have many workers coming in from other countries. These workers carry two risks: firstly, transmission, and secondly, a burden on the health system," he said.
He raised doubts however about the effectiveness of the system, as identifying latent cases of diseases such as TB "could be diagnostically challenging". He also said there was a risk that test results from the countries in question, "where there is often medical fraud...might not be 100 per cent reliable".
The changes are being implemented as part of the Gulf Co-operative Council's expatriate worker medical examination programme, which began in 1995.
When you are working or living abroad, or have plans of relocating into another country, it is very important that you protect you and your family’s health and their wellness.
Expatriates make sure you are covered for International Medical Insurance, April Medibroker assists & advises clients living or working abroad to both choose & place the right international Health and Medical insurance products, to suit their needs & budget.
April Medibroker is here to help you - from the initial advice on what expatriate health insurance policy to buy, through to any assistance that you may need in the future. Our staff are only a phone call or email away. Whether you need changes to cover or payment, need help with a claim or have questions about your international medical insurance policy we will gladly help.
Wednesday, 17 August 2011
Can you spare 15 Minutes for Daily Exercise?
You don't have to slog it out in a sweaty gym; here are some tips and advice for all ages and fitness levels, It's never too late to change your habits, and by establishing a healthy lifestyle now, you'll continue to reap the rewards in the future.
- Keeping Fit
There are many reasons why we can find it hard to start exercising - our everyday lives require less physical activity than in our grandparents' day, we rely on cars to get around and spend hours sitting in front of computers.
- The excuses
So, it's worth thinking about what you gain from regular exercise and making even a partial improvement to your fitness.
• Physical inactivity is an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease - in other words, if you don't exercise you dramatically increase your risk of dying from a heart attack
• Conversely, exercise means a healthier heart because it reduces several cardiovascular risks, including high blood pressure
• Being physically active can bolster good mental health and help you to manage stress, anxiety and even depression
• Regular exercise as you age keeps you strong, mobile and less dependent on others
• Regular exercise can help you achieve and maintain an ideal weight, which can be important in managing many health conditions, or may just make you feel happier about your appearance
• All exercise helps strengthen bones and muscles to some degree, but weight-bearing exercise, such as running, is especially good in promoting bone density and protecting against osteoporosis, which affects men as well as women
• Different exercises help with all sorts of health niggles, such as digestion, poor posture and sleeplessness, and physical activity can be beneficial for a range of medical conditions, from diabetes to lower back pain
- Keep mobile
Statistics show activity levels decline steadily with age, and by their mid-50s few people take regular exercise.
Some of the health benefits you'll get are the same as younger people, but there are things that are of particular benefit as you get older:
• More energy - exercise makes you feel more energetic, while sitting around not doing much makes you feel sluggish and unable to do anything
• Improved sleep - your body and mind feel as though they've done something and are ready for rest at night
• Stable weight - regular exercise helps to keep you at a healthy weight
• Improved circulation and lower blood pressure
• Delayed ageing - keeping active strengthens your muscles, joints and bones as well as helping with mobility and balance, important as it helps to prevent falls, which are the leading cause of injury and death for the over-75s
APRIL Medibroker is an international medical, health and expat insurance broker offering a free quote and advice service across the Internet. Our service is available to people of any nationality, anywhere, living or working in another country not shown on their passports (expatriates).
We are totally independent and offer impartial advice and guidance to ensure that you purchase the best plan for your needs. We offer more than twenty quality international medical insurance plans and we always looking for new plans to add to our portfolio so that we can always offer the very best to our clients.
For a free No Obligation Quote visit medibroker.com or call us on +44 (0) 191 296 6140
Wednesday, 15 June 2011
What is high blood pressure?
Hypertension exists where the pressure at which blood is pushing against blood vessel walls is consistently above average.
Blood pressure changes throughout the day. In particular, it increases during exercise and decreases during sleep.
Untreated high blood pressure can cause the heart to become abnormally large and less efficient (ventricular hypertrophy) causing heart failure and increased risk of heart attack.
Symptoms of high blood pressure
Although high blood pressure can cause headaches, dizziness and problems with vision, the majority of people suffer no symptoms at all. As a result many people with hypertension remain undiagnosed because they have no symptoms to motivate them to see a doctor or get their blood pressure checked.
However, despite the lack of symptoms hypertension can lead to heart attack, stroke, kidney damage, and many other medical problems.
Diagnosing high blood pressure
The only way to find out if you have high blood pressure is to have your blood pressure checked. A doctor or other qualified health professional should check a patient's blood pressure at least once every two years.
It’s measured in millimetres of mercury (mm Hg) and is defined in an adult by the recording of two readings:
•Systolic pressure - represents the force of the blood as the heart contracts (beats) to pump it around the body. This is the higher of the two readings and records blood pressure at or above 140mm Hg.
•Diastolic pressure - the pressure while the heart is relaxed and filling with blood again in preparation for the next contraction or heart beat. This value is lower than the systolic pressure and records blood pressure at or above 90mm Hg.
What is considered to be an acceptable blood pressure and what is hypertension (and then what needs treatment) depends on several factors. A single high reading isn’t enough to warrant a diagnosis of hypertension as blood pressure can be raised in all of us now and then – even the sight of a doctor can be enough to put it up. So there must be at least three high readings to cause concern.
Causes of high blood pressure
In over 90 per cent of cases, the cause is unknown. In the remaining cases, high blood pressure is a symptom of a recognisable underlying problem such as a kidney abnormality, tumour of the adrenal gland or congenital defect of the aorta (in these cases when the root cause is corrected, blood pressure usually returns to norma).
This type of high blood pressure is called secondary hypertension.
If high blood pressure isn't treated and is combined with obesity, smoking, high blood cholesterol levels or diabetes, the risk of heart attack is several times higher.
Arteries also suffer the effects of high blood pressure, becoming scarred, hardened and less elastic. Though this hardening of the arteries often occurs with age, high blood pressure accelerates the process. The hardened or narrowed arteries are unable to supply the amount of blood the body's organs need, preventing them working effectively. Another risk is that a blood clot may lodge in an artery narrowed by atherosclerosis, blocking blood supply.
When high blood pressure is first diagnosed, tests may be done for an underlying cause (i.e. secondary hypertension) especially if the person is young or has very high blood pressure. If an underlying cause is found it should be treated.
Treatment of high blood pressure
There's no cure as such for essential hypertension, but following a healthy lifestyle can be enough to bring blood pressure down to a normal level. This is one reason why drug treatment may not be offered for healthy individuals with only mild hypertension (above 140/90 mmHg but below 160/100 mmHg).
Medication is used if lifestyle changes alone fail to lower blood pressure sufficiently. It's generally recommend that drug treatment is offered to those with:
•Blood pressure above 160/100 mmHg
•Isolated systolic hypertension of more than 160 mmHg
•Blood pressure of more than 140/90 mmHg (ie, mild hypertension) but who also have cardiovascular disease or significant risk of developing cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or damage to the heart, kidney or eyes as a result of high blood pressure
Current UK guidelines also recommend that blood pressure levels need to be even lower for certain people and say treatment should aim to lower blood pressure to below 130/80 if a person has:
•A complication of diabetes, especially kidney problems
•Had a serious cardiovascular event such as a heart attack, TIA or stroke
•Has certain chronic kidney diseases
All medicines can have side effects and sometimes it’s necessary to try different drugs if initial treatments cause problems.
APRIL Medibroker is an international medical, health and expat insurance broker offering a free quote and advice service across the Internet. Our service is available to people of any nationality, anywhere, living or working in another country not shown on their passports (expatriates).
We are totally independent and offer impartial advice and guidance to ensure that you purchase the best plan for your needs. We offer more than twenty quality international medical insurance plans and we always looking for new plans to add to our portfolio so that we can always offer the very best to our clients.
For a free No Obligation Quote visit medibroker.com or call us on +44 (0) 191 296 6140.
Thursday, 25 November 2010
Pre-Exisiting Conditions Coverage
Increased willingness from international private medical insurance (IPMI) providers to cover pre-existing conditions has been hailed as one of the most significant recent changes in the market by a specialist broker.
Speaking at the recent COVER IPMI Breakfast Briefing, Andrew Wilson, CEO of April Medibroker, explained the measure was allowing far more clients to consider taking out IPMI plans and undertake their international moves with confidence, adding the previous two options of a moratorium or medical history underwriting, often lead to clients feeling unsure about what they were covered for, or resulted in ‘potentially draconian exclusions that put clients off taking the cover.'
"Many times I've seen people's dreams and ambitions dashed because of their health history.
"For many its been a case of: don't take out the cover; risk the exclusions by self funding in hope that none of the pre-existing conditions will cost you; or try to find a provider that will give a fair assessment of medical history with premium loading," he added.
But, Wilson continued, providers are now considering pre-existing exclusions with an open mind and are willing to add loadings onto the premium, rather than excluding it and related conditions al together.
"It's allowing us to give a real choice of options to cover, no longer just partial cover or no cover, now we can offer full cover," he said. "Lots of people prefer loading the premium because if they are having to self fund health coverage abroad it can get nasty. It provides peace of mind."
Wilson also used examples of the increasing numbers of people around the world who are facing conditions such as diabetes, asthma or living with allergies who would otherwise be unable to obtain IMPI cover, and suggested it could also increase the attraction of the product to people over 50.
It is this age group who are usually considered most likely to have pre-existing medical conditions, but produced between 30-40% of enquires at April Medibroker.
APRIL Medibroker is an international medical, health and expat insurance broker offering a free quote and advice service across the Internet. Our service is available to people of any nationality, anywhere, living or working in another country not shown on their passports (expatriates).
We are totally independent and offer impartial advice and guidance to ensure that you purchase the best plan for your needs. We offer more than twenty quality international medical insurance plans and we always looking for new plans to add to our portfolio so that we can always offer the very best to our clients.
For a free No Obligation Quote visit medibroker.com or call us on +44 (0) 191 296 6140
Friday, 1 October 2010
Free travel plan offer available during October 2010.
The promotion is designed to attract expatriates around the world who are looking for a great deal on first-class quality international private medical insurance.
William Russell’s Global Travel Plan provides cover for baggage, personal effects and other travel insurance benefits during trips of up to 120 days outside the member’s country of residence and for pre-booked trips within their country of residence, in addition to the medical expenses and evacuation cover provided by their Global Health Platinum and Elite plans.
William Russell’s Global Travel Plan includes the following benefits:
• Personal accident cover US$85,000/€85,000/£50,000
• Personal baggage US$4,250/€4,250/£2,500
• Cancellation and curtailment US$4,250/€4,250/£2,500
• Travel delay US$340/€340/£200
• Personal liability US$1,700,000/€1,700,000/£1,000,000
• Personal money US$850/€850/£500
• Legal expenses US$42,500/€42,500/£25,000
• Travel disruption US$1,700/€1,700/£1,000
• Hijack US$850/€850/£500
• Passport replacement US$425/€425/£250
Winter sports cover is also included within the premium.
James Cooper, Sales Director, William Russell Limited says:
“We’re so convinced that our new members will recognise the value of our international health insurance cover, that we’re giving our Global Travel plan away free in October.
“Our annual travel insurance is the perfect addition to a Global Health Platinum or Elite plan as together they provide complete world-wide medical and travel protection to expatriates and their families wherever they are.”
For a Free No Obligation Quote on William Russell International Medical Insurance Plans visit April Medibroker
APRIL Medibroker has over ten years experience in providing international health insurance to individuals and companies (both large and small) worldwide. We can offer solutions from all of the top providers and tailor them to your specific needs.
April Medibroker works on the basis of a choice of international medical insurance plans, and gives you Best Advice on both benefits and premiums as well as area of cover needed.
Our service is available to people of any nationality, anywhere, living or working in another country (expatriates). International health insurance cover is offered for Europe, Worldwide excluding the USA and Worldwide including the USA.
Friday, 24 September 2010
7 Habits of a Happy Expat
Ever wondered what makes some expatriates happy and others not so happy?
1. Happy expats are intensely curious.
Coming to another land is always interesting. You get to learn about the culture, you get to experience a different way of life, you get to try new foods, and maybe even new sports and new hobbies. A whole new world opens up for you. Being curious around this new world leads to happiness.
2. Happy expats accept others as they come, they don’t judge, and they don’t try to change people to their liking.
No matter how much things may bother them and no matter how much they may disagree, a judgmental attitude never gets anyone anywhere. Accepting that things run the way they do is the key to happiness.
3. Happy expats look at everything as an amazing learning experience.
Someone once said that “life is always offering us new beginnings, it’s up to us whether to take them or not.” That’s an empowering way to look at what’s available to us at every moment of every day. And especially to those of us who get this incredible opportunity to not only travel but also live in different places.
4. Happy expats find opportunities wherever they are and they don’t lament those they’ve left behind.
Life of an expatriate consists of one move after another. Sometimes we know when that move is coming and sometimes we don’t. Opportunities that were open to us in one place may not be available in another. But remember “life is always offering us new beginnings…” There will be new opportunities, so do you want to spend the time lamenting about what you left behind or do you want to spend the time listening and looking out for what’s opening up for you?
5. Happy expats know that feeling sad at times is part of the game.
A happy expat doesn’t mean a giddy-at-all-times expat. A happy expat means also an expat who knows that being sad at times is part of the expatriate experience. Being sad about leaving friends behind; being sad about leaving your family far away; being sad about quitting a job or changing a career … this list can go on and on. The difference between a happy expat and an expat who isn't happy is that for the former the sadness is something that’s natural and something that doesn’t take over his/her life and makes a victim out of him/her .
6. Happy expats share. Sharing means so many different things.
It may mean sharing with your friends and family when you are sad – going through the stressful times alone is no fun. It may mean sharing with a coach – a right client-coach partnership will undoubtedly make your expatriate experience richer. It may also mean sharing your experience with others, helping those like you find the best facets of their expatriate journeys.
7. Happy expats stay clear of criticism, sulking, and stonewalling.
It is so very easy to blame someone else in your misfortunes. It’s easy to say that everything around you is horrible; it’s easy to sulk in your misery when you’ve convinced yourself that it’s not up to you; and it’s easy to put a barrier between you and the place you live in. Yet there is no way you are going to be happy where you live, if you consistently engage in criticism, sulking, and stonewalling. Staying clear of those attitudes will help you be happier.
Source: The Global Coach Center Academy
APRIL Medibroker has over ten years experience in providing international health insurance to individuals and companies (both large and small) worldwide. We can offer solutions from all of the top providers and tailor them to your specific needs.
April Medibroker works on the basis of a choice of international medical insurance plans, and gives you Best Advice on both benefits and premiums as well as area of cover needed.
Our service is available to people of any nationality, anywhere, living or working in another country (expatriates). International health insurance cover is offered for Europe, Worldwide excluding the USA and Worldwide including the USA.
Telephone +44 (0) 191 296 6140 or visit medibroker.com for your free quote on International Medical Insurance.
1. Happy expats are intensely curious.
Coming to another land is always interesting. You get to learn about the culture, you get to experience a different way of life, you get to try new foods, and maybe even new sports and new hobbies. A whole new world opens up for you. Being curious around this new world leads to happiness.
2. Happy expats accept others as they come, they don’t judge, and they don’t try to change people to their liking.
No matter how much things may bother them and no matter how much they may disagree, a judgmental attitude never gets anyone anywhere. Accepting that things run the way they do is the key to happiness.
3. Happy expats look at everything as an amazing learning experience.
Someone once said that “life is always offering us new beginnings, it’s up to us whether to take them or not.” That’s an empowering way to look at what’s available to us at every moment of every day. And especially to those of us who get this incredible opportunity to not only travel but also live in different places.
4. Happy expats find opportunities wherever they are and they don’t lament those they’ve left behind.
Life of an expatriate consists of one move after another. Sometimes we know when that move is coming and sometimes we don’t. Opportunities that were open to us in one place may not be available in another. But remember “life is always offering us new beginnings…” There will be new opportunities, so do you want to spend the time lamenting about what you left behind or do you want to spend the time listening and looking out for what’s opening up for you?
5. Happy expats know that feeling sad at times is part of the game.
A happy expat doesn’t mean a giddy-at-all-times expat. A happy expat means also an expat who knows that being sad at times is part of the expatriate experience. Being sad about leaving friends behind; being sad about leaving your family far away; being sad about quitting a job or changing a career … this list can go on and on. The difference between a happy expat and an expat who isn't happy is that for the former the sadness is something that’s natural and something that doesn’t take over his/her life and makes a victim out of him/her .
6. Happy expats share. Sharing means so many different things.
It may mean sharing with your friends and family when you are sad – going through the stressful times alone is no fun. It may mean sharing with a coach – a right client-coach partnership will undoubtedly make your expatriate experience richer. It may also mean sharing your experience with others, helping those like you find the best facets of their expatriate journeys.
7. Happy expats stay clear of criticism, sulking, and stonewalling.
It is so very easy to blame someone else in your misfortunes. It’s easy to say that everything around you is horrible; it’s easy to sulk in your misery when you’ve convinced yourself that it’s not up to you; and it’s easy to put a barrier between you and the place you live in. Yet there is no way you are going to be happy where you live, if you consistently engage in criticism, sulking, and stonewalling. Staying clear of those attitudes will help you be happier.
Source: The Global Coach Center Academy
APRIL Medibroker has over ten years experience in providing international health insurance to individuals and companies (both large and small) worldwide. We can offer solutions from all of the top providers and tailor them to your specific needs.
April Medibroker works on the basis of a choice of international medical insurance plans, and gives you Best Advice on both benefits and premiums as well as area of cover needed.
Our service is available to people of any nationality, anywhere, living or working in another country (expatriates). International health insurance cover is offered for Europe, Worldwide excluding the USA and Worldwide including the USA.
Telephone +44 (0) 191 296 6140 or visit medibroker.com for your free quote on International Medical Insurance.
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