JK Rowling contributes money for a new multiple sclerosis research clinic in Edinburgh
To set up a new multiple sclerosis research clinic in Edinburgh, Harry Potter author JK Rowling has contributed £10million in honor of her mother, Anne who died in 1990. The money will go to a purpose built unit in the University of Edinburgh which will be renamed as The Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic.
With an estimated fortune of £519, it is said that this donation was her largest single pledge and the largest single donation received by the University. It is said that the writer believes that this university would become a world center for excellence in its field.
Affecting around 85,000 people, multiple sclerosis or MS is one of the most common neurological condition that effects young adults in UK and that which has no cure. Mostly it is seen that it is caused due to the combination of genetics, environmental and infectious factors.
Professor Sir Timothy O’Shea, principal of the University of Edinburgh said:
‘This exceptionally generous donation will provide great help in the effort to improve treatments for multiple sclerosis’.
Expected to be completed within a year, this new facility will help the researchers to know more about the other incurable neurological disorders and would also help the patients to be placed at the heart of the research and training process.
Scots living an unhealthy life
A recent study has revealed that unhealthy living is almost universal in Scotland with more and more health hazards reported. This shocking report came after a Scottish health survey conducted by the University of Glasgow, which suggested that, health of everyone in Scotland seems to be at risk. Above all, the most common disease which was found in most of the people of richer community was smoking, drinking, poor diet, physical inactivity and obesity.
This eye opener results shows that about 97 per cent of Scottish people are having one or the other risk factors (smoking, drinking, poor diet, obesity amd physical inactivity), meanwhile 55 per cent have three or more such and 20 per cent with four or more risk factors. Many doctors and health experts and researchers expressed that heavy alcohol consumption, smoking and poor diet is making life of Scots unhealthy with vulnerability to many health hazards . The health woes doesn’t ends here, further reports by analyst shows that obesity is also another health issue which Scots are facing with two-third of the Scottish people affected with it.
With the health standards dropping among Scots, its the need of the hour to bring in some concrete plan to keep a check on the prevailing health issues among people along with a need to change the living style, and adapting a healthy life. It is evident that Scotland has got a top rate for deaths caused due to heart ailments and alcohol, and if the prevailing lifestyle among Scots remains the same, then the health issue will get more worse.
Scots unaware of the hazards of excess salt intake
Its really strange that nine out of ten Scots don’t know that salt is really not good for their health. In a recent survey conducted during National Salt Awareness Week, it was found that over 90% of Scots were unaware of the health hazards of excess salt.
Looking at the health of these Scottish people, it was found that around 70% with over intake of salt in their diet were traced with high blood pressure and heart ailments. Meanwhile 52% were reported with the risk of stroke. This study also revealed that only 18% were aware of the fact that excess salt could lead to strokes in them. If we look at the figures given by the Food Standard Agency, we can find that the average salt intake in the UK is 8.6g a day while the actual recommended standard is only 5g to 6g a day which is way below the actual consumption rate.
The doctors have even traced many such health hazards caused due to over intake of salt which many people in Scotland don’t know or they are taking it lightly. It seems if the trend of consumption of salt will continue in the same way, then the day is not far when every Scot may report to the doctor with either high blood pressure, strokes or stomach cancer.
Britain’s consuming too much salt
July 23
Too much of every thing is bad; the same applies with the consumption of salt. Reports suggest that Britain’s are consuming lot of salt in their daily diet making them vulnerable to many fatal diseases. Study has revealed that people of Britain are eating almost 50 per cent more salt content than the recommended levels. The research has revealed that in recent years the average salt consumption has also jumped remarkably among the UK people.
As per the reports of the Food Standard Agency (FSA) Britain’s are consuming about 8.6g of salt on an average which is well above the prescribed level of 6g for both men and women. On the contrary if we look at the actual graph we can spot that men are consuming 9.7g of salt on an average while women consume 7.7g on an average.
In order to cut down this high salt intake by these UK people FSA has decided to introduce some plans keeping a check on the excess salt consumption. In this programme they will be targeting the food industry by cutting down salt level from products like bacon, ham, cakes and snacks. Experts have also said that if the daily salt intake in the UK is reduced to 6g then about 20,200 premature deaths a year from heart attacks and strokes caused by high blood pressure can be avoided.
The Food Standard Agency (FSA) is looking forward to take help of the food industry by encouraging them to cut short the amount of salt they use in different food stuffs. Meanwhile taking into count the importance of this issue the food manufacturers have already taken a positive move in the drive to slash the salt levels in food. They have cut down the salt content to a decent level from breakfast and morning snacks. FSA is also taking the initiative to work on with the catering industry to improve the nutritional content of food eaten out of the home.
Looking at large the catering industries do come in to the picture as most of the people usually have their meals or breakfast out of home. So if these catering industries will reduce the salt level then it will be a great help to cut down the increased salt intake by people. This will also help to control the increasing number of deaths caused by excess intake of salts by people.
Malaria cases on the rise in UK
July, 4
UK is facing a serious threat of malaria these days with an increase in the number of malaria cases in the recent years. It is feared that more and more fresh cases of this disease is brought back of the country from foreign trips. Study has revealed that the country has recorded 6753 cases of malaria during 2002-06. These recent figures have raised a concern over the speedy growth of this disease in UK.
The reports of the study has showed that the main reason for such an increase in the cases of malaria in the UK is due to the frequent trips by people to abroad, specially West Africa. Looking at the figures revealed by the British Medical Journal we can find that there has been an increase of 30 percent in the number of Malaria cases in past 15 years.
As we all know that Malaria is caused by mosquito bites and can be a fatal disease if not diagnosed early. It was also noted that with the change in time people are frequently visiting outside UK which makes them vulnerable to such diseases. Figures also showed that about 183 people lost their life by the impact of this disease in UK.
There is a need for people traveling out UK to be more conscious of this disease, especially if they are moving to sub-Saharan and West African countries where one can easily be a victim of malaria.