• 07
  Oct
  2011

• Canada Issues Warning To Its Citizens about Use of Mobile Phone To Prevent Cancer

  
  Filed Under: Blogging
  Author: YourGuy
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Is it really possible to get cancer from using the mobile phones? This appears to be the stance of Health Canada as they release guidelines to its citizens to help safeguard against possible cancer problems. They did this in spite of no verifiable data that using a cell phone can cause cancer to develop. What influence, if any, will advice this have on global health insurance? Is it possible that international health insurance could become more expensive for heavy mobile phone users?

Health Canada has stressed that heavy mobile phone users and children are at risk much more than adults because they are more sensitive.  They also based their warning on a report released in May by WHO about possible carcinogens from exposure to radio frequency and electromagnetic fields. This exposure could result in a form of brain cancer known as Glioma.

Their efforts to warn are more preventive since they admit that conclusive data has yet to be established even if there are cases linking heavy users to brain cancer. They said in a press conference, “There are a small number of epidemiology studies that have shown brain cancer rates might be elevated in long term/heavy cell phone users. Other epidemiology studies on cell phone users, laboratory studies and animal cancer studies have not supported this association.” In short, it’s possible which is why they are being cautious as well. Furthermore, these are just guidelines to reduce use until new data is expected to be released in 2012.

• 01
  Oct
  2011

• Food Poisoning Strikes 7 Subway Customers in BC

  
  Filed Under: Blogging
  Author: YourGuy
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The Subway outlet in the Vancouver International Airport apparently served bad tuna to 7 of its customers who ended up in the hospital. Most of them were employees of Subway’s franchise owner but imagine what a nightmare it would have been if those were travelers?  While things like this happen, it does put more emphasis on the need of travelers to get international health insurance. If this happens to someone en route to the US or another country, the expenses incurred would have been huge. Without international health insurance, one would have to spend unexpectedly even if medical expenses were covered by company that sold the tainted food.

Such expenses would be the time and opportunities lost as well as the costs of baggage that may have gone on to the intended destination. The whole situation would have been a nightmare happening while experience nausea, and trauma.

As for the 7 employees, 6 of those were able to leave almost immediately. One person had to stay in the hospital for further observation and treatment.

This is what is hard about being on the go all the time. You have to make do with the available food choices, and if your immune system is weak from all the traveling, your body will not be able to fight off any germs or bacteria you may ingest.

Subway is an excellent food choice, and this incident is a fluke that normally does not happen. It will serve as a reminder to the company to be more careful about hygiene, sanitation, and food care. This particular Subway branch is cooperating with authorities. Hopefully, measures will be put in place to avoid a repeat of this incident especially in a high foot traffic area.

• 21
  Sep
  2011

• WHO Issues Travel Warning To China And Pakistan

  
  Filed Under: Blogging
  Author: YourGuy
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The World Health Organization (WHO) has just released a travel warning of a deadly polio strain that has been detected in both Pakistan and China. Travelers planning to visit any of these two countries should get shots and international medical insurance. According to WHO this polio strain is known to be a wild polio virus originating from Pakistan, and the potential for the virus to infect many is very high because of the Muslim Haj pilgrimage to Mecca. Without international travel health insurance, travelers to these countries could end up sick and not have the proper medical care or treatment. With the international medical insurance you have better chance of dealing with situation should it happen to you.

One of the main concerns of WHO is the fact that the pilgrimage is done in areas where there is insufficient access to clinics and doctors. This could aggravate the problem and cause a major headache if anyone brings in the virus.

They further said that the strain in China has a genetic link to that in Pakistan which means someone from Pakistan brought it into China. The reason for the high risk alert level that WHO is placing on this wild virus is the potential to become paralyzed, as well as the swiftness that it happens.

Right now, Pakistan has 84 reported cases, and 9 confirmed cases in China. Unfortunately, these 9 cases in China is not the official count so the numbers could go higher. 

Without the immunization, one could get the virus through body fluids, contact with feces that contain the virus, through sneezing or contact with infected mucus, or by something as simple as drinking from a glass previously used by an infected person with the wild polio virus.

• 15
  Sep
  2011

• UN Releases List Of New Global Killers

  
  Filed Under: Blogging
  Author: YourGuy
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From AIDS and TB, the new global killer according to the United Nations is heart disease, lung disease, and cancer. While these 3 have always been at the top of the list, this time it has become alarming to the point of UN calling it “a public health emergency in slow motion.” It ties in with the recommendation for international travel health insurance because the UN also released a report that global international travel is increasing. With these top 3 killers which can go undetected for years, getting international health insurance will make a person more aware of his health and well being.

The most frustrating concern about these 3 health problems is that they are curable or can be treated so that a person can live for many years. It’s not like AIDS which has no cure; or an unknown bug that suddenly shows up on the radar. By watching what one eats and drinks, lifestyle, and regular check-ups, no one has to die an untimely death from any 3 health problems.

The UN is strongly recommending that nations push for healthy habits. Next week the UN General Assembly will conduct a summit on 4 chronic diseases, including diabetes. If the world can come together to fight these diseases, we would not have figures like 9 out of 10 nearly dying from any one of these 4 health issues.