False copies of blue badges by relatives amongst common abuses

Feb 9 2022

3,800 new Blue Badges were issued throughout last year, with 2,000 others receiving an extension. Minister for Inclusion Julie Farrugia Portelli said that as from March, the scheme will be administered by the Aġenzija Sapport with the aim of assuring that the Kummissjoni għad-Drittijiet tal-Persuni b’Diżabilita will administer its functions as regulator.

Speaking with tvmnews, the Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities Samantha Pace Gasan revealed the challenges and the abuses investigated by this scheme. She highlighted how the most common abuses unveiled by the commission regarding the Blue Badge were false copies of badges used by family members of those with disabilities.

The copying of the Blue Badge, which issued for a person with disabilities who experience severe mobility problems, is illegal because it is a legal document which cannot be replicated.

Pace Gasan appealed through the interview for everyone to keep in mind that certain Blue Badge conditions are invisible. She said that at face value some may be making misuse of the badge, but the truth is that their disability is not evident and therefore there should be a greater awareness in regards to this issue.

The Minister said the process will be simplified as from march as applications for the badge will be administer by the Aġenzija Sapport. The application will only be under one entity and enforcement will be strengthened.

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23,085 COVID vaccine doses have been given to children locally

Feb 9 2022

Health Minister Chris Fearne said in parliament on Tuesday that 23,085 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been given to children aged 5-11.

Replying to a parliamentary question by PN MP Graziella Galea, Fearne said that out of the mentioned number of doses, 9,776 were second doses.

With a total of 32,493 children currently eligible for the vaccine, children had been given the go-ahead to be vaccinated on December 14th 2021 after the EMA approved the jabs for kids in November.

As of the last COVID-19 update by governmental sources, 1,223,793 vaccine doses were administered in Malta. 335,128 of these were booster doses.

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Photo Source: Chris Fearne FB, BBC

Sleeping one extra hour could help you lose weight study finds

Feb 9 2022

A new research has found that sleeping for an extra hour each night can help people shave off around 270 calories off their daily diet.This is the equivalent of three chocolate biscuits, which could lead to a weight loss of 26lb over three years simply by sleeping more. The study follows a team from the University of Chicago who wanted to look at how sleep interacts with obesity.

Writing in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine, the researchers found that young, overweight adults who habitually slept fewer than 6.5 hours a night were able to add an extra 1.2 hours per night after undergoing counselling to improve their sleep habits. Speaking about the study, Dr Esra Tasali said that if healthy sleeping habits are maintained over a longer duration, it could lead to clinically important weight loss over time.

The study, she claimed, did not attempt to limit diets or lifestyle to replicate everyday life. The study only manipulated sleep, with participants being able to eat whatever they wanted to. Cutting usage of devices such as phones or laptops before bedtime was also found to help people sleep better and longer.

Dr. Tasali said that after just one sleep counselling session, the participants’ bedtime habits changed to ensure they stayed asleep longer. The individuals were coached on good sleep hygiene and discussed their own personal sleep environments. The adults in the study were aged between 21 and 40, with a body mass index at the start of the study between 25 and 29.9. But why does this work? Researchers suggest that sleep restriction increases hunger and changes in brain regions related to reward-seeking behaviour. Thus, sleeping more reduced hunger and overeating.

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Heart attacks: signs, symptoms and how to prevent them

Feb 9 2022

Heart attack symptoms will vary between different individuals but it is of utmost importance to stay alert and watch out for the signs. The complications resulting from a heart attack may be very serious and even life-threatening, so if you feel any of the symptoms seek emergency help immediately.

On Valentine’s Day, which is also their 8th anniversary, The Marigold Foundation officially launched The Heart Disease Campaign, a 3-day campaign all about heart health. Whilst everyone is celebrating love and the symbol of the heart, The Marigold Foundation has applied that concept to bring awareness on heart diseases and their prevention. It also highlights the importance of being heart healthy, knowing the symptoms whilst realising how common heart attacks are.

In light of the ongoing campaign which is aimed at decreasing deaths at a young age, improving quality of life and increasing innovation; the following are some signs, symptoms and lifestyle habits to prevent heart attacks.

Symptoms (lasting for more than 15 minutes)

Being aware of the symptoms of a heart attack and seeking immediate help is not only essential but crucial. The sooner you get yourself to an emergency room, the sooner you can be treated to reduce heart muscle damage. In certain cases, a heart attack may require cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or defibrillation to get the heart pumping.

Burning or tightening pressure in the chest
An unexplained pain in the throat, neck, back, stomach or shoulders.
Unusual shortness of breath
A cold sweat

Lifestyle Habits for Heart Attack Prevention

A global lack of commitment to heart health has made heart disease one of the top causes of death around the world. Investing some time and effort into adopting a healthier lifestyle goes a long way and achieving a heart-healthy lifestyle isn’t too difficult. They say prevention is better than cure and the following are a few good habits you can adopt to prevent potential heart attacks.

Good Nutrition
Daily Physically Activity
Reduce Stress
Limit Alcohol
Lower High Blood Pressure

During The Foundation’s campaign launch in Valletta, cardiologist Dr. Robert Xuereb highlighted the fact that while COVID-19 took the lives of approximately 500 people in one year, heart attacks still claim the lives of over 1,000 people every year in Malta.

Share this article to let someone know about the importance of heart health.

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