Tagshealthcare

Cypriots need to lay off the sleeping pills

By Natalie Hami 04/03/12
A NEW study carried out in the US should be a warning to doctors in Cyprus to take heed and be more ‘conservative’ when prescribing pills to alleviate sleepless nights.The results of the study carried out in 2010 and released earlier this week said up to 10 per cent of the US population took sleeping pills and revealed that their misuse may have been associated with 320,000 to 507,000 extra deaths in the US that year.“It sends out a message that we need to be very careful when prescribing these types of pills,” said neurologist and psychiatrist, Dr Christodoulos Messis... 7 comments

And so the treatment starts

By Hermes Solomon 04/03/12
THE WORD cancer in itself sounds horrific, but almost equalling challenging are the words ‘radioactive pill’, the form of cancer treatment that necessitates complete isolation for two to three days in a ward designated for administration of the 'radioactive' iodine pill and a further month at home in the spare room, separated from family and friends by a minimum of two metres at all times. Even when a wall separates beds, they must be at least two metres apart - such is the presumed ease of transmission of this deadliness.We arrived at the Bank of Cyprus Oncology Centre reception at 10am. My wife was given a number and told to sit and wait to be called... 2 comments

Our View: Warped populist tradition of keeping tobacco prices low

03/03/12
 ONLY the deputy of the Green Party Giorgos Perdikis voted in favour of the government bill that would have increased the tax on hand-rolling tobacco. The bill, which had been classed as urgent and submitted to the House Finance Committee on Thursday morning, was voted down in the afternoon’s plenum, the government failing to secure even the support of AKEL’s deputies, all of whom abstained... 12 comments

‘Rejecting tobacco tax rise was a mistake’

By Poly Pantelides 03/03/12
BY VOTING down a government bill to raise the consumption tax on rolling tobacco, parliament took away some €20 million earmarked for helping vulnerable groups, Finance Minister Kikis Kazamias said yesterday.The bill proposed doubling the tax from €60 per kilogram to €120 in order to address the discrepancy in taxes between manufactured and rolling tobacco.It was discussed as a matter of urgency on Thursday and while initial indications suggested it would pass, only the Greens’ Giorgos Perdikis voted in favour.Deputies for ruling party AKEL abstained while DISY, DIKO, EDEK and EVROKO voted against.“I’m very sad over the frivolity with which the House treated the government’s proposal,” Kazamias said... 4 comments

Vassiliou much improved after fainting spell

03/03/12
FORMER president George Vassiliou is doing well following a fainting episode on Thursday, according to medical services director at the Nicosia general, Evagoras Nicolaides.“He’s conscious of his surroundings and in a good mood,” said Nicolaides yesterday, adding that further tests revealed nothing new.Vassiliou,80, was in a semi-comatose state when he was admitted to the hospital and held for observation, due to his medical history. In 2000 he successfully underwent surgery to remove a benign brain tumour.He will be held for observation over the next few days. ... 2 comments

Cypriot scientists part of team for new drug

03/03/12
TWO CYPRIOT scientists from the University of Cyprus are part of a research team involved in a new drug that offers hope for people suffering from an eye disease that can cause blindness.The disease – solar related macular denegation – is when irreversible damage is caused to the light sensing nerves on the retina, with the main risk factors being age and UV radiation. Bright light straight from the sun, or from reflective surfaces such as from snow or the ocean will ‘age’ the macula, which is used to read, write and drive among other things... 1 comment

House votes down tobacco hike

02/03/12
PARLIAMENT yesterday voted down a government bill that would have doubled the consumption tax on rolled tobacco to bring it in line with the tax on manufactured cigarettes.The bill was rushed through parliament as a matter of urgency, and while initial deliberations indicated it would garner enough votes, a number of deputies had a change of heart just before voting got underway at the plenum yesterday.According to the Finance Ministry’s calculations, the tax hike would have generated an extra €20 million to state coffers annually.Thirty MPs belonging to the DISY, DIKO, EDEK and EVROKO parties voted against, while 15 deputies belonging to ruling AKEL abstained... 9 comments

George Vassiliou in hospital

02/03/12
FORMER president George Vassiliou is being held for observation at Nicosia general hospital after suffering a fainting episode.Vassiliou, 80, was rushed to hospital yesterday afternoon after losing consciousness. According to Evagoras Nicolaides, Medical Services director at Nicosia general, the former president was in a semi-comatose state on being admitted, but by evening his condition had improved considerably.Initial medical tests on Vassiliou showed no “acutely developing condition,” the doctor added.Due to Vassiliou’s medical history, however, the patient would remain at the hospital for observation and further tests.In 2000, Vassiliou successfully underwent surgery in London to remove a benign brain tumour. ... 5 comments

Tackling the issue of rare diseases

02/03/12
THE HEALTH ministry estimates that around 55,000 Cypriots suffer from rare diseases, Health Minister Stavros Malas said yesterday.“Such diseases are so rare that each may be relevant to just five people or fewer out of every 10,000 people but at the same time there are so many of them that they add up to 8,000 different illnesses,” Malas said.He was talking at a news conference to mark World Rare Disease Day which fell on February 29 this year.Malas said that a final draft on a national strategic plan on rare diseases had been drawn up by a technical committee. The strategy involves five aspects: prevention and diagnosis; treatment; care and research; and record keeping... 2 comments

Girl in critical condition after horse riding accident

29/02/12
A 13-year-old girl being treated at Limassol General Hospital after a horse riding accident is still considered critical, however she has been taken off the respirator, police said yesterday.The accident took place on Saturday afternoon at a riding club in Parekklisia, Limassol when the horse the girl was riding suddenly bolted and she fell off.She was taken to Limassol General Hospital and put on a respirator to help her breathe.Police spokesman Andreas Angelides said that investigations will include whether the club in Parekklisia where she was riding had the correct licence to provide horse riding lessons. ... 4 comments
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