The results of the survey, published in Cover magazine, suggest that four in ten heads of small companies continue to work from their sick beds, as their business would collapse if they were to take time off.

It seems that employees may also be compounding the problem, as 62% of small and medium-sized enterprise bosses say that employee absence is negatively affecting their business. Indeed, 46% said that high levels of employee absence are estimated to contribute up to a 10% drop in turnover in small businesses.

Yet staggeringly, despite these pressures, 38% of bosses admit that they spend more on office stationery than on initiatives that support employee health and wellbeing, such as flu jabs, cycle to work schemes and subsidised gym membership.

These findings reiterate the impact that ill health can have upon a business. It stands to reason that a healthier workforce will be more productive and committed, yielding higher returns and lower absence levels. Battling to try and work through sickness simply does not represent a prudent long-term solution, as it potentially risks encouraging serious health problems in the future. 

Promoting good health in the workplace is vital to the prosperity and well-being of not only individual employees, but the business as a whole. Offering a generous employee benefit package encourages increases in motivation and performance – factors which will in turn drive increases in productivity and profitability.

Providing employees with sufficient healthcare cover will ensure that they are granted access to first class medical care, which not only protects them, but also makes them feel valued by the investment in their welfare, whilst also helping the business to attract and retain the high-calibre employees required to thrive and succeed. Indeed, offering a high-value employee benefit solution will also limit the company’s liability for any expensive medical treatment claims or long-term sickness absence claims that might arise.

Good health is good for business. Ensure that your expatriate employees, their dependants and your business are safeguarded against the effects of ill health by considering a high-value employee benefit solution from William Russell. Click here for more information, or click here to request a call back from one of our team. Alternatively, click here to get a quote.

Source – covermagazine.co.uk 16 Mar 12

Their findings are the result of a recent study, conducted by analysing data from 37,698 men between 1986 and 2008 and 83,644 women between 1980 and 2008. The researchers found that adding an extra portion of unprocessed red meat to a person’s daily diet would increase their risk of death by 13%, of fatal cardiovascular disease by 18% and of cancer mortality by 10%. The figures for processed meat were even higher – 20% for overall mortality, 21% for death from heart problems and 16% for cancer mortality.

The write-up of their study summarised: “We found that a higher intake of red meat was associated with a significantly elevated risk of total, cardiovascular disease, and cancer mortality. This association was observed for unprocessed and processed red meat, with a relatively greater risk for processed red meat.” Further research is needed to determine the exact reasons behind the observations, but the researchers have suggested that saturated fat from red meat might lead to the increased heart risk, whilst the sodium used in processed meats may “increase cardiovascular disease risk through its effect on blood pressure”.

These findings reaffirm the importance of ensuring that we eat as balanced a diet as possible. In response to the study, Victoria Taylor, a dietitian at the British Heart Foundation, said: “Red meat can still be eaten as part of a balanced diet, but go for the leaner cuts and use healthier cooking methods such as grilling. If you eat processed meats like bacon, ham, sausages or burgers several times a week, add variation to your diet by substituting these for other protein sources such as fish, poultry, beans or lentils.”

When living abroad, adapting to different foods and a new diet can sometimes be challenging, a point emphasised by a recent Lloyds TSB survey, which ranked British food as one of the main things that expats missed about the UK when abroad. Although starting a new life overseas can be a whirlwind of new considerations and responsibilities, it remains crucial that you and your family ensure you are doing your utmost to maintain as balanced a diet as possible, in order to help prevent health-related difficulties in the future.

The results of this study reiterate the need to ensure moderation and a realistically balanced diet, as far as is possible. It stands to reason that eating well, when coupled with a decent amount of exercise and an adequate level of health insurance cover, will allow you to concentrate on enjoying your new life overseas, safe in the knowledge that you are doing your bit to protect your health, and the health of your family.

Source – BBC News 12 Mar 12

Figures compiled by Scottish Provident suggest that men typically protect themselves with around 50% more life cover than women. Although the gap is “relatively small” to begin with – 23% among those in their 30s – it gets progressively wider and becomes a “significant gulf” for those in their 60s, when men have almost twice as much cover in place. This is in spite of the fact that recent research has shown how across much of the Western world, women are increasingly becoming the primary household earners. Research published in the British Journal of Psychiatry showed that 22% of Western wives were earning more than their husbands in 2007, compared to only 4% in 1970.

With these figures in mind, it is crucial that working expatriate women act to protect their families’ financial security. When living and working abroad, underinsurance could leave your family or business financially vulnerable. As an expatriate, the security of your dependents is always a top priority, so ensuring that you have adequate protection cover in place should represent an essential part of your long-term financial plan.

William Russell’s Global Protection plans offer essential and affordable cover, helping to make your family’s future more secure. It’s crucial that all working female expatriates ensure that they take care of their protection insurance requirements. Take heed of these alarming statistics and put sufficient cover in place today – click to read more about William Russell’s Global Life and Global Income plans, or click here to request a call back. Ensuring you are protected will leave you to concentrate on your new life overseas, without undue worry about the future.

Source – Health Insurance & Protection 7 Mar 12

It is well publicised that skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancer among white populations. Although most skin cancers are easily treatable and pose only a small threat to life, melanoma is the deadliest form of the disease, proving difficult to cure unless detected early. It accounts for around three-quarters of deaths related to skin cancer, and every year, some 160,000 people are diagnosed worldwide. However, new research has emerged suggesting that taking supplements containing vitamin A can make people less likely to develop melanoma.

Scientists have found that retinol, a key component of Vitamin A, could protect against the illness. They analysed the disease risk in 69,635 men and women aged between 50 and 76 who consumed vitamin A, through either dietary or supplementary methods. The findings of the study, which were published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, showed that those who used retinol regularly were 60% less likely to develop skin cancer, rising to 74% among those on the highest doses of more than 1,200 mg a day.

The strongest protective effects were found in women and in sun-exposed areas of the body, which would suggest that retinol directly combats the skin cancer. However, there was no association found between dietary intake of vitamin A, found in liver, eggs and milk, and a reduction in risk.

Dermatologist Dr Maryam Asgari, who led the study at the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research in Oakland, said: “Our data suggests a possible interaction between supplemental retinol use and the anatomic site of melanoma, with sun-exposed sites showing a stronger protective effect than sun-protected sites. It may be that retinol’s effects may be mediated by sunlight exposure. This intriguing possibility warrants further exploration in future studies.”

The findings appear to tie in with previous research on mice, which showed how retinol can shrink melanoma tumours and improve survival, whilst also finding retinol to be additionally beneficial to the immune system and eyesight. Dr Asgari concludes: “In summary, our data, which are based on a large prospective cohort, suggest retinol intake from individual supplements is associated with a reduction in risk for melanoma, especially among women. Our findings suggest vitamin A supplementation may hold promise as a chemopreventive agent for melanoma.”

A word of caution, though – the results have not been met with unanimous widespread agreement. Dr Claire Knight, senior health information officer at Cancer Research UK, has been quick to stress the study’s flaws: ‘We don’t recommend people start taking retinol supplements based on this study, particularly as high doses can be toxic. The result was based on a very small number of people with melanoma, and the authors didn’t account for other important factors that influence the risk of skin cancer, such as the number of moles a person has. And crucially, when the authors looked at whether a particular dose was linked to risk, the link between retinol and melanoma disappeared.’

It would appear the jury is still very much out – whilst the tablets certainly don’t appear to be a replacement for a generous coating of sun lotion, utilising the natural benefits of vitamins may well eventually prove to have a preventative effect on the potentially harmful effects of the sun. It would seem that further research will be needed to clarify these new findings, but what is for certain is the importance of ensuring that you are adequately protected against the costs of medical treatment, should you encounter the misfortune of ill health – cancer or otherwise. Contact us here at William Russell and talk to one of our helpful and friendly team about getting insured, and enjoy the reassurance of knowing you can access the best medical care wherever you are in the world, without having to worry about the cost.

Source – Daily Mail 2 Mar 12

The study, which was reported in the medical journal Stroke, used 14 years of follow-up data provided by 69,622 women, who each reported their food intake, including details on fruit and vegetable consumption, every four years.

The research team, based at Norwich Medical School in the University of East Anglia, looked at the strength of protection from flavonoids, a type of antioxidant found in fruits, vegetables, dark chocolate and red wine. They examined the relationship of the six main subclasses of flavonoids with risk of ischemic, hemorrhagic and total stroke. Initially, they found no beneficial association between total flavonoid consumption and stroke risk, as the biological activity of these individual subclasses differ. However, they found that women who consumed high amounts of the flavanones found in citrus fruits had a 19 per cent lower risk of stroke than women who consumed the least amounts.

The flavanones used in the study came primarily from oranges and orange juice (82%) and grapefruit and grapefruit juice (14%), but the researchers have stressed that consumers looking to increase their citrus fruit intake should try to eat more whole fruit rather than juice, due to the high sugar content of commercial fruit juices. Experts have also commented that although the study examined women, the same benefits are likely to apply to men also.

Lead researcher Aedin Cassidy, Professor of Nutrition at the University of East Anglica, said: ‘Studies have shown higher fruit, vegetable and specifically vitamin C intake is associated with reduced stroke risk. Flavonoids are thought to provide some of that protection through several mechanisms, including improved blood vessel function and an anti-inflammatory effect.” He added that more studies are now needed to confirm the association between flavanone consumption and stroke risk, and to gain a better understanding about why the association occurs.

Dr Sharlin Ahmed, Research Liaison Officer at The Stroke Association, said: ‘We all know that eating plenty of fresh fruit and veg is good for our health. This study suggests that eating citrus fruits in particular, such as oranges and grapefruits, which are high in vitamin C, could help to lower your stroke risk. However, this should not deter people from eating other types of fruit and vegetables as they all have health benefits and remain an important part of a staple diet. Everyone can reduce their risk of stroke by eating a healthy balanced diet that is low in saturated fat and salt, exercising regularly and ensuring that your blood pressure is checked and kept under control.’

Sources – Daily Mail & AOL 24 Feb 12

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer death across the globe, being referred to as a ‘silent killer’ as it often has no early symptoms. It has a dismally low survival rate in relation to other cancers, and the length of time between diagnosis and death is typically very short, usually less than six months.

The researchers, from Cancer Research UK’s Cambridge Research Institute, made the breakthrough by mixing the chemotherapy agent gemcitabine with an experimental drug called MRK003. MRK003 blocks an important cell signalling pathway in both pancreatic cancer cells and the endothelial cells that line the blood vessels, supplying tumours with essential nutrients. Studies in mice have shown that the addition of MRK003 to gemcitabine – a drug used commonly in patients with pancreatic cancer – increased the ability of gemcitabine to destroy tumours.

The research was published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, and study author Prof. David Tuveson said: “We’ve discovered why these two drugs together set off a domino effect of molecular activity to switch off cell survival processes and destroy pancreatic cancer cells.”

Patients are currently testing the treatment as part of a clinical trial led by Prof. Duncan Jodrell, the Professor of Cancer Therapeutics at the University of Cambridge. He said: “We’re delighted that the results of this important research are now being evaluated in a clinical trial, to test whether this might be a new treatment approach for patients with pancreatic cancer, although it will be some time before we’re able to say how successful this will be in patients.”

In total, about 60 patients with advanced pancreatic cancer will be recruited for the first stage of the clinical trial. One of these is father-of-two Richard Griffiths, 41, from Coventry, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in May 2011. He said: “After six cycles of treatment, a scan showed the tumours had reduced and so I have continued with the treatment. The trial gives you hope – I really feel I can do this with the science behind me.”

Source – BBC News & The Press Association 21 Feb 12

Researchers from Yale University School of Medicine have shown how a protein in the immune system was affected by changes in the chemistry of the body through the day. Plants, animals and even bacteria go through a daily 24-hour routine, known as a circadian rhythm. This can be fairly easily disturbed, hence we can suffer from conditions like jetlag. It has been known that there are variations in the immune system throughout the day, but the details remain uncertain.

These new findings, published in the journal ‘Immunity’, appear to prove that the time of an infection alters its severity. The researchers were investigating one of the proteins involved in the detection process – Toll-like receptor nine (TLR9), which can spot DNA from bacteria and viruses. Through experiments on mice, the scientists showed that the amount of TLR9 produced and the way it functioned was controlled by the body clock and varied through the day. Therefore, immunising mice at the peak of TLR9 activity improved the immune response.

It is known that humans with sepsis (blood poisoning) are at a greater risk of death between 02:00 and 06:00. When testing the mice, the severity of sepsis depended on the time of day infection started and coincided with changes in TLR9 activity.

Prof Erol Fikrig, who conducted the study, said they had found a “direct molecular link between circadian rhythms and the immune system, [which could have] important implications for the prevention and treatment of disease. It does appear that disruptions of the circadian clock influence our susceptibility to pathogens.”

The implications for healthcare could be that drugs need to be given at certain times of day in order to make them more effective, or drugs could be made which actually target the body clock to put the immune system into its most active phase.

Dr Akhilesh Reddy, who is researching circadian rhythms at the University of Cambridge, has added that drug companies were “all switching onto this” and were “now screening drugs at different times of the day.” He concludes that the body clock could have a impact on medicine within the next decade.

Source – BBC News 17 Feb 12

IPTF hope that in addition to clarifying consumer needs in relation to IP, the new list will increase awareness of the importance of having an adequate income protection policy in place. Roy McLough, a senior partner at Master Adviser and a member of the IPTF, has emphasised this importance by citing the fact that an IP claim is statistically more likely to occur than a claim for either life or critical illness. He also adds: “few people realise that IP insurers are more generous than the State, and pay a much higher percentage of the claims they get too.”

The full list of things for potential IP consumers to consider is:

1. There is no set list of illnesses, so make sure you understand the definition used for being unable to work, such as ‘unable to carry out your own occupation,’ which is better for consumers than other alternatives such as ‘work tasks.’
William Russell’s Global Income plan defines it as being “totally unable to return to work at your own occupation.”

2. Check what benefits you are already entitled to from your employer or the State (if unsure ask your employer, ask an IFA or check online)

3. Ensure premiums are competitive on a like-for-like basis by shopping around and speaking to an independent adviser.

4. Make sure you know if the premiums are guaranteed throughout the policy, linked to age or inflation, or reviewable.
William Russell’s premiums are age-related.

5. Check how long the policy will pay out for – long term IP pays until retirement, however shorter ‘budget’ plan options are also available which reduce the premiums and may provide cover over a realistic time period over which you might suffer financially if unable to work.
William Russell’s cover can be renewed annually right up until you reach the age of 65.

6. Choose a suitable amount of cover (at least enough to cover essential expenses) and take cover until a realistic retirement age.
William Russell allow you to insure up to 75% of your gross annual earnings up to a maximum of £90,000.  

7. Ask about the insurer’s track record for paying claims – not all providers publish this information but a growing number do.
William Russell are pleased to report that as it currently stands, we have paid in excess of 90% of IP claims submitted.

8. Choose a suitable ‘deferment period’ – this is how long you need to be unable to work before the claim is paid.
William Russell offer a 3 month deferment period, but if you believe you could cope financially for up to 6 months, then choosing a 6 month deferment period will reduce your premium.

9. Check what practical help you might receive in the event of claim such as counselling and rehabilitation options, which can help you to become employable again after a long absence. William Russell offer a rehabilitation benefit, which would be paid if you recovered sufficiently within a 24 month period to return to work part-time. 

10. Make sure you disclose all health issues when applying – if in doubt, write it down.

Income Protection is certainly well worth considering, especially for expatriates, as it offers a reassuring level of financial security should you suffer the misfortune of illness or injury. The above list represents a hugely useful tool, so if it has encouraged you to contemplate Income Protection, do bear it in mind. You can read more about William Russell’s international Global Income Protection plan by clicking here.

Additionally, at William Russell we are dedicated to offering a consistently straightforward, user-friendly service. We understand, as the ABI consumer survey mentioned earlier suggests, that protection insurance can be confusing, but our commitment to customer care is such that all our staff undertake extensive training with regard to Treating Customers Fairly, which places a significant emphasis on the need to utilise Plain English and avoid over-complex industry jargon. Indeed, our mission statement reinforces our pledge to provide transparency and clarity with our documentation and correspondence.

Our dedication to ensure clarity and ease of use will always remain a significant aspect of our service promise. So to learn more about our Income Protection plans, either click here, or call to speak to one of the team on +44 1276 486477.

Source – IFA Online 30/1/12 & 14/1/12

The team, from the Mayo Clinic in the US, were investigating mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which can be an early sign of dementia. They looked at the effect of diet in 1,233 people aged between 70 and 89. Although none had dementia, 163 were diagnosed with MCI. The patients were divided into low calorie intake (600 to 1,526 calories a day), middle (1,526 to 2,142.5) and high (2,142.5 to 6,000) and the incidence of MCI was then compared.

The results, which were presented at the recent annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, showed no difference in the low and middle groups, but almost double the incidence of MCI in the high group. Researcher Dr Yonas Geda explains: “We observed a dose-response pattern, which simply means the higher the amount of calories consumed each day, the higher the risk of MCI. [Therefore] cutting calories and eating foods that make up a healthy diet may be a [simple] way to prevent memory loss as we age.”

Whilst the research seems to suggest that a high calorie diet causes twice the risk of MCI, the researchers have stressed that people who are cognitively impaired could end up eating more food, or there could be another factor involved which increases the risk of both, so further research is necessary. The findings are also yet to be published in a peer-reviewed academic journal.

However, these results are still of interest because MCI may potentially help predict who will go on to develop dementia, or related conditions such as Alzheimer’s. Dr Marie Janson, from Alzheimer’s Research UK, said the findings were interesting, and fitted in with “the bigger picture of a healthy lifestyle preventing Alzheimer’s in later life. We know that age is one of the greatest risk factors for dementia, but adopting a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet and regular exercise, is beneficial in protecting against dementia, along with a number of other chronic diseases.”

Source – BBC News 13 Feb 12

The team of researchers carried out genetic tests on 3,233 biologically unrelated British men, finding that 90% possessed one of two common versions of Y chromosome – named haplogroup I and haplogroup R1b1b2. The risk of coronary artery disease among the men carrying the haplogroup I version was found to be 50% higher than in other men. Somewhat alarmingly, as many as 1 in 5 British men carry this version of Y.

Prior to the study, experts already knew that men tend to develop heart disease a decade earlier than women, on average. As a result, by the age of 40, the lifetime risk of heart disease is one in two for men and one in three for women. Of course, lifestyle factors like smoking and blood pressure are important contributors, but the results of the study suggest that the Y chromosome can also play a role in coronary artery disease. The scientists say they now need to try and pinpoint precisely which genes on the Y chromosome are responsible, although they suspect these genes exert their effect by upsetting a man’s immune system.

Dr Maciej Tomaszewski, a clinical senior lecturer at the University of Leicester’s Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, said: “We are very excited about these findings as they put the Y chromosome on the map of genetic susceptibility to coronary artery disease. Doctors usually associated the Y chromosome with maleness and fertility but this shows it is also implicated in heart disease.” He hopes that the discovery could lead to new ways to treat and prevent heart disease in men, as well as a genetic test to spot those greatest risk.

Dr Hélène Wilson, of the British Heart Foundation (who part-funded the work), said: “Coronary heart disease is the cause of heart attacks, which claim the lives of thousands of men each year. Lifestyle choices such as poor diet and smoking are major causes, but inherited factors carried in DNA are also part of the picture. The next step is to identify specifically which genes are responsible and how they might increase heart attack risk.”

Dr Tomaszewski concluded by suggesting men should focus on risk factors that they already have the power to modify themselves, such as getting enough exercise and eating a healthy diet to keep their blood pressure and cholesterol down. But if genetics do play a part, it becomes even more vital to ensure that you have the adequate financial protection in place should you find yourself faced with the misfortune of ill health. William Russell’s Global Health, Global Life and Global Income plans provide vital protection for expatriates, offering both security and peace of mind. Click here to find out more.

Source – BBC News 9 Feb 12