Feeling extremely lonely on a regular basis is worse than obesity for increasing health risks which lead to premature death, say researchers. The study from the University of Chicago found feeling lonely can increase the risk of premature death in an older person by 14 percent. A 2010 study found extreme loneliness has double the impact of obesity on early death in older people writes Bryony Ashcroft of Expathealth.org

The findings mean extreme loneliness is nearly as bad as disadvantaged socioeconomic status in increasing the risk of premature death. Studies have shown people who are of low socioeconomic status have a 19 percent higher risk of early death than those in a better socioeconomic position.

Loneliness can result in disrupted sleep, raised blood pressure, depression, and increased levels of the stress hormone cortisol. John Cacioppo, professor of psychology at the University of Chicago, found dramatic differences in the rate of decline of the mental and physical health between socially engaged and lonely older people.

Loneliness risk for expat retirees

Anyone planning on retiring abroad needs to consider the implications of moving away from their family, friends, and social circle.

“Retiring to Florida to live in a warmer climate among strangers isn’t necessarily a good idea if it means you are disconnected from the people who mean the most to you,” said Cacioppo. Population changes make understanding the role of loneliness and health all the more important, he explained.

Although many people are happy in their own company, most people need some degree of social interaction on a daily basis. The research carried out by Cacioppo and his colleagues identified three core dimensions to healthy relationships – intimate connectedness, which comes from having someone in your life you feel affirms who you are; relational connectedness, which comes from having face-to-face contacts that are mutually rewarding; and collective connectedness, which comes from feeling that you’re part of a group.

Older people living alone aren’t necessarily lonely, Cacioppo pointed out. If they remain socially active, and engage with, and enjoy the company of, other people then the adverse effects of extreme loneliness don’t apply.

Older people moving abroad can avoid the consequences of loneliness by staying in touch with friends and family at home, taking part in family traditions including travelling home for important events where possible.

For people moving abroad for the first time there are plenty of expat areas in countries such as Spain, France, and Thailand, where foreigners tend to live. Moving to one of these areas, at least in the beginning, can help with the settling-in process. A common language and shared interests can help support you when you first move abroad and until you find your feet.

If you’re thinking about taking a week long vacation, why not make it two?

According to a new report on the interconnection between travel and health, there are some serious health benefits to traveling. The report from the Global Commission on Aging, the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies, and the U.S. Travel Association uncovers a link between traveling and better physical and mental health, and even shows that those who travel live longer reports the healthytravelblog

The survey found that women who traveled infrequently had a higher risk of having a heart attack or dying from heart disease compared to those who traveled at least twice a year.

Men also reaped some significant health benefits; those who didn’t take a vacation once a year were shown to have a 20 percent higher risk of death, while 30 percent were more likely to die from heart disease.

And when it comes to happiness, 86 percent of those who traveled were more content with their lives, compared with 75 percent of those who did not travel.

So how exactly might travel improve health?

A similar study conducted in Australia discovered that travel improved three important factors related to happiness: positive emotions, a sense of purpose, and a sense of involvement. The findings showed that the entire process of traveling, from booking a trip to looking at pictures from it afterwards, simply made people happier.

And since experiencing positive emotions lowers the risk for cardiovascular disease, travel is a great way to stay happy and healthy.

So the next time you travel, be sure to take some time and stop stressing over the things that go wrong. But since that can sometimes be difficult to do, here are some tips for a stress-free vacation:

• Plan ahead: From booking your flight and accommodations well in advance to creating an itinerary for your trip, there are plenty of vacation details that can be sorted out ahead of time. Even if you don’t plan on visiting every landmark, you’ll at least have time built into your schedule to do so.
• Pack smart: You can’t predict if something will go wrong, but you can at least be prepared. Make sure you pack a travel-sized first aid kit in case of an emergency and an extra set of clothes in your carry on.
• Get travel insurance: Trip protection will come in handy if your trip is delayed or cancelled for whatever reason, and travel health insurance can come in handy in case of a medical emergency.

Communicable diseases (CDs) among expatriate workers in Gulf countries pose a health threat and are a concern for healthcare providers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), say experts. Doctors called for stricter screening methods and tighter public health laws at the Arab Health Congress this week.

Reported in The National, labour camps for expat workers have been identified as breeding grounds for infectious diseases. Health experts at the Congress spoke of increased awareness of personal hygiene, enforcement of labour laws, and free medical treatment for all workers.

Labour camps in the UAE are often overcrowded, and lack adequate sanitation, clean water and sewage systems, making them ripe breeding grounds for CDs.

“The spread of communicable diseases among migrant workers can be fatal and the effects can be wide-ranging,” said Dr Wasif Alam, director of Dubai Health Authority’s public health and safety department.

He also called for simple hygiene education among workers such as hand-washing, which alone could help stop the spread of disease in the camps. Malaria, TB, scabies, hepatitis B and C, STDs, and food poisoning are some of the most commonly reported CDs in Dubai.

Reports state there are often six workers to one room, with little or no ventilation, and no isolation if someone falls sick. “There are laws to protect workers,” Dr Alam said. “Much of the laws have not been implemented.”

In addition to the threat to workers’ physical health, illness takes a mental toll, as blue-collar workers fear deportation, or losing their jobs so they do not seek treatment. The issue affects the whole region as there are 17 million expat workers in the GCC countries.

In 2012 the GCC introduced health screenings for workers in their home countries, which brought the incidence of disease down from 20 percent to seven percent, reported the Khaleej Times.

“In terms of regulations, I think we have enough here. I think we need to concentrate more on the design of that system and implementing the regulations,” said Dr Farida Al Hosani, manager of the communicable diseases department at the Health Authority Abu Dhabi.

Strong enforcement of labour laws would ensure workers’ treatment was free, that they had access to clean drinking water, adequate accommodation, and vaccines were administered where necessary.

Reproduced by kind permission of expathealth.org

Major considerations for people moving abroad include job security, reliable insurance, and economic stability according to an international survey. The results show availability of reliable health insurance was more important than schools or pensions for those thinking about relocating overseas.

The survey of 7,750 individuals in 12 countries asked respondents to consider the “safety aspects” of emigrating – 22% said insurance coverage for illness and disability, compared with 20% who identified pensions, and only 14% who chose schools as the most important aspect. The most important considerations for a move abroad were job security (43%), a low crime rate (39%), and political stability (28%).

Australians and Mexicans were the least concerned about health insurance, only 10% identified it as a major consideration, preferring instead to worry about a low crime rate. Austrians on the other hand were the most concerned about the availability of health insurance (49% of 500 respondents) than any other factors.

Most popular expat destinations

North America was ranked as the most appealing destination, with 31% of people saying it would be their prefered choice. Australia and New Zealand came second (29%), while over a quarter (28%) of respondents opted for Germany, Austria or Switzerland, and 24% chose Nordic countries.

It’s not surprising that Germany, Austria, and Switzerland are the most popular European destinations, as the state of the economy and job opportunities are among the most important considerations for people moving abroad. Nearly half (49%) of those surveyed selected better employment prospects or unemployment as a motivating factor for moving abroad.

Reproduced with kind permission of expathealth.org

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After health successes in 2013 such as the Million Hearts programme aiming to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes by 2017, and a successful nationwide anti-smoking ad campaign, the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified five health threats going into 2014.

Antibiotic resistance

Each year in the USA more than two million people contract antibiotic resistant infections with 23,000 dying as a result, according to CDC figures. These infections are particularly dangerous for those with compromised immune systems, including those with cancer, kidney failure or people with transplanted organs.

The CDC has identified four steps to combat antibiotic resistance, and in 2014 will work closely with local authorities to improve antibiotic use and track the spread of resistant infections.

Emergence of new diseases

The CDC is making disease detection a priority at home and abroad in 2014. Only one in five countries has the technology to detect and fight emerging infections, says the CDC’s director Dr Tom Frieden.

In 2013, the CDC identified the new Heartland virus, carried by ticks, in northwest Missouri. They also helped public health officials in the Republic of Georgia isolate a new disease related to smallpox, which was infecting shepherds in the country, writes Expathealth.org

Globalisation of travel and food supplies

Diseases thought to be eradicated in the US have made a comeback thanks to lower immunisation rates, and the spread of global travel. In 2013, measles cases doubled to 175, almost all linked to foreign travel.

Disease can spread anywhere in the world within 24 hours, said Frieden. Prevention of many, like measles, only works if the majority of the population are vaccinated. The CDC is working with state health departments and colleagues around the world to promote immunisation programmes for polio, measles and other preventable diseases.

Misuse of prescription drugs

The CDC reports deaths from prescription painkillers have reached “epidemic levels” over the last decade, with more than 16,500 people killed by painkiller overdoses in 2010. The annual number of deaths from these drugs exceeds the number from heroin and cocaine combined.

In 2014 the CDC will continue working to prevent the overdose, misuse, and abuse of prescription drugs while helping patients access safe, effective pain relief.

Vaccination programmes

Polio is closer than ever to being eradicated worldwide, but challenges such as military conflict, and bans on immunisations mean work still needs to be done to reach communities most at risk. The CDC and Global Polio Eradication Initiative will continue to run local immunisation programmes to reach the two million children in high-risk areas.