Man who died for 6 minutes says he ‘can't imagine anything worse' than what he saw
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Scottish Sun
15 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Ten benefits worth £12k pensioners can claim this month including free TV licence and council tax – are you missing out?
PENSIONERS can get access to 10 benefits and freebies that could save them a whopping £12,700 a year. They include everything from free TV licences and NHS prescriptions to benefits such as Pension Credit. Advertisement 1 Pensioners can potentially get a huge £12,700 worth of freebies and benefits Credit: Getty The Sun has put together a list all the things you could claim and how much you can save... Pension Credit - £3,900 a year This benefit is available for pensioners on lower earnings. Pension Credit becomes available whenever you are able to start claiming your pension. The amount you can get depends on how much you've earned and your income. Advertisement But the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) says the average amount given out is a huge £3,900 a year. Free TV licence - save £174.50 Everyone who watches live TV is expected to pay the licence fee annually. It currently comes to £174.50 a year. However, if you're over the age of 75 and claim Pension Credit, you won't have to pay. Advertisement You can also get a discount if you're visually impaired. How to Qualify for Free or Discounted Council Tax! Free prescriptions and eye tests - save £139.50 You won't need to be claiming Pension Credit to get free NHS prescriptions. Anyone over the age of 60 in England, Scotland or Wales can get their prescriptions for free. If you're buying your prescription regularly and using an annual prepayment certificate this can cost up to £114.50 - so you'll make a huge saving by getting your prescription for free. Advertisement Over-60s are also entitled to a free eye test every two years. This can save you £25 each time. All you need to do is book your appointment as normal and inform members of staff that you are eligible for a free test. Discounted broadband - save £142.92 People who claim Pension Credit are often eligible for cheaper broadband. Advertisement The cheapest plans available to pensioners cost just £14.99 a month, compared to the average cost of £26.90. Over a year, this means you could save a staggering £142.92. Winter Fuel Payment - up to £300 Millions of pensioners are set to get a Winter Fuel Payment worth up to £300 this year. The payment is being made to those with an income of or below £35,000 this winter. Advertisement A person needs to have reached state pension age by September 21 to be eligible for a payment. People aged up to 80 will receive a payment worth £200 while those aged 81 or over will get £300. Attendance Allowance - up to £5,741 a year Attendance Allowance is a benefit paid out to people over state pension age who need someone to help look after them. To qualify for the benefit you must have a disability or illness that requires you to be looked after, and you must have needed help for at least six months. Advertisement It's paid at two different rates depending on how much help you need. You get a lower rate of £73.90 a week, or £3,843 a year, if you need help either in the day or at night. The higher rate of £110.40 a week, or £5,741 a year, is if you need help at both day and night. The payment is not affected by how much your income is. Advertisement Council tax reduction - save £2,171 Some pensioners can claim a discount on their council tax bills. But the amount of reduction you can get will depend on factors like your age, income, savings and the benefits you receive. You can usually claim for a council tax reduction if you receive benefits like Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payments and Carer's Allowance. Plus, those that receive the Guarantee part of Pension Credit may be exempt from paying council tax entirely. Advertisement If you receive Pension Credit, but not the Guarantee part, you may still be able to reduce your bill if you're on a low income and have less that £16,000 in savings. The average Band D Council Tax set by local authorities in England currently stands at £2,171 - so you could end up saving a huge amount. Free passports - save £94.50 Passports are offered for free by the Home Office to anyone born before September 2, 1929. That means most people who are eligible for the discount are in their late 90s. Advertisement But those who are can save £94.50. Cold Weather Payment - £25 Older people receiving Pension Credit can get Cold Weather Payments when temperatures drop. You'll get if the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, 0C or below over seven consecutive days. You will get £25 for each seven-day period of very cold weather. Advertisement If you're eligible you'll get the payments automatically. Discounted days out - save £37 Pensioners are entitled to special discounts on certain days out. The National Trust and English Heritage both offer discounts for seniors. If you've been a National Trust member for at least three consecutive years and you're aged 60 or over, this can get you 25% off your subscription. Advertisement It means you'll pay £72 rather than £96 a year, saving you £24. People aged 65 or over will pay £69 a year for English Heritage membership, versus £82 for most adults. That would save you £13 a year. You can also save on Interrail passes - which let you travel around Europe - by getting 10% off. Advertisement Cinemas and museums also offer cheaper tickets too. Since the amount that you save is dependent on the days out you prefer, the possibilities are endless.
Scottish Sun
17 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Patients ‘isolated' and Covid-like alerts issued as surge of ‘disabling' virus in China sparks global outbreak fears
The virus can be 'extremely uncomfortable and disabling', with babies and older adults most at risk DEJA FLU? Patients 'isolated' and Covid-like alerts issued as surge of 'disabling' virus in China sparks global outbreak fears Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) CHINESE officials have imposed Covid-like measures in parts of the country in an effort to curb surging cases of a "disabling" virus. More than 7,000 people have fallen ill with the mosquito-borne chickungunya virus, the largest outbreak of its kind ever to be documented in China, according to experts. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 An outbreak of chikungunya in China has sparked alarm, with authorities rushing to curb the virus Credit: Getty 6 Insecticide is being sprayed across cities like Foshan, where most cases have been spotted Credit: Getty 6 Chikungunya is spread by infected mosquitoes Credit: Getty The virus's rapid spread is sparking fears of a global outbreak, with cases expected to continue increasing in the next few weeks. Most cases have been reported in the city of Foshan, in the southern province of Guangdong, with the authorities tackling the rise in cases with methods employed during the Covid pandemic. Infected patients are being kept in hospital for a minimum of one week. Authorities briefly enforced a two-week home quarantine, which was dropped since the disease is spread by mosquitoes and can't be transmitted between people. Meanwhile, people who do not empty bottles, flower pots or other receptacles with standing water - which can attract mozzies - have been slapped with fines of up to 10,000 yuan ($1,400) and have their electricity cut off. No deaths from the virus have been reported but at least 12 other cities in Guangdong have reported infections. At least 3,000 cases were detected over the past week, bringing the total to over 10,000 in the country. It comes after the World Health Organisation (WHO) warned last month that chickungunya could soon affect billions across the globe - as it tears through parts of the Indian Ocean and edges closer to Europe. The health watchdog said it was seeing the same warning signs as in the last major outbreak two decades ago, when nearly half a million were infected worldwide. "We are seeing history repeating itself," said Dr Diana Rojas Alvarez, WHO's technical lead on the virus. Chikungunya is spread by infected mosquitoes and causes symptoms such as sudden high fever, severe joint and muscle pain, fatigue, rash, and headaches. Most people recover in a couple of weeks, but some people - especially older adults - may suffer from long-lasting arthritis-like joint pain. Dr César López-Camacho, from the Jenner Institute at the University of Oxford, said: "Although chikungunya rarely causes death, it can be extremely uncomfortable and disabling. "The most vulnerable include the elderly, newborns, and people with underlying health conditions." 6 Drones are being sent out to hunt down insect breeding grounds Credit: Getty 6 A worker sprays insecticide in Foshan, Guangdong Province of China Credit: Getty 6 Patient with joint deformities of the hands 6 years after confirmed chikungunya virus Chinese health authorities say cases are dropping off slowly, but Dr López-Camacho warned it is likely that chickunguya infections will continue to be reported for the next few weeks. He described the situation as a "significant outbreak". "With over 7,000 confirmed cases reported in Guangdong Province, this is the largest chikungunya outbreak ever documented in China. "Until now, the country had only recorded a few imported cases, with no sustained local transmission. Chikungunya: Signs and symptoms Chikungunya is a disease caused by the chikungunya virus, which spreads to humans through infected mosquitoes. Major outbreaks and scattered cases have been reported across the Americas, Asia, and Africa. Now, with smaller flare-ups starting to appear in Europe, it's important to be aware of the symptoms. Not everyone infected with chikungunya will show symptoms, but for those who do, symptoms typically begin 4 to 8 days after the bite of an infected mosquito and include: Sudden onset of high fever Severe joint pain (often debilitating) Joint swelling, especially in the hands, wrists, ankles, and feet Muscle pain Headache Nausea Fatigue Rash Most patients recover fully from chikungunya infection, although occasional cases can involve serious complications affecting the eyes, heart, or nervous system. Some can also be left with deformities. Newborns infected either during delivery or by mosquito bites shortly after birth, and older adults with underlying health conditions are at higher risk of severe disease. In such cases, hospitalisation may be necessary due to the risk of organ damage and even death. 'What makes this event notable is that chikungunya has never been established in mainland China before. "This suggests that most of the population had no pre-existing immunity, making it easier for the virus to spread quickly." Outbreaks of mosquito-borne diseases tend to happen "in populations that are 'naive' to the virus, meaning people have not been previously exposed and are not protected", Dr López-Camacho. Authorities in China have deployed a series of preventive measures to curb the spread of the virus, spraying clouds of disinfectant around city streets, residential areas, construction sites and even sending out drones to hunt down insect breeding grounds. Heavy rains and high temperatures have worsened the situation in China. Chikungunya causes regular outbreaks in Africa, Asia and the Americas, and has also been spotted in Europe. As of July, there have been about 240,000 cases of chikungunya, including 90 deaths in 16 countries, according to the European Centres for Disease Prevention and Control. The countries that reported the highest number of infections were Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina and Peru. How concerning is this outbreak? Though tactics adopted by authorities in China hark back to lockdown measures five years ago, chikungunya "does not pose the same level of pandemic threat as a virus like COVID-19", according to Prof Tom Solomon, director of The Pandemic Institute in Liverpool. Dr López-Camacho added: 'It is extremely unlikely to cause a pandemic in the traditional sense, as chikungunya does not spread from person to person. "However, it can cause large regional outbreaks, especially when introduced to mosquito-rich, low-immunity settings, like what we are probably seeing in China." The risk to the UK from this outbreak is "currently low" as Aedes mosquitoes, which tend to carry the virus, aren't widespread here. "But we do need to watch closely, as climate change and global travel are expanding the range of these mosquitoes, and with it, the viruses they carry," Dr López-Camacho warned. 'It is also important that genetic sequencing of the virus in this outbreak is carried out. "In past outbreaks, mutations have helped chikungunya adapt to new mosquito species. "If the virus has changed, we need to ensure current vaccines still offer protection." Brits travelling to China amidst the outbreak should "be cautious", the disease expert said. "The US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a Level 2 travel alert, recommending travellers use insect repellent, wear long sleeves, and stay in screened or air-conditioned accommodation. "Travellers returning from affected areas who develop fever and joint pain should seek medical attention and mention their recent travel." People travelling to high-risk areas where outbreaks of the virus often occur can get vaccinated against chikungunya at a travel clinic. But Prof Solomon noted: "There have been reports of serious side effects in people over the age of 65. "As such, the vaccine is currently recommended for travellers under 65 visiting high-risk areas."
Scottish Sun
19 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Morning glory or night-time no show? What your erections (or lack of) reveal about your health
Plus, the treatments available if you're suffering with erectile dysfunction HARD TRUTH Morning glory or night-time no show? What your erections (or lack of) reveal about your health Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MOST men occasionally fail to get or keep an erection and it can be hard to tell whether this is due to a physical or psychological cause. But there may be a way in which men can find out - by monitoring what happens down below at a certain time of the day. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 While 'morning wood' might be a good sign, erectile dysfunction could indicate an underlying health problem Credit: Getty Men who keep an eye on their erections after waking up in the morning may be more attuned to what's going on with their health. For example, Abbas Kanani, pharmacist at online pharmacy Chemist Click, said, if you've experienced erectile dysfunction, but continue to get morning wood, your body is likely to be healthy enough to produce erections. He continued: "The problem isn't likely to be a physical one, but a psychological one." Morning wood is an erection that men have as they wake up and is a good indicator of a healthy blood and nerve supply to your penis. Abbas added: "It means that your body is physiologically capable of achieving an erection and that you probably aren't affected by physical ED, caused by high blood pressure, diabetes, or low testosterone." While men aren't always going to wake up to a rock-hard erection, they should be getting them every so often, he urged. Abbas added: There are no set guidelines or indicators which state how many days a week a man should be waking up with an erection, but if you're not waking up with the morning glory you once knew, it can be a sign that you have an underlying health condition." Sexual arousal in men is a process which involves the brain, hormones, nerves, emotions, and blood vessels. As such, erectile problems can arise when there's a problem with any of these processes. "Problems can be both physical and psychological," said Abbas. What is Erectile Dysfunction? Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a very common condition. It's estimated to affect half of all men between the ages of 40 and 70, according to NHS reports. Physical ED can be due to: Medical conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney disease, stroke, epilepsy, obesity, Parkinson's or low testosterone levels. Nerve damage Smoking Excess alcohol consumption Anatomical problems with your penis such as Peyronie's or penile fracture Certain medication Psychogenic erectile dysfunction occurs when a man has the inability to achieve or maintain an erection during sex due to psychological factors. These can include the following... Stress 3 Stress can affect arousal as well as testosterone levels Credit: Getty Stress can be linked to erection problems in men. Abbas explained: "During times of stress, activity in the less essential sections of the brain, including the receptors responsible for managing arousal, start to decrease. "When you are preoccupied, often with the pressures that life has to present, it's difficult to focus. "It may even be the case that sex is the last thing on your mind which can affect performance". He added: "Stress can also affect testosterone levels, and the quality of sleep, which can have a knock-on effect on sexual activity". Performance anxiety Sexual performance anxiety is generally believed to be amongst the most common psychological causes of ED. The desire to please a new partner during sexual intercourse can cause performance anxiety in men of any age, said Abbas. He continued: "Erection difficulties on occasion can also have a negative effect the next time you try, and this can have a negative impact on your confidence. "In most cases, anxiety induced ED is temporary, but may require therapy." Depression 3 Depression can also impact the body's ability to trigger sexual arousal Credit: GETTY Whether exacerbated by loss of self-esteem or over fatigue, a depressed mental state can significantly impact the body's ability to trigger sexual arousal. Abbas said: "ED itself can exacerbate the symptoms of depression, and vice versa". Loss of interest A reduction in libido may be responsible for ED. "Symptoms stemming from a lack of interest in sex may have as much to do with partner familiarity as they do a lack of testosterone, and relationship issues can trigger an onset of ED symptoms," cautioned Abbas. "When it comes to the onset of ED, there are often underlying issues that require addressing prior to tackling any secondary aggravators. "Once the primary source of the erection issue has been identified and addressed, it is possible to reverse and treat the condition permanently." But in some primary cases – for example if a man has never been able to achieve or maintain a rigid erection – treating ED permanently is more of a challenge, depending on the cause.
