Latest news with #ME
The Spinoff
a day ago
- Health
- The Spinoff
ME/CFS patient estimates have doubled – but the disease is still ignored
Tens of thousands of New Zealanders are thought to have myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), formerly known as 'chronic fatigue syndrome'. Yet the disease remains largely neglected in medicine and politics alike. The number of ME patients, those suffering from chronic fatigue and other symptoms, living in Aotearoa may have doubled in recent years, according to ME Society (ANZMES) estimates. The group has updated its earlier appraisal, drawing on an international prevalence rate based on pooled data. Applying this to our population and adding anticipated new cases triggered by Covid infection, the group's estimate has risen from roughly 25,000 to 65,000. If this estimate is correct, that would be more than the number of New Zealanders with rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and multiple sclerosis combined. Compared to most chronic illnesses, there's only patchy medical and public awareness, little tailored health care, and very little research investment. Aotearoa lacks an official, data-confirmed prevalence rate for ME, but the appraisal from ANZMES appears broadly consistent with estimates from other countries. Emerging studies point to a trend where a large subset of people with persisting Long Covid may be developing ME. Overseas estimates suggest a sky-rocketing of new ME cases since the pandemic began, but the picture in Aotearoa is not yet clear and may differ in light of our initially low Covid spread. It's crucial to remember that Covid hasn't gone away. New Zealanders are still getting infected each week – wastewater testing last week showed the highest Covid levels all year – and every new infection carries a risk of Long Covid. Viruses are a common cause of ME, alongside genetic and other factors, so it makes sense that the Covid virus may also initiate the illness in some people. The pandemic's long tail is likely driving the suspected jump in numbers with ME here. Other contributors include an expected rise in number over time if many aren't recovering, and the effect of a potential undercount in earlier years. ME is a serious, long-lasting illness that stops people from being able to do their usual activities. The disease makes physical and mental exertion difficult, and can dramatically slash how much activity a person can handle. It's way more of a threat than 'chronic fatigue syndrome' suggests. Most patients – up to 75% – need to stop or reduce their work. An estimated one in four are fully housebound or bedbound. With ME, your body's energy battery recharges extremely slowly, and has a much smaller capacity overall. People severely affected may only get a total of 5% (or less) of the energy they had before getting ill, and it can take weeks, months or longer to recharge. Far beyond tiredness, the hallmark feature of ME is 'Post-Exertional Malaise' (PEM) – an extreme worsening of symptoms after even minor physical or mental exertion. This can trigger a 'crash' lasting for days, weeks or longer. Attempting to push through can greatly worsen symptoms and may lead to long-term deterioration. Those with severe ME become extremely disabled, needing fulltime care. Many Long Covid patients have symptoms that match ME: are they the same thing? Not fully, but they seem closely related. Post-Covid ME is a subset of a bigger Long Covid umbrella, which covers various conditions including post-intensive care syndrome and autonomic disorders. Some people have both diagnoses; in future this may change as more is understood. Affecting all ages including kids, ME disrupts the brain, immune system, and metabolism. It's recognised as a physical disease by the World Health Organization (since 1969). Science supports this: multiple studies show many distinct biological abnormalities in people with ME. But ANZMES President Fiona Charlton says she still hears of health professionals here claiming that ME is psychological in nature, based in the mind. In an interview for World ME Awareness, Charlton put the claim to Jaime Seltzer, US patient advocate, Stanford researcher and one of Time Magazine's 100 most influential health leaders. Her response: 'This was never acceptable. But we know so much more than we did in the late 80s, early 90s when these diseases were first beginning to be known, that there's genuinely no excuse for that anymore.' Why is it vital for the public and doctors to understand these illnesses? If people truly realised the serious consequences when patients push too hard, forcing themselves back to work or exercise — they could be helped to avoid getting worse. Bizarrely though, there's been barely any political leadership on either illness in Aotearoa. There was one Health Select Committee inquiry into ME care back in 2012 (with no change or follow-up), little-to-no media advocacy from MPs, and no work programme or policy in the Health Ministry. Our public health system has no dedicated services for ME patients, and no ME specialist doctor. There's one clinic for Taranaki health staff with Long Covid, with no dedicated funding. Other Long Covid pilot clinics were discontinued. Australia is funding biomedical research far more generously than us (though a lot more investment is still needed). Australia's parliament has long completed an inquiry into Long Covid, including investigation of ME. In contrast, the first report of New Zealand's Royal Commission into the Covid response contains a fleeting mention of Long Covid, and made clear – after having sought input from affected (unwell) patients – that Long Covid was seen as outside the scope. In many other countries (e.g. UK, US, Canada, Germany, Austria), at least some MPs or ministers are calling for change. Some sizeable investments in research are under way. And other nations have at least provided a number of specialist services for people with ME and Long Covid, for example the US and UK. ANZMES has been urging political leaders to reclass ME as a disability for more than a decade, and has recently released an urgent call to action for MPs. The condition meets official disability definitions, for both New Zealand and the UN, yet ME patients can't access sufficient disability support services. Some of the most severely sick patients in Aotearoa can only access three hours of caregiver support per day, when they require 24/7 care. Immediate reform is required, the group says, to save the billions of dollars that ME costs the country. Australia's price tag is cited – ME costs Australia's economy about $14.5 billion AUD each year. This figure includes direct health care system costs, out-of-pocket expenses, the cost of accessing health care, and the indirect cost of lost income. The pandemic could only compound the price tag. Researchers here think Long Covid might cost us about $2 billion annually – 0.5% of GDP – in lost productivity. Recent modelling from Germany put the combined cost, for both Long Covid and ME, at 1.5% of GDP in 2024. The cost of doing nothing is high, for our people and our purse. The government must act to prevent further ballooning of these illnesses. ANZMES says solutions are available that can help to improve individual outcomes and reduce healthcare strain. Among other policy actions, they suggest bringing in a new nationwide tracking system – to code, track and report on ME and Long Covid across health services – and to include both diseases in national health research with more sustained funding. The ongoing toll of ME and Long Covid could be minimised by stronger measures to lower the spread of Covid and other infectious diseases, since it's possible to lower or even prevent new cases of chronic illness triggered by pathogens including the Covid virus. This will require action, such as wider eligibility for vaccines and anti-viral treatments, masking measures, and cleaning the air in places like schools and childcare. It's time for our political and health leaders to stop the denial and act – a rising tide of affected New Zealanders can't be ignored.
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Fabio Wardley vs Justis Huni: Date, fight time, undercard, TV channel and live stream for huge homecoming bout
Wardley was due to fight Jarrell Miller this weekend TAKE ME HOME Fabio Wardley vs Justis Huni: Date, fight time, undercard, TV channel and live stream for huge homecoming bout Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FABIO WARDLEY is preparing for a huge homecoming bout THIS WEEKEND! The lifelong Ipswich Town fan will take to the ring at Portman Road as he faces Justis Huni on Saturday night. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Fabio Wardley will return to the ring for the first time since his brutal knockout win over Frazer Clarke Credit: Getty 2 Boxing - Justis Huni v Kevin Lerena - Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - March 8, 2024 Justis Huni in action against Kevin Lerena REUTERS/Andrew Couldridge A win for Wardley would see him move into pole position for a shot at the WBA heavyweight title. The unbeaten Brit was due to fight Jarrell Miller, but the American was forced to pull out of the bout due to a shoulder injury. In stepped Huni, on roughly six weeks' notice, who is looking to cause a huge upset on Wardley's homecoming. Wardley goes into the fight as the big favourite, but Australian Huni, 26, is not expected to be a pushover. He is unbeaten, with a record of 12 wins and seven KOs, although he hasn't fought much outside of Australia. Dillian Whyte is chief support for the event - but the Body Snatcher does not yet have an opponent booked. There will also be lots of eyes on Lewis Richardson, who makes his pro debut against Dmitri Protkunas. Richardson won a middleweight bronze medal at the 2024 Olympics. When is Fabio Wardley vs Justis Huni? Fabio Wardley vs Justis Huni will take place on Saturday, June 7. The event will take place in front of tens of thousands of fans at the home of Ipswich Town FC, Portman Road. The card is set to get underway at 7pm BST. The main event is scheduled for approximately 10pm BST. Are tickets still available for Fabio Wardley vs Justis Huni? Tickets for Wardley vs Huni are still available on secondary sites such as StubHub. At the time of writing, the cheapest ticket is priced at £55. *Please note that StubHub and similar secondary ticket resale sites may list tickets above face value. What TV channel is Fabio Wardley vs Justis Huni on and can it be live streamed? Fabio Wardley vs Justis Huni will be broadcast live on DAZN. You can subscribe to DAZN in the UK for £9.99-a-month, which commits you to an entire year of action. A flexible pass, worth £19.99, is also available, and you can cancel at any time with 30 days' notice. You can also pay £119.99 for the year upfront, which is the lowest cost option. Alternatively, you can follow SunSport's live blog of the event to keep up with all the latest on the card. Fabio Wardley vs Justis Huni undercard Here are all the bouts taking place at Portman Road. Fabio Wardley vs Justis Huni - for the interim WBA heavyweight title - for the interim WBA heavyweight title Dillian Whyte vs TBA Pierce O'Leary vs Liam Dillon - for the EEU uropean super-lightweight title Nelson Hysa vs Patrick Korte - for the WBO European heavyweight title Mike Perez vs Steven Ward Sam Gilley vs Gideon Onyenani Umar Khan vs Moises Garcia Billy Adams vs Alexander Morales Lewis Richardson vs Dimitri Protkunas Lillie Winch vs Katerina Dvorakova Jack Williams vs Fernando Valdez What's been said? Wardley said he is facing the wrath of his partner - who is due just a week after the fight. He said: "This is a slightly tense topic. My missus wasn't the happiest with this fight date. "She is due a week later but it is Portman Road. It's not just any fight, it's the one at Portman Road. She said, 'Yeah I know but…' "They say the chances are that the first one comes late but who knows." On fighting at Portman Road, he added: "Of course it comes with pressure. But pressure is a privilege. Being here is a privilege. "Being able to fight here is a privilege and I think I have proven throughout my career that I do well under pressure. "I like it. When the lights are bright, when the occasion is big, it's when you get the best from me. Huni told Sporting News: "I want to go over there and make them never forget my name. 'Fighting over there in his hometown, I feel like there's no pressure on me, all the pressure's on him. 'He has to come and perform for his people. "At the end of the day, I don't know anyone there and a lot of them might not even know me. They'll know after, that's it.'
India.com
3 days ago
- General
- India.com
Kerala Samrudhi SM 5 Bumper Lottery Result Today 01-06-2025 OUT - 1 Crore First Prize, Check Full Winners List In Pics
photoDetails english 2909508 KERALA BUMPER LOTTERY RESULT Sunday 01-06-2025: The Kerala Lottery result for the " Samrudhi SM " draw on Sunday, June 01, 2025, is announced at 3 PM. This lottery draw is part of the seven weekly draws held in Kerala. The alphanumeric code assigned to this specific lottery is "SM," incorporating both the draw number and the code. The first prize for the fortunate winner of this draw is a bumper 1 Crore rupees. Below, you can find the comprehensive list of winners for the Kerala 'Samrudhi SM 5' lottery draw. Updated:Jun 01, 2025, 03:48 PM IST Kerala Samrudhi SM 5 Lottery Result DECLARED 1 / 7 The Kerala State Lottery Department has declared the results of the Samrudhi SM 5 Bumper draw held on Sunday, June 01. The draw took place at 2 PM at Gorky Bhavan, near Bakery Junction in Thiruvananthapuram. Lucky participants stood a chance to win major prizes, including a ₹1 crore first prize. Kerala Lucky Draw First Prize Winner: Rs 1 Crore 2 / 7 First Prize 1 Crore Winner Number- ME 301061 Kerala Lucky Draw Second Prize Winner: 75 Lakh 3 / 7 Second Prize 75 Lakh Winner Numbers- MK 442044 Kerala Lucky Draw Third Prize Winner: 25 Lakh 4 / 7 Third Prize Winner: MG 313753 Kerala Lucky Draw Fourth Prize Winners: 1 Lakh 5 / 7 4th Prize Winners Ticket No: 1) MA 812076 2) MB 385451 3) MC 134114 4) MD 475812 5) ME 137466 6) MF 250447 7) MG 350917 8) MH 854434 9) MJ 316836 10) MK 723136 11) ML 429212 12) MM 493366 Kerala Lucky Draw Fifth Prize Winners: 5,000 6 / 7 0783 1005 1055 1586 2243 2282 2946 3623 4568 5125 5258 5513 5757 6966 8611 9412 9739 9894 Kerala Lucky Draw Sixth Prize Winners: 1,000 7 / 7 0529 0569 1251 1539 1620 2285 2287 2701 2908 3537 3832 4182 4278 4699 4858 5037 5255 5447 5817 6052 6982 7523 7802 8550 8907 8941 9209 9258 9772 9806
BBC News
4 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Art installation inspired by ME coming to Bristol and Glastonbury
An immersive art installation that invites people to "disappear" inside a mirrored box to understand life with chronic fatigue syndrome, is coming to the West by Bristol artist Alison Larkman, Mirrorbox plays messages from ME and long Covid patients explaining why a particular location is special to them, and why their condition means they cannot be there Larkman, who has ME, said the concept came from "the idea of taking up space, of being seen and heard but also being invisible at the same time".The initiative, titled 'I would be here if I could', has seen the Mirrorbox travel all over the country and it will be in Bristol and Glastonbury in the coming weeks. ME causes extreme tiredness and can be so severe that patients are left bed-bound and unable to complete even simple symptoms include problems with memory and concentration, muscle and joint pain, dizziness and sensitivity to light and her illness is at its worst, Ms Larkman can only stay awake for three-hour windows."Your imagination is huge and you can lay in bed and travel to all sorts of places and think about things whereas you can't do them," she said. "That's one of the questions I would think - 'where would I be if I could?'"For Ms Larkman, the answer is always watching the hustle and bustle of London's Victoria Station from the top of the escalators on the way to visit her sister, but for others it was as simple as being able to see their children on the swings at the park."During this project I have met so many other people trying to manage what is essentially a fluctuating condition and also the shock of realising how bad ME is," she said."You just don't see people who are bed-bound, or who are on oxygen, and because you don't see them, even though I'd had it for years, it's been a real revelation." Some participants were unable to speak to record their messages, so wrote them down or sent them by text, but others were determined to be heard."We extended the project for a month because people wanted to wait for that day when they could send a message," Ms Larkman said."Knowing how important it is for people to have their voice heard in these places, it feels like a real responsibility." People who enter the box are invited to write a postcard to the person who recorded a message they listened will be at the top of Troopers Hill, Bristol, on 1 June, under an oak tree at Ashton Court, Bristol, on 4 June, and at the top of Glastonbury Tor on 18 June.
United News of India
5 days ago
- General
- United News of India
Convocation ceremony of 83 cadets held at INA
Kannur, May 30 (UNI) The Indian Naval Academy (INA) held its 25th convocation ceremony on Friday in which 83 Midshipmen of the 107th and 108th Indian Naval Academy Course, including 5 foreign cadets from 3 friendly foreign countries were awarded their B. Tech degrees in the presence of their parents by Dr Jaiteerath R Joshi, Director General of BrahMos. The 'Chief of the Naval Staff Rolling Trophy' for the Midshipman adjudged best in Applied Electronics and Communication (AEC), Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE), and Mechanical Engineering (ME) streams were awarded to Midshipman Dhanvin Saini, Midshipman Dhavalkumar G Korvadiya and Midshipman Nakul Saxena respectively. The graduating Midshipmen acquired their B. Tech degrees in Applied Electronics and Communication Engineering (AEC), Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE), and Mechanical Engineering (ME), under the aegis of the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. The chief guest congratulated the graduating Midshipmen, their parents, as well as the instructors and staff at INA. He administered the convocation oath and also awarded trophies to meritorious Midshipmen. INA Commandant Vice Admiral CR Praveen Nair, Deputy Commandant Rear Admiral Prakash Gopalan, Chief Instructor INA, Rear Admiral G Rambabu, Principal INA, and all instructors participated in the event, an INA release said. UNI AK PRS
