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Silver Surfers Day

Thursday, May 19th, 2011
travel insurance for older people

Are you a silver surfer?

This Friday is Silver Surfers Day, but before you all head out to Newquay with custom designed silver surfboards, I am talking about surfing of the online variety for the over 55s.

Silver Surfers’ Day is the biggest, national campaign to promote the use of digital technologies by older people and was launched by Digital Unite in 2002. They estimate that over the years more than one hundred thousand older people have engaged with digital technologies as a result of Silver Surfers Day events.

This year, to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Silver Surfers’ Day, they have extended the campaign to a week-long activity, Spring Online, 16-20 May, to encourage more people than ever before to take part. Spring Online with Silver Surfers’ Day is delivered by Digital Unite in partnership with UK Online Centres, the BBC and Race Online 2012. 

At AllClear Travel, we think that Silver Surfers Day is a great way to encourage older people to get online.  One way where being online is useful is when searching for travel insurance. Unfortunately, a lot of elderly people often find it difficult to get the comprehensive travel insurance that they need for their holiday, especially if they have medical conditions, but this is where being able to search online makes things a little easier. AllClear Options is the UK’s first specialist travel insurance comparison site, so you can go online and enter all your details just once and then get a range of comprehensive travel insurance quotes, making sure you get the travel insurance that suits you.

Consider yourself a silver surfer? Not been online long? Do let us know your online experiences. And please take a look at AllClear Options and let us know what you think of it, too

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AllClear Options celebrates the Royal Wedding with a Luxury Holiday Prize Draw for our customers!

Thursday, April 21st, 2011

Originally posted as a news article on www.allclearoptions.co.uk

The UK’s first medical travel insurance comparison site, AllClear Options, are offering the chance to win a luxurious weekend where you can be treated like royalty!  The prize draw* is open to all customers purchasing travel insurance online in the days leading up to, and including, the Royal Wedding weekend (26th April to 2nd May).

The news is full of topics about the Royal Wedding, and the Royal Honeymoon – it has been suggested Will and Kate may spend their honeymoon in Jordan. But at AllClear Options we understand that lots of people will be using the extra bank holidays to travel abroad themselves! So we have decided to celebrate the Royal Wedding by offering entry into our Luxury Holiday Prize Draw for everyone who buys travel insurance online during the wedding week.

The prize will be a luxury weekend for two at in the Westminster Hotel in Le Touquet, France, where you will be treated like royalty – the Queen herself has visited there in the past!  The winner will enjoy a two night stay (including breakfast) at the hotel, which is just 500m from the beach. With a luxury spa and stylish rooms, their weekend will be completed with dinner at the hotel’s Michelin starred restaurant, Le Pavillon. The weekend will include a Flexiplus Eurotunnel crossing with priority boarding.

Chris Blackman, Head of Product Development, talks more about travel during this very special Royal Wedding weekend: “Lots of people have a holiday planned over the Royal Wedding weekend, and it is understandable given the extended bank holiday. But with all the excitement, making sure you have the right travel insurance cover should be an essential step. If you, or someone you are travelling with, has a medical condition, it is important to have comprehensive travel insurance that covers you for any treatment you may need while you are away.”

AllClear Options will also be giving a wedding gift to the couple. We will be donating £1 for every travel insurance policy sold online in the same time period to the Royal Wedding Charity Fund http://www.royalweddingcharityfund.org/

The Luxury Holiday Prize Draw will close at Midnight on Monday 2nd May.

 *Terms and Conditions Apply. No purchase necessary

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Sunshine Vitamin to help fight Cancer

Wednesday, February 9th, 2011

Marie Cruikshank, 62, was told she had advanced lung cancer and would have just a few months left to live. But a high-dose supplement of Vitamin D (the “sunshine vitamin”) has helped her fight the disease, according to this article. sunny holidays and travel insurance

Her GP prescribed the vitamin after discovering that Mrs Cruikshank had a very low blood level of vitamin D. Scientific evidence suggests that cancer patients may be in a better position to fight the cancer if their vitamin D level is in the optimal range.

Marie was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2006. She was referred to the Western General Hospital where she was put on chemotherapy which shrunk the tumour. Her GP then started her on vitamin D, adjusting the dose according to the result of blood tests. Currently she takes 1.5mg per week.

 Scientists said large-scale studies were now needed to see if the increased survival rate identified could be a direct response to the vitamin D.

Professor Angus Dalgleish, of St George’s Hospital, Tooting, southwest London, is convinced that vitamin D helped save Mrs Cruikshank’s life. He said: “A patient with lung cancer in Scotland would be lucky to live four months never mind four years. In Athens a lung cancer patient might live four years. A sunny climate seems to prolong life.”

This is a really good positive news story, especially when you think of the simplicity of a simple vitamin supplement compared to other cancer treatments. What is more, we already know that holidays can be a good thing for people to relax and recuperate after cancer, but this story could be another reason for cancer patients to enjoy a lovely holiday in the sun. You can find out more information on travelling with cancer here, or you can find specialist cancer travel insurance here.

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Posted in Travelling with Cancer, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

Breast cancer awareness month

Monday, October 25th, 2010

This month is breast cancer awareness month..

This article tells what you can you do to lower the risks of breast cancer and I just thought I would share some of the main points with you.

*Stop smoking – recent research suggests nicotine may promote the development of breast cancer.

*Limit your use of the Pill – There seems to be a small increase in risk of breast cancer with prolonged use of the contraceptive Pill, although it returns to normal 10 years after stopping. Bear in mind that breast cancer is uncommon in the age group using the Pill, but surgeon Lester Barr from the Genesis Breast Cancer Prevention Appeal, advises stopping at about 30.

*Be aware when using HRT: HRT (used for menopausal symptoms) slightly increases the risk of breast cancer within one to two years of use, with the risk increasing the longer it is used. Current advice is to use the lowest dose for the shortest acceptable time and to review treatment regularly with your doctor.  HRT also makes breast tissue more dense, making cancer harder to diagnose from a mammogram.

*Cut down on alcohol A recent, large study showed just one glass of wine a day increases the risk by 12%.  The less you drink the lower the risk: a maximum 14 units a week for women (stricter than 

government limits) is now recommended by Cancer Research UK. A unit is a small (125ml) glass of wine, a half pint of standard beer or one small (25ml) measure of spirits.

So above are some of the things that you should consider doing less of, but what about the things you should be doing more of. Now a lot of this is what you would expect, but I thought the first point, about breastfeeding was particularly interesting.

*Breastfeed - One large study of women in 30 countries has shown that the longer you breastfeed, the greater the protection against breast cancer. Breastfeeding is thought to be linked to making breast cells more resistant to cancerous changes.

*Have babies early (before 35): There’s no doubt that bearing children, and having them early in life, reduces breast cancer risk. In one study, women who had a baby before 20 were half as likely to get breast cancer as women who hadn’t been pregnant or who had a baby at 35 or older.

*Take regular exercise: In one study, walking briskly for as little as a couple of hours each week reduced the risk of breast cancer by 18%. Just 30 minutes of moderate activity a day, at least five days a week is the current advice.

*Be ‘breast aware’: If you’re between 50 and 70, you’ll be offered a mammogram every three years; women at high risk will be offered screening earlier and more often.

*Consider gene testing: This may be worthwhile if you have a strong family history of breast cancer (if a mother or sister had either under 50, for example). Three out of every 100 breast cancers are caused by a faulty inherited gene and if you are found to carry one, you will be offered early screening for the disease.

Ok so they are the important things that you need to think about. But there is NO evidence that coffee, stress, food additives, pesticides, antiperspirants or underwired bras increase the risk

Ok so I hope this provides some useful information for you. If you have breast cancer, and have a holiday planned, you might also be interested in reading some of our other blogs about travelling with cancer. If you have any other useful tips about travelling with breast cancer, please do share them below, thanks

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AllClears First Twitter Competition

Tuesday, September 28th, 2010

Well we are very excited here at Globebloggers because we are launching our first ever Twitter competition. We want to find out what you really hate about travel insurance. I know this might seem a little odd as we are a travel insurance company, but we really want to know so that we can help you. Please just post your comment on Twitter with the tag #AllClearCompetition. All comments will be entered into a prize draw on the 6th October to receive £100 worth of High Street Vouchers.

Terms and Conditions here

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Travelling with Epilepsy

Tuesday, June 15th, 2010

The 13th to the 19th June is National Epilepsy Week. The theme of National Epilepsy Week this year is young people with epilepsy. Having epilepsy, seizures and taking anti-epileptic drugs may have a huge impact on people’s lives. It may affect how you study or work, what sports you play and what time you go to bed.

There are things to think about when travelling with epilepsy

There are things to think about when travelling with epilepsy

Another big factor if you have epilepsy is travelling to go on holiday and it is understandable that you  might have some concerns. But with the right holiday preparation you should be able to enjoy the exact type of holiday that you want. For example, if possible try to maintain your regular sleep patterns as sleep disruption can prompt seizures for some people. Also, be sure to discuss your medication routine with your GP or health practitioner before you depart. You can check out our specialist information about travelling with epilepsy here.

To make National Epilepsy Week successful, Epilepsy Action wants people to be upfront about epilepsy. So we would ask for you to share any tips that you have about travelling with epilepsy.

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National Hypertension Day

Tuesday, May 11th, 2010

The 17th May is National Hypertension Day. The theme for this year is Healthy Weight – Healthy Blood Pressure.

Before I go any further I just want to explain exactly what hypertension is because, chances are, unless you have been actually diagnosed with it, you may not be absolutely sure. Hypertension is most commonly known as high blood pressure. It is a chronic medical condition in which the blood pressure is elevated. Hypertension has no specific symptoms and is called the ‘silent killer’.

AllClear4you can help you find out about travelling with high blood pressure

AllClear4you can help you find out about travelling with high blood pressure

Over 1.5 billion people worldwide suffer from hypertension. Hypertension is the biggest risk factor for heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and diabetes. Globally, 7 million people die every year because of high blood pressure.

Their key message given by National Hypertension Day is that to avoid the high blood pressure, you should control it. This means monitoring your blood pressure regularly and if it is high, speaking to your GP. If you already have high blood pressure, it is about remembering to take your tablets and thinking about ways to losing weight. This is because being overweight is a major cause of high blood pressure.  If you have hypertension and have a holiday coming up soon, you may want to look at our hints about travelling with your blood pressure medication.

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Got a good tan on your holiday?

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

In the UK, considering the appalling weather that we often experience, a big reason for going on holiday is often to get that elusive tan.  We come home from our beach holiday, relaxed and refreshed, proud to show off our tan and hear the cries of ‘You look well’ from others left languishing in the office!

We all may try to get a tan on holiday, but what if you have this tan all year round

We all may try to get a tan on holiday, but what if you have this tan all year round

 But if you go brown, even when you have not even been in the sun, you could not be well at all. Genetic haemochromatosis  - also known as primary iron overload – is a condition that causes the body to retain too much iron from the diet.

Iron is a mineral vital to the human body, regulating cell growth and ensuring oxygen flows to the cells, keeping immunity and energy levels high. But like so many things in the body, there is a balance, and too much iron can be toxic. A build up of iron in the brain’s pituitary gland can trigger a classic symptom that gives rise to the conditions other name – bronze diabetes. This is because it can appear as though you have a permanent tan. The reason is that iron overload in the pituitary gland stimulates  an over production of melanin, the pigment that gives our skin its colour.

Undiagnosed iron overload can cause a wide range of health issues, including diabetes, heart disorders, chest and joint pain, liver cirrhosis, pancreatic problems and cancer. A build up of iron in the bones can lead to crystallisation.

It is a common genetic condition. Two genes have been identified that cause it and about 1 in 5000 people in the UK are affected. It is prevalent in all Caucasian populations, but may be slightly higher in those of Irish descent.

The good news is that this disorder is a treatable condition. However, the problem is that because you may look well, the condition can be undiagnosed for years. If you have any of the symptoms, or are getting browner even when you haven’t been on holiday, then just ask your doctor for a simple blood test which can check your iron levels.

 The treatment is very simple – giving blood, as two thirds of the body’s iron lie in the blood. Patients generally give a pint a week until their levels return to normal, and then once every 3 to 6 months. The blood is safe to be used by blood banks,  since people without the faulty gene can rid themselves of the excess iron.

I had heard of this disease before, but didn’t realise that a symptom is a permanent tan. I will think twice before being jealous of people with a year long tan…

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Attracting new Dental Patients using Video

Thursday, March 18th, 2010

Guest Blog:  Natesha Mullings www.dentalholiday.co.uk Dental Holiday

 The Piestany Dental Clinic abroad is a dental facility that caters to mainly UK nationals. We pride ourselves in providing high quality dental care to our patients in a comfortable and relaxed setting. With 95% of our patients being UK nationals, we want to provide our potential patients with peace of mind, and also to feel at ease with the idea of traveling abroad for dental treatment through www.dentalholiday.co.uk, and so we decided to make a video.

 We have been, for some years now, making our own videos and then uploading them to www.youtube.com/dentalholiday. This way our dental patients can see and listen to both our existing patients’ stories and hear their feedback. We also sometimes have our Patient Manager giving detailed information on a particular dental treatment and the process of getting it done. 

 Even though we create our own videos from time to time, we thought that it would be good to have a professionally produced video of our Dental Clinic abroad for our potential patients. The video was produced by Hilton Freund from FooCo which is based in London, whose main focus is making videos for Dental Clinics in the UK. We met at the annual BACD conference in Scotland, and we decided to have them come to Piestany, Slovakia, to film our Dental Clinic

 We invited three recent patients over to be featured in the film, as they were happy with their treatment and wanted to give back and share their stories. One was in the middle of treatment and the other two had completed their treatment. They believe that sharing their experiences will let people see and understand from a patient’s perspective, and also get the sense of knowing that it is worth taking the journey abroad to get the quality dental treatment they need, at prices that are affordable to them.  

The film crew was here for two days. During this time, they were able to film our patients and their stories, the clinic and it’s surrounding areas including the city of Piestany, Dr. Marek Salka, the dental staff, the Patient Manager Daniel Shaw, the drivers, and the entire administrative staff. Everything went well with the filming process, however it is not yet available to us as FooCo is still working on the final product.

 We believe that having this professionally produced video of the Piestany Dental Clinic will help to increase our conversion of potential patients to actual patients though www.dentalholiday.co.uk. The main reason being, that we have collected lots of feedback from existing and past patients, and have learned that they would have felt more convinced to take the leap of having dental treatment abroad earlier, had there been a video giving them an inside look of the entire operation, along with former patients’ views and or stories.

 We certainly would suggest this to other dental treatment abroad facilities, as there is nothing to lose and so much to gain from creating this window of opportunity for growth, through this exciting medium.

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Posted in Dental treatment abroad, Medical Tourism, Uncategorized | 5 Comments »

A Permanent Fixture

Thursday, November 5th, 2009

Guest Blog by Peter Frost, Dentaprime logoDentaprime Dental Clinic     

When it comes to weighing up the pros and cons of dental implants versus traditional-style dentures or bridges, there really is no contest. The superior technology that goes into implants means that they are a genuine replacement for a lost tooth – on both a practical and aesthetic level.

As all of us will undoubtedly discover for ourselves one day, via an accident, or simply by virtue of longevity, the loss of our teeth is a regrettable, but unavoidable, fact of life. And such an occurrence is a life-changing event. From a purely cosmetic point of view, tooth loss causes the jawbone to shrink, having the unhappy side effect of changing the shape of your face and ageing you at the same time. And aside from the discomfort associated with them, dentures look artificial and impose unwelcome restrictions on your diet. Implants, on the other hand, are placed directly back into the jaw, making them a secure and ultra-convenient solution that often has the effect of making you appear younger.

Given the benefits, you’d think that the trend towards implants would be far more widespread. The reality is, however, that for the vast majority of people, this procedure is just too far out of their price range. In the UK, for example, even those who are lucky enough to locate an available NHS dentist in their area will quickly discover that this option is not part of the service. Instead, implants are offered as a private treatment with a suitably premium price tag – approximately £8,000 for a single t-bar containing four implants.

Yes, you did read that correctly. Little wonder then that increasing numbers of people from the UK are opting to take their business elsewhere. Bulgaria is just one of the countries that is welcoming this new wave of dental tourists, but it’s one of the most compelling options. Just a three-hour flight from the UK, and with a host of attractive coastal resorts and a well-established spa industry, the country is an excellent prospect for anyone who wishes to combine their dental treatment with a relaxing holiday.

dentaprime

For example, the aforementioned four-implant model, using quality technology from German manufacturer Bredent, can be acquired for just £ 3,400 from the Dentaprime Dental Clinic, a private practice located in the northern Black Sea city of Varna.

Critics of dental tourism often claim that less expensive treatment equates to lower standards of care and technology – but this is something that Dr Regina Schindlajova, clinical director at Dentaprime, insists is absolutely not the case. She claims Dentaprime boasts world-class facilities, as well as highly-qualified dentists, assistants and technicians – who are all schooled in the latest technology and treatment methods.

While the practicalities of aftercare may put some individuals off venturing overseas, it’s worth checking what type of aftercare support is available before you dismiss it out of hand. Dr Schindlajova explains that offering patients a collaborative healthcare solution is actually a key part of the Dentaprime service – with post-intervention care, check-ups and the evaluation of any post-treatment requirements able to be carried out by an established network of Dentaprime partners in a patient’s home country.

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