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Fat not fit is what matters IT’S impossible to be ‘fat and fit’ and even if you are slightly overweight you are unhealthy, a new study found. Researchers in Spain found the risk of heart attacks and strokes rockets as BMI increases. And while they agree that exercise does reduce the risk of some illnesses like diabetes and hypertension, those who were active and obese were twice as likely to have high cholesterol than inactive people of a normal weight. The findings challenge the long-held ‘obesity paradox’ belief that it’s possible to be fat and not at an increased risk of death from heart disease. The study of over 520,000 Spanish adults by the European University, in Madrid, revealed that overweight people were actually four times more likely to have diabetes... and five times more likely to have high blood pressure. “One cannot be fat but healthy,” said lead researcher Dr Alejandro Lucia. “This study shows that being regularly active is not likely to eliminate the detrimental health effects of excess body fat. “Our findings refute the notion that a physically active lifestyle can completely negate the deleterious effects of obesity.” The team found that while exercise undeniably had positive effects, participants that were overweight or obese were undeniably more at risk of developing major health problems. “More activity is better, so walking 30 minutes per day is better than walking 15 minutes a day,” Dr Lucia said. “But exercise does not seem to compensate for the negative effects of excess weight.”
While other health tips for the new year include...
INTO THE ABYSS: Proof that Editor Jon Clarke DOES have a heart - see page 10
SUNNY DELIGHT: Soak up those rays - see page 13
YUM!: Juicy tips to help you detox and leave you bursting with life - see page 15
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Good health
Vol. 14 Issue 361
From mice to men
www.theolivepress.es
January 27th - February
COVID vaccine 100% effective in first tests with human trials poised to start
App ‘n go
have been AN app to prove people COVID is to be immunised against days. launched in the coming those who have The Junta says that of the vaccine been given two doses the app, will be able to download code. This will which will show a QR so people can be able to be scanned vaccinated. This prove they have been them travel decould be used to let example. spite restrictions, for
Watch that chat
Esteban. ‘creates 100% against researcher Mariano has verified that the vaccine susceptible to proven to be 100% effective Arriaza said that the team in a humanised mouse SPANISH vaccine has protection against SARS-CoV-2 important.’ COVID-19 in mice. infection, which is very been modified to replicate Mariano Esteban and Juan will the SARS-CoV-2 The jab, developed by virologists the MVA virus has Centre for Biotechnology, In the Spanish vaccine, of SARS-CoV-2, which is the key that allows Garcia Arriaza at the National S protein ‘within weeks’. to eradicate the complete to enter human cells. move on to human trials of the virus that was used the coronavirus the protein and teaches the Journal of Virol- It therefore introduces the immune system to The vaccine uses a variant the results published in smallpox, according to and eliminate it. vaccine protected belonging it how to recognise one or two doses of the ogy. Spanish biotech giant Biofabri, According to the study, mice from COVID-19. It is being developed withplans for clinical trials already in motion. vaccine blocked repli100% of the ‘humanised’ to the Zendal group, with jab uses the ‘Modified Ankara vaccinia’ vi- Arriaza added, however, that two doses of the in the lungs. protein that manDubbed MVA-CoV-2, the coronavirus COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 a the of to transport the coronavirus, cation results demonstrate that the MVA vector-based rus (MVA) as a vehicle animal system defense against “These and complete efficacy in the reages to stimulate an immune for Scientific Research. produces robust immunity clinical trials,” the Spanish Medi- vaccine and supports its future application in reported the Higher Council models, for the green light from Biofabri is now waiting the first of two clinical human trials, which searchers declared. progressing before weeks could begin in a few cines Agency to kickstart Clinical phases I and II could start in a few weeks.the MVA-CoV-2 vaccine candidate gener- to phase III. on hamsters and macaques. of neutralising “We have observed that now also be carried out response with the production explained Tests will ates a robust immune of T lymphocytes in mice,” antibodies and the activation
A
DELIGHTED:
Esteban and Virologists Mariano
9th 2021
R-RATED
a 10% rise in SCIENTISTS say that the chance of mask wearing triples infection rate keeping the R number for COVID below one. Health, reWriting in Lancet Digital the numsearchers said that keeping the pandemic is ber below one means shows the numshrinking. The R rate by each carrier ber of people infected of the coronavirus. people in the They studied 300,000 conclusion. their reach to USA
Juan Garcia Arriaza,
developers of the vaccine
chat without a HAVING a 30-secondventilated room facemask in a badlycoughing for half could be worse than to COVID ina second when it comes fection. of CamA study by the University College London bridge and Imperial results in a found that while coughing droplets, speech large number of big These then produces finer particles. air for longer – stay suspended in the up to an hour. people to wear a The report advises and othmask to protect themselves just talking and are they if even ers, not coughing.
GOOD START
race to vaccinate its AS Spain started the Andalucia was population against COVID, an early leader. the vaccination proIn the first weeks of Spain’s first tranche gramme one in four of in the region. of injections was made
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Talk to us Expat feared 77-year-old mum battling coronavirus was dead after being ‘refused update from hospital’ for five days ‘IS my mother dead or alive?’ That’s what expat Lee Samuel, 54, was left pondering for five days straight as his 77-year-old mum Carole battled for her life in an Andalucian hospital. The property salesman is now warning other families of what to expect if a loved one is admitted after he was repeatedly refused updates from the Hospital Costa del Sol in Marbella last week. “It was absolutely terrifying,” the Club La Costa employee told the Olive Press. “We phoned again and again but they kept telling us they could not give out that information over the phone and that we would have to come in,” he continued. “But my dad Stephen was also in bed with the virus and I also had it, so there was no way we could come in.” He continued: “One receptionist kept hanging up on me... it was terrible.” The last Lee (pictured left) had heard from his mother was on Wednesday, last week, when she told him that she had double pneumonia - meaning both her lungs were filling up with fluid. She said she was being put on oxygen pumps.
EXCLUSIVE By Laurence Dollimore
“We then heard nothing for five long days,” added Lee. “I understand that the hospital is under pressure and we totally get that the focus is on treating people, but surely there should be a better system in place to update loved ones? “I was literally thinking ‘is my mother alive or dead?’ for days on end, it was horrific.” The family were first struck with the virus when Carole began feeling ill two weeks ago. The retiree tested positive, as did husband and former financier Stephen and son Lee. Carole was taken to hospital after her symptoms became serious last Wednesday. But despite having paid for private insurance for 16 years, Sanitas could not make room for her and she was sent to the Hospital Costa del Sol. After the five-day silence and dozens of calls from family in the UK and Spain, Carole was finally strong enough to speak on the phone on Monday. “Thank God we got her on the phone, and a doctor happened to be in the room at the time,” added Lee. “We asked if we could move her to a private hospital but the doctor said it was too risky as it could disrupt her antibiotics and oxygen supply.” After the Olive Press contacted the Junta and the hospital for a comment, doctors have begun keeping the family updated. “My mum has now got
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Vol. 14 Issue 361 www.theolivepress.es January 27th - February 9th 2021
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RECOVERING: Stephen and Carole worse and needs more oxygen,” Lee told this paper last night, “But they are keeping us updated now, which is much better. “We just want others to be aware of what can happen if a loved one is hospitalised at the moment and we hope a better system is put in place going forward.” The Hospital Costa del Sol told the Olive Press: “Due to the ongoing pandemic situation, the information given to the relatives of COVID patients is made by telephone and, for this, the telephone numbers that are in their Clinical History or those that are provided by the patients are called to inform loved ones. “No one can be informed who is not authorised due to the Data Protection Act. In some cases, if no telephone is available, the requests of family members who enter through the different channels have to be reviewed, checked and verified i.e. people who request to contact their admitted relatives.” British expat Paul Whitelock had a similar situation in Ronda this month, as he and his wife Rita battled COVID at the same time. The former schools inspector, who speaks fluent Spanish, was continually told he couldn’t get an update on German Rita, who was critically ill in Ronda hospital for nearly two weeks. “They kept failing to communiALL AREAS COVERED cate what was going on… how her health was,” he told the Olive Press. “In the end I waited three to four days to hear how she was. 4G UNLIMITED She was so ill she wasn’t reading INTERNET Whatsapps or answering calls. It IDEAL FOR was very worrying. “In the end I had to literally deSTREAMING TV mand I was coming in to take her home. Only then did I finally get a ALSO IPTV, call from a doctor.” SATELLITE TV He continued: “It’s the system. The locals just accept everything that is chucked at them. They just tel: (0034) 952 763 840 accept it. People need to start deinfo@theskydoctor.com manding change.”
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