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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 10 June 2022
kilkennyobserver.ie
Opinion
As I See It Marianne Heron
Let’s not scapegoat refugees for our deficiencies We may be one of the most distant destinations for refugees fleeing Putin’s brutal war in Ukraine but their reception in Ireland couldn’t have been warmer. Since Ukrainians began arriving here from March onwards, they have been taken into our hearts and our schools. Don’t we deserve a pat on the back for living up to our reputation as Ireland of the welcomes? But just as we adjusted our haloes comes a warning that our generosity may get us into trouble. A supposedly secret memo told the Cabinet that our humanitarian response to the 30,000 plus refugees could cause social unrest. The finger wagging risk analysis suggests that their presence in towns and cities around the country could threaten social cohesion, especially in deprived communities. Is this a whiff of begrudgery when these cruelly displaced
people have barely arrived? You might think perhaps that our efforts to help would unite us, so what is behind this warning? Maybe this is really about Government failure to look after our own rather than our response to the Ukranians’ plight. Consider our own homeless families for a start. At the end of March their numbers reached 9,800, up 23% on last year. Are they being looked after as promptly as the Ukrainians? People want their own front doors so why can’t there be a swift response like providing pre-fab housing at a fraction of the cost of traditional building at a time when there is a critical lack of workers in the building trade and costs are soaring. And there’s the other side of the housing crisis, with skyhigh rents which make saving for a home impossible and the challenge of even finding somewhere to rent where the
supply of rental properties is diminishing daily. We lack imaginative solutions here too: why push landlords who ae leaving the market in their thousands out of the market with punitive tax and other measures? Why not have a scheme to back the conversion of unused buildings – from office space freed by WFH, to near empty convents and monasteries – into apartments? Another thorn in the side of young families hoping for a home is the crippling cost of childcare, something which is either subsidised or free in other countries. How do asylum seeker from other countries – there are currently 6,000 plus of them in direct provision – feel about a situation where incoming Ukranians are immediately given PPS numbers, receive financial support, allowed to work and given medical cards? Did other asylum seekers get similar attention?
What’s Osteoporosis? CLAIR WHITTY
Osteoporosis is a condition where your bones have become weak and brittle causing them to break easily. This can happen if you trip or fall, hit off something, or even from coughing. The most common fractures occur in the hip, spine, or wrist. It is known as a silent disease as you often don’t know you have it until you break a bone. A Dexa scan will give you an indication of what condition your bones are in. Your doctor should be able to help you organise a scan. Osteopenia is the name given to the stage before Osteoporosis. Your warning sign as
such. If you’re at this stage, you can do something to prevent it developing into full blown Osteoporosis or at least slow the process. Low levels of calcium in the diet, eating disorders, and digestive problems where you don’t break down or absorb calcium are common risk factors. Hormonal changes during the menopause can impact on bone health too. Your best defence is a diet rich in nutrients that support bone health. Calcium is the nutrient you hear the most about. However, calcium alone is not the answer as it needs co-factors to help it get into the bones. You’ll need a diet rich in sources of magnesium, vitamin D, Zinc, and minerals like Boron as well as calcium. This can include dairy products, nuts, sesame seeds, tahini, soya, almonds,
oily fish, beans and lentils as well as green leafy vegetables. Foods that have a negative impact on your bones include coffee, fizzy drinks, sugar, and alcohol so avoid these as best you can. Smoking can have a negative effect on your bones too. Weight bearing exercise is great for bone density. There are many exercises you can do without having to go to the gym. Even if you are on medication for this condition there is no reason why you shouldn’t follow the same nutrition and lifestyle advice to help prevent you getting any worse. If you are looking for a good supplement my favourite is NHP OsteoSupport. I like it because it’s a well-thought-out formula, containing the main nutrients to help keep your bones healthy and strong. Including calcium, magnesium, vitamin D, vitamin K, zinc, and some digestive support to assist digestion and absorption of the nutrients. Look after your bones today for a healthier you tomorrow. Shop online at www.naturalhealthstore.ie where you’ll be able to take a look at these brands. Natural Health Store, Market Cross Shopping Centre Phone: 056 7764538 Email: info@naturalhealthstore.ie
The memo also warns about disruption to transport and travel. Rubbish, this has nothing to do with refugees, our travel and transport are thoroughly dysfunctional anyway. The situation at Dublin Airport has been chaotic since April so that any of us wanting a well- deserved holiday face hourslong queues to check in and get through security. Yet, the problem wasn’t tackled and got so bad that over a thousand people missed their flights last weekend. But this is what happens when you have Minister for Bicycles Ryan in charge of transport. Then there’s the misery of long commutes and traffic chaos on our roads. The majority of us don’t live within cycling distance of work, take note Minister Ryan; public transport outside cities is abysmal so in rural areas three or four cars a household may be needed to get family members where they
need to go. Think of the fuel costs and the carbon emissions. The memo also warned about the unsustainability of our humanitarian response. It would be more helpful to have a proper plan for our guests rather than a whinge. The Ukranians – 80% of them
‘This is really about Government failure..
are women and children (mainly primary school age) – aren’t overnight guests, although obviously many hope to return home. They want to work and contribute but they face barriers. There’s the language barrier, lack of child care and the need to have their qualifications recognised. There are around 14,000 Ukranians of working age here, but so far less than 1,500 have jobs in a country where in some sectors like hospitality up to 70% of employers are having difficulties filling vacancies. There was a further warning about tourism given that many refugees are accommodated in hotels. Considering the exorbitant charges for hospitality here – up by an average of 23% – not too many of us will be taking staycations. We are more likely to head for overseas holidays – as long as we can manage to get through the airport.
You’ll be ‘Appier’ after a good night’s sleepio ANDREW MCDONALD HYPNOTHERAPIST
A THIRD of all adults aren’t sleeping. Sleepless nights result in miserable days after. You’re never at your most efficient when you’re fatigued. Alongside the one in three of us who say we regularly suffer sleepless nights, two-thirds of grown ups struggle with disrupted sleep. Furthermore, a quarter report not being able to sleep for more than five hours. This climbs to half stating they never get enough shut eye. It’s no wonder about 25% claim their biggest health ambition is improving their sleeping patterns. A healthy tip is to look at your sleep hygiene. Experts recommend that bedrooms should be used solely for sleeping and sex. This helps the brain to associate getting into bed only with those activities. Reducing screentime and caffeine before settling down for the night helps too. Nevertheless, this is still not enough for some people.
Surprisingly, most people struggling with sleep never take action to improve their bedtime habits. Of those who do, approximately 15% take sleeping tablets and the same number use alcohol. There are problems with these methods. Both are habit forming and, once hooked, the consequences can be devastating. Secondly, alcohol may help you get to sleep, but the quality of rest you get is much diminished. Excess drink also results in hangovers and can cause you to wake more regularly. Doctors are frequently reluctant to prescribe sleeping tablets for the reasons outlined above. In a new development, GPs in England have started to recommend using an app called Sleepio instead of popping pills. It is available on the Apple app store with a sister application, Sleepio Companion, downloadable for Android from Google Play. There is also the alternative Calm, accessible from both online stores. Both Sleepio and Calm use a CBT-based approach to help you sleep better. Placing the focus on examining thoughts about sleep and bedtime behav-
iours, they help to get better natural rest. Although neither are entirely free, users benefit from not having to pay expensive prescription fees and, in Ireland, can save money by not having to see their GPs as often. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence UK (NICE), has recommended using Sleepio within the NHS. Research has found that the app is more effective at reducing insomnia than both sleeping tablets and changing bedtime habits. Not only does NICE believe that Sleepio helps patients save money, it also states it’s cost-effective for the NHS too. There is no reason to think it works any less well in Ireland, potentially bringing benefit to thousands of tired Irish adults, as well as the HSE. There are, of course, times when tablets are essential. It is always best to consult with your GP before taking any healthrelated action. However, being your own sleep advocate is a healthy path to increasing your chances of a good night’s rest. After all, who among us isn’t ‘appier’ after a good night’s Sleepio?
