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Electric wheelchair user worries of ‘living in fear’ amid cost of living crisis

An electric wheelchair user worries she will be "living in fear" of getting stuck when out and about because she can't afford to charge her chair as often as she needs.

Provided by The Independent jwplayer-thumbnail-ced726f2.jpg

he UK has been plunged into a cost of living crisis, with energy bills rising dramatically due to the price cap increase that came into effect on 1 April.

"I have to try and be careful about driving around so much in my wheelchair, to see if I can get away with charging it every other night," Georgina told BBC Breakfast.

Reference: Independent: Oliver Browning

Celine Dion health: Star cancelled 16 shows due to 'severe and persistent muscle spasms'

For decades, it seemed like popstar Celine Dion was unstoppable. She has released hit after hit, including the chart-topping song Because You Loved Me, released in 1996. But a recent onset of "muscle spasms" has led to a significant halt in the star's career. In October 2021, she first revealed her ill health and canceled a few shows. Since then, she has had to cancel over a dozen stops on her Courage World Tour.

Dion first announced in October that she was "heartbroken" to cancel her residency in Las Vegas.

The Canadian singer, excited to get back on the road after halting her tour due to the pandemic, was scheduled to have engagements in November and January but had to cancel them due to the onset of her ailments.

But in her most recent health announcement, she revealed that her cancellations had extended to the remaining 16-stop North America leg on her tour.

"I was really hoping that I'd be good to go by now, but I suppose I just have to be more patient and follow the regimen that my doctors are prescribing," she said.

GETTY Celine Dion

"There's a lot of organising and preparation that goes into our shows, and so we have to make decisions today which will affect the plans two months down the road.

"I'll be so glad to get back to full health, as well as all of us getting past this pandemic, and I can't wait to be back on stage again."

According to the first announcement by Dion back in October, the star was experiencing "severe and persistent muscle spasms".

The most common type of muscle spasm is a muscle cramp, which can be caused by muscle fatigue, dehydration, and not enough stretching.

"There's a lot of organising and preparation that goes into our shows, and so we have to make decisions today which will affect the plans two months down the road.

"I'll be so glad to get back to full health, as well as all of us getting past this pandemic, and I can't wait to be back on stage again."

According to the first announcement by Dion back in October, the star was experiencing "severe and persistent muscle spasms".

The most common type of muscle spasm is a muscle cramp, which can be caused by muscle fatigue, dehydration, and not enough stretching.

But since Dion's spasms are continuous, they could be a symptom of several different conditions. The star has not revealed exactly what is causing the spasms.

Despite the "severe" symptoms, Dion's sister Claudette told French Magazine Voici that it was "not serious" although it "is sad".

"Celine always confides in me and asks for advice when something is wrong. I know she's in good spirits," she said.

Muscle spasms may be attributed to dystonia-which is where people have uncontrolled and sometimes painful muscle spasms.

This is usually a lifelong problem, according to the NHS but its symptoms may be treated.

The Mayo Clinic suggests that the "exact cause of dystonia isn't known" but could be down to altered brain cell communication in different parts of the brain.

Are muscle spasms a symptom of anything severe?

Dystonia is sometimes an indication of more severe conditions, such as Parkinson's disease.

This is usually a lifelong problem, according to the NHS but its symptoms may be treated.

The Mayo Clinic suggests that the "exact cause of dystonia isn't known" but could be down to altered brain cell communication in different parts of the brain.

Are muscle spasms a symptom of anything severe?

Dystonia is sometimes an indication of more severe conditions, such as Parkinson's disease.

Other conditions that can cause dystonia are stroke, cerebral palsy, and multiple sclerosis.

Dystonia can vary from person to person but can have a major impact on day-to-day activities.

You should visit your GP if you think you could have dystonia. If the doctor thinks you have the condition, they may refer you to a neurologist, states the NHS.

One of the main treatments for dystonia is deep brain stimulation, which involves implanting electrodes into the brain which produce electrical impulses.

You may also have medicine to relax your muscles, such as botulinum toxin which is injected into affected muscles. 

Vitamin D: Going outside for as little as ten minutes 'once or twice a day' may be enough

Government advice is that everyone should consider taking a daily vitamin D supplement during the autumn and winter. The NHS says drom about late March/early April to the end of September, most people should be able to make all the vitamin D they need from sunlight. But between October and early March we do not make enough vitamin D from sunlight.

Julia Thomson, Lead Specialist Osteoporosis Nurse at the Royal Osteoporosis Society, said: "Sunlight is one of the best natural sources of vitamin D as it helps our bodies to absorb calcium effectively.

"If you are able to access outside space and feel comfortable doing so, exposing bare skin to sunlight little and often (without sun cream which stops the sun's rays reaching your skin) in the spring and summer months, can help to increase your vitamin D levels.

"It's important to still take care not to burn. Glass blocks the sun's rays but sitting inside close to an open door or window can also help.

"Depending on your skin type, this could be for as little as ten minutes, once or twice a day between 11am and 3pm. It's important to take care not to burn, however, the time it takes to make sufficient vitamin D is usually less than the time it takes for skin to be damaged."

man outside

The NHS says: "You cannot overdose on vitamin D through exposure to sunlight. But always remember to cover up or protect your skin if you're out in the sun for long periods to reduce the risk of skin damage and skin cancer."

Heart UK says: "Vitamin D is essential for good health, and cholesterol plays a role in producing vitamin D from sunlight.

"Most of us don't get enough vitamin D but it's possible to get more from supplements and sunlight."

It explains: "We get a little vitamin D from food, but we get most of it from sunlight. The sun acts on chemicals under the skin and helps turn them into vitamin D."

It adds: "We don't need vitamin D from food or sunlight every day. But if you don't get enough over a longer period of time, you won't have enough vitamin D for good health - known as vitamin D deficiency.

"This is very common in the UK - around one in five adults and one in six children don't have enough vitamin D.

"Some people are more likely to have a vitamin D deficiency than others. Supplements and eating foods which contain vitamin D can help."

If you or someone you care for is in a higher risk group they may need to take vitamin D supplements.

 GETTY SUPPLEMENTS

You can take vitamin D supplements as tablets, liquid or a spray, and they can be bought in a pharmacy.

Dietary vitamin D is available in foods such as oily fish, cod liver oil, red meat, fortified cereals, fortified spreads and egg yolks.

The NHS says taking too many vitamin D supplements over a long period of time can cause too much calcium to build up in the body which can weaken the bones and damage the kidneys and the heart.

If you exceed the upper limit it can lead to feelings of nausea. Other signs you have taken too much include vomiting, muscle weakness, and loss of appetite. 

Reference:Daily Express:  Harriet Whitehead

Crisp and chip brands forced to change recipes amid sunflower oil shortage

The taste of your favourite crisps, oven chips, and cereal bars is set to change soon, as manufacturers are reworking recipes amid a sunflower oil shortage caused by the war in Ukraine.

Other Manufacturers are reworking recipes amid a sunflower oil shortage. Pic: iStock

Edible Oils, which is the leading bottler of cooking oil for UK retailers, says it only has a few weeks of sunflower oil stock left.

Ukraine and Russia supply 80% of the world's supply, and the conflict has caused major disruption to imports.

Kim Matthews, commercial director at Edible Oils, told the BBC: "From a UK consumer perspective, sunflower oil is the biggest oil. It's used more than anything else. It's a fast-moving situation.

"We're still trying to see if we can get some more but it's looking very tight."

Mr Matthews added that the shortage could last more than a year.

He said: "At the moment, Ukrainian farmers should be sowing the seeds now for harvest in October and November. Clearly, that's not going to happen… we're probably going to miss the season so we could be impacted for 12-18 months."

As a result of the shortage, manufacturers of products including crisps, chips and cereal bars have been forced to alter their recipes and replace sunflower oil with refined rapeseed oil.

Food Standards Agency issues warning

Many have been unable to change the label in time, which has prompted The Food Standards Agency (FSA) to issue a warning.

In a statement, the FSA said: "The majority of the UK's sunflower oil comes from Ukraine and food businesses here are reporting that supplies of sunflower oil are likely to run out in a few weeks with some businesses already experiencing severe difficulties.

Other Companies have been forced to alter their recipes for crisps, chips and cereal bars. Pic: iStock

"This has led to some food manufacturers urgently replacing sunflower oil with refined rapeseed oil before being able to make the change on the label.

"We are therefore advising that food products labelled as containing sunflower oil may have instead been produced using refined rapeseed oil and consumers should look out for additional information being provided by retailers and manufacturers to stay informed."

The FSA added that the risk of this substitute is "very low" and allergies to rapeseed oil are rare.

Other products containing sunflower oil include mayonnaise, bread, and biscuits. 

Reference: Sky News: Charlotte Bateman, news reporter