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Home / Critical illness cover / - Blindness
Background information
In total, over 1 million people are visually impaired (ie registerable).
Of these, 194,000 are registered as blind and 160,000 as partially sighted.
(Office of National Statistics, 2002 - figures as at 31 March 1997)
Definition
Total permanent and irreversible loss of all sight in both eyes.
What does this mean?
Sight can be lost because of an accident or illness. In order for a claim to be paid, the loss of sight must be total, permanent and irreversible. Therefore, a claim would not be paid if the loss was only partial or was a temporary condition.
NEWS
New cancer link discovered
28 December 2007 13:24:06
A new link has been discovered between cancer susceptibility and inflammation through cell-death receptors.
Scientists at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Medicine made the breakthrough in the critical illness after ten years of research.
For the past decade Professor Wafik El-Deiry, has been pursuing a cancer-targeting molecule called TRAIL, which is normally produced by immune cells and curtails the spreading of tumors by binding to a specialized receptor on their surface.
He explained: "However, in cancer patients who often have suppressed immunity, and for reasons we still don’t understand, there isn't enough TRAIL being produced, so tumors are not suppressed."
His team of researchers has now demonstrated the link between TRAIL's receptors and cancer susceptibility after mice engineered without the receptor cells developed a greater amount of larger tumors in their organs after receiving radiation.
Professor El-Deiry continued: "Our work with TRAIL and its receptor in mouse models represents a new way to look at cancer susceptibility and its potential therapy in humans as well as new ways to decrease debilitating radiation side-effects experienced by cancer patients."
Direct Life and Pensions Services Ltd are one of the UK's leading providers of life insurance, term life assurance, mortgage protection, critical illness and life insurance advice online
Research boosts development of HIV vaccine
28 February 2008 17:33:51
Research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has indicated that a new technique could help the development of a preventative or therapeutic vaccine for HIV – which could have an impact upon life insurance premiums.
According to Medical News Today, the study conducted by the Scripps Research Institute included the development of glycodendrons aimed at inhibiting the transport of HIV within the body and setting up an antibody response to the virus.
Professor Chi-Huey Wong, chemistry Professor at Scripps Research, said: "This paper is about a new direction in HIV vaccine design. Results we have so far are very promising."
The breakthrough could revitalise efforts to produce a vaccine for HIV, given that a number of such treatments have failed clinical trials over the years.
According to the Department of Health, the introduction of drug therapies has helped to improve the lives of a significant number of people with HIV.
Direct Life and Pensions Services Ltd are one of the UK's leading providers of life insurance, term life assurance, mortgage protection, critical illness and life insurance advice online
BHF questions heart attack link
28 February 2008 19:25:16
Those considering life insurance may be interested to know that the link between the age-related macular degeneration eye disease and a higher risk of heart and circulatory disease has been questioned by the British Heart Foundation (BHF).
A study in to a possible connection has been played down by Ellen Mason, cardiac nurse at the BHF, who said that it is not clear whether the link is "truly significant" or not.
"Whatever your eye health is like, it's important to remember that the major risk factors for heart and circulatory disease are well established," she commented.
People should aim to minimise the risk of developing the disease by stopping smoking, reducing their blood pressure and being more active, the expert added.
In related news, the organisation recently claimed that government figures showing one in four children aged four to five are overweight were "distressing", but that it is not too late to take action.
Direct Life and Pensions Services Ltd are one of the UK's leading providers of life insurance, term life assurance, mortgage protection, and critical illnesslife insurance policies online
28 December 2007 13:24:06
A new link has been discovered between cancer susceptibility and inflammation through cell-death receptors.
Scientists at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Medicine made the breakthrough in the critical illness after ten years of research.
For the past decade Professor Wafik El-Deiry, has been pursuing a cancer-targeting molecule called TRAIL, which is normally produced by immune cells and curtails the spreading of tumors by binding to a specialized receptor on their surface.
He explained: "However, in cancer patients who often have suppressed immunity, and for reasons we still don’t understand, there isn't enough TRAIL being produced, so tumors are not suppressed."
His team of researchers has now demonstrated the link between TRAIL's receptors and cancer susceptibility after mice engineered without the receptor cells developed a greater amount of larger tumors in their organs after receiving radiation.
Professor El-Deiry continued: "Our work with TRAIL and its receptor in mouse models represents a new way to look at cancer susceptibility and its potential therapy in humans as well as new ways to decrease debilitating radiation side-effects experienced by cancer patients."
Direct Life and Pensions Services Ltd are one of the UK's leading providers of life insurance, term life assurance, mortgage protection, critical illness and life insurance advice online
28 February 2008 17:33:51
Research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has indicated that a new technique could help the development of a preventative or therapeutic vaccine for HIV – which could have an impact upon life insurance premiums.
According to Medical News Today, the study conducted by the Scripps Research Institute included the development of glycodendrons aimed at inhibiting the transport of HIV within the body and setting up an antibody response to the virus.
Professor Chi-Huey Wong, chemistry Professor at Scripps Research, said: "This paper is about a new direction in HIV vaccine design. Results we have so far are very promising."
The breakthrough could revitalise efforts to produce a vaccine for HIV, given that a number of such treatments have failed clinical trials over the years.
According to the Department of Health, the introduction of drug therapies has helped to improve the lives of a significant number of people with HIV.
Direct Life and Pensions Services Ltd are one of the UK's leading providers of life insurance, term life assurance, mortgage protection, critical illness and life insurance advice online
28 February 2008 19:25:16
Those considering life insurance may be interested to know that the link between the age-related macular degeneration eye disease and a higher risk of heart and circulatory disease has been questioned by the British Heart Foundation (BHF).
A study in to a possible connection has been played down by Ellen Mason, cardiac nurse at the BHF, who said that it is not clear whether the link is "truly significant" or not.
"Whatever your eye health is like, it's important to remember that the major risk factors for heart and circulatory disease are well established," she commented.
People should aim to minimise the risk of developing the disease by stopping smoking, reducing their blood pressure and being more active, the expert added.
In related news, the organisation recently claimed that government figures showing one in four children aged four to five are overweight were "distressing", but that it is not too late to take action.
Direct Life and Pensions Services Ltd are one of the UK's leading providers of life insurance, term life assurance, mortgage protection, and critical illnesslife insurance policies online