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Healthwatch
10 hrs
29
Are online gambling and sports betting new to your area? Are gambling advertisements catching your eye? Have you noticed sports and news shows covering the spread? Recent changes in laws have made gambling widely accessible, and its popularity has soared.
Occasional bets are rarely an issue. But uncontrolled gambling can lead to financial, psychological, physical, and social consequences, some of which are extreme. Understanding whether gambling is becoming a problem in your life can help you head off the worst of these issues and refocus on having more meaning, happiness, and psychological richness in your life. Gambling screening is a good first step.
Can you screen yourself for problem gambling?
Yes. Screening yourself is easy. The Brief Biosocial Gambling Screen (note: automatic download) is a validated way to screen for gambling disorder. It has three yes-or-no questions. Ask yourself:
What do your answers mean?
Answering yes to any one of these questions suggests that you are at higher risk for experiencing gambling disorder. Put simply, this is an addiction to gambling. Like other expressions of addiction, for gambling this includes loss of control, craving, and continuing despite bad consequences. Unique to gambling, it also often means chasing your losses.
A yes doesn't mean that you are definitely experiencing a problem with gambling. But it might be valuable for you to seek a more in-depth assessment of your gambling behavior. To find an organization or person qualified to help, ask a health care provider, your local department of public health, or an advocacy group like the National Council on Problem Gambling.
Are you ready for change?
Your readiness to change a behavior matters when deciding the best first steps for making a change. If someone asks you whether you want to change your gambling, what would you say?
| I never think about my gambling. | Sometimes I think about gambling less. | I have decided to gamble less. | I am already trying to cut back on my gambling. | I changed my gambling: I now do not gamble, or gamble less than before. |
Depending on your answer, you might seek out different solutions. What's most important initially is choosing a solution that feels like the right fit for you.
What if you don't feel ready to change? If you haven't thought about your gambling or only occasionally think about changing your gambling, you might explore lower intensity actions. For example, you could
If you are committed to making a change or are already trying to change, you might seek out more engaging resources and strategies to support those decisions, like attending self-help groups or participating in treatment.
Read on for more details on choices you might make.
What options for change are available if you want to continue gambling?
If you want to keep gambling in some way, you might want to stick to lower-risk gambling guidelines:
Other ways to reduce your risk of gambling harm include:
What are easy first steps toward reducing or stopping gambling?
If you're just starting to think about change, consider learning more about gambling, problem gambling, and ways to change from
Some YouTube clips demystify gambling, such as how slot machines work, the limits of skill and knowledge in gambling, and how gambling can become an addiction. These sources might help you think about your own gambling in new ways, potentially identifying behaviors that you need to change.
What are some slightly more active steps toward change?
If you're looking for a slightly more active approach, you can consider engaging in traditional self-help experiences such as helplines and chatlines or Gamblers Anonymous.
Another option is self-help workbooks. Your First Step to Change is a popular workbook that provides information about problem gambling, self-screening exercises for gambling and related conditions like anxiety and depression, and change exercises to get started. A clinical trial of this resource suggested that users were more likely than others to report having recently abstained from gambling.
Watch out for gambling misinformation
As you investigate options, keep in mind that the quality of information available can vary and may even include misinformation. Misinformation is incorrect or misleading information. Research suggests that some common types of gambling misinformation might reinforce harmful beliefs or risky behaviors.
For example, some gambling books, websites, and other resources exaggerate your likelihood of winning, highlight win and loss streaks as important (especially for chance-based games like slots), and suggest ways to change your luck to gain an edge. These misleading ideas can help you to believe you're more likely to win than you actually are, and set you up for failure.
The bottom line
Taking a simple self-screening test can start you on a journey toward better gambling-related health. Keep in mind that change can take time and won't necessarily be a straight path.
If you take a step toward change and then a step back, nothing is stopping you from taking a step forward again. Talking with a care provider and getting a comprehensive assessment can help you understand whether formal treatment for gambling is a promising option for you.
Source: Harvard Health Publishing
Healthwatch
2 dys
24
As the adage goes, the eyes are the windows to the soul. So what does it mean to wish yours were a different color?
Apparently enough people share this desire to create a bustling market for color-changing eye drops, which are making the rounds through social media and online retailers.
Personalizing eye color might sound tempting, especially for younger people and those who enjoy experimenting with elements of fashion or style. But are over-the-counter, color-changing eye drops safe? The answer is a hard no, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), which recently issued a warning against "eye color-changing solutions."
Why shouldn't you try color-changing eye drops?
Color-changing eye drops aren't approved by the FDA, haven't been tested for safety or effectiveness, and could potentially damage people's eyes, the AAO warns.
"It might seem benign when you see a product like this online," says Dr. Michael Boland, an associate professor of ophthalmology and glaucoma specialist at Harvard-affiliated Mass Eye and Ear. "People think, 'Why not try it?'." "But there's no way to know what's in these bottles and no oversight over how they're being made."
How do the eye drops work?
That's not clear. Companies manufacturing the drops claim the products adjust levels of melanin in the iris, the colored portion of the eyeball. Purportedly, the effects begin to be visible within hours and can last for a week or longer. If a user wants enduring results, they'll need to continue using the product.
But these claims skirt a complete lack of evidence that the drops have any effects on the iris, much less the desired effects, Dr. Boland says.
"I've found zero descriptions of how they work in terms of a plausible mechanism," he says. The ingredients list includes things that might be found in other eye drops or drugs or even cosmetics, but nothing that would actually change your eye color."
How might the drops hurt your eyes?
The AAO lists a variety of potential safety risks from using these products or any other unregulated eye drops, including:
"All of those problems are possible, since we don't have any real idea what's in these bottles," Dr. Boland says. "The biggest concern is damage to the cornea, the clear part of the front of the eye. If the cornea is damaged by the chemicals in those bottles, you might lose vision."
Are there safe alternatives to change eye color?
Still hankering for a way to get, say, Taylor Swift's electric blue eyes or Julia Roberts' golden brown peepers? There is a trustworthy option, Dr. Boland says: colored contact lenses. But he recommends choosing that option with caution.
"Professionally prescribed and dispensed contact lenses are a safe way to change your eye color," he says. "But don't buy them online. Get them from a reputable source to make sure they've been regulated and evaluated as safe, because contacts can damage the eye if they're not designed properly or kept clean."
Source: Harvard Health Publishing
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Instablog9ja
2 dys
16
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested a former Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, for alleged diversion of N1.3 trillion 13% derivation fund from the federation account between 2015 and 2023.
An EFCC source confirmed the former governor’s arrest to Channels Television on Monday. Okowa was arrested on Monday, November 4, 2024, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, when he reported at the Port Harcourt Directorate of the EFCC on the invitation of investigators handling his matter.
The former governor was alleged to have failed to render accounts of the funds as well as another N40 billion he allegedly claimed he used to acquire shares in UTM Floating Liquefied Natural Gas. Specifically, Okowa allegedly bought shares worth N40 billion in one of the major banks in the country representing 8% equity to float the offshore LNG. The funds were alleged to be used for other purposes.
Investigators are also investigating the diversion of funds by the former governor to acquire estates in Abuja and Asaba in Delta state. He is being held at the EFCC holding facility in Port Harcourt. Okowa was the running mate to Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election.
Instablog9ja
2 dys
16
TV host Frank Edoho has responded to a follower who claimed to be his look-alike.
He said “they said you look like me? My Brother if most people agree that this is what I look like, I have to sadly agree that, my Brother, we are both unattractive”.
Instablog9ja
6 hrs
15
Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) in Nigeria have announced revised prices for various electricity meter models, marking the second price hike in four months, Nairametrics reports.
According to the DisCos, the cost of a single-phase meter has risen from approximately N117,000 to as much as N149,800, depending on the distribution company and meter vendor. The new prices, scheduled to take effect on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, reflect the deregulation of Meter Asset Providers (MAP) as directed by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
This upward revision follows an earlier increase in August 2024, further amplifying concerns among electricity consumers about affordability and accessibility.
A check by Nairametrics revealed that meter prices vary across DisCos, influenced by vendors and meter models (single-phase and three-phase). Below are the new average meter prices, inclusive of VAT: Eko DisCo: Single Phase Meter: N135,987.5 – N161,0 03; Three Phase Meter: N226,600 – N266,600; Ibadan DisCo: Single Phase Meter: N130,998 – N142,5 54; Three Phase Meter: N226,556.25 – N232,008.04; Abuja DisCo: Single Phase Meter: N123,130.53 – N147,812.; Three Phase Meter: N206,345.65 – N236,500; Kano Electricity: Single Phase Meter: N127,925 – N129,999.75; Three Phase Meter: N223,793 – N235,425; Kaduna DisCo: Single Phase Meter: N131,150 — N142,548.94; Three Phase Meter: 220,375 — N232,008.04
In April, Nairametrics reported that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) introduced a significant policy shift by announcing the deregulation of meter prices under the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) scheme for end-user customers. This move aims to address lingering issues surrounding meter supply and pricing transparency within the electricity sector.
According to NERC’s latest order, meter prices under the MAP scheme will now be determined through competitive bidding rather than being centrally regulated. This shift is expected to foster greater competition among meter providers, ultimately improving cost efficiency and service delivery for end-users.
Additionally, the deregulation removes earlier operational restrictions, allowing MAP permit holders to provide metering services across all Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) in Nigeria. However, MAPs must meet specific regulatory requirements to ensure compliance and maintain quality standards in service delivery.
Previously, NERC regulated meter prices, which were often subsidized across all DisCos to reduce costs for customers. While this model aimed to make metering affordable, it inadvertently stifled competition and limited transparency in the supply chain. As a result, DisCos and customers were unable to negotiate or explore better deals from meter vendors, contributing to inefficiencies in the system.
With deregulation now in place, NERC anticipates a more dynamic metering ecosystem where customers and DisCos can benefit from competitive pricing, improved service quality, and greater accountability among meter providers.
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Novo Nordisk Stock Slips As Sales Grow Less Than Expected
After Rising In Premarket Trading, ...
Investopedia
6 hrs
15
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After rising in premarket trading, Novo Nordisk's (NVO) U.S.-listed shares fell after the market opened Wednesday as its third-quarter sales fell short of estimates despite continued growth form weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy.
The Danish drugmaker reported 71.31 billion Danish krone ($10.24 billion) in sales—a 21% jump from the same time last year—but still just below the DKK 72.17 billion ($10.36 billion) analysts had expected, according to estimates compiled by Visible Alpha. Despite the sales miss, Novo Nordisk's net income of DKK 27.3 billion came in higher than the DKK 26.66 billion analysts were expecting.
Sales of the company's obesity and diabetes drugs jumped 25% from the same time last year, while sales in North America surged 31% in the quarter. The company has faced questions from U.S. lawmakers about why its products are so much more expensive in the U.S. thanEuropean countries.
"The sales growth is driven by increasing demand for our GLP-1-based diabetes and obesity treatments, and we are serving more patients than ever before," Novo Nordisk CEO Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen said.
The company also narrowed its full-year guidance, projecting sales growth between 23% to 27%, with both the high and low end slightly narrower than the 22% to 28% projected growth previously. The same adjustment was made to operating profit projections, as Novo Nordisk now expects the metric to grow 21% to 27% year-over-year, compared to the previous range of20% to 28%.
Novo Nordisk's U.S.-traded shares were down 3% in morning trading Wednesday.
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