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HEALTH&HABITAT

Feb/Mar 2011 www.esb.ie/em

IT’S TIME: to claim Tax Relief on your 2010 Medical Expenses

EAP NOTICEBOARD

Tax relief can be claimed in respect of the cost of certain medical expenses paid by you, for yourself and/or (from 2007 onwards) on behalf of any other person. You cannot claim tax relief for any expenditure that has been, or will be, reimbursed by another body for example the MPF, (or other Health Insurer), the HSE or where a compensation is made or will be made.

What medical expenses qualify for relief?

• Doctors and consultants fees.
• Diagnostic procedures carried out on the advice of a practitioner.
• Drugs/medicines prescribed by a doctor/dentist/consultant.
• Maintenance or treatment in a hospital or approved nursing home.
• Supply, maintenance or repair of any medical, surgical, dental or nursing appliance used on the advice of a medical practitioner for example:
• Glucometer Machine
• Hearing Aid
• Orthopaedic Bed/Chair.
• Wheelchair/wheelchair lift (no relief is due for alterations to the building to facilitate a lift)
• Exercise Bicycle
• Computer (where necessary to alleviate communication problems of a severely handicapped person)
• False Eye
• Wigs
• Physiotherapy or similar treatment (for example, chiropractor, osteopath, bonesetter) prescribed by a practitioner.
• Orthoptic or similar treatment prescribed by a practitioner (Routine Ophthalmic Care - ie Sight Testing, Spectacles, Contact Lenses, do NOT qualify for tax relief).
• Speech and language therapy carried out by an approved Speech and Language Therapist for a qualifying child.
• Transport by ambulance.
• Educational psychological assessments carried out by an approved Educational Psychologist for a qualifying child.
• Certain items of expenditure in respect of a child suffering from a serious life threatening illness.
• Kidney patients’ expenses (up to a maximum amount depending on whether the patient uses hospital dialysis, home dialysis or CAPD).
• Specialised dental treatment (routine dental treatment does NOT qualify for tax relief)
• In-Vitro fertilisation.
• Cost of gluten-free food for coeliacs.
• Cost of food products manufactured specifically for diabetics.

Relief given

Relief is granted at the standard rate of tax for medical expenses incurred during 2010. Relief at the high rate is still available for payments towards Nursing Homes.

How to claim

You can claim the tax relief in a number of ways:

• claiming online via Revenue’s “PAYE Anytime service” on www.revenue.ie.
• by completing Form Med 1 - Health Expenses Claim for Tax Relief and submitting it to your local Revenue office
• if you use a Form 11 to make a tax return and claim reliefs and credits, the amount of the health expenses claim may be entered at Panel I on the Form 11.

The Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) is a confidential service provided to ESB Staff and Pensioners. For further information on this or any related matter contact your local EAP Officer.

EXERCISE, KNIT AND TRAVEL TO KEEP YOUR BRAIN ACTIVE

MIRIAM MCDONALD

NATURAL HEALTH

WHAT YOU EAT now could impact on your health in 10 or 20 years time and, in the case of Alzheimer’s disease, your diet today could affect you in 25 or 40 years from now. The good news is that experts say genes account for only a small percentage of Alzheimer cases with the remainder due to non-genetic factors. It is not clear to what extent these non-genetic factors are truly modifiable, but in the meantime, there are a number of actions you can take to minimise your risk.

Start exercising. Research in the US and Finland has shown that aerobic exercise significantly increases the rate of blood flow to the brain and can reduce the risk of developing Alzheimers by 65%.

Eat a Mediterranean Diet, which can reduce your risk of Alzheimers disease by up to 40% (Columbia University). Both oily fish and white fish have shown benefits in maintaining cognitive health (Hordoland Homocysteine Study, 2006). Dark leafy green vegetables, such as spinach and broccoli in this diet, as well as cheese and yogurt can also reduce your homocysteine levels. High levels of homocysteine have been associated with Alzheimer’s disease, as well as with coronary heart disease.

Travel widely and socialise. Because they keep the brain active, travelling and socialising are linked to a reduced risk of cognitive decline. So what better excuse to get out and start planning your next holiday?

Learn new things. A study carried out in 1995 found that those who travelled, did odd jobs and did knitting and gardening reduced their risk of Alzheimer disease five fold. It is thought that learning new things creates new neural pathways or connections in the brain, which keeps your mind sharp over time. The important thing is to pick something you enjoy.

Get plenty of sleep. Adequate sleep provides more energy to cells and is essential to brain health.

And finally, a glass of red wine a day might reduce Alzheimer’s disease risk by half. But be careful not to exceed it! Dark chocolate, nuts and small amounts of coffee can also reduce the risk.

So with Spring here, reduce your risk of cognitive decline by getting out and exercising, planning a new holiday, eating and drinking healthily and getting your all important night’s sleep.

Miriam McDonald is a Nutritional Consultant & Practitioner (CANNP). She can be contacted at miriam.mcdonald@freshperceptions.com

A guide to: HEALTHY SLEEP

HEALTH SERVICES UPDATE

WHEN YOU’RE IN a rush to meet work and family responsibilities, do you cut back on your sleep? Like many people, you might think that sleep is merely a ‘down time’ when the brain shuts off and the body rests. Think again.

What is sleep?

Sleep was long considered just a uniform block of time when you are not awake. It is now known that sleep has distinctive stages that cycle throughout the night. Your brain stays active throughout sleep, certain stages of sleep are needed for us to feel well rested and energetic the next day, and other stages help us learn or make memories.

A number of vital tasks carried out during sleep help maintain good health and enable people to function at their best. On the other hand, not getting enough sleep can be dangerous; you are more likely to be in a car crash if you drive when you are drowsy.

How much sleep is enough?

Sleep needs vary from person to person, and they change throughout the lifecycle. Most adults need seven - eight hours of sleep each night.

Why sleep is good for you

Does it really matter if you get enough sleep? Absolutely! Not only does the quantity of your sleep matter, but the quality of your sleep is important as well. How well rested you are and how well you function the next day depend on your total sleep time and how much of the various stages of sleep you get each night.

Performance: We need sleep to think clearly, react quickly, and create memories. The pathways in the brain that help us learn and remember are very active when we sleep.

Mood: Sleep also affects mood. Insufficient sleep can make you irritable and is linked to poor behaviour and trouble with relationships, especially among children and teens. People who chronically lack sleep are also more likely to become depressed.

Health: Sleep is also important for good health. Studies show that not getting enough sleep or getting poor quality sleep on a regular basis increases the risk of having high blood pressure, heart disease, and other medical conditions. Deep sleep triggers more release of growth hormone, which fuels growth in children, and helps build muscle mass and repair cells and tissues in children and adults. Another type of hormone that increases during sleep works to fight various infections. Studies find that the less people sleep, the more likely they are to be overweight or obese, to develop diabetes, and to prefer eating foods that are high in calories and carbohydrates.

Get a good night’s sleep

Like eating well and being physically active, getting a good night’s sleep is vital to your well-being.

Here are 13 tips to help you:

• Stick to a sleep schedule.
• Exercise is great but not too late in the day.
• Avoid caffeine and nicotine
• Avoid alcoholic drinks before bed.
• Avoid large meals and beverages late at night.
• Avoid medicines that delay or disrupt your sleep,if possible
• Don’t take naps after 3 p.m.
• Relax before bed.
• Take a hot bath before bed.
• Have a good sleeping environment.
• Have the right sunlight exposure: Daylight is key to regulating daily sleep patterns. Get outside in natural sunlight for at least 30 minutes daily.
• Don’t lie in bed awake: If you’re still awake for more than 20 minutes, get up and do some relaxing activity until you feel sleepy. The anxiety of not being able to sleep can make it harder to fall asleep.
• See a doctor if you continue to have trouble sleeping.

This information is adapted from ‘Your Guide to Healthy Sleep’, US Dept of Health and Human Services.

Coming soon: April is Bowel Cancer awareness month, ESB Health Services will offer staff over 40 a bowel screening kit at reduced price of €7. See your local notice boards and ESB intranet for further details. Don’t miss this opportunity.