Taiwanese students grab 6 gold medals in the 18th International Junior Science Olympiad

1114 NIA video news report－English

Hello everyone, welcome to Focus News!The 11th New Immigrant and Children Dream-Building Project has started.Taitung accommodation subsidy promotion extended until the end of November.Four epidemic prevention measures to stop dengue fever.High-sodium diet harms health! How much of these 8 high-sodium foods have you eaten?Please see the following report.The 11th New Immigrant and Children Dream-Building Project LaunchedThe National Immigration Agency has recently launched the "11th New Immigrant and Children Dream-Building Project" aimed at helping new immigrants and their children achieve their dreams, promoting multiculturalism, and implementing anti-discrimination principles. The application deadline for this project is November 25 and has been expanded to include overseas participants. New immigrants can choose to write proposals under five main themes: "Entrepreneurship and Marketing," "Education and Arts," "Multimedia and Digital Technology," "Social Public Service," and "Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development." Each group can receive up to NT$100,000 in prize money, with 50 winners expected to be selected. For application details, visit the National Immigration Agency's website.Taitung Accommodation Subsidy Promotion Extended Until the End of NovemberSince the Ministry of Transportation and Communications Tourism Bureau launched the "Taitung Independent Travel Subsidy 2.0 Plan" on October 15, it has received an enthusiastic response from the public, with the occupancy rate of Taitung hotels in the first week exceeding 70% compared to September. To continue the travel boom, the Tourism Bureau has allocated an additional NT$50 million, extending the subsidy until November 30 next year or until the budget is exhausted. During the activity period, Taiwanese citizens who stay at legally participating accommodations in Taitung can enjoy the accommodation discount, and bookings can be made through major travel agency platforms, including Eztravel, KKday, South East Travel, Cola Tour, and Lion Travel.Four Epidemic Prevention Measures to Stop Dengue FeverWith the recent typhoons bringing heavy rainfall, many areas have experienced severe water accumulation. As the dengue fever alert period continues, the Environmental Protection Agency reminds the public to begin environmental cleaning immediately after heavy rain and thoroughly implement the four prevention measures: "Inspect, Empty, Clean, and Scrub."First, inspection: carefully check items and areas inside and outside the home that can easily accumulate water, such as basins, basements, and discarded tires.Second, empty: completely remove accumulated water. For containers that cannot be emptied, ensure they are kept dry. Third, clean: dispose of unused containers that hold water promptly to prevent repeated water accumulation.Fourth, scrub: thoroughly wash items that need to be kept to remove any mosquito eggs and place them properly to prevent water accumulation again.High-Sodium Diets Harm Health! How Much of These 8 High-Sodium Foods Have You Eaten?Excessive sodium intake harms health, and many people unknowingly consume high-sodium foods. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare's recommendations, daily sodium intake should be controlled below 2400 milligrams, equivalent to 6 grams of salt. Senior nurse Tan Dun-Tzu especially reminds the public to know 8 common high-sodium foods, including noodles, dumplings, miso soup, fried chicken, toast, Caesar salad dressing, cold noodles, and sports drinks. She urges people to consume these foods in moderation and pair them with potassium-rich fruits like bananas and guavas to balance sodium ions in the body and protect cardiovascular health. She also advises checking the nutrition labels on packaged foods carefully to avoid excessive sodium intake.

Life with narcolepsy: It's not a joke, it's a very serious illness

Living with Narcolepsy: 'It’s Not a Joke, It’s a Very Serious Illness'Matthew Horsnell began falling asleep without reason when he was in sixth grade. Despite going to bed early, he struggled to wake up every morning and found himself nodding off throughout the day, even during class or while waiting to go to school. By age 20, Horsnell was experiencing cataplexy – sudden, brief loss of muscle control triggered by strong emotions – leaving him conscious but paralyzed and unable to respond, even when others tried to help him.Narcolepsy, a sleep disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness and disrupted nighttime sleep, affects roughly one in 2,000 people in the United States. However, only about 25% of people with narcolepsy are diagnosed and treated, according to the Narcolepsy Network. This chronic condition can make it challenging for individuals to maintain a job, drive, or socialize, as even strong emotions like laughter can trigger cataplexy. “In movies, narcolepsy is often depicted as comical,” says Jennifer Mundt, a sleep medicine specialist, “but it’s a very serious illness.”Horsnell’s journey to a proper diagnosis took years. He saw numerous specialists, including psychiatrists, before finally meeting a sleep specialist in 2007 who diagnosed him with type one narcolepsy with cataplexy. This type of narcolepsy is linked to an autoimmune response that destroys cells in the brain responsible for producing orexin, a key neurotransmitter that regulates sleep.Matthew Horsnell went to the White House to present on sleep health equity with Project Sleep in 2023.courtesy Heather LillPeople with narcolepsy also experience vivid nightmares and hypnagogic hallucinations – sensations that occur while falling asleep, sometimes involving feeling, seeing, or hearing things that aren't real. For Horsnell, these hallucinations include disturbing experiences, such as feeling the weight of a figure lying on him.Despite the challenges, Horsnell found strength in helping others. He now works as a “sleep ambassador” for various organizations, advocating for better understanding and awareness of sleep disorders. He even visited the White House in 2023 to raise awareness about narcolepsy. “If my struggles can help someone come to a quicker diagnosis or better understand living with narcolepsy, that would make all the challenges worthwhile,” Horsnell says.

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