silent

Chargebacks are the silent hemorrhage of e-commerce. A Catalan startup is making money by covering it

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Yesterday Paco bought a product on Wallapop and received it. Then came the problem. Paco called the bank and lied saying that it was not the product he expected or that he did not receive it, thus managing to keep the product and recover his money. Free product for him, headache for Wallapop. This is where a promising Catalan startup called Kloutit comes in. Fictional situation, real problem. Paco does not exist as such and the situation is fictitious, but it is the reflection of a very palpable reality among e-commerce companies: many are affected to a greater or lesser extent by the so-called chargebacks or chargebacks. Kloutit has an AI to solve it. The Catalan startup Kloutit has created an AI tool to manage these chargebacks on e-commerce platforms. Founded in 2024 by Albert Algarra (CEO), Alexis Pairetti and Adrián Algarra, the company already has almost 200 active clients and operates in nine countries, as indicated in CincoDías. Among those clients are Wallapop, Cabify, Playtomic, Factorial, or TaxDown. A problem that they manage to mitigate. The phenomenon of chargebacks negatively impacts 30% of the gross operating profit (ebitda) of companies, according to Kloutit. However, thanks to their AI system, companies multiply the amount of money lost and later recovered by 5.5. Not only that: as those responsible for CincoDías indicate, “Reducing chargebacks not only protects income, but also improves the relationship with payment service providers, and avoids penalties for high ratios.” They may be legitimate, but they may not be.. Unlike a normal return in which you go to the store, deliver the product and receive your money back, in a chargeback the bank withdraws the money directly from the merchant’s account and returns it to the customer while it investigates what happened. Chargebacks typically occur in three cases: Real fraud: someone has stolen your card and made purchases, so you notify the bank indicating that it was not you, and the bank returns your money. Problems with service: you bought something that never arrived, or the product that arrives is broken or the service (hotels, flights) was not as promised. “Friendly fraud”: This is where the problem lies for companies, and it is the fictitious case we have described. A chargeback is not just about losing a sale. For a business it implies a double loss: both the product they already sent and the money from the sale. In fact, after the chargeback the nightmare begins, because the implications are several: Penalty: Banks charge a penalty fee to the merchant for each chargeback received regardless of who is right. Blacklist: If the store has many chargebacks, Visa or Mastercard can blacklist you and prohibit card payments. Expensive defense: defending against a chargeback is a cumbersome bureaucratic process: you have to demonstrate with evidence (delivery notes, screenshots, emails) that the customer did receive the service. AI vs. obsolete systems. The platform developed by Kloutit promises a much more effective alternative to traditional systems that they describe as obsolete: manual processes, a lot of time investment and disappointing success rates. The Catalan startup’s AI system promises to automate these processes and free teams from this burden. That they have more and more clients is a promising sign that they are doing something right. Images | Nathana Rebouças In Xataka | Online commerce was supposed to kill shopping malls. The reality has been just the opposite.

Hyundai’s electric sedan is silent, elegant, and gains a lot of autonomy

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Almost exactly two years ago my partner Alberto, a regular in these matters, was testing the Hyundai Ioniq 6 that the brand launched then. This time who gets behind the wheel of his successor, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 (2026)is yours truly, excited to experience the sensations of a sports sedan in which many things change. The update of this model affects both its exterior appearance – pay attention to the front – and its performance, which improves significantly to complete a most striking 100% electric vehicle. Shall we take a look at it? Technical sheet of the Hyundai Ioniq 6 (2026) Hyundai Ioniq 6 (2026) Body type Five-seater saloon. Measurements and weight. 4,925 mm long, 1,880 mm wide and 1,495 mm high. Wheelbase of 2,950 mm. 2,410kg Trunk. 401 liters Battery 63 kWh (Standard) 84 kWh (Long Range) Maximum power. 125 kW (170 hp, 350 Nm, RWD) 168 kW (229 hp, 350 Nm, RWD) 239 kW (325 hp, 605 Nm, AWD) WLTP consumption. 14.6 kWh/100 km WLTP autonomy Up to 521/680 km depending on battery. Environmental distinctive. Zero emissions. Driving aids (ADAS). Adaptive cruise control with level 2 automation and emergency braking, sign recognition, blind spot sensor, lane keeping, cross traffic alert, automated parking and emergency braking during maneuvers with pedestrian and object detection. Others Compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay via Bluetooth, two 12.3-inch screens and connection for two phones. Four USB type C inputs and one type A, OTA updates, software with its own maps that indicate the available autonomy, dynamic lights for the interior. Vehicle to Load (V2L) reverse charging. Electric hybrid. No. Plug-in Hybrid. No. electric. Yes. Ultra-fast charging up to 350 kW (from 10% to 80% in 18 minutes) Price and launch. Not available. More than a restiling The family is growing, those responsible for Hyundai began by warning us before we set off. These new Hyundai Ioniq 6 (2026) are confirmation of the firm’s clear commitment to electrification, which in fact prepares the Ioniq 3 for next year. But that will be next year, because this Ioniq 6 begins by taking an important leap in the WLTP autonomy, which reaches 680 km in its version with long-range battery (84 kW). In the case of the model with a standard 63 kW battery, that WLTP autonomy is estimated at 521 km, both figures already serious. We were able to test the Ioniq 6 with the N-Line finish, better equipped and with an even sportier appearance. To give it those more distinctive lines, we have a more aggressive bumper and slightly different side skirts. There are also other distinctive elements such as the wheels and the lights, which have their own lighting signature. In both cases there have been clear changes in the nose, which is sharper and adopts a “shark nose” type front. The headlights are compressed to the maximum to be reduced to four fine lines of LED Parametric Pixel, while at the rear also use is made of that striking design element that, together with that spoiler and rear bumpers, allows them to be distinguished even more. In this design there are optional elements such as digital rearview mirrors – in the model we tested they were conventional – and others that come standard such as integrated handles that contribute to aerodynamics. Which is precisely one of the strong points of this model, although there are no changes here: it remains at some (fantastic) 0.21 Cx. The 401 l trunk is perhaps a bit short – the 45 l front one can alleviate the situation a little – but this sports sedan approach logically imposes certain sacrifices. Regarding the interior, the space and qualities are surprising here, but above all the physical controls stand out. Faced with the rise of “everything touch” of some firms, at Hyundai They rescue buttons, dials and other physical elements which among other things allow get a better grade in the Euro NCAP tests. And we, to be honest, are happy: no matter how attractive a touch screen is, we also think that in some cases it is a solution to a problem that did not exist. Buttons, buttons, buttons. We like buttons. The “interactive” steering wheel also has four Parametric Pixel LED elements that indicate the status of various vehicle systems, and on the dashboard we have dual 12.3-inch screens integrated into a single floating screen. Here we have, as in its predecessor, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support. We tested the first one for navigation with Google Maps during the route, and we verified that the quality and response of the panel was perfect during the trip. We were only able to test the BOSE sound system, but it certainly shows promise. Somewhat hidden behind the steering wheel, on the right side, is the gear lever. I was not very used to that position and I must admit that to avoid confusion I needed to check if I had positioned the gear appropriately. The problem is that to see the position of the steering wheel spokes they can cover that line of sight. It’s a minor detail and that check will probably be irrelevant once we get used to the vehicle, but at first it’s something that caught my attention. Between both front seats, the bridge-type center console dominates everything, where we find the window controls and elements such as the wireless charging surface that allows us to comfortably recharge our mobile phone while we travel. At the top we have a generous sunroof that we can open or close with just the push of a button. The Ioniq 6 has a dual-zone automatic climate control to adjust temperatures independently. The controls (this time yes) are centralized on a lower touch panel, under the dual screen. If wireless charging doesn’t suit us and we prefer cables, we will be well served. In addition to the USB-C sockets (one of them with a charging capacity of 100 W) and USB-A, we even have a conventional … Read more

A silent operation has compromised thousands of ASUS routers. Investigators target groups linked to China

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Few devices are as stable and discreet as the router. We barely think about them, we rarely review their configuration, and we rarely consider them part of the security debate. They are just there, connecting. This condition makes them ideal terrain for those seeking to go unnoticed. A recent investigation has revealed that ASUS routers are being used as part of a remote operating structure. They don’t cause problems, but they are no longer just an internet access point. According to SecurityScorecardthe signal reveals the existence of something more than a specific failure. The researchers observed that a significant volume of ASUS routers exhibited the same TLS certificatewith a validity of one hundred years, which does not fall within the usual parameters of this type of equipment. This coincidence made it possible to identify a structured campaign, called WrtHug, and conclude that the devices had been altered in a coordinated manner to remain connected and operational without alerting their owners. How WrtHug works. According to the analysis, the campaign is based on vulnerabilities present in ASUS routers and in the service AICloudwhich allows remote access to files and connected devices from outside the home network. By leveraging that channel, attackers can execute system-level commands and modify settings without requiring user intervention. The presence of the shared TLS certificate acts as a sign of this alteration and shows how the routers become part of an intermediary infrastructure, useful to hide the real origin of the activity. AiCloud is a function integrated into ASUS routers that allows you to access files stored on USB drives connected to the router or in shared folders on a computer from outside the home. It can be used from a browser or through a mobile application, making it easy to view documents, photos or videos without being physically on the local network. That legitimate remote connection capability, intended for convenience, also means that any alteration to the system has broader consequences if an external actor comes to control it. Which models are at risk. SecurityScorecard identifies several affected ASUS models, many of them old or end-of-life. Among those registered are: 4G-AC55U 4G-AC860U DSL-AC68U GT-AC5300 GT-AX11000 RT-AC1200HP RT-AC1300GPLUS RT-AC1300UHP Some are still used in homes, but others are installed in small offices or businesses that have never renewed the equipment. It should be noted that although ASUS has published security patches and the vulnerabilities are officially corrected, research indicates that the majority of compromised devices are EoL (end of life) or outdated models. This combination of lack of support and obsolete equipment multiplies the risk that the problem persists over time. Where the operation has been detected. The researchers observed that the compromised routers are concentrated in Asia-Pacific, with an especially high presence in Taiwan and other countries in the region such as South Korea, Japan and Hong Kong. Active devices were also registered in Russia, the United States and several Central European countries. A map with the concentration of infected devices | Image: A notable element of the report is that no cases were identified in mainland China, which analysts interpret as a contextual clue, although not proof of authorship. The geographical scope confirms that this is not a local phenomenon, but rather a distributed infrastructure. What researchers say about China. SecurityScorecard does not definitively attribute the campaign, but notes that the behavior observed on the routers coincides with tactics previously used by actors associated with China. Researchers speak of “low-moderate confidence” that WrtHug is an ORB facilitation campaign operated by a pro-China actor, that is, a network of compromised devices that act as intermediate nodes to conceal the real origin of future operations. Among the technical parallels, analysts highlight similarities with a campaign called AyySSHush and the use of vulnerability CVE-2023-39780. What to do if I have an ASUS router. Detecting if a device is compromised is not easy, because the changes introduced by WrtHug do not affect its operation. The first thing is to check if the model is among those that have stopped receiving support and install, if it exists, the latest version of firmware available from the ASUS website, following the recommendations of its security notices. As additional measures, it is advisable to disable remote services that are not used, such as AiCloud, review possible unauthorized access and consider replacing the equipment if it is already at the end of its life. WrtHug shows that home routers are no longer a neutral element. They are devices always on, connected and with sufficient capacity to sustain discrete operations without altering their operation. This combination makes them useful pieces within a digital dashboard that previously seemed reserved for more complex systems. Images | ASUS | SecurityScorecard In Xataka | Correos and the DGT are already widely seen, so the scammers have changed their objective: an app to pay for parking

For decades a silent boom has been taking hold in many regions of China: Christianity

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The recent history of Christianity in China is anything but simple. First for the Cultural Revolution and more recently, with Xi Jinping at the helm of the Communist Party, for repression against the unofficial churches. However, despite this troubled chronicle, experts tend to agree on something: in recent decades the Christian faith has expanded with force for the country. So much so that it already clearly dominates certain regions and there is who considers that in no time China will be “the largest Christian nation in the world.” How many Christians are there in China? The question is quite simple. Answer it, not so much. The China General Social Survey shows that between 2010 and 2018 the percentage of Chinese adults who identify as Christians (Catholic and Protestant) it was around 2%a percentage that can be found in essays about the matter. However, there is a quick search to find authors which differ significantly from that estimate, placing it at 3%, 7% or even 9% of the total population, which also includes children. In 2020 The Economist pointed that only Protestants make up 3% of the country’s population, although there are studies that suggest the real figure could be much higher if unregistered clandestine churches are taken into account. The reality is that it is not easy to have a precise figure. The reasons are multiple: the control of information by Beijing, the diversity of sources and methods in making calculations or even the “linguistic and conceptual differences between religion in East Asia and other regions”, such as warns Pew Research. How many believers are we talking about? The answer is again the same: it depends on the source. Although given the large size of China (1.4 billion inhabitants) even the most conservative calculations would leave a census of tens of millions. How many? Years ago, a Peking University study spoke of 40 millionWorld Population Review raises the estimate to 49.2 million and Visual Capitalist has even gone further, placing the figure close to 72 million. Is there more data? Yes. Other sources speak of some 20 million of adults, 60 million if the global population is taken into account, or even 100 million. Although its considerable disparitythe data lends itself to two clear readings. The first is the enormous weight of Protestants in the Chinese Christian community (some studies claim that represent 90% thanks to your great expansion). The second is that it is not necessary to resort to the most optimistic calculations to verify that China already surpasses (by far) the number of Christians in countries like Germany, France or Spain and would even be a handful of millions of believers in Italy if both Catholic and Protestant Christians are taken into account. How are they distributed throughout the country? A few years ago Reuters produced a map based on the studies of Professor Fenggang Yang, from Purdue University, which shows the dominant confession in the different regions of China. The plan reflects that Buddhism prevails in most of the southern and southwestern regions while other areas such as Xinjiang or Gansu are Muslim. Catholicism and especially Protestantism shine on the eastern flank. Even in Zhejiang areadespite the challenges that believers have encountered there. And what is the evolution? A quick Google search shows there are experts convinced that Christianity will continue to expand strongly in China and even place it among the countries in which the religion is experiencing greater growth, especially if we talk about Protestantism. In 2016 Professor Yang predicted that in 2030 the Asian giant will be “the largest Christian country in the world” despite its enormous Buddhist and Muslim population, among other confessions. “If we use an average annual growth rate of 7%, there will be more than 224 million Protestants in China by 2030,” the expert reflectedwho specifies that they would represent 16% of the population. “If we add Catholics, it would take even less time for China to become the largest Christian nation.” Does everyone have the same opinion? No, not everyone is so optimistic. In 2023 Pew Research published a study which suggests that, although Christianity expanded during the 80s and 90s (between 1982 and 1997 its faithful base went from six to 14 million), in recent years it has shown signs of “stabilizing.” As proof, they are based on official data that reflect that the percentage of Christian adults has barely changed between 2010 and 2018, without the pandemic having altered that picture. Still, Pew Research recognize that, in general, “survey-based estimates of China’s Christian population could be conservative,” as there are believers who choose not to reveal their faith “for fear of negative social or economic consequences,” especially if they belong to an unregistered church. Images | Gary Todd (Flickr) and Visual Capitalist (Pallavi Rao) In Xataka | China faces a bigger problem than the birth rate crisis: its young people are too busy to form couples

China has turned the train into its silent road to Europe. The last shipment marks a new milestone in its commercial strategy

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For years, a constant flow of trains starts from the same Chinese city, Xi’an, in the direction of Europe. The last one did it on Wednesday with 55 containers loaded with solar panels, destined for Baku. With him, the city has overcome the 30,000 trains outputs with European destination since 2013, According to Xinhua. The figure refers only to items from Xi’an, not counting the laps. The data impresses, but says even more if observed in context: China has been using the railroad as a strategic tool to approach the logistics heart of Europe. The image of a train loaded with merchandise based on northwestern China has been repeated thousands of times in just over a decade. This constant flow has made the aforementioned Asian city one of the great nodes of the China-Europe Railway Express. This logistics network exceeded in June the 110,000 accumulated services (round trip) as a whole, According to the Official Portal of the Chinese Government on June 10, 2025date on which the symbolic exit was held from Qingdao. Although it is not the only point of origin, it stands out for its regularity, the variety of routes that operates and the prominence it has won in the land transport strategy to Europe. An essential route. The train to Baku is part of the call Medium Corridor or Middle Corridora route that crosses Kazakhstan, borders the Caspian Sea and continues through Azerbaijan, Georgia and Türkiye before connecting with Europe. This alternative to the traditional railway axis via Russia He has won prominence in recent yearsespecially after geopolitical tensions in the region. Baku is not a final destination, but a strategic point of passage within this network: from there, many shipments continue by sea or rail to countries of the European Union. What moves with this transport. The train that departed this week from Xi’an transports 55 containers loaded with photovoltaic modules. It is not a rarity. In fact, products linked to solar energy are a usual part of the rail services that cross Eurasia by this route. China dominates the global market of solar panels, according to the International Energy Agency, with more than 80% of the manufacturing capacity at all stages. Although photovoltaic modules have become frequent, they are not the only thing that comes out of this Asian city. The rail services that start from Xi’an also transport electronic products, appliances, automotive parts, machinery, textiles, medical supplies and consumer goods. According to official data, China-Europe Railway Express moves more than 50,000 types of different products, organized in 53 categories. In March, for example, a convoy with European destination left from Xi’an loaded with cosmetics, automotive components and household needs. The advantages of the railroad. In front of maritime transport, the railroad offers clear advantages in certain sections. According to the EIASoffers less transit time, less port congestion and less exposure to geopolitical bottlenecks. The routes that cross Central Asia and the Caspian Sea allow to reduce in several days the journey between western China and Eastern Europe. In addition, this corridor has gained strategic weight since many companies are looking for alternatives to shipments via Russia. For Beijing, having a more flexible rail network is a way to shield its export capacity against changing scenarios. Images | Xinhua In Xataka | Huawei says that it has resolved a technological challenge that will trigger China’s competitiveness in the United States

Mercadona has been filled with gels and shampoos that mimic luxury products: the silent revolution of supermarkets

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A light texture cream and minimalist container that could go through a Sephora launch, a Bombonera type bag that Remember Loewe or Jacquemusand a colony whose aroma evokes Carolina Herrera or Issey Miyake perfumes. All this coexists, at reduced prices, in the same place where fried and softening potatoes are sold: the supermarket. Between clonations or inspirations – not to open the legal melon – you can find global cosmetics and perfumery trends, including Korean skincareas well as viral accessories in a daily and massive context. A phenomenon that arouses passions on social networks and that, in Spain, has Mercadona as one of its main protagonists. Imitation as a strategy. According to Business InsiderMercadona, through its own Deliplus brand, accurately mimics makeup products and personal care of firms such as Mac, Benefit, L’Oréal or Urban Decay, with containers and textures that remind the original but at prices that rarely exceed six euros. Among the best known examples are the Maxi Volume mask (inspired by L’Oréal), the silicone base similar to Benefit or Illuminator and Coloretes that refer directly to The Balm and Nars. The formula works thanks to the massive distribution and indirect marketing that generate users and influencers by viralizing findings such as bath gel with amber and vetiver for 1.50 euros, described by the confidential as “a gel that smells of gods” and compared to high -end perfumes. In Xataka A feeling is growing in Europe and Canada: Boicote "National" The hole that leaves inaccessible luxury. This “corridor luxury” blooms at a time when traditional luxury has become more expensive until its clientele concentrated in the richest 1%. According to the avant -gardethe average price of luxury products has risen 25% since 2019, displacing the aspirational consumer that previously saved to buy a perfume or accessory. Today, more than 40% of the sales of many brands come from that 1% of greater purchasing power. The consequence of all this is a market hole that fill legal imitations, inspired products and, in the illegal field, falsifications. According to the countrydigital copies trade has exploded with apps and channels in Telegram, where young people buy and exhibit replicas without complexes. 54% of the B buyers see with good eyes that others carry falsifications, and 37% admit that it carries or carry them. In this panorama, legal clones such as those of Mercadona are positioned as an “safe” alternative, although they are part of the same conversation about value, authenticity and saturation. The origin of luxury by hand. The mixture of luxury references and daily consumption is not new, but in the last decade it has been normalized and even turned into a statement of style. The figure of the “luxury choni” – who combines gold logos with basic garments and low cost makeup – has permeated in artists such as Bad Gyal, capable of dressing in Versace and Use Mercadona Profiler. Also Rosalia, in its beginnings, sang in Aute Cuture: “In the Palace and in the Chinese”, encapsulating the coexistence of two consumption universes in the same aesthetic identity. This symbolic cross has found fertile ground in cosmetics, where the price does not always determine social recognition. An effective clone can grant the same symbolic capital as a luxury product, especially when social networks amplify the finding. The era of “dupe”. In networks like Tiktok, the term Dupe It has become a generational flag. Vogue Business has documented How gene generation has stopped hiding that uses imitations: finding and showing them is a source of pride. Brands such as Mcobeauty in Australia have grown thanks to this movement, while firms like Charlotte Tilbury have launched campaigns to claim their “original formula” and differentiate themselves from copies. In other markets, the line between inspiration and copy has been tested in court. According to Vogue BusinessBenefit’s demand against Elf Cosmetics for a mask similar to his Roller Lash failed: justice considered that packaging and components differ enough not to confuse the consumer. On the other hand, Mercadona does not fight on that forehead: its strategy is to identify and produce quickly, benefiting that in Spain, as in many markets, copying formulas or aesthetics without violating patents is perfectly legal. Beyond beauty: edible luxury. This phenomenon is not limited to cosmetics. According to Delishgeneration Z is moving aspirational consumption to food. In the United States, chains like Erewhon sell $ 20 with superfood and collaborations of Celebritieswhich are both a well -being product and a content for social networks. Logic is similar: to make daily consumption (makeup, breakfast, hydrate) into an act of visible and replicable status. Luxury is no longer alone in marble boutiques: it is in the glass Take Awayin the design bottle of design and, in Spain, in the supermarket perfume line. The debate: democratize or dilute. He Dupe It can be understood as democratization: put aesthetic and sensory codes available to a few people. But it can also dilute the value of the original and its promise of exclusivity. Marc Chaya, CEO of Maison Francis Kurkdjian, warned in Vogue Business: “Duping is a serious matter … some serve to remind brands that cannot abuse the price, but others flood the market without providing utility or purpose.” For the consumer, the dilemma is different: pay for history and prestige or for the effect and similarity. For brands, the question is how to maintain relevance when desire is satisfied with cheaper alternatives. {“videoid”: “x85k87i”, “autoplay”: fals, “title”: “Black Friday: how to know if an online store is reliable ️ Buy with internet security”, “Tag”: “”, “Duration”: “562”} Cart as a global showcase. It is not about replacing the traditional luxury experience, but about appropriating its symbols in times of inflation, precariousness and digitalized consumption. The “hall luxury” is a symptom of an era where the barriers between high range and mass consumption are increasingly diffuse. And there, in that hall where glamor coexists with the softener, a new chapter is being written in the history of consumption: one where a … Read more

Lorazepam’s silent epidemic

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Every night the gesture repeats: Slide the drawer, take the pill, let it dissolve slowly under the tongue. It is not an exception, but a generalized tendency that has made anxiolytics in part of the daily medicineness of many people in Spain. A custom that reflects more than an insomnia epidemic: an entire society that drags emotional discomfort without sufficient tools to manage it. A booming consumption. Names such as Lorazepam, Alprazolam or Diazepam have ceased to belong exclusively to medical language. Today they are part of the usual vocabulary, a reflection of an increasingly widespread reality: the generalized use of anxiolytics to manage stress, insomnia or daily anxiety. According to data from General Council of Psychology of Spain and the Organization of consumers and users (OCU)more than 42% of the population has consumed benzodiazepines in the last five years. While, 59% of young people between 25 and 29 years have taken anxiolytics in recent years. It is not a generational exception: it is a normalization of discomfort with recipe. There is always a base diagnosis. Sometimes, the pill comes to calm a timely discomfort, a difficult night, one day that overflows. Without therapy. Without real follow -up. Only the quick recipe, without time or resources for something else. Dr. Luis Gimeno Feliu, family doctor at the San Pablo Health Center (Zaragoza), Explain in an interview with El Heraldo that “there is a great rush in primary care for the lack of personnel. That leads the patient to the easy resource. The problem is that benzodiazepines create dependence quickly. The ideal is to use them shortly and occasionally, but in Spain they are consumed indiscriminately.” A blow of reality. The continued use of these substances entails real risks. According to the same OCU survey, 65% of consumers have been taking them for more than six months and almost 40% recognize that they would like to leave them. The problem, as indicated in the report, is that many patients do not have adequate psychological accompaniment or real therapeutic alternatives in the public health system. The easy recipe. In this context, we have talked with the clinical psychologist Alejandra by Pedro González Who identifies multiple causes that explain this trend: work stress, precariousness, housing crisis, constant hyperconnectivity and sequelae of confinement have generated a social scenario that favors discomfort. “The health system often responds with a quick recipe. Psychotherapy is more expensive and less accessible, so the anxiolytic becomes the simplest option, even if it is not the most appropriate,” he warns. The demand for psychological care has increased, but the public system cannot absorb it. “The most immediate and cheapest solution for many primary care doctors is to prescribe a drug. Not because they want, but because there are not enough means to offer quality psychotherapy from the first level welfare,” he explains. An anxious generation. For De Pedro, it is not exaggerated to talk about an “anxious generation.” Current society – he explains – encourages immediacy, extreme self -examination and poor tolerance to discomfort. “We are seeing young people with very little capacity to manage frustration, who feel overwhelmed by daily demands and that pathologize symptoms that are completely normal,” he says. Clinical psychologist Fernando Azor, In statements collected by El Confidencialreinforces this idea: “The problem is that many people have not learned to tolerate the physical sensations of anxiety. Taking a pill relieves, but reinforces the idea that these sensations are unacceptable.” To this is added the overinformation through the Internet and social networks. “Many patients come to consultation with a self -diagnosis under the arm and expectations of instant solutions. They are frustrated when something does not work quickly. They live with the alert pilot always on and look for a pill that turns off the alarm,” says De Pedro. The social face of the problem. The report Posted by Infocop (General Council of Psychology of Spain) adds a structural dimension to the phenomenon: the consumption of anxiolytic is triggered between women, older people, unemployed or with lower income. Women consume between 1.5 and 3 times more anxiolytics than men, and 19% of them have at least one package at home. In addition, 13.8% of women have anxiety disorders compared to 7.4% of men. The pattern is clear: the greater the social vulnerability, the greater the consumption of psychopharmaceuticals. Dr. Gimeno, From El Heraldohe insists: “Many consumption of anxiolytics are a consequence of social problems. They should be treated with social responses, not only pharmacological, not even psychotherapeutics.” More awareness, but also more confusion. Although the visibility of mental health has increased largely thanks to social media and networks. Mally digested self -help, misinformation and the tendency to convert any emotional discomfort into a medical pathology concern professionals. “We see people who come to consultation with poorly applied techniques, unrealistic expectations and accumulated frustration,” says Pedro. The health model, in addition, remains focused on reducing symptoms, not on the approach to the origin of suffering. “We do not have a system that helps people understand what is behind their anxiety. Quick solutions are sought, but discomfort is still there,” he adds. The stigma is still present. Despite progress in public consciousness, stigma still exists. “Some patients are ashamed to say that they take pills; others, to admit that they go to the psychologist. It depends a lot on the environment and generation,” says the psychologist consulted. What seems clear is that emotional suffering is more present than ever, and that the answer cannot remain only pharmacological. Solution or patch? The debate is still open. For many patients, the anxiolytic has been a lifeguard. But the risk is to become a silent routine. “If there is no therapeutic work in the background, the problems will return. Because the medication does not change your thoughts, or your links, or your lifestyle,” Alejandra de Pedro concludes. While consumer figures continue to increase, mental health psychologists and professionals coincide in a common message: soling the symptoms is not enough. If it … Read more

Sweden is investing millions of euros in a silent war. The enemy to beat: an epidemic of solitude

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Sweden has declared a war, one that seems to worry especially to its authorities, which has been speaking for years and in which it is willing to invest millions and millions of euros. The enemy to beat? The loneliness. It makes all the meaning if you take into account that A sensitive part of its inhabitants suffers unwanted isolation, especially between the younger and older layers of society, and there are who considers To Sweden the loneliest country in the world. After all, loneliness is a “Public Health Problem” And something else: complicates the efforts of the authorities for Strengthen your defense civil. The loneliness numbers. It is not the same to live alone than feeling alone. Just as not all societies face loneliness in the same way. Throughout the last years, however, different agencies have published studies that give us an idea of ​​the scope of both phenomena in EU countries, including Sweden, a nation that has declared war to unwanted isolation. In 2017 Eurostat published A study which shows that more than half (52%) of Sweden households are formed by a single person, the highest percentage of all EU countries and significantly above the community average, which is around 33%. If what we are talking about is a population, statista calculates that 26% Of the Swedes live without any company, data that only exceeds Finland (32%). Do you feel alone? The thing changes slightly if we talk about loneliness, unwanted isolation. The percentages can dance based on the source and the approach, but confirm that the sensation is present in Swedish society. CE surveys show that most or all the time feel alone in the country Between 16 and 17% of the people, while The data of 2024 of the public health agency reflect that 13% of the population claims to have that feeling “occasionally” and 6% invades “often or constantly.” “Almost two million Swedes over 16 suffer isolation. 26% of children from 3rd to 6th year say they feel alone in school. One in three young adults experiences loneliness and isolation, as well as 40% of women and almost 30% of men over 85 years old,” needed The Government in 2023. “A health problem”. Sweden is not the only one country that deal with loneliness, but there the data is consistent enough for its government to have declared that involuntary isolation is “A public health problem” And want to stand up. “It is a growing problem and the elderly experience it more frequently,” warns The Minister of Social Security, Anna Tenje. On the table the executive has reports that show that the isolation affects above all to certain groupsas elderly, young people or unemployed people. A fact: 27 million a year. Convinced of the challenge that supposes, in Stockholm they have decided to move from words to the facts. In 2023 the government activated A triennial plan (2023-2025) that is around 300 million of annual Swedish crowns (around 27 million of euros) to support initiatives that “fight and prevent” isolation. In February the Public Health Agency even presented A strategy “Against loneliness and favor of the community.” And what are you doing? Your strategy touches several sticks. The government a few months ago advertisement For example, the distribution of 49 million Swedish crowns (4.4 million euros) between organizations that work precisely to reduce loneliness. It is not the first initiative in that line. Over the last years he has allocated funds to campaigns Health -centered, promote The socialization of the elderly, their stake in sports activities or The study of the phenomenon and its approach from different areas, such as The business either The educational. “Taking care of friends”. For now, Sweden has received recognition from WHO, which He has cited it as an example for initiatives deployed in the country. A few days ago the newspaper I monde He dedicated a report to a specific one: “Vanvard” (“Taking care of friends”), which is taking pharmacies employees to dedicate part of their day to fight loneliness. At the end of 2023 the Ministry of Social Affairs also promoted the creation of A business network With about twenty companies that work with the same purpose: to end marginalization. Defense earrings. I monde Slide Another key idea: loneliness is not only “a public health problem”, it also implies an obstacle in a country that He is strengthening your civil defense system, as well as Other nations Nordic. That effort collides with a complex reality: isolation. More than half Of the Swedes they barely know their neighbors. With that backdrop, last year the Swedish Civil Contingency Agency promoted a campaign with A slogan That speaks for itself: “When we know each other, it is easier to help us.” Images | Magnus Östberg (UNSPLASH), Eurostat and EC In Xataka | Loneliness is already a matter of public health. We have more and more evidence that animals help us to placate it

The strokes have become a huge silent health problem in Spain. And there are ways to limit risks

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Every year 90,000 cases of strokes are produced in Spain that leave 23,000 deaths on average, According to the data of the Spanish Society of Neurology. This number could be significantly reduced, after all, many of the Risk factors which are associated with this type of event correspond to behaviors and habits that we can modify. Before reviewing what the risk factors are controllable or not, associated with the stroke, maybe it is appropriate to consider us What exactly is an stroke. The stroke or stroke (stroke) occurs when the blood flow that reaches a part of the brain is interrupted or drastically reduced. There are two types of accidents: ischemic and hemorrhagic. The former are the most common, are produced by the blockade of one of some circulatory route, for example by a clot or its narrowing as a result of fatty deposits. Hemorrhagic strokes for their part are produced by the breakage of a blood vessel. There is no exact list of risk factors that are related to these episodes since there are numerous overwhelms and interconnections Among these factors. Nor can we make an accurate distinction between the factors that we can control and those that do not. A clear example is that of diabetes. This disease is a risk factor in the appearance of ICUTS. Suffering or not this disease is not under our control, but we can avoid factors that in turn are linked to it. Despite the difficulties when delimiting these concepts, experts estimate that controllable risk factors are associated with 60% and 90% of the risk of suffering a stroke. That is, avoiding these factors we can reduce very significantly the risk that this type of event will be triggered in our brain. And what are the risk factors on which we have the greatest control? According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute From the United States, controllable risk factors include blood pressure, obesity, physical inactivity, poor diet and tobacco. According to the American medical institution Johns Hopkins Medicinea blood pressure of 140/90 or higher is a factor that can condition our probability of suffering such an accident. Obesity, food and physical inactivity They are clearly interconnected risk factors. Smoking is one of the Risk factors More widely mentioned, but alcohol and some recreational drugs such as intravenous or cocaine are also related to an increase in the risk of suffering from an stroke. Some legal substances such as the contraceptive pill have also been related to an increased risk of stroke. With anxiety, depression and stress, something similar occurs than with other diseases: we have a certain degree of control, but this can be very limited depending on the circumstances of each person. Something similar happens with the environment in which we live: although residing or working in contaminated areas can aggravate our risk of suffering from an stroke, changing work or residence is often not in our hand. What we cannot change Some of the risk factors that we associate with the stroke totally escape from our control. Maybe age is the most important: Age. As we become greater the possibilities of suffering a stroke are increasing. Sex is another factor linked to the appearance of this disease and in a unique way: it is fine at an early age men suffer from these accidents more frequently, the greatest life expectancy of women means that throughout life these suffer more such problems. Different ethnic backgrounds can lead to different levels of risk: in the United States African -American, native and Hispanic people have a higher risk of suffering a stroke. Finally, Genetics And family history can also be considered risk factors, especially in cases where a family member has experienced one of these events at earlier ages. In addition to the risk factors, it is worth remembering what are the main symptoms that accompany these events in order to better identify an stroke and improve the chances that whoever suffers it receives medical assistance on time. There are a few key factors that can help us Identify an stroke quicklybut there is also a challenge of symptoms that can also be associated with strokes. Among the Key symptoms There are the loss of strength or sensitivity in the face, arm or leg, which usually swams to a single side of the body; Confusion in speech, for example in the use of unconnected words; sudden loss of vision; dizziness, loss of balance or the appearance of a severe headache without a clear origin. In Xataka | We have a new and promising treatment against the consequences of stroke (and has been created in Spain) Image | Anna Shvets

A productivity guru went to visit Disneyland. And there he found the secrets of silent productivity

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Recently, Cal Newport was in Disneyland. Newport is one of the great productivity gurus, and its most widespread thesis is that of Power of the concentration of the deep. His analytical eye allowed him, tail comes, get some interesting lessons about productivity even in the middle of a theme park. First, it describes the experience of attractions as “hyperreality”: worlds that are impressive and artificial at the same time, designed to offer a purified and safe version of the real adventure. Disney has perfected that creation of artificial experiences, and also productivity through the design of systems that eliminate cognitive friction. Something of what We already talked in the past. Every detail of the park is designed so that the visitor does not have to make too many decisions and can concentrate their mental energy on enjoying. Some examples: The posters are placed just where they are needed. The queues serpente so that it is more difficult to estimate their real length. Employees anticipate the questions that visitors usually ask. The show schedules are designed to distribute crowds without noticing manipulation. Even garbage containers are strategically located so you never have to load with remains. It is a great accumulated example of the philosophy of Do not understand productivity how to do more thingsbut to eliminate everything that does not matter to do well what does matter. And something deeper: Newport connects this experience comparing it to what happens when we use our mobile. Instagram, X or Tiktok offer us diluted versions of real experiences: The morbidity of traveling without traveling. Outrage without consequences. Entertainment effortlessly. Pirates of the Caribbean in 6 inches. The difference is that Disney designs for our well -being as a visitor (and potentially so that we want to return or so that we have easier to spend there). Social networks design for our addiction as a product. Disney wants you to go happy after a couple of days, social networks want you to never leave. And that is the lesson that we can apply: in the same way that Disney designs experiences that minimize the cognitive burden of its visitor, We can design our days to minimize trivial decisions. Automate the routine, systematize the repetitive, eliminate what it distracts. The mantra of creating an environment where we can concentrate on what generates value, and not simply work more hours. In Xataka | 99 Undecuted Tips on Productivity Outstanding image | Xiaozhen bread in Unspash

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