tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78078796856078161032024-03-06T01:33:27.410+08:00Focus on Health We all need to Focus on Health and liberate Medicine to Focus on Disease.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01660583782109558264noreply@blogger.comBlogger243125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7807879685607816103.post-12900509277742256072016-09-28T08:13:00.000+08:002016-09-28T08:13:31.764+08:00Covering up on the beach<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj3Q_MUBX6M9Uxa_W-BZui87m_5au-buKpiCqObUWq6biAhLdhdiDZe9aV3Y2xOGs97lL1MwrXP2B2qdiPJ_qs9nc9hd7FRnkbeg2i2mlG2GvFGpHGVcBxXJzr4QqXPH3w3e-fdUqfi-Y/s400/566.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj3Q_MUBX6M9Uxa_W-BZui87m_5au-buKpiCqObUWq6biAhLdhdiDZe9aV3Y2xOGs97lL1MwrXP2B2qdiPJ_qs9nc9hd7FRnkbeg2i2mlG2GvFGpHGVcBxXJzr4QqXPH3w3e-fdUqfi-Y/s400/566.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I was recently reminded of a media story concerning a young Australian woman who flew half way around the world to sit on a French beach wearing her Burka. The recollection happened whilst I was walking past Bondi Beach in Sydney where there was not a Burka in sight!<br />
<br />
<br />
Aside from the reason for her international actions - which I am neither privy to or in a position to pass judgment on - I do admire her for "Covering Up" under the blue skies of a Mediterranean beach. I would however, challenge her choice of colour, black not being my first choice for a covering. In fact I suspect that she must have been gently simmering under the French sunshine. But if you go back several decades when Roman Catholic Nuns had no choice but to wear similar gear whilst administering to souls throughout the Australian outback. Not that wearing black was a health risk per se, just hellishly hot! Those Catholic Sisters actually succumbed to a more insidious killer that still remains a deadly scourge in many parts of the world - Typhoid!<br />
<br />
<br />
But I digress!<br />
<br />
<br />
Summer is almost upon us here in the southern hemisphere and we do need to re-visit the annual alarm over the devastation power of sunshine - not only in the form of Global Warming - but also upon our human skin!<br />
<br />
<br />
Even if you have the "best" skin in the world when you're young, believe me, it will get old and you won't appreciate what the sun did to it in those earlier decades. <b><i>THE SUN IS INCREDIBLY POWERFUL</i></b>. It's the equivalent of thousands of Thermo-Nuclear reactions occurring every minute which are pumping out radiation that will destroy anything that falls into it's gravitational field of influence. Thankfully the Earth is in the Goldilocks position - not too close to fry to a cinder, and not too distant to freeze into an ice-block.<br />
<br />
<br />
But just because the Earth "got lucky", doesn't mean that rubbing sun screen on your skin will protect you 100% against the sun's rays. It's like believing that airbags will save you in a high speed accident. They might reduce the harm, but 100%????<br />
<br />
<br />
Avoiding direct exposure to the suns rays when they are most powerful is the best option. Don't expose yourself to the sun for more than a few minutes at a time between the hours of 10am and 4pm. If you do then make sure you're fully covered up with appropriate clothing (preferably not black), use high protection sunblock on any exposed areas, wear a broad rimmed hat and UV protection sunglasses.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://sunprotection.com.au/wp-content/uploads/Straddie-Trip-June-071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://sunprotection.com.au/wp-content/uploads/Straddie-Trip-June-071.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01660583782109558264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7807879685607816103.post-15479130999003470272016-09-03T15:15:00.001+08:002016-09-03T15:15:29.042+08:00What's white and makes your face itch? Answer: Dandruff.I've been working out at a rural GP practice about 110km (about 70 miles) east of Perth here in W Australia. It's a great time of year to visit the country as the crops are coming up and the countryside looks FANTASTIC. Most people are saying that it's the best start to the farming season for 50 years. But not the farmers themselves - all they say is "have you seen the price of wheat? Gorn through the floor mate!" But then, have you ever met a farmer who's truly satisfied with farming .... until the money is in the bank!<br />
Country folk are a great bunch of people, but they suffer the same problems as most other communities and they suffer the same kind of tragedies too.<br />
One patient came in to see me and I immediately thought to myself that <i>I've seen that face before</i>!<br />
In fact I'd never seen the person before in my life. What I had recognized were the obvious signs of Seborrhoeic Dermatitis. This presents as a classical flakey, itchy, red rash in the Naso-Labial folds of the face, in the eyebrows and often in the ears and on the chin too. (see my diagram below)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9w3fM8N-uLs/V8p2sMbAEwI/AAAAAAAABss/ckf4yO75LeM1rkuhRkbmUAnNl37XIY8uACPcB/s1600/3e97ef8e-caf4-47f6-8a75-fb850751f221" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9w3fM8N-uLs/V8p2sMbAEwI/AAAAAAAABss/ckf4yO75LeM1rkuhRkbmUAnNl37XIY8uACPcB/s320/3e97ef8e-caf4-47f6-8a75-fb850751f221" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The cause? A fungal infection of the scalp that we often call DANDRUFF!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
By using an appropriate shampoo, not only do you clear up the fungal infection but you cure the rash on your face too!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Talk to your GP about it: they'll know what to prescribe.</div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01660583782109558264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7807879685607816103.post-34542218571566109802016-08-14T15:04:00.001+08:002016-08-14T15:04:05.421+08:00Hygiene for the outer ear<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://userscontent2.emaze.com/images/6ee0bfbb-f30f-4f58-ba66-af28baf96668/4e8da20493189d41a43395c0b2f2e510.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://userscontent2.emaze.com/images/6ee0bfbb-f30f-4f58-ba66-af28baf96668/4e8da20493189d41a43395c0b2f2e510.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Small children and infants are often aware of their ears when they get a head cold and end up with an earache.<br />
<br />
Many air travellers become aware of their ears as the aeroplanes gain altitude, or descend from cruising altitude when the cabin air-pressure changes and eardrums begin to "pop".<br />
<br />
But most of us go through life never thinking about our ears until we begin to lose our hearing!<br />
<br />
From the diagram above there are two main areas of the hearing apparatus (classically we talk about three, but who's going to be<i> picky</i>) The two areas are:<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>From the Pinna where many people hook their glasses onto, to as far as the ear drum.</li>
<li>From the Ear drum to the inner end of the Eustacian Tube which open into the back of the nose.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
Today I'm just concerned about the hygiene of the <b><i>outer part of the ear</i></b> from the ear drum out. For some reason, people like to stick things in their ears, most notorious of all are cotton buds. Many's the GP and ENT specialist who's had to retrieve the end of the bud when it comes unstuck with the external ear canal. Hair grips are another villain of the peace. These metal instruments can end up scratching the lining of the canal and allowing bacteria to get to places where they shouldn't get.<br />
<br />
Why do people stick things in their external canals? Mainly to relieve an itch they find difficult to scratch. Many of such people also have dandruff of other eczema like conditions. For those people I suggest a trip to the local pharmacy to buy a mild Cortisone based cream. By wiping some of this with a finger tip into the external canal you can relieve the itch/scratch cycle and then there's no need for anything else. If itching persists then visit your Doc to get some appropriate ear drops.<br />
<br />
Another reason people use cotton buds is to dry their ears! For these patients I recommend using a <b><a href="http://www.healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au/uploads/ear-presentation/slide17.html" target="_blank">Tissue Spear</a></b> to gently dry the external canal. These can easily be made by twisting the corner of a piece of tissue or toilet paper and making it into a pears shape. That can then safely, and gently, be pushed into the canal and help dry the contents. If you want a bit of extra "oomph" then use a hair dryer (on low power) held about half a meter away from your ear. (Make sure it's not on HOT as that can prove to be extremely uncomfortable).<br />
<br />
But prevention is better than cure so if you don't want to get water in your ear when showering etc, then use a plug of Blue-Tack - it's works like a dream!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01660583782109558264noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7807879685607816103.post-20756957834822020122016-03-29T13:25:00.001+08:002016-04-07T16:44:47.129+08:00Aussie Spiders - Reputation is worse than their bite!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/2/x/w/1/0/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.2xvt5.png/1386045272103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/2/x/w/1/0/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.2xvt5.png/1386045272103.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Red Back Spider</b> - Courtesy Sydney Morning Herald</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
My next door neighbour was telling me the other day that she'd been bitten by an insect on her foot. Apparently it "blew up" immediately and her Doc told her that she had developed cellulitis and started her on antibiotics.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
A few thoughts stirred in my ageing brain, but I quickly moved on from the<i style="font-weight: bold;"> inappropriate prescription of antibiotics</i>, to musing on insect and spider bites in this Great Southern Land called Australia. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
When the young bride and I first arrived down under we were regaled with stories of the most venomous snakes in the world, spiders the size of smartie with enough toxic venom in them to kill a horse - and all of these creatures are to be found in your backyard or under the toiler seat!! I also vividly remember a certain visiting Bishop develop a visible blood lust when called upon to deal with a large Tarantula which was holding court in our bathroom. The poor creature was drowned in Mortein by our Special Forces Prelate! I later learned to love those large, hairy arachnids who love nothing more than to dine on mosquitoes. Those buzzing, pesky insects, which can make an evening barbecue a living nightmare, are much more of a health risk than any spider is - just think Ross River Virus, Dengue fever ... even Malaria.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
As far as spiders go Australia does have an impressive array of them and it's worth remembering that all spiders kill their victims (mainly insects) with a venom. But we shouldn't fear them as much as we do - apart from perhaps a couple of well known villains. Compared to we humans, even the most "dangerous" spider must be seen as veritable pussy cats!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Top of the list of "good idea to avoid" spiders is the<b> Funnel Web.</b></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://d3lp4xedbqa8a5.cloudfront.net/s3/digital-cougar-assets/AusGeo/2015/08/13/58427/funnel-web-spider-red-fang.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://d3lp4xedbqa8a5.cloudfront.net/s3/digital-cougar-assets/AusGeo/2015/08/13/58427/funnel-web-spider-red-fang.jpg" height="299" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy Australian Geographic</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This is an aggressive little critter and if you think you've been bitten by one of these then you should pop along to your local hospital for prompt attention. The Neuro-Toxin they produce can have some very unpleasant side effects. The good news is that there is an anti-venom and secondly, no one has died from a Funnel web spider bite since modern first aid was introduced. In fact in the history of New South Wales only 13 deaths have been recorded.<br />
<br />
One other spider you shouldn't poke a stick at is the <b>Red Backed Spide</b>r - photo at top of the page. These lovely creatures live in a tangled we, are easy to spot and just enjoy eating other insects. Even the male of the species can be devoured by his mate in the course of mating (who said life is easy for we men?)<br />
They certainly carry a huge punch but rarely leave their tangled fortress.<br />
<br />
Problems occur when people/kids try to catch them, try to pick them up or think they are dead in the skimmer box of swimming pools. You will know if they've bitten you as the bite is very painful. Apply some ice, pop the offending insect into a bottle and head off to the local Hospital for the anti-venom. No one has died from a Red Back bite since the anti-venom has been available.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Here's a spider that has a lousy reputation for no reason at all! </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://museumvictoria.com.au/pages/1808/image001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://museumvictoria.com.au/pages/1808/image001.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy Museum of Victoria</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This is the <b>White Tail Spider</b>. It has a reputation of causing nasty flesh eating ulcers - but thankfully, the poor arachnid is seemingly innocent. In a study of 100 cases of identified white tail spider bites, not one of the patients suffered any loss of flesh!! Why devour a human when there are a billion flies to eat locally!<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Just to put things in perspective</b>:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
On average:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><b>Two</b> people die from snake bites each year</li>
<li><b>Three </b>people die from shark attacks each year.</li>
<li><b>Ten</b> people die from Bee Stings each year.</li>
<li>Between <b>80 and 100 </b>women die each year as a result of domestic violence</li>
<li><b>1153</b> people died on the roads in 2014</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>There have been no deaths from spider bites since 1979</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>and there are far more spiders than humans out there!</i></div>
<div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01660583782109558264noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7807879685607816103.post-5824165095675002412016-03-19T10:17:00.002+08:002016-03-19T10:17:17.050+08:00Buying time with CPR - you CAN save lives!I've just attended a 2 day workshop on Advanced Life Support and Advanced Trauma Life Support run by Western Australia's Rural Health Organization. Believe me, it was intense and hugely informative. I don't think I've pumped out that much adrenaline role-playing emergency scenarios in a long, long time! I came away with a greater confidence that even as a GP with nearly four decades of experience that I can do more to help the people I care for in emergency situations.<br />
<br />
But there is something that everyone can do that can help save lives - <b>CPR</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_qIX32beXKKwH5mWMgsCcGi2ANkFk-lR1mqrRr-THeR24Pq9TkFNUD4K1tp4M1Hj-TwXE1aiXoWe5ru6x25rd5cB1xFpmD7tjfAQT8-yzUDbGb8_rOT05jyYZXsUxcqJ_a-VeQGio3bmF/s1600/Chain+of+survival.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_qIX32beXKKwH5mWMgsCcGi2ANkFk-lR1mqrRr-THeR24Pq9TkFNUD4K1tp4M1Hj-TwXE1aiXoWe5ru6x25rd5cB1xFpmD7tjfAQT8-yzUDbGb8_rOT05jyYZXsUxcqJ_a-VeQGio3bmF/s320/Chain+of+survival.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Effective CPR buys time! Crucial time that allows an ambulance, or someone with a Defibrillator (and all airports, large urban shopping centres, gymnasiums etc now have them readily available) to arrive<b>.</b> Getting a Defibrillator onto a collapsed person who's not breathing - <b>AS SOON AS POSSIBLE -</b> provides that person with the maximum chance of survival.<br />
<br />
Remember: maintaining circulation with <b>CPR </b>is the only tool we have when someone collapses outside of a hospital environment. And the big difference to survival is a <b><span style="color: red;">DEFIBRILLATOR</span></b>.<br />
<br />
All Defibrillators are really smart machines: all you have to do is place the pads on the patients chest and switch the machine on. It will diagnose what's going and tell you exactly what to do.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMLtiyAbEQo5TmbunM7ptRGkc2GvXBTk_0hGEFwCEVCf-y5PH6MWwMY71epd2MZWH9Kk_PK-Jwh53JEkER2Wz_00b2ggigvc_tLGZcT-GSeqb_-gnOHUas0bneBLolqUYvmK7kz3S3JwgW/s1600/Defib+pads.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMLtiyAbEQo5TmbunM7ptRGkc2GvXBTk_0hGEFwCEVCf-y5PH6MWwMY71epd2MZWH9Kk_PK-Jwh53JEkER2Wz_00b2ggigvc_tLGZcT-GSeqb_-gnOHUas0bneBLolqUYvmK7kz3S3JwgW/s1600/Defib+pads.jpeg" /></a></div>
<br />
So the message is simple:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Learn effective CPR to buy <b>TIME</b></li>
<li>In the DRSABC algorithm you will learn, probably the most important thing to do is <b><span style="color: red;">SEND FOR HELP</span></b> which in real life is to say:</li>
</ol>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="color: red;">"Call for an Ambulance and see if there's a Defibrillator in this place"</span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><i><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i> You can make a difference. Effective CPR buys time, but a Defibrillator saves lives.</i></b></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01660583782109558264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7807879685607816103.post-89996818251329381322016-02-02T11:43:00.000+08:002016-02-02T11:43:04.139+08:00Is there such a thing as Safe Sex?<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRf2EeEa9gUPSTxd8xr9B8ARBUtEMhvcIjFF8fItTXyl5UOAX7bUw" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRf2EeEa9gUPSTxd8xr9B8ARBUtEMhvcIjFF8fItTXyl5UOAX7bUw" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRf2EeEa9gUPSTxd8xr9B8ARBUtEMhvcIjFF8fItTXyl5UOAX7bUw" target="_blank">Cunning little critters</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
"It's been going on since Adam was a Lad" my dear old Mum used to say - sex that is! Talk to any (well nearly any) hormonally charged young man or woman and they'd probably say it's the best thing on the planet. That was until mobile phones and virtual reality spoiled it all! For us of a more measured generation who are still used to answering/not answering land-lines, it's still way up there as one of the best experiences life has to offer.<br />
The trouble with sex is, well, it really is <i><b>THAT</b></i> good and as a result advertising promotes the idea that the more you get the better it must be. Just think of all those boozey beer adds with beautiful young people eyeing each other off. They certainly don't look like they're heading to the library to study together. And I needn't mention those erotic adverts for what appears to be a jeweled ribbon appearing out of a model's buttocks and sold for a fortune as a 'thong' or 'G'string.<br />
Selling bulk sex reminds me of why Vitamin supplements appear to be so popular. The promoters of such supplements appear to work on the idea that if a little is great to keep the human body healthy, then a Mega-Dose will be even better! Sadly, neither appears to be the case.<br />
But back to sex. If it's so good then what could be wrong with it?<br />
Call me old fashioned, but from my reading of the literature over the decades it seems to me that the safest/best sex is had in monogamous relationships and not by spreading it around with every consenting adult you can find. Why?<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Because sex can be a real health risk!</i></b></div>
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Chlamydia - can make females sterile by irreversibly damaging their 'tubes'.</li>
<li>Syphilis - an ancient scourge that can even kill or send you mad!</li>
<li>Gonorrhea - another ancient scourge making a big comeback</li>
<li>Herpes - as one wit said "Not only love lasts forever - Herpes does too!"</li>
<li>Hepatitis B - can develop into a potentially life threatening disease.</li>
<li>Genital warts - now linked to the development of Cervical cancer and the target of a new vaccination program for young people</li>
<li>HIV - a sexually transmitted disease that has spread globally and still defies any cure</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
Then of course we must consider what coitus is also about - as well as all those nice fuzzy bits - the making of babies ... AKA conception.<br />
<br />
<b>If a male has vaginal sex with a woman there is always the potential for conception. Period</b> (no pun intended)<br />
<br />
This has been brought home to me in the last two weeks when I've seen one woman conceive who was on the pill and another who conceived who'd had her "tubes tied" 3 years previously! Believe me, those spermatozoa are devious little critters who will always find a way to a friendly egg.<br />
<br />
So the next time you think about some recreational procreation/horizontal folk dancing or whatever the current epithet is, just beware that you may be leaving with more than just a happy memory - you may be changing your life (or someone else's) forever.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01660583782109558264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7807879685607816103.post-14978583953880658752016-01-27T09:13:00.000+08:002016-01-27T09:13:19.180+08:00Giving Hope to the HopelessI really wanted to write 'Hope-Less' because 'Hopeless' makes you immediately think that the person in front of you is a complete idiot. Whereas 'Hope-Less' suggests that they are devoid of nearly all coping mechanisms and have forgotten what hope really is. And believe me, that is a truly tragic state - especially when you see that lost look in a young kid's eyes.<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>It's vital we break the circle of despair</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Otherwise we consign the next generation, and then the next generation to repeating the mistakes of their parent(s).</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Most people are ignorant of what it's like to be in a situation where there is no job, your boyfriend has left you with 2 toddlers and run off with his ice addicted new partner. That your parents separated when you were young and you haven't heard of your father since. Or that your Mum's around, but what with the price of "smokes" and what's left of the pension going on rent, food and medicines "she's not much help". And your so-called friends all smoke, most take drugs and most of them are pretty "hopeless" too. Yeah, you'd like to get away and make a new start but where do you go?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Believe me, in some areas of all countries that is the constant story seen by family GPs. That, and those who are on sickness benefits because of bad backs/depression/chronic pain ...who attend your surgery like a flock of worn out folk and each and every one of them looking 20 years older than they really are. Even the infants in their prams look confused at the behavior of the person who's wheeled them in on that particular day. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Checking out their medical records you see a long list of anti-depressants: sporadic correspondence from psychologists/psychiatrist which start out optimistic and then segue into frustrated pessimism. These poor people find it so hard to change because every day they see and do the same things. As one person was heard to say: the <i><b>definition of insanity is when you keep doing the same thing and expect a different outcome.</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
But the family Doctor is one person who can play a big part in their lives. These people attend our surgeries on a very regular basis. There is one treatment that we can give them which I suspect is one thing that they never get anywhere else - <span style="color: blue;">SELF RESPECT</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Here's my suggestion: find time to tell these lost and damaged souls that they are worthy of our time, they do have value and they should learn to respect themselves even when other idiots try to put them down. I challenge some patients to do just one simple act - lift their heads and look up. Instead of seeing the rubbish and detroitus on the pavement, they'll see some trees, see the sky and maybe even hear a bird sing. It's only one little thing but if they persist it will become a habit .... a habit of looking for HOPE. And dear God, some of these people need that in their messed up lives.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01660583782109558264noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7807879685607816103.post-71275571543386750152016-01-21T08:42:00.003+08:002016-01-21T08:43:53.367+08:00Your Secret Support - and how to improve your sex life!<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/544654148663114521/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl8WX-qNn2knglSu-FwYc7bTFmu9Ks2261c_F2RqtqRsNMcCoz6yhyfX7EqaR2A2vCSRHinaNOCZQCK-CV4wAik0IXiBoNFpt-sqHlAQvRBR2Dr-2MbV7-b1PurrK52rpZcWvR8hQoEsZy/s320/images.jpg" width="232" /></a></span></div>
We use it every day as soon as we get out of bed, and in fact many people use it when they're asleep too. It's one of the most neglected muscles in our body but when it fails to do it's job properly it can make our lives a misery!<br />
<br />
I'm talking about the <b>Pelvic Floor</b>.<br />
<br />
The pelvic floor is a <i>sheet of muscles</i> that support all the contents of our pelvis: which means -<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="color: blue;">The bladder</span></li>
<li><span style="color: blue;">The rectum and it's faecal contents</span></li>
<li><span style="color: blue;">and in women, the uterus and ovaries too</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
When the pelvic floor lets you down then controlling your urine can be a challenge when coughing, sneezing, straining or even just standing up! For those with loose bowel motions, a weak pelvic floor means that soiling your pants can be an embarrassing problem which may lead to social isolation as well. And when the bottom literally falls out of your pelvic floor, your uterus will often fall out too leading to a utero-vaginal prolapse!<br />
<br />
Most of these condition are preventable by good personal care. For most people this means a lifelong approach to daily pelvic floor exercises and being aware of:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.4em;">Avoiding constipation and/or straining with a bowel motion</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.4em;">Avoiding persistent heavy lifting</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.4em;">Treating chronic coughs and straining</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.4em;">Watching your weight and losing it if you're too heavy</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
So how can I improve the strength of my pelvic floor?<br />
<br />
<b><i>The first thing to do is to identify which muscles they are</i></b>. After all, if you haven't used them for decades it's highly unlikely you know where they are in the first place! My suggestion is that the next time you go to the toilet to pass urine, try to stop mid-stream. When you do that, you're using your pelvic floor muscles and they are th emuscles you need to focus on.<br />
<br />
Once you've identified them, it's time to exercise them. That's simple:<br />
<br />
Squeeze and hold for 5 seconds and then relax - don't forget to include the muscles around your back passage too! Repeat for 5 slow squeezes and try to repeat three or four times a day. It's that simple and you can literally do these exercises anywhere and no-one will know what you're doing!<br />
<br />
If you keep this up then after a few weeks you'll be aware that control of your urine will improve. And for ladies, as your pelvic floor muscles get stronger you'll be able to squeeze your vagina as well which brings me to the bit about your sex life .....</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01660583782109558264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7807879685607816103.post-39055666503186852172016-01-09T15:23:00.001+08:002016-01-09T15:23:55.071+08:00Beating the Drum for the Country Docs<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgspUyn5FiGg4EfUuE-Q0rPtQTMg7hEHZ5HhSTHEkCfAenhlsRvkLLJ0nQQMjNq5RRx1GDssNcGUJRwxnbBUqgmk8lXWgTJXHy7CiMcRJKY-inWesdDI9ZM_1c6Qf2E4OsLCC6wMYUy3cLu/s1600/FullSizeRender+165.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgspUyn5FiGg4EfUuE-Q0rPtQTMg7hEHZ5HhSTHEkCfAenhlsRvkLLJ0nQQMjNq5RRx1GDssNcGUJRwxnbBUqgmk8lXWgTJXHy7CiMcRJKY-inWesdDI9ZM_1c6Qf2E4OsLCC6wMYUy3cLu/s200/FullSizeRender+165.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It can be lonely out there</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Rural Health - the real challenge.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">As you may know, I took a few years off from clinical medicine as the emotional strain from caring for patients was hard enough, but running a practice was even harder! Now I've chosen to return to Family Medicine, but this time as a Locum GP, and I've chosen to help patients in the rural community. And it's been great!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Firstly, country people are different and have different problems. They're different in that they're more 'forgiving' and they're more thankful: I had four 'Thank You' cards from one practice after just one three week Locum! But they face their own challenges too. Obesity is a big issue - excuse the pun - and is only compounded by the sense of inertia that occurs in small country towns. With the obesity of course comes Type II Diabetes with all it's insidious complications. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Then there's a big issue with Chronic Pain Syndromes and the use of powerful analgesics that are being used to control them. It's a real challenge </span><span style="font-size: large;">in such a short period of time </span><span style="font-size: large;">to educate such patients on pain modulation, alternative treatments and the ancillary lifestyle modifications availabe. The resources needed are limited - professionals such as myself, clinical Psychologists and dieticians are nearly all FIFOs which makes continuity of care a real challenge.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">And that leads to the one constant gripe of so many rural patients - with the inevitable question being asked "How long are you here for?" They feel that they are constantly having to repeat their stories to new faces (and despite computerised medical records, getting up to speed in 15 minutes in a complicated history is a tough gig even for someone with years of experience) and many patients have literally given up trying merely limiting their consultations to requests for 'a new script'!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Our full time GP colleagues are bearing an enormous load in very isolating circumstances. I can fully understand why a female GP graduate with a young family would find it daunting to embark on a career in a remote rural practice. She would face so many professional and domestic stresses for which there are few practical answers. One may be to utilise the skills, knowledge and experience of those retired GPs who are looking for that something extra in life rather than playing bowls or embarking on another cruise, and developing an efficient, effective mentoring service!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Another would be to support groups such as the <a href="http://australiandoctorsspousenetwork.com/" target="_blank">Australian Doctors Spouse Network</a> that's been established to support Fellowship spouses in their un-ending merry-go-round of moving from hospital to hospital over their 6 to 10 year training. This group are aware of the challenges their partners face - perhaps Rural GPs Spouses can work with them to build support for their craft too.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Because at the end of the day, we're there to supply Health and Wellness information to our patients. We're there to support our patients when they're struggling. We're there to be their advocate when they have nowhere else to turn and to constantly remind them how special they are and why health is such a valuable commodity. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">At the end of the day it's all about our patients, and we can't do that properly unless we look after our Rural Doctors too.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01660583782109558264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7807879685607816103.post-67411228376729435972015-03-03T12:34:00.001+08:002015-03-03T12:36:23.990+08:00Thoughts on long distance air travel<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.world-first.co.uk/images/pa-article-assets/N0467231323945844258A_16122011103452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.world-first.co.uk/images/pa-article-assets/N0467231323945844258A_16122011103452.jpg" height="199" width="200" /></a>Normally when we take to the air we travel from our home town of Perth in Western Australia and head West towards Dubai and Europe. This time we're going in the other direction and I'm actually typing these words, whilst I sit on the beach at Coogee NSW (and yes it's beautiful!). But tomorrow we continue our eastern adventure by taking wing to Los Angeles, a distance of 12,065 Kms or 13 hours flying time!</div>
<br />
The biggest challenge for me is boredom. Flying tends to make one dozy anyway (and they keep turning down the lights to simulate nighttime) so actually being productive is always difficult. Once you've watched 3 movies in a row, the thrill of it beings to pall rapidly.<br />
<br />
So I shall be taking a good book which I intend to at least open if not actually finish. I will take a notebook with me to record all those quirky things that happen when you're locked in with 350 total strangers (the good wife excluded of course) in a metal tube at 37,000 feet, and I will get up and walk around as much as I can to stop the joints seizing up completely.<br />
<br />
I usually start prepare for long distance travel some weeks before by working on my overall fitness and in the final week I try and do a little extra so that when I get on the plane my body will be craving sleep more than usual - despite the often cramped conditions back in "Stowage". Don't try and use alcohol as a means of getting to sleep, it will only make you feel lousy when you wake and will dehydrate you more too.<br />
<br />
On the day of the flight I will put on my knee-length compression socks and wear them until I get into the shower at my destination. This is to reduce the risks of DVT's on such long haul flights. Because the air is drier at high altitudes I will take some lubricating drops for my eyes and some sesame seed oil to spray into my nose to keep those membranes protected to.<br />
<br />
Once we're up, up and away then I'll drink plenty of water at regular intervals, get up and march up and down the aisles, and finally I do some stretches at the back of the aircraft - always designed to get some mystified looks from unsuspecting fellow travellers, or start up great conversations with fellow contortionists!<br />
<br />
I also try to identify "coughers" - both in airports and on board - who may be infected with any contagious disease, by covering my face if they are near. I have also taken to wearing disposable plastic gloves when I use the communal toilet as the hygiene of others can sometimes be less than ideal.<br />
<br />
After arrival and the obligatory shower, we go for a long walk before we go to bed and promise ourselves to be patient with each other for the next few days as the jet lag wears off.<br />
<br />
But most of all I intend to have a ball in Seattle!<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01660583782109558264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7807879685607816103.post-41491595729431200392015-02-24T18:36:00.000+08:002015-02-24T18:36:36.530+08:00The List<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvFl4xPEDezM-foe6Ms9h6oPfY3u_kWztl3jHtz9C7qDyn7wT8rtVhOzhKSXFonff80U7yLAF73ywdEw2OpJohvJLjwPVenes7umKVo3XCVlYeMZRCxZeqT64bhRXFhMF4rH_qtcM8bmTC/s1600/IMG_3138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvFl4xPEDezM-foe6Ms9h6oPfY3u_kWztl3jHtz9C7qDyn7wT8rtVhOzhKSXFonff80U7yLAF73ywdEw2OpJohvJLjwPVenes7umKVo3XCVlYeMZRCxZeqT64bhRXFhMF4rH_qtcM8bmTC/s1600/IMG_3138.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">The young bride recently bought a kitchen blender which now sits proudly on our kitchen bench. It’s a wonderful machine and apparently does amazing things. I haven’t been allowed to play with it yet, but I have eaten of the fruits of the machine and they are definitely good!</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Before she bought this blessed electronic gizmo, she made a list of everything she wanted from it. She then did a search of similar gizmos in order to work out which one was best for her. Finally she checked out Choice Magazine to see what they thought and where the best bargains might be found.</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">By now you might be thinking that I’m going to write about healthy eating. But I’m not. This is all about that strange and sometime scary event:</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"> “Going to see the Doctor”</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">From my early years when I was on the other side of the desk, to the more recent years when we've moved around to sit next to our patients, one of the 'heart sink' moments that we Docs all experience is the patient who comes in with the dreaded “List”!</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Early on in life, a visit to the Doctors is usually a fairly simple - earaches, sore throats, rashes, soft tissue injuries etc. But as we age and things start to creak and go wrong, then many people resort to “The List”. </span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">But beware, sometimes “The List” can end up being a double-edged sword especially if you leave your Doctor to decide which items on the list need his/her attention immediately. This is becoming more of a problem as most patients rarely get to see their own Doc these days. The reason being that most Docs are now part-timers who work in large clinics and they’ve probably never seen you before in their lives. All they have is you, your medical history and “The List”.</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">So my suggestion is to take a leaf out of the young brides book and do some “due diligence” yourself.</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
</div>
<ul>
<li>Make a list of all the things you want to talk to the Doctor about.</li>
<li>Prioritise that list with the things that you’d like to get attended to first.</li>
<li>Show your prioritised list to your pharmacist or Community Nurse to get their opinion. And if you’re a little nervous about it all then take an advocate along with you - family member or friend.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Be aware that <b><i>if you have more than two things on your list it is wise to make more than one appointment </i></b>to deal with all your issues. Believe me, one interview will never allow enough time to properly analyse multiple problems or to allow your Doctor to explain their thoughts to you.</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Finally, if you think your Doctor is not giving you adequate time or failing to treat each issue seriously, then feel free to get a second opinion. </span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Ask my young bride, if you were buying a food processor you’d look around for the best deal - so why not do the same for your life!</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01660583782109558264noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7807879685607816103.post-1191855693386568872015-02-17T14:54:00.000+08:002015-02-17T14:54:49.172+08:00NSAIDs - the debate that continues to inflame!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://deh28pharmacology.wikispaces.com/file/view/sideeffect.gif/75095691/sideeffect.gif" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://deh28pharmacology.wikispaces.com/file/view/sideeffect.gif/75095691/sideeffect.gif" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">A good friend of mine, who just happens to be a retired medical man, recently fell and broke his hip. Nothing too unusual for a man in his seventies, but when we visited him in hospital he was furtively hiding his pain medication in a tissue and tucking it under his pillow. “It’s an Anti-Inflammatory” he confided conspiratorially The look of confusion on my face prompted him to continue “They might be OK for pain relief but they interfere with bone healing and I want to get back on my feet as quickly as possible”.</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">I have to admit to always being a little nervous about using NSAIDs - Non steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs - having studied medicine during the period when Phenylbutazone, the first proper NSAID, was introduced. BTZ, as it was popularly called at the time, was later discovered to cause bone marrow depression in many of those who took them and swiftly removed from “The Market” . </span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">But first a piece of history:</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1">The fascinating ability to treat fever and inflammation dates back about 2500 (400 B.C.) years ago to a time when the Greek physician Hippocrates prescribed an extract from willow bark and leaves. Later in the 17th century, the active ingredient of willow bark Salicin was identified in Europe. Acetylsalicyclic acid (Aspirin), a more palatable form of Salicin, was produced commercially by Bayer in 1899. However, the mechanism of action of anti-inflammatory and analgesic agents such as aspirin, and its later derivative Indomethacin, were not discovered until the early 1960’s when medical science was really beginning to find it’s feet. Things really changed in the seventies, when John Vane discovered the mechanism of action of aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) opening the door to a pandoras box of new pharmaceuticals to treat pain and inflammation.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1">Since then the place of NSAIDs has become embedded in our lexicon of treatments for all things that involve inflammation and pain - especially those involving our joints. But the target tissues for these medications don’t just lie in our bones and joints, they are also to be found throughout the body in our stomachs, our kidneys, our hearts and our brains too. As time has gone by, the goal of Pharmaceutical Companies has been to develop medications that produce fewer side effects whilst maintaining their anti-inflammatory effects.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p3" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><b>So what are the possible side effects of NSAIDs</b></span></div>
<div class="p2">
</div>
<ul>
<li>Stomach ulcers</li>
<li>Raised blood pressure</li>
<li>Kidney Disease</li>
<li>Liver disease</li>
<li>Bleeding</li>
<li>Induce asthma attacks</li>
<li>Rashes, drowsiness, headaches</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1">All of these side effects reflect the areas around the body that these medications have a collateral action upon, as well as the inflamed areas they’re principally targeted at.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1">A concern that I’ve had for many years is that some of these NSAIDs are now available “Over the counter” and are commonly used in children too.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p3" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="s1">WHAT I AM <b>NOT </b>SAYING IS THAT THESE MEDICATIONS ARE DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE BANNED</span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1">rather</span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p3" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="s1">THESE ARE CHEMICALS THAT CAN HAVE SERIOUS AND SOMETIMES FATAL CONSEQUENCES IF NOT USED PROPERLY.</span></div>
<div class="p3" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1">The vast majority of childhood inflammations and infections will settle without the use of medications. Common sense and patience are far better treatments than rushing to the Pharmacy for a magical “quick fix” - because that is exactly where those “quick fixes” should remain, in the realms of fantasy and fairy tales!</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1">The human body has evolved brilliantly over the millennia to deal with minor injuries, minor illnesses and local inflammations. For major stuff you should always seek medical advice, because in most cases, Doctors do know more than you do.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1">But let me finish by saying that although Doctors know a vast amount about the human body, they are still far, far, far away from knowing everything. My medical friend with his broken hip refused his NSAIDs because he believed that NSAIDs slowed bone healing. Well, a thorough search of all the scientific papers written on the subject came to the conclusion:</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><i>“There is no robust clinical and/or scientific evidence to discard the use of NSAIDs in patients suffering from a fracture, but equal lack of evidence does not constitute proof of the absence of an effect. The majority of the available evidence is based on animal findings and these results should be interpreted with caution due to the differences in physiological mechanisms between humans and animals. ….. Till then, clinicians should treat NSAIDs as a risk factor for bone healing impairment and (they) should be avoided in high-risk patients.” </i></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="p4">
<span class="s1"><i>ScientificWorldJournal. 2012; 2012: 606404.</i></span></div>
<div class="p4">
<span class="s1"><i>“Do Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs Affect Bone Healing? A Critical Analysis”</i></span></div>
<div class="p4">
<span class="s1"><i>Ippokratis Pountos, 1 Theodora Georgouli, 1 Giorgio M. Calori, 2 and Peter V. Giannoudis 1, 3 , *</i></span></div>
<div class="p4">
<span class="s1"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="p4">
<span class="s1"><i>http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3259713/</i></span></div>
<div class="p5">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<br />
<div class="p7">
<span class="s1"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="p6">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01660583782109558264noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7807879685607816103.post-7427212680238049302015-02-12T14:46:00.001+08:002015-02-17T15:02:36.314+08:00Hospitals make you better - don't they?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://disasteronheels.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/depressed-greek-statue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://disasteronheels.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/depressed-greek-statue.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"Pyotr Petrovich admitted that he'd been a fool--but only to himself, of course.” </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">― </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3137322.Fyodor_Dostoyevsky" style="background-color: white; color: #666600; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">Fyodor Dostoyevsky</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">, </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/3393917" style="color: #666600; text-decoration: none;">Crime and Punishment</a></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">There’s a good chance that you went to primary school with someone who ended up at Med School and is now a Specialist at something-or-other. You probably played together, got into trouble together or maybe you did/didn’t like him/her for any number of reasons. Then High School came along with different sports, activities, first dates, broken romances all the things that go with that decade of confusion.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">The reason that I mention all this is because Docs are just like you and me - they’re human. At least I hope most of us still are! And being human we’re subject to good days and bad days, being brilliant one day and making mistakes the next. The only trouble is that when Doc’s make mistakes, it’s the rest of us who can end up in trouble!</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">In a <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2712321/" target="_blank">Swedish study</a> from 2007, 12.3% of the studied population suffered an “Adverse Event” whilst staying in Hospital. “Fifty-five percent of the preventable events led to impairment or disability, which was resolved during the admission or within 1 month from discharge, another 33% were resolved within 1 year, 9% of the preventable events led to permanent disability and 3% of the adverse events contributed to patient death. Preventable adverse events led to a mean increased length of stay of 6 days…. When extrapolated to the 1.2 million annual admissions, the results correspond to 105 000 preventable adverse events and 630 000 days of hospitalization".</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Their conclusion: “This study confirms that preventable adverse events were common, and that they caused extensive human suffering and consumed a significant amount of the available hospital resources.</span><span class="s2"><sup></sup></span><span class="s1">”</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4155122/" target="_blank">Another study in Italy</a></span><span class="s2"><sup></sup></span><span class="s1"> reviewed the case notes of 1501 patients who had been discharged from hospital. A part of their discharge summary recorded Adverse Events in 3.3% of those cases. Significantly less than the Swedish study, but still a huge number when extrapolated to the entire population of hospital patients over one year.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">In Australia, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare defines Adverse Events as “ Incidents in which harm resulted to a person receiving health care. They include infections, falls resulting in injuries, and problems with medication and medical devices. Some of these adverse events may be preventable”.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><a href="http://www.aihw.gov.au/haag11-12/adverse-events/" target="_blank">In 2011–12,</a> 5.3%</span><span class="s2"><sup></sup></span><span class="s1"> of separations (Discharge from Hospital) reported an ICD-10-AM code indicating an adverse event.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">These figures are from our Health Care and Hospital systems where “Best Practice” is constantly being reviewed and updated, and where there are procedures for every conceivable situation. </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"> Far from scaring people off from going into Hospitals, the message I am promoting today is:</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p3" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><span class="s3"> </span><span class="s1"><b>Never be afraid to ask questions of your Doctor or treating Medical team.</b></span></span></div>
<div class="p4">
<span class="s1"><b></b></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">If you’re a bit overwhelmed by visiting your Doc or by being a patient in a hospital, then get someone to act as an advocate for you.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">One final comment about my medical colleagues. We’ve all met those people who are arrogant and think they know everything. Or perhaps those who treat their fellow citizens with arrogant disdain. Well the bad news is that some of those went on to become Docs too! Thankfully, I’ve only met a few over my long career, but believe me, they are still out there. If you believe that your Doc has treated you badly, ignored your questions, not informed you of your treatment options or has just been plain rude - you are not powerless. Write a letter to the relevant Medical Board who are there to protect your interests. They are on your side and will not ignore your complaint.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">The Caring Profession should be just that - The Caring Profession. Sometimes it doesn’t work to our advantage through no ones fault, but sometimes the Medical team can “drop the ball”. We are all part of the solution: we all need to make sure that we are responsible for our own health and that means daring to seek out information that will be beneficial to our long term health.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">There should be no one on this planet more vigilant about your good health than YOU. In the case of those who need an Advocate, then take that responsibility seriously. Believe me, when Docs are patients, they are never afraid to ask questions of their treating team - because they know that things don’t always run as smoothly as the Hollywood image of Hospitals would have us believe.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">95% of Medical stories have positive outcomes. But that’s not good enough. We are all a part of the solution.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01660583782109558264noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7807879685607816103.post-23828253422015408912014-02-25T13:00:00.001+08:002014-02-25T13:00:18.794+08:00Stop calling me Skinny!<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-ja82kmfLIAVF9DSWNxWkhjaXc/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">TRANSCRIPT OF </a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-ja82kmfLIAVF9DSWNxWkhjaXc/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">PODCAST</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-ja82kmfLIAVF9DSWNxWkhjaXc/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-ja82kmfLIAVF9DSWNxWkhjaXc/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">TO DOWNLOAD </a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://images.watoday.com.au/2013/09/07/4727430/brooks-narrow-300x0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images.watoday.com.au/2013/09/07/4727430/brooks-narrow-300x0.jpg" height="200" width="140" /></a></div>
You’ll often hear it said that approximately 50% of the western world are either overweight or obese and that this can lead to serious health issues. And I agree with that. But I’m in the other 50% and am starting to get a bit fed up with being told that I’m getting skinny, or that I need a good feed to fatten me up. <br />Now, although I frequently write about the huge health threat that comes with obesity, what I do not do is go round telling people to their faces that they are fat and, why don’t they cut down on their eating. <br />The reasons behind this reversal of fortunes is that with so many people now being overweight or obese, half the population now think that their body image is normal and that the skinny ones are the abnormal ones.<br />As you all know, this year it’s 100 years since the start of that terrible first world war, and there have been lots of film footage of troops signing up and going to the front. So far I haven’t seen one fat person signing up in all that archival footage. Fair enough, smoking was more prevalent and cigarettes part of a soldiers rations, AND they did a great deal of marching up and down. But if they introduced conscription these days ( and heaven help they never do again) then there are going to need an awful lot of XXX large uniforms for over half of the troops.<br />Being overweight or obese is not the norm, but the pattern for it can so often be laid down in the first five years of life and that’s where we need to focus part of our efforts to fight the trends toward obesity related Diabetes, heart disease and cancers.<br /><br /><br /><br />I was reminded of this after reading an article in the past on “Risk factors” for heart disease and in particular a study in the US which has been going on since 1972, and which has followed a community of people to study the incidence and causes of heart and blood vessel disease. This study, which is called the Bogalusa Heart Study and which has been an ongoing study for over 40 years now, has not provided any revolutionary results but some of the conclusions need to enter the mainstream thinking of every family, every school and every community.<br /><br />But first a look at what we know, and you’ve heard it all a thousand times, but Smoking remains the No 1 bad guy when it comes to vascular disease - the type of disease that leads to heart attacks and strokes. Second comes Hypertension, or high blood pressure, which needs to be measured if you want to find out whether you have it or not. Then comes Diabetes, which if poorly controlled often leads not only to heart attacks and strokes, but also to disease of blood vessels supplying the legs, and when they get blocked gangrene and amputation may follow! And finally comes raised Cholesterol, obesity, age and being white - the Bogalusa study being run in a mixed biracial American community.<br /><br />In this particular study the finding that neither obesity nor raised cholesterol rank highly as a risk will be of interest to the experts in those fields and will be the subject of intense, ongoing debate. But what we do know is that:<br /><br />Since the introduction of ‘Statins there has been a 30% reduction in developing the risk for atherosclerosis - the plaque that leads to heart attacks and strokes. And that people with a Cholesterol level lower than 160mg/dL do not get heart disease irrespective of what their HDL, LDL cholesterol are or their Triglycerides are.<br />Obesity is linked with diabetes and diabetes is a significant risk for developing blood vessel disease. It is also linked to cancers and other medical problems and remains a real focus of necessary life style changes.<br /><br />In fact one of the glaring outcomes of this 40 year old trial is that childhood nutrition and obesity should be the main focus of all preventative programs. If it’s left uncorrected then it’s linked to life long health problems that are not only physical but mental, educational and social too. So that’s why the childhood nutrition story needs to be told loud and clear and repeated in new ways year in and year out. If we give our children a healthy start in life then not only are they going to be able to make the most of their opportunities, but they are going to be healthier and get less disease. And what this means is that they are not going to need the services of our fantastic, but very expensive hospital services, which are paid for out of our taxes and our insurances. So the “price” of investing in getting our kids to eat healthy nutritious food is going to be a wonderful investment in their future and in our Nations too.<br /><br />So where do we begin? Well in most places the machinery is already in place and beginning to work really well. <br /><br />Smoking. Nearly every child I meet hates the smell of smoke, but sadly there are a great number of teenagers to take up the awful habit and unbelievably, cigarettes are still sold as Duty Free items in airports around the world. But in most developed countires, the good guys are wining and the percentage of smokers continues to fall, but we must never relent!<br />Childhood obesity requires serious, sensitive handling. Childhood obesity leads to a plethora of life long health problems. The key factors of teaching, showing, sharing better ways to eat need to be tailored to the individual and to be creative. The involvement of Chefs in school programs that allow children to try foods - and these are foods that they would normally “hate” - prepared and presented in different ways so that the kids actually enjoy eating them, does have a huge impact. The widespread appearance of school vegetable gardens is another creative way of involving kids in making nutritious food choices and understanding how a healthy food chain operates.. <br />Physical activity. Whilst not really impacting on weight itself, the direct benefits of physical activity in so many areas of life - heart disease, cancers, mood disorders and so on - mean that being active must always be an integral part of our education system.<br /><br />Reducing risk is a lifelong health education challenge. We should not wait until mid-life to try and correct things that need not have occurred in the first place. So lets give our children the best tools available to build healthy lives, so that when their turn comes, then they will know how to build a great world for their children too.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://images.watoday.com.au/2013/09/07/4727430/brooks-narrow-300x0.jpg" target="_blank">image:</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01660583782109558264noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7807879685607816103.post-22661960464266025132014-02-19T16:52:00.002+08:002014-02-19T16:52:11.910+08:00To Sleep or not to sleep?
<br />
<div class="page" title="Page 1">
<div class="section" style="background-color: rgb(100.000000%, 100.000000%, 100.000000%);">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxUtrlVMZkNOWWV2RWMtbF9sYVk/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt;">TO SLEEP OR NOT TO SLEEP</span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxUtrlVMZkNOWWV2RWMtbF9sYVk/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt;">TRANSCRIPT OF PODCAST</span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxUtrlVMZkNOWWV2RWMtbF9sYVk/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">CLICK HERE TO LISTEN</a> </span></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt;">We all try and do it each and every night. Babies will do it for 20 to 22 hours
each day and Teenagers seem to take to it like a duck to water. But for many
people, trying to get a good nights sleep can be a challenge. Each year more
than 5 million prescriptions are written in Australia, a rise of almost 9% since
2001. And a study released in 2011 found 95 per cent of patients who went to
the GP to report an issue with sleep were given sleeping pills. These are very
worrying trends and ones that we need to reverse as soon as possible.</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt;">Recently, our nocturnal sleeping habits have been in the news because of the
concern about the negative impact that these Sleeping Pills can have on our
health. It’s been known within the medical community for many decades that
giving sleeping pills to older people increases the risk of falls, confusion and
the very real potential for serious interactions with other powerful medications
that they take. But a report, released last year has now highlighted a possible
link between taking these medications and premature death.</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 25.000000pt;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt;">According to Daniel F. Kripke, MD, of the Viterbi Family Sleep Center at
Scripps Health in San Diego, his study shows that (quote) “sleeping pills are
hazardous to your health and might cause death by contributing to the
occurrence of cancer, heart disease and other ailments." (unquote) In fact
even those who reported taking between 1 and 18 sleeping pills in one year
increased their risk of premature death by a factor of 3.6.</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 25.000000pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt;">Their study is not only an interesting read, but it should sound alarm bells
ringing within the wider community about the safety of sleeping tablets and
why people need to take them. Despite the 2011 study findings about the
ease with which sleeping pills appear to be prescribed, in my experience,
most people within the medical profession treat sleeping tablets with the
</span><br />
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="page" title="Page 2">
<div class="section" style="background-color: rgb(100.000000%, 100.000000%, 100.000000%);">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt;">respect and will generally only prescribe them when the benefits of using
them outweigh the potential harm that they may cause - and then only for a
very short course too. But for many with sleep disturbance there are usually
some other underlying issues that need to be looked at such as:</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt;">Depression</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt;">Pain</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt;">Stress and anxiety</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt;">All of which need to be attended to before one reaches for the sleeping pill
bottle. The challenge here is that if you’ve missed several nights sleep, the
benefits of a long term sleep hygiene program seem less attractive than
popping a pill to get you to sleep that night - hence the emotional pressure on
the treating doctor to use short term hypnotics as an aid to achieving a longer
term, non sleeping pill associated goal. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt;">
</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt;">But another article which intrigued me from the New York Times, was on the
subject of what is “Normal Sleep”? Because if we can’t define normal sleep
and pass that onto our patients, then many people may ask for help when, in
fact, they are having a “normal” nights sleep.</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 25.000000pt;">
</span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt;">The article was based on the work of the historians Ekirch (2005) and
Koslofsky (2011) who propose the theory that before the Industrial
Revolution, segmented sleep was the normal pattern. In these pre-
industrialized times there were two distinct sleep phases that were bridged by
a period of wakefulness. In fact, during this wakeful period people used the
time to reflect and pray: for the tired labourer who went to bed “dog tired”, this
was the time that they usually had sex: and for the poet and writer these early
hours were often the most fruitful as they were able to write uninterruptedly.
</span><br />
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="page" title="Page 3">
<div class="section" style="background-color: rgb(100.000000%, 100.000000%, 100.000000%);">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt;">Some people used to get up and visit the neighbours and of course, it was
also the time when the “bad guys” went and did their evil deeds!</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 25.000000pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt;">Today, there is sound scientific evidence that a midday nap associated with
nighttime wakefulness is associated with greater alertness than with the
“mono-phasic” sleep-wake cycle - or a straight eight hours.</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 25.000000pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt;">According to Eklrcks theory, it was the introduction of street lighting that
allowed people to stay up later, and that, coupled with domestic lighting,
started the trend to longer social evenings. With longer evenings came the
idea that an eight hour sleep should be the “norm”. But according to Erlick
there are abundant references throughout literature that refer to “first sleep”
or first waking, with examples to be found in Shakespeare, Homers Odyssey
as well as many personal records of lay persons who were able to write in
centuries past.</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 25.000000pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt;">If Erlick and Co are correct in their assessment, then I would suspect that
millions of people will take a big sigh of relief and realize that their sleep
patterns are “normal” after all.</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 25.000000pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt;">In this 21st century of ours we like to have everything neatly packaged and
labelled so that we have a feeling of control - and for many millions of people,
this applies to their work/play/sleep cycles too. If there is one thing that sleep
and dreams teach us, it’s that in the sleeping state there is no control and that
we still have so much to learn about what sleep actually is and what dreams
are. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 25.000000pt;"> </span><br />
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="page" title="Page 4">
<div class="section" style="background-color: rgb(100.000000%, 100.000000%, 100.000000%);">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt;">For those who would like to improve the quality of their sleep, then my
suggestion is to try to improve your sleep “hygiene”. So here are a few tips
taken from the Mayo Clinic that I hope will enhance your quality of sleep over
the months ahead.</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt;"></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 25.000000pt;"><br />
</span><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">Stick to a sleep schedule in other words. try to go to bed at around
the same time each night.</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">
</span><br />
</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">And if you're not sleeping </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt;">Give yourself 20 minutes and </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">Get out of
bed. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt;">read a book or magazine until you are sleepy and then try again.</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">
</span><br />
</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">Avoid the temptation of trying to sleep when you can’t. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt;">The
frustration this causes will only make you more alert</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">
</span><br />
</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">Use your bed and bedroom for just two things: sleeping or sex</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt;">.
PLEASE, no TV or computer screens in the bedroom.</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">
</span><br />
</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">Find ways to relax. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt;">A warm bath before bedtime can help prepare you
for sleep. Having your partner give you a massage also may help relax
you. Create a relaxing bedtime ritual, such as reading, soft music,
breathing exercises, yoga or prayer.</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">
</span><br />
</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">Try and take your Exercise and physical activity. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt;">at least five to six
hours before bedtime.</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">
</span><br />
</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">Avoid or limit caffeine, alcohol and nicotine in the evening. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">
</span><br />
</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">Avoid large meals and beverages before bed. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">
</span><br />
</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">Check your medications. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt;">Especially anti-cold and flu medications.</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">
</span><br />
</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">Don't put up with pain. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt;">See your Doc.</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">
</span><br />
</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">Hide the bedroom clocks. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt;">The less you know what time it is at night,
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt;">the better you'll sleep.</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt; font-weight: 700;"> </span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 14.000000pt; font-weight: 700;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPS'; font-size: 14.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">Happy dreams
</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica'; font-size: 25.000000pt;">!
</span><br />
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01660583782109558264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7807879685607816103.post-67518140390460972412014-02-12T16:08:00.000+08:002014-02-12T16:54:38.955+08:00SME's and the future of Health Care in our Communities<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BxUtrlVMZkNOVFA5ZGxKdmdiZ1k/edit" target="_blank">CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD </a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxUtrlVMZkNOVFA5ZGxKdmdiZ1k/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">THE PODCAST</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BxUtrlVMZkNOVFA5ZGxKdmdiZ1k/edit" target="_blank">OF THIS ARTICLE</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
TRANSCRIPT</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
It’s been almost imperceptible, and yet it’s been quite dramatic. I’m not talking about the Internet, Facebook or even Twitter, although they have played a significant role in the social changes that we see and read of, each and every day. <br />
<br />
I’m talking about Health Care. <br />
<br />
Notice, I’m not talking about Sickness, Disease or Accident care, but about Health Care.<br />
Now …<br />
If you were to time travel back to the post war period in any western country, you went to the Doctor because you were sick. The Doctor would invariably know your Mother and your father and may even have brought you into the world you at the local hospital or perhaps at home. And if you were really sick that Doctor would almost certainly have visited you in your own home … and probably stayed on for a cup of tea too. However it wasn’t all Nirvana back then in GP land, because in all likelihood, your Family Doctor would have sat at the side of your bed smoking a pipe - but I digress.<br />
<br />
Over the ensuing decades, with the massive increase in technology that was associated with medical diagnostics, plus all the paramedics that are vital to the normal running of our current Health Care systems, the cost of providing health care services has sky rocketed. So the emphasis on so-called Preventative medicine became the norm, with the logical precept that if you reduce risks for certain chronic medical conditions - such as Heart disease, Diabetes, Cancer and many others - then the savings accrued would reduce the future burden of burgeoning health care costs. And we’re talking of billions of dollars here.<br />
<br />
So it became the norm for GP’s to promote Preventative Medicine as the way forward, as they were seen to be in the ideal position with their knowledge of medicine and of their patients. But then two invisible forces began to collide.<br />
<br />
The time it takes to action many of these preventative screening programs started to eat into the time that the GPs actually had to see sick patients. Because not only did they have to go through a particular screening process, they then had to document it all. All of which does not fit neatly into a 15 to 20 minute standard consultation.<br />
<br />
Secondly, GPs had stopped visiting patients in their homes. And because so many GPs were now part-timers, continuity of care was rapidly disappearing too. That has led to the current situation where many time poor GPs do not know the social or family history of their patients, apart from what the previous treating GP had written in the patients electronic notes.<br />
<br />
Pity the poor patient then who has a high fever and needs to get back to work as fast as possible, but can’t get in to see the Doctor for 3 or 4 days because the Doctor is “Booked out”. And when they do get an appointment, they are often left sitting in a crowded waiting room where cross infection is a real possibility.<br />
<br />
The challenge as I see it is to get GPs to see those who need a Doctor - the sick people of our communities: and to create an environment where people can access real Health Care in the places where they spend most of their time - the places where they go to work.<br />
<br />
People will visit the Doctor maybe two or three times a year, but they will often see a different Doctor each time. Those same people go to the same workplace up to five days a week for about eight hours each day: in fact they actually live and work in a little community. And its inevitable that after a period of time, each persons family and social history is known to their fellow workmates. <br />
<br />
Today most, if not all large corporations will be offering a whole range of healthy living programs to their staff, because they know that it’s an investment in their most vital resource - the people who work for them - and in nearly all those cases this investment in their staff also helps the financial bottom line too. <br />
<br />
However, over 90% of the National Workforce work in small to medium sized enterprises - or SMEs - and the vast majority of these do not have the resources or the skills to enact Healthy living programs for their limited staff numbers. There is no doubt that some employers would see such intervention programs as an extra headache, and it may be that some staff would even see it as a threat. But the benefits of creating a healthy work environment and encouraging the employers and employees to live a healthy lifestyle too, are not just limited to the SMEs themselves. International reviews suggest that it could have far reaching economic benefits for the wider community as well. Dame Carol Black, National Director for Health, Work and Wellbeing, in the UK has calculated that improved workplace health could generate cost savings to the British government of over £60 billion – the equivalent to nearly two thirds of the NHS budget for England. And these figures would no doubt be somewhat similar all around the developed world.<br />
<br />
Thus it seems logical for people who are sick to be seen by people who are trained to investigate and treat people who are sick. And it would also seem logical that businesses who need healthy workers to operate efficiently, should be committed to promoting healthy lifestyle for those workers. <br />
The spin offs from such initiatives would include <br />
<br />
Better health for the national workforce - in other words the vast majority of the population - with reduced risk of chronic health issues.<br />
More time for Doctors to do their “Doctoring”<br />
Massive savings in the future for the Health care industry allowing scarce Health care dollars to be targeted at areas of most need.<br />
Significant savings for businesses who promote healthier workers: and the reputation of being seen as an employer of choice who cares for their employees.<br />
<br />
So how does this work?<br />
<br />
Firstly each SME needs to identify the needs of their particular business. Hairdressers would have different needs to a plumber and a car mechanic would have different needs to an office worker, so some basic data collection is needed before any thought to a particular program is started.<br />
<br />
Once this data has been collected and a health care initiative identified, then a structured program needs to be set up and monitored. There is absolutely no point in starting something new if you don’t monitor it and review your results regularly. Without monitoring and review there is no way of assessing whether the program is effective, and that will inevitably lead to frustration and abandonment of a potentially helpful program. Involve your staff in gathering information and in choosing an appropriate program, then it’s far more likely to succeed.<br />
<br />
If you find that your business is “too small” to consider such an idea, then form a cooperative with other small businesses in your area or within your trade, or contact the small business associations in your town or city. The small effort you put in will result in positive outcomes for you and ever bigger rewards for the wider community as time goes on.<br />
<br />
Changing peoples patterns of life is a slow business. But if someone had told me of the huge changes that I’ve witnessed during the course of my medical career I probably wouldn’t have believed them. But I do believe that SMEs are the key to how we can change the health of our countries. And it only takes each of us to dare to do our little part, and then the resulting impact will be massive and long lasting.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01660583782109558264noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7807879685607816103.post-18908754812220278152014-01-07T23:59:00.002+08:002014-01-07T23:59:15.233+08:00Away from my desk<br />
But not totally away from all work.<br />
<br />
The bride and I are enjoying a little Italian culture, which is why there haven't been any posts or podcasts recently.<br />
<br />
But if you want some edifying reading, then click <a href="http://www.hbf.com.au/members/dr-duncan/blog" target="_blank"><i><b>the link</b></i></a> to my Blog on the HBF Website and see what I've been writing about over the Christmas/New Year period.<br />
<br />
I wish you all a fantastic 2014, and I'll be back in thd saddle soon. Ciao.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01660583782109558264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7807879685607816103.post-19346948122993661482013-11-20T15:48:00.001+08:002013-11-20T15:48:36.591+08:00End of year student parties - more than just Memories.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://expressmilwaukee.com/imgs/hed/art2217widea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://expressmilwaukee.com/imgs/hed/art2217widea.jpg" width="145" /></a></div>
<br />
The end of the College year and High School life means Celebrations with a capital "C". But the mixture of young people, hormones and alcohol can often leave them with more than just memories: Sexually Transmitted Diseases are amongst the most commonly reported infections across the globe.<br />
In this Podcast I talk with Prof Donna Mak of the Communicable Diseases Centre in Perth, Western Australia about STDs and blood born virus infections.<br />
<br />
I hope you enjoy.<br />
<br />
Click <a href="https://archive.org/details/DrDonnaMakSTIsAndBloodBornViruses" target="_blank">HERE</a> to download the Podcast<br />
<br />
<a href="http://expressmilwaukee.com/imgs/hed/art2217widea.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">image </span></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01660583782109558264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7807879685607816103.post-92204670689168491652013-11-11T14:44:00.000+08:002013-11-11T14:51:48.705+08:00Elvis and Immunization<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.marchofdimes.com/glue/images/History_04.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://www.marchofdimes.com/glue/images/History_04.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.marchofdimes.com/glue/images/History_04.png" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">image</span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Click <a href="https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B-ja82kmfLIARGZEWF9NOXpqUEk/edit?usp=drive_web" target="_blank">HERE</a> to download my Podcast with Dr Paul Effler, MD, MPH, FAFPHM on childhood immunizations and why we mustn't become complacent.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01660583782109558264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7807879685607816103.post-51076231692236437992013-11-08T14:41:00.001+08:002013-11-10T11:55:53.469+08:00Cancer Council WA - Food labeling.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ3II5ZCIRS9m7f13_XzVc4OzvR2Hj44AGOAabuDpABnFGhU8DT" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ3II5ZCIRS9m7f13_XzVc4OzvR2Hj44AGOAabuDpABnFGhU8DT" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
Click <a href="https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B-ja82kmfLIAWl9SdUVNZmY4YUE/edit?usp=drive_web" target="_blank">HERE</a> to listen to my third talk in the Cancer Council WA series, where we discuss the food we eat, how to understand food labeling and what foods are good for us.<br />
<br />
*my apologies for the quality of the sound: however, the quality of the advice is excellent!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ3II5ZCIRS9m7f13_XzVc4OzvR2Hj44AGOAabuDpABnFGhU8DT" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">image</span></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01660583782109558264noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7807879685607816103.post-78040302955086581732013-11-07T11:47:00.001+08:002014-02-11T16:38:02.646+08:00Cancer Council WA talks - Protecting your Skin from the Sun<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1TZv4vKrhX14jMOh1kBFk97rhR1GB5KqWO6PvKSxDs1Aq1B8dAHsKhUN2ioKq_t6Kf9keVLiFPQqZeaZ_1PPjoihfyRW9dA6t40hHG9ChpqWp-6EaczQAE3JH-bD8hqhj9MgDDQaeiA16/s320/weather-forecast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1TZv4vKrhX14jMOh1kBFk97rhR1GB5KqWO6PvKSxDs1Aq1B8dAHsKhUN2ioKq_t6Kf9keVLiFPQqZeaZ_1PPjoihfyRW9dA6t40hHG9ChpqWp-6EaczQAE3JH-bD8hqhj9MgDDQaeiA16/s200/weather-forecast.jpg" height="151" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
Click <a href="https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B-ja82kmfLIAZzU1TDI1dEJzbWs/edit?usp=drive_web" target="_blank">HERE</a> to download the second in my series of Podcasts recorded at the Cancer Council of WA. The subject of this Podcast is about reducing the risks of developing skin cancer and explaining why we need to understand the UV Index. I hope you enjoy it.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1TZv4vKrhX14jMOh1kBFk97rhR1GB5KqWO6PvKSxDs1Aq1B8dAHsKhUN2ioKq_t6Kf9keVLiFPQqZeaZ_1PPjoihfyRW9dA6t40hHG9ChpqWp-6EaczQAE3JH-bD8hqhj9MgDDQaeiA16/s320/weather-forecast.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image</span></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01660583782109558264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7807879685607816103.post-66195049075389007562013-11-06T16:04:00.001+08:002013-11-10T11:54:46.049+08:00Human Papiloma Virus Vaccination and Cancer prevention <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://images.smh.com.au/2011/07/20/2505047/art-353-frazer-200x0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://images.smh.com.au/2011/07/20/2505047/art-353-frazer-200x0.jpg" width="158" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Click <a href="https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B-ja82kmfLIAclFuZl8wb0l6MFE/edit?usp=drive_web" target="_blank">HERE</a> to listen to my latest Podcast where I talk with Emma Croager about the Human Papilloma Virus, and how vaccinations can reduce the chances of this sexually transmitted infection from triggering Cancer of the Cervix.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://images.smh.com.au/2011/07/20/2505047/art-353-frazer-200x0.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image</span></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01660583782109558264noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7807879685607816103.post-72569798522855073092013-10-28T12:25:00.003+08:002013-11-10T11:55:14.150+08:00Cancer Council address from Harvard Experts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/25/Harvard_Medical_School_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/25/Harvard_Medical_School_HDR.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
CLICK <a href="https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B-ja82kmfLIANTdwOWF4YVpLcWM/edit?usp=drive_web" target="_blank">THE LINK</a> TO DOWNLOAD THE PODCAST<br />
<br />
During the week of 23rd October, I attended a conference here in Australia run by the Cancer Council of Western Australia. The keynote speaker was Associate Profession Eva Schernhammer from Harvard Medical School where she is Associate Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology, as well as holding adjunct faculty positions at the Department of Epidemiology Fielding School of Public Health, UCLA and the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Vienna where she gained her graduate degree.<br />
Over the past 10 years she has levied almost 10 million research dollars from NIH related to her primary interest in the relationship of circadian rhythms and melatonin to cancer risk. This work has led to the establishment in 2007, of a new classification by the World Health Organization, of shift work as a probable human carcinogen - which means that working nights over a long period of time can be a part of the process that leads to the development of cancer.<br />
Her lecture at the conference was based around the findings of the world renowned Nurses Health Study which has been an ongoing Epidemiological research tool since its inception in 1976 - a study which has a definite Aussie flavour as one of the founding “fathers” of that study was Frank Speizer, now Distinguished Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. The original Nurses study recruited 121,700 nurses, and has followed them ever since with a two yearly questionnaire that still evokes a 90% response rate - a truly remarkable achievement! Initially, the researchers looked at things like the oral contraceptive pill which back then had only been commercially available for around 10 years, and was significantly stronger than the more modern combinations. They also looked at smoking, hormone replacement therapy and odd things such as hair dyes, to see if there was any link to specific health issues or risks of cancer.<br />
In 1991, they added a dietary questionniare to their list of inquiries, and in 1993 Quality of Life was added and then in the 1990’s they started to collect blood and urine samples which are still stored in hundreds of refrigerators in the basements of their building at Harvard!<br />
In other words they have amassed a massive amount of information which the epidemiologists have continued to crunch ever since. Many of their findings have subsequently impacted on Government Health Policies around the world, and more information will help refine our understanding of the interaction between the human body and the environment in which we live. <br />
Cigarette smoking has been known to lead to various cancers since the mid 1960’s and this has been confirmed by the Nurses Study in women too. But it’s in the area of diet and obesity that the study has had a particular impact.<br />
A diet rich in red or processed meat raises the risk of getting cancer.<br />
Obesity raises the risk of breast cancer, although interestingly, if a woman loses weight after the menopause she will reduce her risk of breast cancer.<br />
When they looked at causes of becoming overweight, the findings showed that eating potatoes, processed grains and red and processed meat were all implicated in stacking on the kilos. But a diet high in vegetables, salads, nuts and even yoghurt would help keep those kilos off.<br />
When it comes to reducing the risks of developing cancer in women, the Nurses study showed that: <br />
Maintaining a good level of effective physical activity reduced cancer rates as did decreasing the amount of red and processed meat in the diet. Other factors which point to lower risks of developing cancer in women included being lean at ages 5 and 10 years and avoiding alcohol during adolescence. These last two facts need to reach consciousness in all western parts of the world where childhood obesity is such an increasing challenge, and teenage drinking is at almost epidemic proportions.<br />
Rates of fertility were also looked at in relation to women’s weights: so having a Body Mass index between 20 and 24 was favourable for fertility, but on either side of that range, levels of fertility dropped away.<br />
When it came to skin cancer, it’s generally thought that all sunburns are created equal and were equally dangerous. But it appears that in women at least, if you have blistering sunburns between the ages of 15 and 20 then you double the rate of risk for developing a malignant melanoma. And blistering sunburns, although very painful, were less significant after the age of 30, although they are still associated with other forms of skin cancers such as basal cell cancers and squamous cell cancers. The message here is that once again we have to remind our bullet proof teenagers that alcohol and sunshine are not as great for us as the advertisers would like us to think they are.<br />
<br />
On the up side for this now aging cohort of Nurses is the finding that the long term usage of Aspirin - greater than 20 years according to the study - is associated with a reduced incidence of colon cancer. However, before you start thinking of taking long term aspirin, you need to talk it over with your family physician, because aspirin may have been around forever, but it too has it’s drawbacks and certainly is not for everyone.<br />
<br />
Finally Prof Schernhammer spoke briefly about her personal research into the cancer causing effects of shift work.<br />
As we all know, we all need sleep and one of the major players in the sleep cycle - or circadian rhythm - is melatonin which is produced and released by the pineal gland in the brain. When there’s lots of light around Melatonin production is suppressed and there is a compensatory increase in the amount of Oestrogen produced, and it is thought that this process may play a part in the increased rates for cancer to be found amongst shift workers. Across the board, Professor Schernhammer has found a 50% increase in the rate of cancers in long term shift workers.<br />
Naturally this needs to be addressed, and their focus now is on ways of how to reduce those risks by varying the type, frequency and amount of shift work that an individual should do. And perhaps there might be a place to think of more appropriate lighting for certain workers - needless to say there is much work and research to be done, but now at least it has been recognized by the World Health Organization as a real risk for developing cancer.<br />
The other keynote talk was by Assistant Professor Markus Frank also from the US and who is an expert in the field of Cancer Stem Cell biology. This was a really fascinating talk, but very scientific in it’s detail. What I gleaned from this very interesting man was, just like we humans, not all cancer cells are created equal either.<br />
If you think of a cancer anywhere in the body, we have the image of “malignant” cells - nasty things just out to do us no good - a bit like a gang on the street. But not all gang members are really toxic or virulent, there’s usually a few ringleaders who stir up the most anger and cause the most damage, and it’s always best to target the ringleaders in order to control the situation. And it’s the same with cancers - Cancer Stem Cells are the ringleaders and the ones that we really need to focus on. Most cancer treatments do kill off cancer cells, but they don’t kill off the cancer stem cells and that’s why we get recurrences. The trouble is that it’s much harder to kill these cells off than you’d think. I actually sat there thinking, “how come these microscopic individual cells avoid and defeat the best - not only that our own immune system can throw at it - but the combined brain power of the best thinkers and computers that we have at our disposal!” It’s as mind baffling as it is frustrating.<br />
The good news is that researchers are developing several approaches to target these cells and develop specific treatments based on the cancer stem cells DNA, their surface markers and their ability to generate their own blood supplies. It’s early days in the science of Cancer Stem Cells but already effective treatments are appearing in laboratory models. The battle has only just begun.<br />
<a href="https://drive.google.com/?authuser=0#folders/0B-ja82kmfLIAU3RNcUdvNzdYUDA" target="_blank"> IMAGE</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01660583782109558264noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7807879685607816103.post-80011494516166022562013-10-19T11:47:00.000+08:002013-11-10T11:55:40.371+08:00Downs Syndrome<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://savethestorks.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/down-syndrome-awareness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="http://savethestorks.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/down-syndrome-awareness.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Click on <a href="https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B-ja82kmfLIARlFXTnU2bDV6OTQ/edit?usp=docslist_api" target="_blank">THE LINK</a> to download the Podcast of this article </div>
<br />
<br />
Back in the 1960’s the British education system was the envy of the world: but it wasn’t great for everyone, especially children who had genetically inherited diseases. Those who had graduated to High School - or as the English called it, Grammar School were mainly Anglo Saxon and generally all fairly healthy. Those who suffered from genetic illnesses such as Haemophilia were admitted, yet readily identified by having to wear red armbands as a warning sign to others - but which in some cases proved to be an invitation to bullying from the less socially inclusive teenager of the time. People who suffered from other genetic conditions such as Down’s syndrome - known in those times as Mongolism because of their non Anglo-Saxon facial features - were sent to special Homes where they might have been heard, but they definitely were never seen.<br />
So we should give our current education systems a huge pat on the back for their far more enlightened attitude to “Education” in the most inclusive sense of the word. Now, whilst schools must rightly focus on improving and guiding the young mind, it must also pass on the social skills that are essential for the smooth running of our far more pluralistic society here in the 21st century. The current high school would have pupils from many different ethnic backgrounds, and most would also have students who also have physical or mental disabilities - or as some would describe them, exceptional students! And the most common disability in this group of students is Downs Syndrome.<br />
Downs Syndrome is a genetic disease where there are three copies of the 21st chromosome and which leads to the classical features of those with the problem, which are<br />
<ul>
<li>Flattened facial features</li>
<li>A Small head</li>
<li>A Short, squat neck</li>
<li>A Protruding tongue</li>
<li>Eyes that slant upwards and which are unusual for the child's ethnic group.</li>
<li>Unusually shaped ears</li>
</ul>
Children with Down syndrome may also have:<br />
<ul>
<li>Poor muscle tone</li>
<li>Broad, short hands with a single crease in the palm</li>
<li>Relatively short fingers and a short thumb</li>
<li>and they’re joints are hyper-flexible</li>
</ul>
In the early part of their lives, they develop as all children do, but will often take much longer to achieve their milestones of crawling, sitting and walking. But they’re also incredibly loving children too. As they continue to grow, they will often be of shorter stature than their peers, and more likely to put on weight and to become obese.<br />
As well as the obvious external signs of Downs syndrome, these children can also have other very real medical challenges to cope with as well. Such as<br />
Heart defects. Approximately half the children with Down syndrome are born with some type of heart defect. These heart problems can be life-threatening and may require surgery in early infancy.<br />
Young children with Down syndrome are more likely to develop leukemia than are other children.<br />
Infectious diseases. Because of abnormalities in their immune systems, children with Down syndrome are much more likely to catch infections, such as influenza and pneumonia.<br />
Dementia. Symptoms and signs of dementia may appear before age 40 in people with Down syndrome. And not only that, those who become demented also have a higher rate of seizures. <br />
Other problems. Down syndrome patients can also get gastrointestinal blockage, thyroid problems, early menopause, seizures, hearing loss, premature aging, skeletal problems and poor vision.<br />
These children face huge hurdles in every facet of their lives. <br />
But there is some good news for them: about 100 years ago the life expectancy of someone born with Downs was death before the age of 10. Nowadays, people with this genetic disease can live up to the age of 50 years and even beyond that depending on the severity of their problems.<br />
But as well as the obvious physical differences, there are mental disabilities to deal with. And this is an area where there have been great changes both for the individual and for the community as a whole.<br />
As I said earlier, in times past, people with Downs were often sent to special “Homes” where they were kept away from the eye of the public. Today they are integrated seamlessly into the school environment, to the betterment of all concerned. But behind the scenes, there is - or at least there should be - a team of professionals supporting the individual and their families to cope with the many problems that each child faces. This team would contain some or all of the following professionals:<br />
<ul>
<li>A pediatric cardiologist</li>
<li>A pediatric gastroenterologist</li>
<li>A pediatric endocrinologist for the glandular problems</li>
<li>A developmental pediatrician</li>
<li>An audiologist</li>
<li>A physical therapist</li>
<li>A speech pathologist</li>
<li>An occupational therapist</li>
<li>A pediatric neurologist</li>
</ul>
As well as helping the child, parents need support too and thankfully there are many organizations around the world that are available to help those families and communities who are living with Downs syndrome whether as a patient, a family member or a school community.<br />
Because Downs is a genetically based disorder, screening tests are available to parents during the first half of pregnancy to help confirm if their baby has Downs or not. Although the rate of Downs syndrome births rises as a woman ages - at 35 the risk is 1 in 400, but by the time the women is over the age of 45 the rate has risen to 1 in 35 - however, most children with Down syndrome are actually born to women under age 35, mainly because younger women have far more babies. Tests for Downs would generally include an Ultrasound and some blood tests looking at certain hormone levels - but the results of these combined tests are not 100% accurate and they do have a certain level of false positive results. The screening tests, by design, are much better at identifying women who may be at risk of having a baby with Down syndrome, rather than women who actually have a baby with Down syndrome.<br />
If these combined ultrasound and blood tests suggest Downs is present, then confirmation requires that genetic material be gained from the infant in the womb and this necessitates a more invasive type of testing such as Amniocentesis, or Chorionic Villus Sampling. Research continues to seek a test that is accurate and non invasive.<br />
There are often no easy options when Downs syndrome is diagnosed, but the paradox is that even though life can be pretty tough for all concerned, there are always so many great memories and so much laughter. And when that child’s life is cut short, as it sometimes is, then there is just as much an empty space left in the families’s and their communities hearts, as there is when any so called normal child dies too.<br />
We still have so much to learn about Downs, and yet those with Downs teach us so much about how to be better people. We need them to become more human, and they need us to care for them - it’s not a bad arrangement really.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01660583782109558264noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7807879685607816103.post-32084281861447068292013-10-05T17:10:00.002+08:002013-10-05T17:11:23.227+08:00Family meal times - more than just nutrition.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="184" src="http://www.deeprootsathome.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/The-Prayer-Before-The-Meal-I.jpg" width="200" /></div>
<br />
CLICK <a href="https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B-ja82kmfLIAdGJ0VG5ROEk5VGM/edit?usp=drive_web" target="_blank">THE LINK</a> TO DOWNLOAD THE PODCAST OF THIS ARTICLE.<br />
<br />
Recently I read an article heralding the return of family TV viewing time! Apparently we’ve been through an era where seemingly “everyone in the family” had a TV in their own room and consequently family viewing time had gone the way of the dinosaur: but not so apparently! Now we have to thank the ever present tablets - not those of the pharmaceutical variety but rather the electronic ones - that allow each family member to watch the family wide screen whilst following friends on Facebook or, miracle of miracles, actually reading a book ...on their iPad that is.<br />
<br />
You may gather by the tone in my voice that I am perhaps a tad cynical about such amazing advances in human interactions, but just call me old fashioned, but when it comes to spending time with family, watching TV together doesn’t come very high up my list of things to do together. Don’t get me wrong, I am a total convert to the electronic age because it’s opened up so many new horizons and spaces, but the downside is that so many of those spaces have been filled with total and absolute ... well .. rubbish. <br />
<br />
But even the suggestion that families congregating to view a common TV is important news, and tells me that family still has a huge part to play in our society. Family is not just a group of people living together, it’s also the time when we create so many templates for our children’s future in health, education and value systems and once that period of time has passed, unfortunately we cannot go back and easily fix up the mistakes we made. And realizing that family life has such a big impact on future health is why I’m a big advocate of family meal times.<br />
<br />
There is no doubt that we live in a frenetic era far different from earlier generations, and that’s perhaps a reflection of the far higher living standards and expectations that we now enjoy. But with the need to have a nice home and a nice car - in order to provide the best education we can for our little people, this also means that we need the cash to pay for these things and as a result, where there are two parents, both often have to work, and where there is only one the pressures are even greater - and creating the time for a daily family meal together can turn out to be a major juggling act between all the demands that young parents face. But when it is done, then the benefits are huge.<br />
<br />
Where families frequently sit down to eat together, the children tend to eat more vegetables and are less likely to be obese, and if obesity can be avoided then so too can all the health complications that come with it. But physical health is not the whole story. Family meals are not just about the food that we eat, there is a process that has to occur in order to prepare the food and prepare the table - and by involving the children in these activities they start to “own” and be involved in the process of service as well of being recipients of the good deeds of others.<br />
<br />
Family meal times are an occasion where that unit of people - whatever the composition by gender, race or religion - sit and share their daily activities within the boundaries of that particularly family unit’s “family rules”. These rules are often unspoken - such as telling the truth, being kind, no bad language and not fighting or shouting at each other - whilst others may base their family rules on the Judeo-Christian ethic that has survived over 2000 years and of which GK Chesterton famously once said “Christianity has not been tried and found wanting, it has been found difficult and largely left untried” - which I suspect also applies to most other major world religions too! By having such a set of family rules each person is then subject to them .. including the parents. And this can have unexpected and yet positive benefits for everyone: for example, when one of the parents has bent the rules - it might be when a child is unjustly shouted at by a parent - then at the family meal time, if the innocent party feels secure enough to point out the injustice, this can provide the occasion for the parent to apologize for getting it wrong and asking their son or daughter for forgiveness. This is a crucial lesson for a child to learn at an early age and helps them understand and accept personal responsibility for their actions - and how sorrow and forgiveness can heal an emotional injury at source and not allow it to fester into chronic guilt or resentment. <br />
<br />
All parents of teenagers know that the teenage years are the years of chaos - and it really is not surprising as the teenage brain is continuing to make new connections during a time when their bodies are physically changing, and at the same time surging with adolescent hormones - a guaranteed recipe for long sullen pauses or inexplicable explosive reactions. If all parents were to realize that teenage development equates with chaos not entirely of their own making, then life for both parents and teenagers could be more serene. Which brings me back to family meal times.<br />
One of the great joys of family life is that just about everyone there is of a different age group, whilst at school for 12 years of their lives, our young people are put in classes where everyone is of the same age and at the same level of life experience. Whilst preparing for, eating and cleaning up after the family meal, the group has to cooperate with people of different ages and life experience. So when the teenager says to the parent “You don’t get it do you?” ... well perhaps they do actually get it better than the teenager thinks! The important thing is to allow the youngsters to express their thoughts in a loving secure atmosphere, within the family rules, and not get a long lecture on why they are wrong, and how they should get their act together. <br />
Family meal times allow for parents to hear whats happened to their children during that day or week and try to understand what outside influences they’ve been under when away from home. It also calls on each member to learn how to listen, as well as to have the confidence to speak out to. And it’s also that important time when issues can be completed and not carried on as hurts for weeks, months or even years. Unfortunately, children still grow up in dysfunctional families where parents continue to pass on the negative ideas and habits they learned from their parents and which still stunt their own children’s emotional development for life.<br />
All of this is so important for the mental health of our young people as about 1 in 3 of the whole population will experience some form of mood disorder during the course of their lives, but if they have experienced the benefits of life in a stable, happy family unit, they will be better prepared to deal with such challenges if and when they arise.<br />
Family meals are not easy to organize in these so called modern times, but they are an essential part of a healthy society - both physically and mentally - so the effort to make it happen as often as possible will be more than rewarded with happy memories and a healthier future generation.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.deeprootsathome.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/The-Prayer-Before-The-Meal-I.jpg" target="_blank">image </a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01660583782109558264noreply@blogger.com0