February 14th, Valentines day, is the day of love – represented by the symbol of the love heart. With all those hearts flying around, it’s the perfect time to be reminded of the importance of heart health. So it makes sense that it is also Heart Research Australia National Wear Red Day – aimed at raising awareness about the effects of heart disease, as well as the need for ongoing research.
What is heart disease?
Heart disease is a broad term used to describe a group of several diseases. Heart disease includes diseases affecting the blood vessels (such as coronary artery disease), the heart rhythm (such as arrhythmias) and heart diseases you are born with (congenital heart disease).
Why is heart research and heart health awareness so important?
Because the figures don’t lie, and right now, heart disease affects 2 out of 3 Australian families. In addition, on average one Australian dies from heart disease every 26 minutes! Because of this, the heart foundation recommends a heart check for people aged over 45, and over 35 for Aboriginal or Torres Straight Islander people.
Why is it important to have a heart health check?
Often there are no symptoms early on with heart disease, so without a test you may otherwise not know that you have the risk factors of heart disease.
How does my GP perform a heart health check?
During the consult, your GP will check your blood pressure, arrange blood tests, talk to you about your lifestyle and find out a bit about your family history. Once your blood test results are in, your doctor will be able to determine your risk of heart disease or stroke.
What can I do to reduce my risk of heart disease?
The biggest things within your control are lifestyle factors, such as maintaining a healthy weight and physical activity. Things such as avoiding excess salt intake (which increases your blood pressure, putting you at risk of heart attack or stroke), not smoking, and lowering your cholesterol levels can really help. If you’re concerned, you can speak to a GP as well as a dietician about how you can adapt your lifestyle to put you in the best possible position for avoiding heart disease.
What can I do to show my support for Heart Research Day?
Wear red! But also you can get together with neighbours, friends and family and raise money for heart research. Some ideas are: have a Wear Red day at school or work for a gold coin donation, host a heart healthy breakfast, lunch or dinner for your family or friends and ask for a small contribution for donation. You can also help spread the word, through social media and your personal networks, by telling people it’s Heart Research Day!
Your body uses water for so many things, including maintaining temperature, removing waste, and lubricating joints. In fact, every single cell in your body requires water to work correctly!
What is dehydration?
Dehydration is a condition where the loss of body fluids exceeds the amount of fluid taken in. If severe, it can be quite dangerous and can even lead to death.
What are the symptoms of dehydration?
If dehydration if mild, you may experience:
Feeling thirsty
Having a dry mouth, lips and tongue
Having a headache
Having dark yellow urine, and not much of it
Feeling dizzy or light headed when standing up
If dehydration is severe, you may experience
Feeling extremely thirsty
Having a very dry mouth
Breathing fast
Having a fast heart rate and low blood pressure
Having a fever
Having little or no urine
Feeling irritable, drowsy or confused
What causes dehydration?
You lose fluid every time you sweat, go to the bathroom, or even breathe. When it’s hot, the amount of fluid you lose doing just day-to-day activities increases dramatically. Dehydration can also be caused by vomiting and diarrhea – so it’s particularly important to be mindful of your fluid intake if you experience either of these, and potentially see your doctor if your symptoms don’t alleviate.
So what are your five tips for keeping hydrated??
Glad you asked! Here they are:
Add a slice of lemon or lime to your water bottle to add some flavor.
If you often forget to drink water, make it part of your schedule – such as drinking when you wake, at each meal and when you go to bed. Alternatively you could drink a small glass of water every hour, or set a ‘water alarm’ on your phone to remind you to take a sip.
Use a phone app to track how many cups of water you’ve had!
Keep a jug of water on the dinner table and encourage everyone to fill their glass once before and once after eating.
Prepare snacks made from water rich foods, such as cucumbers, melons or celery.
Bonus tip! When you’re in the car, turn drinking water into a game, and see who can be the first to take a sip at each light.
The WHO has warned that antibiotic resistance is one of the greatest threats to human health today – read on to find out why…
Take home points from antibiotics awareness week
Misusing antibiotics can cause harm
You could be passing on antibiotic resistant bacteria
Antibiotics are a precious resource that should be handled with care
What are antibiotics and what do they do?
Antibiotics are medicines used to treat infections or disease caused by bacteria.
Examples of infections caused by bacteria include:
Urinary tract infections
Skin infections
Infected wounds
Respiratory tract infections such as pneumonia and whooping cough
Antibiotics work by blocking a vital process in bacteria, which either kills them or stops them from multiplying. For example, some antibiotics destroy bacterial cell walls, while others affect the way the bacterial cell works.
What do antibiotics not do?
Antibiotics have absolutely no effect against viruses and viral infections such as cold and flu.
So how do I know if I need antibiotics?
To be absolutely certain that a person needs antibiotics, your doctor would have to take a sample of the afflicted area to have it tested. Without this, your doctor would be making educated guesses based on data from clinical trials suggesting which types of illnesses are likely to benefit from treatment by antibiotics. IF YOU ARE GOING TO A DOCTOR WHO PRESCRIBES YOU ANTIBIOTICS FOR EVERYTHING WITHOUT QUESTION, CONSIDER GETTING A SECOND OPINION.
Certain ailments may benefit from antibiotics, such as Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs). But this doesn’t mean all UTIs are bacterial – it’s just that it is more likely than not that they are. So on balance, your doctor might make the call that antibiotics will help you.
What are the risks of taking unnecessary antibiotics?
The WHO has warned that antibiotic resistance is one of the greatest threats to human health today.
This is where the bacteria that normally would have been killed or prevented from multiplying by the antibiotic change to protect themselves from the antibiotic. In other words – the antibiotic will no longer be effective!
This is a HUGE issue for us in Australia, because we have one of the highest antibiotic prescription rates aroung the world. The more antibiotics are used, the higher the chances that bacteria will become resistant to them!
Antibiotics can also have some unpleasant side effects:
Stomach problems such as diarrhea, nausea and vomiting
Thrush infections which can affect the mouth or vagina
Less commonly they could cause allergic reactions such as hives, fever and breathing problems or ongoing diarrhea.
So it really isn’t worth taking them if they aren’t causing you any benefit
You could be passing on antibiotic resistant bacteria to your friends and family!
If you use unnecessary antibiotics, and an antibiotic-resistant strain of bacteria develops, these can be passed onto people you are in contact with.
So what should I do to stop the spread of antibiotic resistance?
Simple – be part of the solution! You can pledge to reduce antibiotic resistance by committing to the following 5 actions:
I will not pressure my doctor to give me antibiotics for colds and the flu as they have NO EFFECT on viruses
I understand that antibiotics will not help me recover faster from a viral infection
I will only take antibiotics in the way they have been prescribed and when my doctor says I must
I understand that it is possible to pass on antibiotic resistant bacteria to others
I will make a greater effort to prevent the spread of germs by practising good hygiene
Remember, you can make antibiotic resistance worse if you:
Use antibiotics when you don’t need them
Use old packs of antibiotics for a new infection
Share antibiotics among friends or family
Don’t take antibiotics as your doctor prescribes, including the right amount at the right time.
It’s that time of year again when all parents are busy settling their children back into school! First term highlights the start to another full year of growth, learning and development for your children.
To help our kids maintain concentration, keep their tummies full and have the energy to play at recess and lunch, it is extremely important we provide them with a nutritious and exciting lunchbox every day!
To help you out, we have put together some handy hints to help you plan and prepare a healthy, balanced lunchbox for your children.
Healthy Hint 1: We have 5 main food groups that we should eat from every single day
Try to include at least one serve of each of these foods in your child’s lunch box daily:
Fruit – 1 piece of fruit, puree pack/fruit snack pack, cherry tomatoes, small handful of sultanas/dried fruit etc.
Vegetables – Carrot and celery sticks, lettuce or cucumber in a sandwich, sweet corn in a salad etc.
Dairy – Tub of yoghurt, cubed cheese or sliced cheese in a sandwich, milk etc.
Protein – Chicken, ham, turkey, beef in a sandwich/wrap, handful of nuts, tuna etc.
Grains and Cereals – (Wholemeal/multigrain options recommended).
Bread, bread roll, crackers, pasta salad, muesli bar etc.
Happy Hint 2: Include lots of variety
Kids love colour so try to include as many different colours as you can in their lunchbox. Try to give them different foods during the week and cut foods into different shapes to keep it interesting.
Hydration Hint 3: Hydration is key for concentration
Always ensure to send your child off to school with a water bottle. Try freezing it overnight and packing it in the lunchbox to keep your child’s lunch cool, or you can use it instead of a freezer block for good food safety!
Helpful Hint 4: Encourage kids to join in on making their own lunch
Get the kids involved in choosing/preparing/cutting/peeling the foods. Research shows this increases the likelihood of children eating healthy foods. This will also help them learn to appreciate the time it takes mum and dad to make their lunch every day!
Hero Hint 5: Set a good example
If kids see you setting great example and eating these healthy foods/putting them in your work lunch box too, they will be much more inclined to give it a go and enjoy the foods you provide.
As children spend a large portion of their day at school, their lunch box is a great opportunity to get them eating lots of healthy, nourishing foods to help them perform their best at school. If you have any questions, queries or your own wonderful lunchbox ideas please comment below!
For other great tips for packing healthier lunchboxes and more information check out:
Who doesn’t love that time of year when you can jet off and escape somewhere with the family? I know I do. However, I was shocked to find that people often spend time planning their hotel, flights, sightseeing and even making meal reservations, but forget the most important thing – to protect themselves against preventable disease.
Why get travel vaccinations?
We are very fortunate to be living in Australia, where the spread of many infectious diseases has been controlled. Unfortunately this isn’t the case worldwide. When we travel we risk exposure to these diseases as well as diseases that don’t occur in Australia. Even in safe destinations, disease outbreaks do occur.
Additionally, some countries may require you to be vaccinated against particular diseases, and may deny you entry at the border if you haven’t done so.
While everyone should look into vaccination before travelling, particular groups are at higher risk of travel related diseases – such as pregnant women, babies and young children, the elderly and those with a weakened immune system.
How do vaccines work?
Vaccines work by exposing our bodies to small, safe, inactive doses of bacteria or virus that can cause disease. In response, our white blood cells activate and begin to make antibodies. These antibodies remain in our immune system, and are able to respond immediately if exposed to the active disease in the future. In other words, the vaccine tricks our body into thinking it is under assault, and the immune system responds by making a weapon which is on standby for future infection. The reason why there isn’t a ‘one vaccine fix all’ solution, is that the antibodies created by the body are specific to each particular disease. Further, some diseases, such as influenza (the flu), change enough to make existing antibodies ineffective. This is why we need flu shots every year.
Which vaccination will I need?
There isn’t one straight forward answer to this. It depends on your destination, previous vaccinations, the time since your last vaccinations, your age and health.
For travel to areas with high risk of specific infections, immunisation may be required for diseases including:
Cholera
Hepatitis A
Japanese encephalitis
Meningococcal C
Rabies
Tick-borne encephalitis
Typhoid fever
Tuberculosis
Yellow fever
When should I start the process?
You should visit your doctor 6-8 weeks before departure. This is for two reasons:
(1) your immune system needs time to respond to a vaccination;
(2) some vaccines require more than one injection
If you have any further queries or will be travelling soon and haven’t received personal travel health advice, we highly recommend that you book yourself and your family in for a travel consultation. The independent GPs who consult at HealthMint offer travel immunisation and consultations in a beautiful and relaxing architecturally designed clinic.
P.S. We also highly recommend that you:
check the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade ‘Smarttraveller’ website prior to leaving, for country specific advice regarding safety, security, local laws and health and to register your travel plans in case of emergency;
Planning a fun family trip these holidays? Travelling with children should be a joy, particularly with some forward planning. These tips will help smooth out some of the bumps and ensure you have a pleasant journey.
Stay hydrated
The recirculated air in aeroplanes can be particularly dehydrating, so it’s important to take regular sips of water. This can also help with motion sickness.
Feed infants at the same rate or pattern as you would at home
Feeding your child more than you normally would can increase their discomfort in flight. This is because it results in more gasses being ingested. Due to cabin pressure changes gas in our digestive system expands causing bloating and discomfort.
Contact the airline in advance
They can help with arranging children’s meals and a bassinet if you have a young baby.
Pack the baby wipes
You never know when they will come in handy to wipe hands, restaurant tables or even toilet seats!
Don’t forget the first aid kit!
I recommend speaking to your doctor about what you may need to take with you. But obvious ones would be panadol, bandaids and antihistamines.
Give your children a personal travel diary before leaving
I still remember how delighted I was as a child to go out and pick a travel diarybefore each holiday. I would then spend hours on the plane, in the car, and during my downtime detailing my day, where we went, what we saw, what we ate. I even kept wrappers from little chocolates and lollies, stickers, brochures and cards to stick in my diaries. If your kids are of an age where they can write, I highly recommend this. Even if their writing skills are just developing, encourage them to spend time in the aeroplane ‘planning’ their trip, writing in simple words or with pictures. I used to write down where we were heading, which cities, where we were staying and what I was hoping to see and eat there. You could also give them little drawing tasks like to draw aeroplane, the pilot, what sights they think they will see etc.
Use relaxing music
Music is wonderful for setting a mood, and this is no different when the mood you want to create for your children is one of relaxation. Why not load up a relaxing play list onto some iPods to help your children fall asleep while on the move? I used to lug around my purple diskman, usually with my Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera CDs. But I would also carry a CD of chill out music for whenever I wanted to zone out.
Dealing with anxiety / a fear of flying
Some children and adults have a fear of flying, which is very normal and very treatable. However, it’s not something to leave to the last minute – it is encouraged that you approach it well in advance. Your doctor can give advice on coping mechanisms and arrange specialist treatment if necessary.
Another tool which many find useful for anxiety is a product called Rescue Remedy. Rescue Remedy is a mix of flower remedies known for their calming effects. It comes in a variety of forms – drops, spray and pastilles. I recommend putting drops of Rescue Remedy in a water bottle to sip on while in transit – that way you are helping yourself/your child stay calm as well as hydrated.
Coping with ear pain
There is nothing worse than being exhausted from travel and then experiencing that excruciating pain in your ears during take off and landing. On one trip when my sister and I were little, we were both crying so much from pain that strangers passed chocolates down the aisle to us. It must have been pretty distressing for other travellers to see us like that.
It’s nothing serious, and certainly nothing to worry about. However, it can be very distressing – particularly for children. It occurs because the eustachian tube that runs between the middle ear and pharynx (part of the throat) gets blocked or swollen. When cabin pressure changes rapidly the blocked eustachian tube isn’t able to adjust properly, causing discomfort. This is particularly a problem for children whose eustachian tubes are shorter and more easily blocked than adults or those who have a cold, allergy or sinus condition.
I have since discovered something which means I no longer suffer when flying – Earplanes. They work by lessening the pressure difference in your ear, allowing your eustachian tube to function more normally. Importantly, they come in a children’s version. Honestly, I never fly without them.
If, however, you or your child suffers from chronic sinus pain or an ongoing cold or virus, it’s important to see a doctor to get to the bottom of it.
My sister and I suffered from terrible ear pain during flights when we were younger. Since discovering Ear Planes, we haven’t had to worry!
Travel vaccines
Children are more vulnerable to picking up viruses than adults. It’s important make sure your child’s immunisations are up to date. There are also diseases specific to certain travel destinations – it is exceptionally important to get vaccinated against these before travel. It may also be a requirement of entry in some countries. Keep an eye out for my upcoming post on travel vaccination, and if you need to see a doctor in the mean time you can book here.
When should you see a doctor?
In most instances seeing a doctor prior to travel with children is a good idea. Your doctor will be able to advise you on whether you need any particular vaccinations and provide more detailed travel advice. They will be able to assess and treat your child if they are suffering from blocked ears or any other conditions. They will also be able to suggest specific medications that you may need to take with you.
There are a number of reasons why doctors encourage people to seriously consider incorporating an annual health check into their routine. We have seen time and again that a person can have health issues, sometimes serious issues, that they either haven’t noticed, or despite noticing symptoms that “aren’t quite right” they haven’t yet had the diagnosis and treatment they need. Sometimes these issues aren’t detectable without clinical testing, and if picked up early, can be managed before they become harder to treat.
We want to address this, to make sure you are as healthy as you can be. Or at least let you know if you’re not – and what to do to improve your health.
Think of your body like a car, which needs to get regular checks to keep running smoothly. Just like you get your tyre pressures & fluid levels checked, so does your body need regular checks. Doing so can help pick up issues and fix them before you end up with a car that breaks down and could be very costly to repair. The human body has its own set of things to measure and problems to watch out for, before they become difficult or impossible to repair. If a car struggles to run well after 10 – 15 years without a servicing, how is your body going to make it another 40, 50, 60 years without some detailed attention?
By getting a comprehensive Health Check through HealthMint, we can fully measure, assess and diagnose your current state of health. We can tell you how well your body is doing, what personalized risks are relevant to your future health, and what can be done now to optimize your health – including any conditions you might not even realise you might have.
We believe that healthcare can and should be better, starting with your own health status.
