DR FEELGOOD SATURDAY  8th MARCH 2003

Due to the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix this weekend programs will not be heard in Melbourne on 3aw  ( back next week ). Also the Sydney summer series has concluded - thanks for listening

Today the program will be broadcast only in Brisbane  on 4bc – you can listen online from anywhere by going to http://www.4bc.com.au . This is the last in the summer series in Brisbane  - thanks for listening

NEXT WEEK WE ARE STILL ON IN MELBOURNE UNTIL FOOTBALL RETURNS - YOU CAN LISTEN ON LINE AT http://www.3aw.com.au

After that ? .......please check back here next week for THE announcement !!! I hope you will be joining me ....stay tuned ;)

UNDERSTANDING CONTACT LENSES AND SPECTACLES

 I think it is interesting that they say just about everyone’s eye sight will start to deteriorate from around 45 to the point of needing assistance to read with glasses  - Maybe this is natures way of being kind – I mean if the vision is a bit blurry you may not notice the wrinkles and droops as much when looking in the mirror……. But seriously

 Spectacles are thought to have been around since the 13th Century with their origins probably in Italy.The Bureau of Statistics states that 50% of Australians wear corrective spectacles and nearly all of us will require them at some stage in our lives. But how many of us really understand the process of prescribing or them how they work  how often should you get your prescription reviewed ? Is it ok just to buy glasses over the counter at the supermarket ?

 And what about Contact lenses ? What are some tips for using them

 Ian Douglas is an Optometrist and a contact lens expert  he will be joining us to discuss spectacles and contact lenses

 There is Excellent information on the Optometrists Association of Australia website at www.optometrists.asn.au

 Especially

http://www.optometrists.asn.au/eyecare/spectacles.html

http://www.optometrists.asn.au/eyecare/contactlenses.html

http://www.optometrists.asn.au/eyecare/history.html

  SPEECH AND STROKE ( BRAIN ATTACK)  

stroke.gif - 12958 Bytes

logo of the Stroke  Foundation

When people think of stroke they often think of someone having arm, leg or face weakness. However stroke or grain attack can affect parts of the brain that are responsible for many other functions. The brain is a highly organised efficient organ made up of intricate networks. A very small area of damage can have devastating effects through loss of the ability to coordinate these networks. Speech is one such complex activity which  involves recognition and integration of incoming messages along with coordination of memory retrieval and muscles to formulate coherent communication. The speech centres of the brain are usually located on the Left side of the brain – damage to this area may cause a range of speech disturbance known as

 DYSPHASIA

These described  problems in the use of language

They may have trouble UNDERSTANDING   - the person having problems understanding speech or sounds.

They may have trouble SAYING  – the person may know what they want to say but cannot find the right words. Or they might not be able to control automatic language such as swearing or may have trouble explaining things clearly .

They may have trouble with normal GESTURE RESPONSES – as in no longer able to nod for yes or may have problems understanding other people’s gestures

They may have trouble READING  or WRITING

 DYSPRAXIA

This describes problems with the COORDINATION of the muscles needed to form of words

.DYSARTHRIA

This desribes problems with WEAKNESS of the muscles needed for forming words and can result in volume problems slurred speech changes in voice quality

 The problems resulting from a brain attack may be temporary or permanent. The problems  may improve with time and it is always worth seeking assistance form a specialist speech pathologist

 Brenda Carey is a speech pathologist who will help us understand the processes of learning to speak again after stroke

 Some useful links are

http://www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/pages/fact%20sheets/factsheet3.1.html

http://www.strokefoundation.com.au/

http://www.shrs.uq.edu.au/cdaru/aphasiagroups/About_Us/About_Us.html

 for more info call 1800 787 653  (1800 STROKE)

 

NATHAN IS GOING HOME !!

 You will recall we spoke with Dr Christian Brizard cardiac surgeon some months ago after he had completed a marathon heart operation on tiny Perth  baby Nathan Garcia who was born with a malformed hear ( hypoplastic left heart syndrome) . Then we met his parents, Monique and Brian  sometime later after he had recovered from his first operation and was still awaiting his next procedure. Well Nathan has come through it all and is due to be discharged from the Royal Children’s Hospital this coming Wednesday and is going back home to Western Australia

 Dr Brizard will be joining me in the studio and a very happy Monique Garcia will be on the phone

 Visit Dr Christian Brizard’s cardiac surgery Unit at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne

http://www.rch.org.au/cardiac_surg/

 read more about Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome from the RCH website fact sheet

http://www.rch.unimelb.edu.au/Cardiology/website/Library/Hypoplastic_Left_Heart_Syndrom/hypoplastic_left_heart_syndrom.html

 visit the Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome Support group website – its Inspirational ! http://www.heartsofhope.iinet.net.au/

 here is Nathan’s own page

http://www.heartsofhope.iinet.net.au/nathan2/nathan.html

   LOVE YOUR WORK

CHICKEN SEXER

 Tom Brown is a Chicken Sexer for Inghams Chicken  - Now this IS an interesting job – Tom is one of only 15 Chicken Sexers in Australia – a million questions spring to mind and I will be asking Tom all of them !

 To find out more about Chicken go to Inghams home page

http://www.inghams.com.au/inghams1/default.asp

To find out some facts about chickens and chicken sexing check this site -

http://www.foodreference.com/html/fchicken.htm

CELEBRITY CHECK UP

Kerri-Anne Kennerley

 Kerri Anne Kennerley is a stayer in an industry which casts people aside as you not because they are no longer useful or popular but  maybe because they can .Youth is considered a commodity sought after in TV and women are often heard to complain that there is little role for older women on camera.

Kerri Anne is timeless. Her morning television chat show “Mornings with Kerri- Ann” on channel 9  is thriving and so is she. I think she looks better and younger now than she did a couple of decades ago.

Kerri Anne began her television career aged 14 when she hosted the afternoon children’s program Everybody In “ on Brisbane’s channel 9 and she has been on our screen almost ever since.

Besides TV Kerri Ann has also had a singing career which took her to the USA as well as her own program on radio.

 Kerri-Anne is the person you see on TV –effervescent and genuine. The sort of person who makes a point of saying hello at a function when she sees you. She is a woman who’s professional skills are honed and rival any male in the industry. To be such a stayer in the industry of television she has to be. Kerri Anne is a woman to be admired, she’s made it and she is a worthy role model for young women aspiring in the industry.

 Kerri-Anne a native of Brisbane  joins me for my celebrity check up today as my special International Women’s Day Celebrity 

Kerri-Anne's program - "Mornings with Kerri-Anne" can be seen each weekday on Channel 9 from 9:30 am

AUSTRALIAN F1 GRAND PRIX CELEBRITY CHALLENGE

Darren James from Melbourne’s 3AW will have just completed the  MINI Celebrity Challenge and he will be giving us his a run down and hopefully a chat with some of the other competitors – Of course the BIG race is tomorrow.

if you want to listen to the Grand Prix action go to 3AW the official radio station for the Australian F1 Grand Prix http://www.3aw.com.au

DREAM ALCHEMY

 Jane Theresa Anderson joins us again to interpret the meaning of your dreams

 http://www.dream.net.au

  SCIENCE CELEBRITIES

NORMA McRAE

 Norma McRae is a professional woman with passion she is a wonderful role model and true quiet achiever. She is a woman of action.

Norma is a Queensland-based Registered Nurse and Midwife who has experience working in Aboriginal communities, emergency departments and the Army. In 1991 she left Australia and worked as a Surgical ward nurse in Afghanistan. Then in 1993/1994 she was a surgical ward nurse in Kenya, at the same time opening a feeding centre for severely malnourished people in Sudan. In 1999 Hospital Administrator in Kenya for 560 bed ICRC war surgical hospital. In 2000 and 20001 Norma undertook a mission in East Timor as a Hospital Administrator at the former ICRC managed facility in Dili. And in 2001 she was a Delegate to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Afghanistan.

 Currently Norma is a Team Leader and Health Delegate for the Red Cross in Bali. She has been involved  in this project since December 2002

 Read more about Norma on the Red Cross Web Site

http://www.redcross.org.au/newsroom_archive_qldregisterednursetoafghanistan.htm

   INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

 I have absolute respect for the women who fought to give me and my gender the opportunities we have today. I realise it may be easy to think that we no longer need a special day like International Women’s day. Easy when we live in a country like Australia where women do have freedom and equality. But there are many places and many cultures where women are treated with less respect and it is imperative that we continue to fight for their rights.

 The following link is to the Federal Government Office for the Status of Women where there is a calendar of events for International Women’s Day  - http://www.osw.dpmc.gov.au/3rd_calendar.cfm