SUNDAY DECEMBER15th 2002
OSTEOARTHRITIS
The cover of this week's Time magazine has a huge picture of a red painful looking knee. The headline reads "The Coming Epidemic of Arthritis " . An epidemic implies contagiousness .......this IS NOT the case.
Arthritis is a word commonly used but I wonder whether most people really know what it actually is. In fact "it" is not the right term here because there are many different and unrelated forms of joint conditions that fall under the borad term Arthtitis.
the term "Arthritis" means inflamed joint . Oddly Osteoarthritis - the most common form of "arthritis"- usually doesn't involve much in the way of inflammation at all - it is a degeneration of the cartilage within a joint - usually through wear and tear or damage.
I have invited Dr Laurie Clemens, a rheumatologist ( joint specialist) to clear up the confusion
Also Liz Bongetti Senior Health Educator with the Arthritis Foundation will join us with some practical tips on managing arthritis with their slogan "move it or lose it"
1800 011 041 is the free call number for more information on Arthritis
click HERE to visit the TIME magazine site
click
HERE to visit
Arthritis Australia
HEALTHY HOLIDAYS
FREYCINET LODGE - Tasmania
The
beach at Wine Glass bay has been voted one of the top 10 beaches on the
world. It is part of the Freycinet Peninsula on the East Coast of
Tasmania. Hidden within the Freycinet National Park is Freycinet
Lodge . With its 60 cabins nestling in the natural bushland and with
stunning coastline views this HAS to be a healthy holiday option !
At the lodge you can participate in guided tours of local history and geography. If you are a bushwalker or a 4x4 driver its heaven !
We'll be talking with Cecily Broadhurst from Freycinet Lodge.
click
HERE to visit Freycinet Lodge
SUPPORT GROUP OF THE WEEK
Meniere's Support Group
If you were told that you have a progressing condition affecting hearing and balance where the cause is unknown and there is no cure I imagine you would be at risk of feeling alone and abandoned.Menieré's syndrome is such a condition and so is also the perfect example of a condition where a patient support group is essential .
This support group link was suggested by a listener - thanks Louise :) We'll be speaking with Lyn Polson the Honorary Secretary of the Meniere's Support Group about the association and its work.
Meniere’s Syndrome is also ( but not often because its hard to say ) known as Idiopathic Endolymphatic Hydrops - The names tells a lot about this condition. A "syndrome" is a collection of symptoms and it is reasonable to assume that when a condition has this title - little if anything is known about its actual cause.
to be classified as having Meniere's syndrome you would have 4 main symptoms - ( this is from the Meniere's Info Centre - see link below)
(1) fluctuating hearing loss,
(2) fluctuating rotational vertigo (dizziness),
(3) fluctuating tinnitus (a sound heard when there is no sound),
(4) fluctuating aural fullness (a sense of pressure in the middle ear, as if descending in an airplane; however, it is *not* actual pressure in the middle ear).
The word "Idiopathic" confirms this notion - in simple terms it means "'it just happens". Which of course is not necessarily the case - it is more that it is not yet understood properly. Endolymphatic hydrops refers to one theory that the problem could be due to excess amounts of one of the fluids within the semi circular canals of the ear. These canals are responsible for helping us maintain balance ( they act like spirit levels used by builders)
Another theory is that the condition is due to abnormal blood vessel formation pressing on nerves near the ear.
It is important to note that the symptoms described may be due to various causes and it can be that when no other cause is found that a person falls into the catagory of Meniere's syndrome.
The condition usually worsens progressively but as it is a fluctuating and often intermittent it is impossible to give anyone an accurate prediction for their progress. Unfortunately there is no cure available - yet.
Click HERE to visit the Meniere's Support Group in Victoria
Click HERE to visit the Meniere's Support Group in NSW
Click HERE for a wonderfully informative information site about Meniere's Syndrome Meniere's Info Centre.
click
HERE to visit the Australian Tinnitus
Association
LOVE YOUR WORK
Sgt DAVID KEY - Victoria Police Airwing
Last year I was invited to speak at a lunch. The speaker before me gave one of the most moving orations I have ever heard. Everyone in the room was mesmerised as he told us of an ordeal he experienced. He told the story factually and honestly. He told us how he was just doing his job. But it was only later when he stopped that he realised this job was like no other he had done or hoped to ever do again. David Key is a quietly spoken police officer who is is humble beyond the meaning of the word.
On 22nd November this year Sergeant David Key and his colleagues Senior Constable Darryl Jones and Senior Constable Barry Barclay received the Police Valour Award for their extraordinary acts of bravery during the Sydney Hobart Yacht race in 1998, when they were involved in the winching to safety of stranded yachting crewmembers. David Key was on the end of a rope dangling from a helicopter. He chose to be lowered again and again into tumultuous seas to achieve what seemed inmpossible. David still maintains he was just doing his job.
The Valour Award is the highest award for bravery from Victoria Police .
David
will join us on the phone - because he is working
!
click HERE to visit the official Victoria Police Airwing website
click HERE to visit an UNOFFICIAL police site with an extract of a report from the 1998-9 sydney- hobart yacht race rescue - this link was not given to me by any person - I found it through a search engine.
STREPTOCOCCAL GROUP B INFECTION
AND PREGNANCY
Not so long ago I received a letter from a woman who asked me to let people know about potentially serious infection that many may not be aware of.
Streptococcus group B is a usually harmless bacterium . It is not the same streptococcus that causes infections like tonsillitis. Strep group B often lives in a woman's vagina and causes no problems to her or anyone else. It is not an Sexually transmitted infection and causes no problems to an adult who has it.
However if a woman is giving birth and there is Strep Group B present in her vagina at the time it is possible that this could result in a serious infection in her baby. It is estimated that between 15% and 40% of women probably carry the bacterium in their vagina at some time during their pregnancy,
It is important to note that the overwhelming majority of situations where a women has this bacterium present in her vagina her baby WILL NOT be harmed. However in some situations where there are co-exisitng problems including a urinary tract infection with the Strep or premature rupture of membrane( water breaking earlier than 37 weeks) the risk of the baby being infected may be higher.
In Australia a routine test for Strep B is done in pregnant women before 30 weeks and if found a course of safe, simple antibiotics will eradicate the problem.
If you are concerned about Strep B please discuss it with your doctor or midwife.
Dr Shane Higgins from the Royal Women's Hospital will help put this condition into perspective.
TRAVELLERS HEALTH TIPS
IMMUNISATIONS
A couple of weeks ago we ran short of time and weren't able to get to out segment on Travel Immunisations. Fortunately Dr Bernie Hudson is available to come back today.
Too often people come into my general practice asking for travel immunisations, which is great , except that then they go on to tell me they are leaving next week ! part of your preparation for a trip overseas has to be finding out WHAT immunisations and precautions you should consider before you go
Dr
Bernie Hudson is an Infectious
Diseases Specialist at Royal North Shore
Hospital in Sydney. He'll join us with some tips for overseas travel
preparation
Click HERE to visit the Medical Advisory Service for Travellers Abroad
SAFE BOATING
With Summer holidays upon us many people will take to the seas and lakes for some recreational boating. Glassy blue waters off golden beaches look serene and safe. But nature can change all that . It is vital to be prepared before boating and take all safety precautions.
Barry
Hibberd is the general manager of the Queensland Boating Industry
Association and he will be joining us to give us some tips on boating safety
PSYCHOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT OF DISASTERS
Normie Rowe spoke to us about his passion for talking openly about post traumatic stress disorders so people know there is help available
Heather Bancroft is a specialist psychologist who works extensively in counselling people who have been exposed to disasters .She will join us in the studio to help us understand peoples reactions and how best to deal with the emotions that are stirred.
With the recent Sydney bushfires and the events of October 12 in Bali it is important we understand human reactions to disaster and when a reaction might be abnormal and require counselling.
We now know the importance of understanding individuals respond to situations differently . But people need access to people with whom they can debrief and discuss their thoughts and experiences.
SENIORS COMPUTING
getting started !
it is said that people over 50 are the fastest growing group taking to computers like ducks to water . This certainly seemed the case when we talked about this topic a couple of weeks ago.
Of course there are still many people reluctant to try to learn to use a computer because they fear its all too hard
Remember a computer cant be that smart - it can only count to 2 - and even then it does it by using 0 and 1 !!
People may be taking to the technology like bees but To avoid drowning Nan Bosler, the president of the Australian Seniors Computer Clubs Association will join us and give us a few basic tips for starting out .
click HERE to visit the Australian Seniors Computer Clubs Association
also find other links on my links page