DR FEELGOOD SATURDAY 25TH JANUARY 2003

NATIONAL BUSHFIRE UPDATE

Yesterday I was speaking to a friend in Melbourne about how he was going to spend the Australia Day Long weekend - He told me he had little choice he and his family live about an hour out of the city and they would be staying home in case they had to defend their property from Bushfires. He went on to say that many friends had offered to come and help out he needed them. An example of true Aussie mateship.

Last weekend saw Canberra tragically lose 4 citizens and with around 500 houses lost must amount to thousands of people without homes.

This week saw huge fires sweep through the Alpine regions of Victoria and fires continue in the ACT, NSW, Queensland and Tasmania.

This weekend, with temperatures expected to soar into the 40's and potential high winds thousands of volunteer and career fire fighters will be ready to risk their lives to fight the battle fronts in Victoria's high Country, ACT and NSW. Other people will be gearing up to do what they can to help support the fire-fighters and assist those in the local communities who fall victim to the fires

Ted Quinlan is the Deputy Chief Minister for ACT Deputy Chief Minister. A Canberra Bushfire Appeal has been set up and he will tell us how we can help the victims of last weekend's

SLEEP DISORDERS

RESTLESS LEG SYNDROME

Assoc Prof Matthew Naughton from The Alfred Sleep Disorders Centre will join me in the studio to talk about sleep disorders - in particular Restless Leg Syndrome in response to an email I received after last week's program.

People who suffer form Restless legs syndrome (RLS) feel extremely uncomfortable unless they move them. The symptoms commonly occur not long after getting into to bed, or after sitting for long periods.

The cause of RLS is not known, but research is looking at other conditions with possible links with RLS.

RLS may affect as many as 10 percent of people. There is no gender preference. It can start at any age but may worsen with age. RLS can disrupt sleep which may lead to daytime drowsiness and can make travelling difficult.

Scientists think that the condition may result from an imbalance in the brain transmitter chemical, Dopamine. Parkinson's Syndrome is another movement abnormality associated with this chemical

Many people with this condition sometimes find it difficult to get taken seriously and often are reluctant to seek help for fear of being labelled as nervous or stressed.

The diagnosis is made on history of symptoms and ruling out of underlying aggravating conditions. Also referral to a sleep specialist and undertaking a sleep study may assist in confirming the diagnosis.

Treatment may involve correcting an underlying associated condition like iron deficiency or peripheral neuropathy.

If there is no associated conditions treatment with medication may help. The medications used in Parkinson's disease may be prescribed because they affect dopamine levels in the brain . Sometimes . Narcotics like morphine are used to relieve severe symptoms but they can be addictive Muscle relaxants and sleep medications are also sometimes used but they don't get rid of the leg sensations .

Epilepsy prevention medications are sometimes used as they alter the nerve activity and may dampen the uncomfortable sensations. Clonidine, a blood pressure medication has occasionally been used as one of its useful sideeffects is controlling the activity of certain nerve pathways

Sometimes a combination of medication is used. Sometimes medication affects only work for a while before "wearing off".

Self help is also important - massage, stress management and yoga all help. As with all these sorts of conditions acceptance by doctors and others that the condition is real is vital - Support groups are essential

click HERE to visit an american RLS support group

click HERE to visit the Mayo Clinic's info page on RLS

GEARING UP TO CELEBRATE AUSTRALIA DAY TOMORROW

We'll be speaking to senior representatives in each state with a run down of whats on for Australia day near you tomorrow !

THE PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF BUSHFIRES

Heather Bancroft joins us again to talk about the many issues facing people who experience bushfires. In particular the signs of trauma and how to identify them, also survivor guilt. We'll also look at the decisions that people have to make about stying or leaving their homes and dealing with loss. I noticed an article in the paper today about all the pets that have been lost in Canberra. Last week we spoke about Companion Pets and I imagine this week there will be many people grieving the loss of their pets. It must be very hard because looking at the tragic loss of 4 human lives and the thousands homeless , some may think it inappropriate to concentrate on loss of a pet. Everyone needs to be allowed to feel their grief is valid. More information at www.ncptsd.org

AUSTRALIANS SCIENCE CELEBRITIES

VIVIAN BULLWINKEL (1915 - 2000)

AO, MBE, ARRC, ED, FNM, FRCNA

Vivian Bullwinkel was born in South Australia in 1915. After after completing her nursing training she volunteered for service in the Australian Nursing Service in May 1941 and sailed to Singapore. At the age of 26 she became the sole survivor of the 'The Bangka Island Massacre,' where she was shot in the back and pretended to be dead until the Japanese soldiers left. She then hid in the jungle before being found and taken to a prision camp, where she was to spend more than three years. After the War, Bullwinkel spent 16 years as Matron of Melbourne's Fairfield Hospital, retiring to Perth in 1977. Vivian Bullwinkel was awarded with an Order of Australia (AO) on 26 January 1993, a Member of the British Empire (MBE) on 1 January 1973 and the Royal Red Cross Medal on 6 March 1947 for service to the veteran and ex-prisioner of war communities, to nursing to the Red Cross Society and to the community. Also she was the winner of the Florence Nightingale Medal.

Vivian Bullwinkel's nephew John Bullwinkel is heading up a team who are currently raising money to set up a Vivian Bullwinkel Chair of Palliative Nursing Care at Monash University School of Nursing which will commemorate her work.

Information from BRIGHT SPARCS -  ( tomorrow we will be speaking to someone from Brisght Sparcs about other Australian Science Celebrities)

Click HERE to read more about Vivian Bullwinkel at Bright Sparcs

Click HERE to visit the Vivian Bullwinkel Foundation 

click HERE to read about Ita Buttrose lending support for the Vivian Bulwinkel chair of Palliative Care

SENIORS COMPUTING

Our regular guest Nan Bosler president of the Australian Seniors Computer Clubs Association will join us for more tips on computers and Internet for the uninitiated

Click HERE to visit the ASCCA and find a seniors computing club near you.