Category Archives: Health information

Health information

National Cervical Screening Program

National Cervical Screening Program

The National Cervical Screening Program has now changed. From December 1st, the Pap test was replaced by a HPV test. These changes are a result of new evidence, better technology and will help improve early detection of cervical cancer and save lives.

The new National Cervical Screening Program will:

  • invite women to participate in the National Cancer Screening Register
  • replace the Pap test with the more accurate Cervical Screening Test
  • invite women aged 25 to 74 years to undertake the test
  • increase the time between tests from two years to five years

The new Cervical Screening Test:

  • Is now available on the Medicare Benefits Schedule
  • Will prevent an additional 140 cervical cancers each year
  • Will complement Australia’s HPV vaccination program for boys and girls

If you are under 25 and unsure about what these changes mean for you, please visit    accf.org.au/…ancer-changes/screen-from-25

For more information:   Please visit  https://accf.org.au/

Health information

World Antibiotic Awareness Week

Antibiotics NPS MedicineWise

Overuse and misuse of antibiotics is increasing the problem of antibiotic resistance. We are all part of the problem and the solution. Antibiotic resistance is impacting us now – we all have a role to play.

Did you know…?

  • Australia has one of the highest rates of antibiotic use in the world. We’re ranked 8th among 29 countries evaluated by the OECD.
  • Just because symptoms last a long time, doesn’t mean children need antibiotics. Most children get better in about 2 weeks.
  • Regular hand washing (using soap and running water) keeps your hands clean and can help stop the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Things you can do

  • Take the prescribed dose and complete the whole course of treatment prescribed by your doctor.
  • Don’t share antibiotics with another person.
  • Don’t keep leftovers.

You can also take the pledge and join the 50,000+ Australians who have promised to preserve the power of antibiotics.

For more information please visit:

https://www.nps.org.au/medical-info/clinical-topics/reducing-antibiotic-resistance

Health information, Waitara Medical News

March into Yellow – Endometriosis Australia

March into Yellow – Endometriosis Australia

‘March into yellow’ is a campaign designed to raise awareness for women with endometriosis. Endometriosis is a common disease in which the tissue that is similar to the lining of the womb grows outside it in other parts of the body.

“10% of women suffer with endometriosis at some point in their life with the disease often starting in teenagers.”

Show your support this March by:

  • Taking pictures of your yellow challenges and post them on your social media accounts using #MarchintoYellow #endoaustralia
  • Inform family and friends of the cause
  • Donate to Endometriosis Australia
  • Join the community group
  • Volunteer with an Endometriosis Australia event

For more information, visit: https://www.marchintoyellow.org.au

Health information, Waitara Medical News

Coeliac Awareness Week

Coeliac Awareness Week is a campaign which aims to reach the many thousands of Australians unaware they are living with coeliac disease and help them identify the symptoms and take steps towards diagnosis and treatment.

“Coeliac disease is a serious medical illness, affecting 1 in 70 of the population. However, 80 per cent of affected Australians remain undiagnosed.”

Get involved this March by:

  • Displaying posters in your local area
  • Reading online resources
  • Informing family members and friends of the harms
  • Creating awareness on social media
  • Organising your own fundraiser

For more information: http://www.coeliac.org.au

Health information, Waitara Medical News

World Kidney Day 9 March

 

World Kidney Day aims to raise awareness of the importance of our kidneys to our overall health and to reduce the frequency and impact of kidney disease worldwide. The theme for 2017 is kidney disease and obesity, designed to outline the grave impact of obesity on developing a high risk of Chronic Kidney Disease.

“10% of the population worldwide is affected by chronic kidney disease.

Get involved this March by:

  • Raising awareness on social media using #kidneysfirst
  • Sharing personal stories
  • Volunteering
  • Donating
  • Order you own events kit and organise a fundraiser

For further information, visit http://www.worldkidneyday.org/

 

Health information, Waitara Medical News

Shingles Vaccine Now Available!

Waitara Family Medical Practice is offering free shingles vaccine to people aged 70, with a catch up program available for people aged 71 – 79.

Herpes-zoster (Shingles) is a painful blistering rash caused by reactivation of the varicella zoster virus – the same virus that causes chickenpox. The shingles rash occurs when the dormant chickenpox virus is reactivated in the nerve tissue, causing inflammation of the nerves. Sometimes pain in the affected region can be severe and prolonged.

1 in 3 people will develop shingles in their lifetime. As a person gets older, the risk of getting shingles increases.

Routine vaccination of persons aged 70–79 years is expected to obtain the greatest benefits against shingles and its complications.

There is no cost for the vaccine if you are aged 70 – 79, and all visits are bulk billed. For more information and to make a booking, call (02) 8038 1070 or book online via our website.

Health information

Could you perform CPR in an emergency?

Being able to do CPR could save a life! Do you know how to perform CPR correctly? How to use a defibrillator? What to do in an emergency situation?

If no CPR is performed, it only takes three to four minutes for the person to become brain dead due to a lack of oxygen.

By performing CPR, you circulate the blood so it can provide oxygen to the body, and the brain and other organs stay alive while you wait for the ambulance. There is usually enough oxygen still in the blood to keep the brain and other organs alive for a number of minutes, but it is not circulating unless someone does CPR. CPR does not guarantee that the person will survive, but it does give that person a chance when otherwise there would have been none.

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CPR is a life saving skill that everyone should learn. You should update your knowledge annually to make sure you’re confident at performing CPR, which in an emergency could save a life.

This information is not substitute for proper CPR training by an accredited organisation. Visit St John’s Ambulance website to find course locations.

 

Health information

Are you sun safe?

It is now summer and the warmer weather means we will be spending more time outdoors, it is important to be sun-safe!

Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world. In 2013, more than 2,200 Australians died from this almost entirely preventable disease.

The main cause of skin cancer is overexposure to UV radiation. This is produced by the sun, but it can also come from other sources, such as solariums (sun beds). While these are now banned in Australia, people who used a solarium before age 35 have an almost 60% greater risk of melanoma.

Most parts of Australia have high levels of UV radiation all year round. UV radiation cannot be seen or felt and it is not related to temperature, but it can cause:

  • sunburn
  • premature skin ageing
  • damage to skin cells, which leads to skin cancer.

The best way to prevent skin cancer is by using sun protection measures. Slip, slop, slap, seek and slide to protect your skin from overexposure to the sun and sun damage.

 

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Slip

Wear clothing that covers your neck, shoulders, arms, legs and torso. The best protection comes from closely woven fabrics. For clothes designed for sun protection, the higher the UPF (ultraviolet protection factor), the greater the protection.

Slop

Apply a water-resistant sunscreen with SPF 30+ or higher at least 20 minutes before going outside, as it takes this long to sink into the skin. Reapply every two hours, after swimming and after any activity that causes you to sweat or rub the sunscreen off.

Slap

Wear a broad-brimmed hat that protects your face, neck and ears.

Seek

Use shade from trees, umbrellas, buildings or any type of canopy. Be aware that UV radiation is reflective and bounces off surfaces such as concrete, snow, water and sand, causing sun damage even when you think you’re shaded.

Slide

Wear sunglasses that meet the Australian and New Zealand standard AS/NZS 1067:2003 and have an EPF (eye protection factor) of 10. Wraparound styles are best.

For more information visit the cancer council website.