fbpx Skip to main content
Monthly Archives

July 2017

Jul 26
Love0

Eliminating Hepatitis – It’s Everybody’s Problem

By General Wellbeing, Immunisation

 

Hepatitis has a reputation as a disease that only affects people who live an unhealthy lifestyle. While factors like sharing needles can greatly increase the chances of contracting a form of viral hepatitis, it is quite possible for almost anybody to come into contact with the disease. Being informed about hepatitis is everybody’s responsibility.

So, what is hepatitis?

The term “hepatitis” refers to inflammation of the liver. There can be many causes and degrees of severity. Normally when people talk about hepatitis, they are talking about one of the viral forms.

  • Hepatitis A (HAV) is a virus that is often transmitted by coming into contact with food or water that has been contaminated by faeces of an infected person.
  • Hepatitis B (HBV) is a virus that is spread via bodily fluids – blood, semen or similar.
  • Hepatitis C (HCV) is a virus that is also spread by contact with bodily fluid.
  • Hepatitis D (HDV) is a virus that is spread through direct blood contact, but can’t infect someone unless they also have Hepatitis B. It is uncommon in developed countries.
  • Hepatitis E (HEV) is a virus that is spread through contaminated water. It is very uncommon in developed countries.
  • You can also get non-viral hepatitis from an auto-immune disease, or as a complication from drugs, alcohol, medications or toxins.

How is hepatitis diagnosed?

Most symptoms of hepatitis aren’t obvious until there is a lot of damage to the liver. First, your doctor will talk to you to try and find any risk factors. You might get a physical exam where the doctor will gently press on your stomach to feel for any abnormal swelling, or if you have pain.

There are blood tests to see how well the liver is working. Abnormal results might be the first sign something is wrong, especially in the early stages. Other blood tests might be necessary to check for a number of factors that might indicate hepatitis.

Ultrasound can be used as a diagnostic tool to check that your liver looks normal. If there are still concerns, your doctor might order a liver biopsy, which is a small sample of tissue that is taken from your liver – normally with a needle instead of surgery. These samples show what’s really going on with your liver.

Treatment

Some types of hepatitis can be cured; some types can be vaccinated against, and some need to be managed. If you are found to have a form of hepatitis, you will need to work closely with your doctor to discuss treatment options.

Avoiding hepatitis

The best ways to avoid hepatitis are:

  • Good hygiene practices, including eating at restaurants with high safety standards
  • Avoiding blood, including spilled blood, shared drug needles and razors.
  • Practising safe sex
  • Be extra alert when traveling to developing countries; avoid local water, ice, raw fresh produce and seafood.
  • Stay up-to-date with vaccinations.

If you are concerned about any symptoms you might be experiencing, such as lethargy, unexplained weight loss, pale stools, abdominal pain, or if you would like a routine blood test – be sure to see your GP. Up to 90% of people who have hepatitis B are unaware that of their status, and the symptoms are often not obvious in the long-term forms of the disease. Your GP is the best person to help you find peace of mind and good health.

Click here to book to see a GP –>

Jul 20
Love0

A Painful Subject – Living With Chronic Pain

By Chronic Disease, Chronic Pain

Acute (or short-term) pain is a normal function of our nervous system, meant to let us know that something is wrong and to hopefully encourage us to fix the problem. Chronic pain is pain that stays for the long term. Even though it is very common – one in five Australians live with chronic pain – people who have this condition can feel isolated and misunderstood. Here are three areas of life with chronic pain that we should talk about.

  1. Sometimes, acute pain can turn chronic

Some conditions have chronic pain as a common symptom; for example, osteoporosis, arthritis, and migraines. Pain as the result of an injury or condition that lasts beyond the expected healing time can also become chronic (or on-going).  For example, if a person had surgery, they would expect to feel some pain afterwards until the wound healed. However, if the wound had completely healed but the patient still had pain, it has become chronic. Often, delayed or incorrect treatment is the reason acute pain becomes chronic.

  1. People can feel pain even when there is no physical damage

Pain is a signal that is sent from the nervous system and interpreted by the brain. In some conditions such as nerve disorders, there is no physical damage that is causing the pain.  If acute pain is not correctly treated, the body can modify its nervous system to continue to send pain signals – even when the original problem is no longer there.

Not only can a person with chronic pain feel the same pain sensation as someone with physical damage, it can be much harder to treat because the issue can be with the nerve signals instead of a result of a treatable injury.

  1. Chronic pain often comes with social and mental issues

Because pain is not visible or measurable by other people, a person with chronic pain can feel misunderstood and unsupported by not only the people around them, but even by some medical professionals. Mental health issues are common in people with chronic pain. The rates of mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, PTSD and substance abuse are much higher than in the general population.

 

Imagine being in pain every day. Maybe it’s worse on some days than others. When you first talk about your pain, people are sympathetic and understanding.  As the months stretch on, some friends, family and co-workers begin to lose interest or become frustrated with your inability to resume your normal activities. Many people bear the pain silently, or isolate themselves as a result.

 

Where someone has pain, it is very important that a pain management plan is developed as soon as possible. If you have experienced acute pain, stay in contact with your GP if you feel the pain is not resolving as quickly as expected. If you suffer from chronic pain, find a GP that will commit to working with you long-term to manage your symptoms. Pain is a serious condition that deserves to be prioritised, and there are many options available to help you manage symptoms.

 

Click here to book in with a GP to discuss pain management –>

Jul 20
Love0

5 Tips to Get a Better Nights Sleep

By General Wellbeing, Lifestyle

How anxiety affects sleep

 As the Sleep Health Foundation say – “Time in bed is time well spent”. The average adult needs about 8 hours of sleep a night, but the truth is that many people are getting far less than the recommended amount. Poor sleep habits are sometimes seen as something to laugh about, but the lack of quality sleep can have some serious effects on our health. Let’s look at 5 tips you can do to get a better nights sleep.

The effect of anxiety on sleep

Sleep disruption is a common feature of mental health problems, and anxiety is no exception. You don’t have to have a diagnosed anxiety disorder to feel the impact the stress and worry can have on your sleep patterns.

anxiety and sleep information - things you should know infographic

Source: Sleep Health Foundation 

1.Set up a sleep pattern.

Your body operates on a complex biological timer, and you can help influence your internal clock by setting up a routine to tell your body when to sleep. To help train your body, try to go to bed at a similar time each day. Your pre-bed routine can also play an important part in winding down – you might take a warm shower, read a book, or do other calming activities to prepare yourself before bed.

2. No screen time before bed.

Taking mobile phones to bed for a last look at social media has become common, but this practice is particularly harmful to sleep quality. The light that electronic devices emit tell your brain that it is time to be awake, and make it harder for you to wind down. Turn off the electronics well before it is time for bed.

3. Avoid bad habits.

Caffeine is a major culprit in keeping people awake. Coffee, chocolate, tea and cola drinks have sleep-disturbing amounts of caffeine, so start limiting them hours before bed. Alcohol might seem to help with relaxation but it seriously affects the quality of sleep, so avoid that as well. If you need a daytime nap, try to have it before the afternoon so it doesn’t affect your sleep.

4. Don’t watch the clock.

If you are watching the clock tick over while you struggle to tune out, get rid of the clock completely. Create the mindset that rest is a good use of your time, even if you are not asleep. People sleep more than they think they do, and anxiety will definitely prevent you from relaxing. Don’t stay in bed if you are wide awake – try repeating your calming bedtime routine, and then use your time to rest and relax in bed.

5. Get professional help.

Sleeping tablets are rarely a long-term solution except in exceptional circumstances, but there are a range of other techniques and treatments that can be used to help people who struggle with sleep.  If you experience recurring problems in this area, don’t suffer in silence – talk to your GP.

The Sleep Health Foundation specifically recommends that you see your doctor if you experience “persistent problems with mood, restlessness in bed, severe snoring or wakening unrefreshed despite what should be adequate length sleep”. Your GP is available to help you with your sleep issues, and to refer you on to specialists where necessary. Don’t accept poor sleep as an inconvenient part of life – fight back for a good night’s rest.

With these 5 tips to get a better nights sleep, you could be on your way to getting that restful shut eye we all need!

Click here if you would like to see a GP to discuss sleep issues –>

Book Now