February/March 2005 Edition
Sample articles from this edition:
Losing the bulge requires lifestyle changes
8 Ways to build a child’s self-esteem and confidence
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Sample articles from this edition:
Losing the bulge requires lifestyle changes
8 Ways to build a child’s self-esteem and confidence
Everyone knows that being overweight is unhealthy — it increases the risks of diabetes, heart disease and arthritis, amongst other things. Yet over one half of adult women and men in Australia are now overweight–a doubling in the last 20 years. And the proportion of overweight or obese children and adolescents is about one quarter (both boys and girls). Although for some the tendency to be overweight runs in the family, most people battle with the bulge simply because they don’t exercise enough and make the wrong choices when it comes to food.
Now that summer is upon us, many become dissatisfied with their body image (women in particular) and launch into exercise programs and various fad diets to change body shape. The truth is, fad diets such as the low carbohydrate diet, blood group diet, zone diet etc provide no solution in the long term.
Long-term solutions come from lifestyle changes. Yes, the weight loss will be slow and steady and most people determined to stay trim will need help from friends, family or health professionals to keep their motivation going.
Instead of focusing on a particular crash diet advertised in a women’s magazine or on the TV, do these two simple things:
Review your progress regularly with your doctor or dietician. They will help you stay motivated.
Gout commonly affects middle aged to older men, runs in families, and in most cases (75%) attacks the big toe in the middle of the night! It causes a very painful attack of arthritis with heat and swelling of the joint.
Other areas also affected include ankles, elbows and fingers. Gout is due to the body’s inability to remove uric acid (a waste product of the body that is derived from purines). As a result, irritating uric acid crystals are deposited inside and around the joints, causing pain.
Gout occurs more often in people who are overweight, have high fats in the blood, who drink excess alcohol, or who have kidney disease.
Although gout can be very well controlled with medication, the diet can play a part in preventing attacks. It is calculated that about 15% of the uric acid in the blood comes from the diet.
1. Treat them as an individual and enjoy them for what they are.
2. Separate the deed from the doer—when your child does something wrong disapprove of their action but don’t reject them.
3. Focus on their good points, not their failings—look for the good things they do and show your approval often.
4. Reward effort—encourage them at all times when they try to do well.
5. Have realistic expectations—if you expect too much, your child is set-up for failure, so set them goals they can achieve.
6. Teach them the skills they need—if you want them to fill the dishwasher, groom the dog, or make their bed, show them how to do it.
7. Reward effort, not the result—let them know you have noticed their efforts even though it may not be an ‘A class’ effort.
8. Give responsibility and permission to fail—children thrive on responsibility because if makes them feel important but they don’t always get it right.
Even though we vaccinate our children against this bacterial infection (it’s part of the Triple Antigen), epidemic infections are still common every 3-4 years, usually in spring-summer. It is just that fewer people are affected and symptoms are much less severe. More importantly, there are less of the bacteria around the community to infect babies who are particularly at risk – 1 in 100 will die if hospitalised with the infection in the first two months of life.
Pertussis usually begins as a typical “cold”, progressing over a few days to a persistent dry cough. When coughing, the unvaccinated child makes a “whooping” sound when they breathe in, immediately followed by vomiting. Coughing comes in bouts. Sometimes there is life-threatening obstruction to breathing or the bacteria may infect the lungs (pneumonia) or brain (encephalopathy; seizures).
Infection is spread by coughing respiratory droplets around the place. In this way, 80% of close contacts (e.g. households; day care) become infected and 10 days later, the illness starts in them. Symptoms then last 6-10 weeks if untreated.
Diagnosis is on the story and from tests – a swab taken from the nose or blood test.
Treatment is with antibiotics which only work if given in the first three weeks of the illness. Infected children can return to day care after five days on treatment.
These contacts should also be treated if in close contact with an infected person within the last 21 days:
Remember your teen years when you were searching for the meaning of life and wondering why you didn’t seem to fit in? Things have not changed much for today’s teenagers except the pace of life is faster and teens have a greater array of life choices to grapple with, not to mention more risks. Single parent families are more common and extended families less available for support. The media keeps reminding us of all the turmoil, endlessly portraying people as winners and losers, with not much in between.
Little surprise then that about one third of teenagers suffer emotional problems and depression and anxiety can disrupt their lives.
Depression can cause a negative cloud to descend over everything, so everything starts to look hopeless and the adolescent feels helpless to change it.
What can parents do about it? First, if the problem persists, acknowledge it is a problem and seek help. It is important to look behind the behaviour to any underlying issues. Pills are usually not the answer but helping the teenager work through problems can work wonders. Although family support is important, your teen may be helped more by someone independent to talk to, in confidence, so they can really open up. Ask your family doctor for help.
Here are the tell-tale signs of depression:
A sting from a bee has always been a worry, even before Muhammad-Ali took on the idea! A child treads on a bee beside the swimming pool. Mum brushes up against one while gardening or Dad hits one while on his motorbike. The main thing to distinguish honeybee sting from that of the ‘yellow jacket wasp’ or paper wasp is that bees only sting once and they leave the sting behind in the skin.
During a sting, venom is injected from a tiny sack, which stays attached to the sting left behind in the skin. This sack is why we recommend a bee sting is removed by flicking it out with a sharp object, like a knife. If you grab the sting, it squeezes the venom sack and squirts more venom under the skin.
The venom has a number of toxins that cause pain and irritation. Depending on how sensitive you are to the toxins and how much venom is injected, the body responds by releasing its own inflammatory hormones e.g. histamine. This in turn causes redness, swelling and more pain. This reaction can last days and produce severe local swelling despite ice and elevation. Antihistamines often help little. It is not true bee venom allergy. Allergy occurs when there is a reaction away from the site of the sting. This reaction takes the form of a combination of itchy welts elsewhere on the body, wheeze, or low blood pressure (causing blackout or dizziness). Allergic reactions can be very quick and life-threatening. But it is not true to say that subsequent stings always cause reactions that are more severe – it is somewhat unpredictable and the reaction may be the same or less. Immunotherapy (desensitisation) is available for those with potentially life-threatening reactions to bee (or wasp) venom. It provides 99% protection while on treatment and strong protection thereafter. The treatment, which consists of injections over three years, carries its own risks. For example, an allergic bee sting reaction that is just confined to the skin (welts or swelling) is distressing but not truly life-threatening, and immunotherapy would usually not be recommended because treatment provides more risk than a further sting. Immunotherapy is usually recommended when:
Mary wants a baby. Something is getting in the way. Her problem affects up to 10% of all women.
At the age of 30, Mary consulted with her doctor because she could not fall pregnant despite trying for two years. She had waited longer than usual because she thought her infrequent, irregular periods might mean it would take longer.
During consultation, her doctor noted her other complaints of being overweight (and having trouble losing it!), excessive hairiness, acne and lack of energy.
Mary was sent for some blood tests and an ultrasound scan of her pelvis.
The tests showed that Mary was not ovulating properly. Scan revealed multiple small cysts on her ovaries.
A diagnosis of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome was made. This is a metabolic problem that interferes with normal ovary function, along with blood fats and insulin metabolism.
Mary was referred to a gynaecologist who could find no other problems with her or her husband.
First step was to get Mary’s weight back to normal. She went on a special diet and regular exercise plan. As Mary’s weight decreased towards what it should be, her regular menstrual cycle kicked back in and within six months she had fallen pregnant.
(Serves 4)
Go back to Dec/Jan 2005 edition