April/May 2005 Edition
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The stomach is the first part of the bowel that receives swallowed food, ready for digestion. It makes about two to three litres of gastric juices everyday. Your stomach has a number of functions.
It stores the meal you have just eaten and feeds it a bit at-a-time to the bowel.
It is a food mixer. Strong muscles in the stomach wall squash and mix your meal contents into a slushy mass.
It sterilises your food. Parietal cells, within glands lining the stomach, make powerful hydrochloric acid that kills any germs you may have unwisely eaten.
It is a digesting tub. The acid, along with the protein-splitting enzyme pepsin made by your stomach lining, sets to work to split food protein. The stomach protects itself with a thick layer of mucus secreted by goblet cells in its lining.
The flow of stomach juices is controlled by the vagus nerve that can activate the stomach in response to chewing food or even the thought of food! The upper part of your stomach also secretes a hormone gastrin, which encourages further release of juices into the stomach cavity.
The flow of party-digested food from the stomach into the small bowel is controlled by a tricky arrangement. This stops too much acid entering the small bowel and stimulates the release of different digestive juices from the gallbladder and pancreas, as they wait next in line.
From then on, digestion in the small bowel gets even more complicated. It’s a good thing it all happens without having to think about it!
Accidents or mishaps can strike at any time. Some people suffer life-threatening reactions to stings (eg. bee venom). Swimming pools increase the risk of drowning. Children and elderly people are particularly at risk of sudden critical events.
In these situations, knowledge of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can easily save a life. This is because the actions taken in the first few minutes following an accident can change whether someone lives or dies. CPR is very simple but it is best learnt by practise and demonstration. Training courses allow you to practise on a mannequin or dummy.
Once you have learnt to keep someone breathing and their heart and circulation working you will keep their brain supplied with vital oxygen until more help arrives. Often, injured people will recover spontaneously once you have begun to do CPR and even simple things such as knowing how to clear the airway can be life saving.
If you want to protect your own family or if you work with a community group, especially children, find out where a CPR course is being run and join in.
A flash burn is an injury to the cornea (window) of the eye. The ‘burn’ is actually an inflammation of its surface caused by overexposure to very bright ultraviolet (UV) light. The commonest example is looking directly at the flash of light during welding (“welding flash”). Symptoms develop five to 10 hours are being exposed to UV light, and include burning pain in both eyes soon after exposure, watering of the eyes, red eyes, blurry vision, gritty eyes and sensitivity to light. The cornea generally heals well around 48 hours after exposure, sometimes sooner with proper treatment. Treatment includes anaesthetic drops which numb the surface of the eye; dilating eye drops, which paralyse pupil muscles that otherwise cause painful spasms; pain killers such as paracetamol; antibiotic eye ointment to help prevent infection; and eye padding to further protect the eye from light and promote healing.
The average Australian woman lives 83 years, while man comes in second best with 78 years. During this time, the average Australian will:
Fall in love at least twice, kiss for two weeks and have sex 2,580 times.
Spend 2.5 years talking on the phone.
Spend 12 years watching TV.
Makes you wonder, doesn’t it? Now is the time to redirect some of these activities to healthy exercise! Physically active people live longer, sleep better and are less confined by aches and pains. And you don’t have to ‘bust a gut’ to benefit—just five 30-minute sessions of moderate exercise a week.
First, understand that every child is different! Most become aware of wetting (wet pants or puddles) by 15 months. Most children recognise a full bladder sensation by 3.5 years, and can hold on—so this is the average age that children become dry at night. Most children learn to control their bladder before their bowel.
To get them toilet trained, you need their cooperation and there is no point in pushing it until your child knows when their nappy is wet or dirty.
You can make it easy and comfortable. Perhaps get a special child’s toilet seat, make the toilet entertaining (poster, special toy on the wall) and put in a footstool.
Don’t start unless your child is in a parent-pleasing mood and there are no big interruptions such as moving house. Motivate with praise, encouragement and rewards.
Teach by imitation. Take your child’s favourite toy and sit it on the toilet or potty; pretend to give it a drink then pour some into the toilet as a pretend “wee”, then, act how pleased you are with the toy. Use yourself as an example by “practising” in front of your child.
Teach by practice, using the pot or toilet (as well as the scary walk to the toilet in the night!).
Give mild rebukes. Use the toy again to show your mild disapproval when it wets itself, then encourage a change and clean up.
Prompt often, without getting uptight.
Use direct language such as “Sit on the pot and do wees, please, for mummy”. Once success comes, just use a friendly reminder from then on.
This problem, first described in the 1930s, has been spotlighted by two technologies – diagnostic ultrasound and new hormonal tests for infertility.
Women can be affected to varying degrees and at different ages. The basic problem is that egg production in the ovaries fails to progress normally, the eggs become trapped, and the small sacs in which they form (called follicles) produce hormones different to the normal female cycle (and slightly male in character).
Depending on how many follicles are affected this way (usually 12 or more per ovary), the problem can present with a combination of these symptoms:
The problem will be masked in women who have been taking the contraceptive pill because the pill provides an artificial menstrual cycle. When the pill is ceased, irregular heavy periods may emerge for the first time, along with difficulties falling pregnant.
Polycystic ovarian syndrome is also associated with disturbances to metabolism that include increased chance of diabetes, high blood lipids (or fats), cancer of the uterus, high blood pressure and increased risk of heart attack or stroke.
Diagnosis is made using ultrasound examination of the ovaries (when tiny cysts are found) and hormonal blood tests. The condition occurs in about 10% of women in reproductive years.
Maintaining a normal weight appears to be the single most important step towards relieving this disorder. It lessens the chance of diabetes and improves the menstrual cycle. Treatment with hormones or minor surgery to the ovaries can also help.
A growing number of people are carriers for the Hepatitis B virus (HBV). These are people in whom the immune system has not completely overcome the virus, which is about 5-10% of infected adults and the majority of infants who become infected. These ‘carriers’ can develop chronic persistent hepatitis, which can scar the liver or lead to liver cancer. Carrier rates vary in different parts of the world, with the disease most prevalent in Central African and South East Asian populations. The virus persists in their blood and other body fluids such as tears, saliva, semen, breast milk and vaginal secretions. The carrier state for Hepatitis B is detected using a blood test.
The virus can easily be spread to others by intimate or close contact, or contact with blood (although transfusions are now safely screened). This includes kissing, intercourse, accidents or from an infected mother to her newborn child.
Injecting drug use and tattooing can spread the virus when unsterile equipment is used. However, it is possible to spread the virus within everyday households and school playgrounds.
Vaccination is the safest way of preventing infection, the reason why Hepatitis B vaccination is now part of the routine schedule for all children and for adults at risk.
There is much someone with HBV infection can do to prevent spread to others:
As many as one in 10 people may have trouble getting to sleep because of restless legs syndrome (RLS). This condition causes unpleasant sensations in the legs, often described as ‘tingling’, ‘creeping’ or ‘pulling’.
Although RLS can happen any time, it occurs most often when trying to get off to sleep, and is more common in women and older people. One in four pregnant women gets RLS during their third trimester.
The unpleasant sensations are relieved by movement so, not surprisingly, people with RLS move their legs around a lot, often to the annoyance of the person sharing their bed!
There is no known cause, although we see RLS more often in some medical conditions, including iron deficiency anaemia, kidney disease, diabetes and arthritis. Certain drugs can increase leg restlessness in some people.
The first step in managing RLS is to correct any problems that may be making it worse. Iron supplements help some people, and your doctor might review your medications.
Reducing caffeine intake, nicotine and alcohol may also help. Some people respond to stretching exercises after regular exercise, or to relieving stress. Some medications may help – ask you doctor.
Influenza is a respiratory virus that sweeps Australia every year, causing epidemics of fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, headaches and runny nose. It is much worse than the common cold. Unvaccinated healthy adults can get over this infection within a week or two, often needing time off work. People weakened by other health problems or age may not be so lucky—the most serious complication from influenza is pneumonia, which can be life-threatening. People aged 65 and older are most at risk.
Now is the time to organise your vaccine against influenza, before the winter outbreak arrives. It will give you at least 70% protection against complications for 12 months. Your doctor will be able to give you the vaccine.
Flu vaccine is especially recommended for:
*The vaccine is free for these people.
The vaccine cannot cause influenza because it contains ‘killed’ virus. It might cause soreness at the vaccination site for two days or mild flu-like symptoms a few days later as your immune system responds, but nothing as serious as the flu itself.
Talk to your doctor today about the value of influenza vaccination for you.
Image this. Despite all care and attention, you are involved in a road accident, and end up in Intensive Care on life support. Tests confirm you cannot live.
Beside you lies a young girl with kidney failure. Her life consists of spending three days a week attached to a dialysis (artificial kidney) machine, just to stay alive. Without a kidney transplant, she has little chance of reaching grades at High School, marrying and having a family, and seeing her own children grow up.
As you leave this life, your parting gift could transform her life and that of 10 other people.
Across Australia, many people will have a second chance at life if they can find an organ donor. By taking the decision to become a donor, or encouraging relatives or friends to take this step, you can leave a legacy of hope, should the worst happen to you.
Talk to your doctor today about making this important decision. Your organs will not be used for research, it won’t cost you, and it will only happen if you are on life support in intensive care, with no chance of living.
There is now a national donor register. Register online at http://www.hic.gov.au/yourhealth/ , through your local Medicare office, or phone 1800 777 203. For more information, email aodr@hic.gov.au.
Once you have registered, remember to tell your family and friends so they can ensure your wishes are carried out, should the worst happen.
Cook the pasta in salted boiling water. Rinse under cold running water. Drain well. Transfer to a large bowl. Add tomatoes, olives, basil, oil, garlic and lemon rind and gently toss until well combined. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with shaved parmesan and serve. Garnish with lemon wedges.
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