Be sunsmart this Summer
By Meeghan, 4 December, 2009
It's a catch 22; while too much sun exposure can increase the risk of skin cancer, too little sun exposure can increase the risk of Vitamin D deficiency.
Did you know more Australians die from skin cancer every year than our combined national road toll? We have one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world with more than 1700 people dieing from skin cancer in Australia each year.
Even on a day like today with a maximum forecast of only 21 degrees, the UV levels are very high. In fact from September to late April the levels of UV radiation in Australia are enough to damage your skin and eyes.
Here's a few tips for sun protection;
Slip on sun-protective clothing.
Slop on SPF30+ broad spectrum, water resistant sunscreen. Put sunscreen on 20 minutes before you go outside and every two hours afterwards.
Slap on a hat - that protects your face, head, neck and ears.
Seek shade.
Slide on some sunglasses - but make sure they meet Australian Standards.
Vitamin D however, plays an essential role in helping the body to absorb calcium, which develops and maintains healthy bones, muscles and teeth.
The catch is the best source of vitamin D comes from ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. Although there are small amounts of vitamin D in food such as eggs, fish and Vitamin D rich milk, this is usually not enough to maintain the levels our bodies need.
So from September to April – just a few minutes of UV exposure to the face, arms and hands should be enough for most people to maintain adequate vitamin D levels but from May to August – two to three hours of sunlight exposure may be necessary over the week!
If you think you may be at risk of vitamin D deficiency you should see your Doctor as a simple blood test can assess your risk.
*People with very dark skin may need three to four times more sun exposure time than people with fair skin to achieve sufficient levels of vitamin D. This is because the pigments in dark skin reduce the effects of UV radiation in the production of vitamin D.
*Solariums are not recommended as a way to treat vitamin D deficiency as they have been linked to causing skin cancer.
Preventative health task force report
By Meeghan, 9 September, 2009
In an effort to get people healthy the Australian Government established a preventative health taskforce in early 2008. The role of the taskforce is to provide evidence-based advice to the government on preventative health strategies directly related to chronic disease caused by obesity, tobacco and the excessive consumption of alcohol.
Earlier this month the long awaited taskforce report, Australia: the healthiest country by 2020, was released with a number of interesting recommendations. Proposals include increasing the cost of cigarettes to $20 a pack in a bid to slash smoking, requiring restaurants to state the number of kilojoules in dishes on their menus and calls for tax incentives for people who use public transport or buy gym memberships. The catch being taxpayers need to produce 'attendance records' to show they have actually worked out!
While Treasurer Wayne Swan was quick to point out these recommendations are "simply a report", Nicola Roxon, Minister for Health and Ageing believes the key to a sustainable Australian health system lies in the preventation of illness and chronic disease. She directly challenges and encourages us as a community to respond to these recommendations and provide our own input. As the minister puts it in her foreword, the ball is now in your court!
Find out more about the Preventative Health Taskforce.
Enhanced Primary Care Plans
By Meeghan, 7 June, 2009
Patients with chronic or complex health care needs such as asthma, arthritis, diabetes or musculoskeletal conditions may be eligible to access allied health services with significant rebates from Medicare. Patients can access up to five visits a year to health professionals such as dietitians, physiotherapists and podiatrists at a fraction of the cost referred by a GP under an EPC plan. Talk to your GP as soon as possible to check your eligibility for this program.
Measure your health
By Meeghan, 7 December, 2008
An unhealthy lifestyle can have a negative effect on our wellbeing. But how serious an affect does our poor eating and drinking habits and lack of exercise have on our health?
A quick and easy way to assess your risk of developing cancer, heart disease and Type 2 diabetes is to measure your waist:
• A waistline measurement for most men over 94cm carries increased risk and over 102cm indicates greatly increased risk.
• For most women, a waist of over 80cm carries increased risk and over 88cm greatly increased risk.
For more information check out http://www.Australia.gov.au/MeasureUp today.
Anti-ageing tips that don’t cost a cent!
By Meeghan, 7 August, 2008
Anti-ageing tips that don’t cost a cent!
Find out about adding years to your life, and looking and feeling better without spending a cent.
Anti-ageing is big business; billions are spent every year on lucrative marketing campaigns flogging the latest pills or potions.
However you can add years to your life and look and feel better without spending a cent. Here’s how:
• Limit your exposure to toxins—this means no smoking!
• Drink plenty of water – aim for 30 mls per kilo of bodyweight. That’s around 2 litres if you weigh 70kg.
• Aim for 8 hours sleep each night - we sleep an average of two hours less than we did 100 years ago.
