Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency or Alpha-1 is a genetic (inherited) condition that may result in serious, chronic lung and/or liver disease at various ages in life (children and adults). Disease is caused by an abnormal alpha1 protein that is mainly produced by the liver.

Although Alpha-1 is one of the most common genetic disorders in the world, it is often misdiagnosed. Many times patients are told they have asthma, bronchitis, symptoms related to stress, emphysema caused by smoking, or simply chronic obstructive pulmonary disease of unknown cause.

The most common indicators of Alpha-1 include shortness of breath, a chronic cough, and abnormal liver test results. If you have any of these symptoms there is a simple blood test that can detect alpha-1 antitrypsin levels.

Despite treatments, including protein replacement, adults may require a lung transplant due to severe emphysema.

Visit the Alpha-1 website for more information and find out ways you can help raise awareness of Alpha-1!

The global World AIDS Day theme for this year continues on from last year’s theme: Getting to Zero: Zero new HIV infections. Zero discrimination. Zero AIDS related deaths.

The aim of World AIDS Day is to encourage all Australians to be aware of HIV; to take action to reduce the transmission of HIV by promoting safe sex practices; and to ensure that people living with HIV can participate fully in the life of the community, free from stigma and discrimination.

As a community and as individuals, there is a lot we can do in relation to HIV. Working in partnership with people living with HIV, we can encourage others to understand how the virus is transmitted. We can support people to access testing and treatment, as we know that getting treatment at the early stages of infection results in better health outcomes. We can raise awareness that HIV positive people have the right to participate in a community free from stigma and discrimination.

Show your support for people living with HIV on World AIDS Day by wearing a red ribbon, the international symbol of HIV awareness and support.

For more information, visit World Aids Day.

There are several different types of eating disorder, the most common being anorexia, bulimia and binge eating.

Eating disorders are mental health conditions that all involve an unhealthy relationship with food and eating, and often an intense fear of being overweight.

If you have an eating disorder you may experience one or more of the following:

• You have a preoccupation and concern about food and gaining weight.
• You would like to lose weight even though friends or family worry that you are underweight.
• You let people around you think you have eaten when you haven’t.
• You’re secretive about your eating habits because you know they’re unhealthy.
• Eating makes you feel anxious, upset or guilty.
• You make yourself vomit or use laxatives in order to lose weight.

Anyone can develop an eating disorder, regardless of background. Eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa occur in about 0.5% of girls and young women in developed societies. Of all people with anorexia nervosa, 1 in 10 is male, with young males being most commonly affected.

If you are concerned about a friend or family member, it can be difficult to know what to do. It is common for someone with an eating disorder to be secretive and defensive about their eating and their weight, and they are likely to deny being unwell.

You can talk in confidence to your GP by making an appointment  online or phoning 8038 1070, visit the Butterfly Foundation for more information.

A fever is a temperature of over 38 °C or higher. Fevers are quite common in young children and are usually mild.

Each year Cancer Council Australia and the Australasian College of Dermatologists come together for National Skin Cancer Action Week.

With two in three Australians diagnosed with skin cancer by age 70, the week is a time when we remind Australians of the importance of sun protection and early skin cancer detection.

More than 2000 people in Australia die from skin cancer each year and Cancer Council estimates that Australia spends more than $1 billion per year treating skin cancer, with costs increasing substantially over the past few years.

Yet most skin cancers can be prevented by the use of good sun protection.

New data from Cancer Council’s National Sun Protection Survey will be unveiled during the week to reveal the latest trends in our sun protection behaviours.

National Skin Cancer Action Week is a great time to remind people to slip on sun-protective clothing, slop on SPF30 (or higher) broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen, slap on a broad-brimmed hat, seek shade and slide on sunglasses.

A combination of these measures, along with getting to know your skin and regularly checking so you can pick up on any changes, are the keys to reducing your skin cancer risk.

PRESERVE THE MIRACLE OF ANTIBIOTICS

 “Antimicrobial resistance is a danger of the utmost urgency. This year will be a pivotal one…We have a global action plan. What we need now is the action“

Key Messages for Antibiotic Awareness Week

• Antibiotics are a precious resource that could be lost.
• Antibiotic resistance is happening now – it is a worldwide problem that affects human and animal health.
• Antibiotic resistance happens when bacteria stops an antibiotic from working effectively – meaning some infections may be impossible to treat.
• Few new antibiotics are being developed to help solve this problem.
• Misuse of antibiotics contributes to antibiotic resistance.
• Whenever antibiotics must be used, they must be used with care.

For more information visit the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality website. Discuss antibiotics with your GP and pharmacist.

The theme of World Diabetes Day 2016 is Eyes on Diabetes. The year’s activities and materials focus on promoting the importance of screening to ensure early diagnosis of type 2 diabetes and treatment to reduce the risk of serious complications.

• In many countries diabetes is a leading cause of blindness, cardiovascular disease, kidney failure and lower-limb amputation.
• Of the 415 million adults worldwide living with diabetes in 2015,1 over one third will develop some form of diabetic retinopathy – a complication of diabetes that can lead to vision impairment and blindness.
• Early detection and timely treatment of diabetic retinopathy can prevent vision loss and reduce the impact of diabetes on individuals, their carers and society.

Make an appointment with your doctor today to discuss your risk of developing diabetes, or ways of preventing complications. Call 8038 1070 or book online.

Postnatal Depression Awareness Week will now be known as Perinatal Depression and Anxiety (PNDA) Awareness Week. This change is in response to the importance of recognising and supporting parents’ mental health right through the perinatal period (during pregnancy and after birth). Antenatal anxiety and depression are strong risk factors in developing postnatal anxiety and depression. Early treatment during pregnancy can reduce these risks. We need to consider a parent’s wellbeing across this continuum, rather than viewing these periods as separate.

Up to 1 in 10 expecting mums and 1 in 20 expecting dads struggle with antenatal depression and more than 1 in 7 new mums and up to 1 in 10 new dads are diagnosed with postnatal depression each year. Even more are thought to suffer anxiety. It’s important for expecting and new parents, as well as those around them, to be aware of perinatal anxiety and depression, to know the signs to look out for and where to go for help. Everyone’s experience of parenthood, including perinatal anxiety and depression, is different. However with the right treatment and support, new parents can make a full recovery.

Join us this year in raising awareness of perinatal anxiety and depression in Australia. For more information visit the PANDA website.

Make an appointment to discuss your mental health and anxiety with your doctor today! Call 8038 1070 or book online.

A Food Safety Information Council survey found that most people don’t have the correct hand washing technique and an amazing 9 per cent of women and 27 per cent of men didn’t wash their hands at all when observed in a shopping centre washroom. A similar result has been found in US studies and may mean that we are getting complacent about good hand hygiene in western countries.

You might find with correct hand washing that you and your family may not only get less food poisoning but also less viral diseases like colds and flu. In the US, a study found that school children had fewer days off school sick once they had instituted a hand washing program.

Everything you touch is capable of transferring bugs onto your hands, but things like sores, pets, used handkerchiefs and tissues and the things you touch when you go to the toilet can be especially dirty.

How to wash your hands properly

Below are some tips on washing your hands correctly:

• Wet your hands and rub together well to build up a good lather with soap as the suds help to carry the bugs away. Do this for at least 20 seconds and don’t forget to wash between your fingers and under your nails. You might have to use a nail brush
• Rinse well under running water to remove the bugs from your hands
• Dry your hands thoroughly on a clean towel for at least 20 seconds. Touching surfaces with moist hands encourages bugs to spread from the surface to your hands.
• You can time 20 seconds by singing ‘happy birthday to you’ this is also a good way to encourage your children to wash their hands for the correct period.

Always wash and dry your hands:

• before handling, preparing and eating food
• after touching raw meat, fish, shell eggs or chicken
• after using the toilet, attending to children’s (or others) toiletting and changing nappies
• after blowing your nose
• after touching a pet.

Do not touch sores, wounds and cuts when handling and preparing food.

Visit the Food Safety Council for more information.