Spring 2 0 1 4 e d i t i o n
BLACKBURN CLINIC
When it pays to see your G P
1
Family Medical & Licenced Travel
Vaccination Centre
Recipe : Avocado Pizza
2
Constipation nation?
2
195 Whitehorse Rd, Blackburn
Telephone:
9875 1111
Appointments:
9875 1123
Your Health Reader Giveaway
Dr Robert DUNN
Dr Patricia GARLICK
Dr Grant CONNOLEY
Dr Scott GARDINER
Dr Peter ELLIOTT
Dr Peter LOVASS
SEE INSIDE
Mythbusting - Popular myths about arthritis
3
Helping your teen deal with rejection
4
When it pays to see your GP
Dr Adrian TANG
Dr Praba RATNARAJAH
Dr Janice KRELTSZHEIM
Dr Claire St JOHN
Dr Melanie HATTOTUWA
Dr Ann DONAGHY
Dr Sean DAS
Dr Elise HARRISON
Dr Leon TAN
Dr Kazunori NAKAJIMA
Dr Suzanne ASHDOWN
Dr Kathryn CUNNEEN
HOURS (open 365 days of the year)
Monday to Thurs
Friday
Saturday
8 am - 7pm
8 am - 6 pm
8 am - 12 noon
Sunday
Public holidays
Good Fri, Xmas Day
8 am - 12 noon
8 am - 12 noon
9 am -11 am
ONLINE APPOINTMENT
BOOKINGS
NOW AVAILABLE
www.blackburnclinic.com.au
Appointments can now be booked
from our website. This service is
available for our existing patients
only. Online bookings are available
for standard consultations only, so
when you need a long consultation
for more complex issues, you will
need to phone the clinic to book.
D
eciding to see a doctor can be
easy when you have an obvious
injury or illness.
But when it comes to preventing
health problems, making a decision
may be more difficult. While some
people simply aren’t aware of the
benefits of prevention, for others it’s
the cost that can hold them back.
In fact, one in 17 Australians delay
or don’t see a GP due to cost.
Unfortunately, only 7% of services
provided by GPs are for prevention,
which is small considering that 20%
of all health problems seen in general
practices are preventable.
Age#
18+
40+
To prevent additional illness
or disease for people with
these existing conditions
Overweight, obesity, high
blood pressure
(every 2 years)
The old saying is true: An ounce of
prevention is better than a pound
of cure.
It can prevent illness, find and treat
a disease early, and promote and
maintain your existing good health.
However, to take advantage of
prevention, you need to take
responsibility for your own health.
This includes not letting cost put you
off seeing your GP who can help with
physical and mental preventive health
measures ranging from immunisation
(for all ages - babies, children and
adults) through to preventing suicide.
Two particularly important prevention
measures are 1) regular health checks
(which are recommended even if
you’re feeling well or have a stable,
chronic health problem) and
2) maintaining or achieving a healthy
lifestyle.
A healthy lifestyle can help
prevent chronic diseases such as
heart disease, stroke, diabetes and
some cancers (as well as reducing
symptoms). The main lifestyle
areas that your GP can help you
with include :
To prevent new
illness or disease
Cervical cancer
(every 2 years)
Diabetes (ever y 3 years)
45+
- Cholesterol and triglyceride levels
(every 5 years), - Heart disease and stroke risk
(every 2 years),
- Osteoporosis risk
(every year)
50+
Breast cancer, bowel cancer
(every two years)
What to do?
Healthy lifestyle
Continued on back page...
WHAT CHECKS SHOULD YOU CONSIDER TO STAY IN GOOD HEALTH?
Risk of falling over, vision and
hearing problems
(every year)
65+
# Ages may be younger for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
XX Not smoking/ Smoking Cessation
XX Reaching and maintaining a healthy
weight
XX Healthy diet education
XX Regular physical activity advice
XX Not drinking excessive alcohol
For example, to help you quit
smoking your GP can give you useful
information, advise you who to speak
to for assistance (such as Quitline) and
prescribe effective medications.
Health Direct can also provide more
information on prevention at
www.healthdirect.gov.au or ring
1800 022 222.
Don’t forget your next
appointment is on
Your HealthTM is provided as an educational service to patients of our practice. It contains general information only. Please seek our f­ ­ormal advice before acting on any
matter ­arising from it. The content herein is covered by copyright.
Asthma and allergy season
Nutrition
T
Avocado Pizza
Preparation
time :
10 minutes
Cooking
time:
20 minutes
Serves:
8
Ingredients:
1 prepared pizza base
3 tablespoons tomato paste
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1 small onion, finely chopped
1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
1/3 sliced olives
100g cherry tomatoes, halved
he warmer, longer days of Spring
can make you look forward to being
outdoors more. But if you’re one of
the 2 million Australians with asthma,
you may need to take into account the
potential impact of allergies.
Thunderstorm asthma is when rain droplets
crash into airborne pollen and produce
smaller grains that can get deeper into your
airways and trigger a more severe attack.
Asthma is a disease of the lungs’
airways, which are sensitive to
triggers that cause an asthma attack.
During an attack, airways become
swollen, produce excess phlegm
( m u c o u s )
and
the
muscles
in
them tighten
up, which
makes
breathing
difficult. In severe
cases, emergency
hospital treatment may
be needed.
See your GP as soon as possible to develop an
asthma action plan, including instructions on
daily care for your asthma and what to do in
case of an attack.
Up to 4 out of 5 people with
asthma also have an allergy,
often triggered by pollens
released into the air by flowering
trees and plants, which may also
cause hay fever. The most common
pollens include:
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
X X Ryegrass
1/2 cup fresh basil leaves
XXWeeds such as Paterson’s curse
1 avocado , sliced
XXTrees such as elm and oak
Instructions:
1. Spread pizza base with tomato paste,
sprinkle with garlic and onion
2. Arrange mushrooms, olives and cherry
tomatoes on pizza base.
3. Top with cheese and bake in a moderate
oven, 180 o C for 20 mins or until crust is
golden.
4. Remove from oven, serve topped with
basil and sliced avocado. Makes 8 slices.
Daily care includes checking your breathing
with a peak flow meter and taking prevention
medications such as inhaled corticosteroids
(not the same steroids that athletes mis-use,
they have very low risk of side effects)
to reduce airway sensitivity.
If you’ve identified pollens
you’re allergic to, you may
reduce your exposure by:
yy Staying indoors on
high-pollen days/during
thunderstorms
yy Making your garden lowpollen
During an attack you may need to take
relieving medication to relax the tightened
airway muscles. In severe cases that
require emergency treatment, you should
immediately ring 000.
For more information: Asthma Foundation
www.asthmaaustralia.org.au/ 1800 278 462.
A Constipation Nation?
Constipation is very common in Australia.
It affects up to 1 in 10 children and
1 in 5 adults. In addition to causing
unpleasant symptoms,
it may
lead to complications.
Constipation may also
be a sign that you have a
more serious underlying
condition.
Nutrient
Per Serve
Energy (kJ)
760
What is constipation?
Calories (cal)
185
Total Fat (g)
9
Protein (g)
5
Carbohydrate (g)
19
Sodium (mg)
280
Potassium (mg)
355
Iron (mg)
1
Calcium (mg)
60
Fibre (g)
2.5
Constipation is defined
as having hard, dry stools
(faeces) that are passed with
difficulty and reduced frequency. This
may mean, for example, you’re only able
to pass stools with excessive straining,
often less than three times a week.
Common causes include not having
enough fibre or fluids in your diet and a
lack of exercise. Less common, but more
serious causes, may include irritable
bowel syndrome, and even diabetes and
thyroid disorders in rare cases.
Complications may develop due to
chronic constipation and constant
straining, such as:
© Recipe and image kindly provided by
Sanitarium Health & Wellbeing Company.
What to do?
XHaemorrhoids:
X
damaged blood vessels in the
rectum (final part of intestines, just above the anus)
XX Prolapse of the rectum (protrudes out of the anus).
What to do?
Go see your GP for a checkup if you have
constipation. This is particularly important
if you can only have a bowel movement
after taking a laxative to soften and
loosen your stools, or you have
unexplained weight loss or bleeding.
Laxatives are generally the most
common treatment for constipation
(if you’re not already taking them). The
recommended laxatives include bulking
agents such as fibre supplements, stool
softeners and stimulants, which also make
the muscles in the bowel contract to increase
movement of stools.
Other effective treatments that also help
prevent constipation include:
y y High-fibre diet and/or supplement
(25-30 g / day for adults, child’s age + 5
g / day for children)
yy Large amount of fluids
yy Regular exercise
For more information visit www.gesa.org.au.
Women’s Health
Dr.Lol!
Let your heart rule your head
You might be surprised to know that the number
one cause of death for women in Australia is
heart disease. In fact, heart disease is three times
more likely than breast cancer to kill women.
Two important
reasons why heart
disease might be less
recognised amongst
women include:
XX Women usually
start to develop
symptoms at a later
stage of the illness
compared to men,
most commonly
after menopause
(>50 years old).
XXSymptoms in women may be less
obvious than men, such as in a heart
attack (see
below).
Heart disease is
and having a healthy weight. Some
women may also require treatments such
as cholesterol or blood pressure lowering
medications.
Heart attack
It’s important that you know
the warning signs or symptoms
of a heart attack. They vary from
person to person and may not
always be sudden or severe.
Chest pain is the most common
symptom. But women are more
likely than men to experience some
of the other symptoms of a heart
attack – with or without chest pain –
such as such as: shortness of breath,
dizziness, nausea, vomiting, unexplained
tiredness and fatigue, and pain in the
back, neck or jaw area.
We know that women
What to do?
more likely to kill are more likely to call an
Go see your
women than breast cancer ambulance for their husbands
GP for a heart
than themselves.
health check, which involves checking for risks
However, with a heart attack, every
and doing blood pressure and cholesterol
minute counts. Don’t delay calling 000 if
checks.
you think you’re having a heart attack
The best advice for heart disease prevention
For more information: Heart Foundation
includes: not smoking, doing at least 30 minutes
www.heartfoundation.org.au
of physical activity 3-5 times a week, eating a
1300 362 787.
low-fat diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables
“
three
times
”
Mythbusting : Our top myths about arthritis
A
rthritis is defined as a group of medical conditions affecting joints and nearby
­structures here are 3 main types: osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout.
Here’s the truth behind four common myths about arthritis:
Myth
Arthritis is an
inevitable part of
getting older
What does the research say?
Yes, arthritis is more likely the older you are. But in fact, 60% of the 4 million
Enter at our website
or post this entry slip to:
The Happiness Handbook Competition
Po Pox 780
Artarmon NSW 1570
treatment can delay symptoms appearing. Or stop your arthritis from getting worse
Email address*_________________
You may experience a temporary improvement in symptoms if you move to a
warm and dry climate. But medical research shows that your joints adapt and your
The good news if you crack your knuckle joints or know someone who does is that
studies show it doesn’t increase your risk of developing arthritis. The cracking sound
is simply believed to be pressure changes in your joint’s lubricant (synovial) fluid
causing the collapse of gas bubbles in the fluid. It doesn’t damage the joints.
X-rays reveal the truth
about arthritis
published by Finch Publishing is available in
paperback and ebook from online retailers
and good bookshops nationwide.
Name ______________________
symptoms tend to go back to what they were in the long run.
Knuckle & joint cracking
causes arthritis
“20 Tips for Parents”, by
Professor Kim Oates
Australians with arthritis are of working age. And while there’s no cure, early
if you already have symptoms.
A warm and dry climate
is better for arthritis
Tell us your top p
­ arenting
tip .. and go in the draw
to WIN one of 5 ­copies of
X-rays may often be an unreliable guide for arthritis symptoms. For example, you
may have a perfectly normal x-ray, but feel lots of pain - or have severe osteoarthritic
changes on your x-ray, but not necessarily feel lots of pain. The most effective way to
diagnose arthritis is based on whether you have symptoms (pain, stiffness, weakness
and negative impact on your ability to do things), as well as other tests such as a
blood test for rheumatoid arthritis or for gout, finding uric acid crystals in fluid taken
from your joint.
For more information: See your GP, Arthritis Australia www.arthritisaustralia.com.au 1800 111101.
_____________________________
Med. Practice__________________
_____________________________
In 15 words or less, what is your top
parenting tip for other parents?
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
Drawn 1 November 2014 - winning e
­ ntries
may be published online at yourhealth.net.au
* you must provide a valid email address to be eligible
WHEN WE ARE CLOSED
Children’s Health
The latest advice on (head) lice
D
ealing with your child’s head lice
can be frustrating when you get rid
of them, only to find some months later
that they’ve come back again. Lice have
lived on human heads for thousands
of years, so it’s often impossible to
completely
stop them. But
y o u
c a n
help reduce the
chances of an
infestation.
1. Find
Head
lice
don’t
a l w a y s
cause
itchiness.
The best way
to find them
is to comb
any type of
conditioner
on dry, detangled hair. Then comb with
a fine-tooth, ‘head lice comb’, wipe the
conditioner on a tissue and look closely
to spot them.
Adult lice are usually dark brown (1-5
weeks old: size 2-3 mm), young lice light
brown (0-1 week old: size 1-2 mm) and
eggs, which attach to hair near the scalp,
are grey-white (take 1 week to hatch:
size, grain of salt).
2. Treat
You should treat as soon as possible after
you find lice or eggs, either by using:
yyThe above conditioner method
every 2 days until no live lice are
found for 10 days
yy A lice treatment product and repeat
one week later (keep in mind that lice
can develop resistance, so if in the
first treatment lice are still crawling,
try a different product).
3. Prevent
Head lice are
caught through
hair to hair contact.
Because there’s
no research
showing that lice
treatment products
can completely stop them, the best
prevention is to:
XX Wash any infested combs, brushes,
pillow cases with very hot water
XX Don’t share hats, combs, brushes
XX Tie up long hair
XX Regularly do the above ‘find’ method
to detect re-infestation
For more information: Visit your GP,
NPS website www.nps.org.au
Helping your teen deal with rejection
R
ejection at any age hurts – but what
should you do about it during those
difficult teenage years ? You could try to
avoid rejection by
not trying anything
new. However
the downside of
this approach is
that you’ll never
grow if you never
experience new
things.
The better alternative may be accepting
that rejection is a normal part of life and
learning to cope better with it so you can
bounce back. This advice can be important
for teenagers when relationships with peers
are the biggest part of your life and, as a
result, you may experience peer rejection
more frequently during these years.
What is rejection?
Rejection is the opposite of feeling
accepted. Examples include no one
laughing at a joke you’ve told or a person
you really like talking to everyone but you.
Rejection has become more noticeable with
the growth of social media, such as Facebook
de-friending and cyber bullying, but can also
involve a social snub no one else sees.
How do you cope?
1. Be honest
Don’t brush off your feelings - accept
them as normal and even allow
yourself to cry or vent.
2. Understand what’s happened
Put your rejection in perspective. For
example, a knocked back date request doesn’t
mean you’re unattractive, it’s just one person’s
opinion. Then understand that ‘rejection’
is actually more specific emotions such as
‘disappointment’ or ‘feeling left out’. It can
often help to talk to someone who supports
you, especially someone who has more life
experience.
3. Be positive
Give yourself credit for at least trying new
things. Tell yourself: I got rejected, but
eventually I’ll get a ‘yes’. Also be practical and
identify what you’re already good at, but also
what you can change to improve yourself
without relying on others’ approval.
More information: www.teenshealth.org
Phone the clinic after hours on 9875 1111 and
your call will automatically be transferred to
the After Hours GP Clinic at 36 Wellington Rd,
Box Hill (Ph 9899 9980), during their opening
hours:
Mon-Fri
Sat
Sun & Pub Hols
6.30pm-11.00pm
1pm-11.00pm
10am-11.00pm
Outside these hours your call will divert to
the Home Doctor Service (Ph 13 74 25). Box
Hill, Maroondah and Knox Private Hospitals
all have emergency departments.
APPOINTMENTS
Appointments should be made to see the
doctor of your choice. Urgent problems are
always seen quickly – please notify the
receptionist.
BILLING POLICY
We are a private billing clinic. Fees are
subject to regular review and changes will be
advertised in the waiting room. Current fees
are displayed in the waiting room. Full
payment on the day will attract a discount.
Veterans Affairs gold card holders will
continue to be bulk-billed. If you have any
difficulty paying our fees at any time, please
discuss this with your doctor.
DIABETES CLINIC
Education and information about use of
devices, healthy eating, and strategies to
help manage your condition to avoid
complications. Our Diabetes Clinic will keep
you up to date with the latest approaches.
Ask your doctor for a referral.
SKIN CANCER CLINIC
Most patients should have a skin cancer
check once per year. Please ask your doctor
for a specific appointment for this, and to
send you reminder letters when your next
SKIN CHECK is due.
MALE & FEMALE HEALTH CHECKS
In-depth health checks designed for patients
aged 35-65 years. Please ask for a flyer at
reception.
75 PLUS HEALTH ASSESSMENTS
If you are 75 years or older (or 55 for those of
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent),
please ask your doctor about this
preventative service, aimed to keep you
living independently in your own home. The
assessment is only
for your doctor’s use. This is a comprehensive
health assessment involving time with the
nurse and your doctor, and is billed to
Medicare so that there is no cost to you.
RESULTS OF INVESTIGATIONS
Unless previously organised with your
doctor, patients are asked to make an
appointment for results of investigations. If
your doctor has specifically advised that you
may telephone for results, please ring the
doctor who ordered the test, at the time
indicated to you by the doctor.
MELBOURNE PATHOLOGY
Blackburn Clinic patients are able to access
Melbourne Pathology services within
Blackburn Clinic, from 8.00am - 1.00pm, Mon
- Fri. Please take a number at reception and
wait in our reception waiting area to be
called.