1. family and parenting
2. children

Au t u m n 2 0 1 5 e d i t i o n
Help prevent antibiotic resistance
1
R e c i p e Green Curry of Broccoli soup
2
The limits of DIY Genetic Testing
2
We’re giving away a Blood Pressure Monitor!
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ROWVILLE HEALTH
12 St Lawrance Way
Rowville 3178
Telephone: (03) 9764 1617
Facsimile: (03) 9764 2030
[email protected]
www.rowvillehealth.com
Rowville Health provides the highest
quality holistic healthcare in a
respectful caring manner.
Dr Rasika Amarasekera
Dr Des Darrer
Dr Dirk Ebert
Dr Andrew Gan
Dr Elisha Harris
Dr Suyama Jayawardena
Dr Dick Merigan
Dr Wafa Michaels
Dr Andrew Morgan
Dr Thileepan Naren
Dr Adel Nashed
Dr Elsa Ng
Dr Sylvia Ng
Dr Monika Patel
Dr Samudra Peiris
Dr Upkar Sara
Dr Lisa Yoff
HOURS
3
Is my child gifted ? 4
How you can help prevent
antibiotic resistance
N
ot doing something now, in order to
avoid harm in the future, is important
for good health. Not overeating, for
example, can prevent obesity later in life.
Similarly, if you stop the incorrect use
of antibiotics, you can help prevent the
development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
If you have an infection now caused by antibioticresistant bacteria, the infection can last longer
than usual and cause
you serious
complications or
disease.
What are antibiotics?
Dr Xue Ling Tan (Sharlene)
Monday to Thursday
y
Friday
Sat, Sun & Pub hols.
Mythbusting - Popular myths about ebola
7am-9pm
7am - 8pm
8am-6pm
APPOINTMENTS
Please call 03 9764 1617 for an
appointment. If you need more time
with the doctor, please request an
extended appointment.
Emergencies are always given priority.
HOME VISITS
Home visits can be arranged for regular
patients, who live near the practice.
Speak to our reception staff or details
on cost.
AFTER-HOURS
When the clinic is closed please
ring 9389 3627 to arrange for one
of our doctors to attend. There is a
private charge for urgent overnight
attendances.
Continued on back page...
www.rowvillehealth.com
For health information and our practice details
Antibiotics are medications that treat,
and sometimes prevent, infections
caused by bacteria, which are microscopic
germs. Bacterial infections range from mild
conditions such as acne, through to severe
conditions like pneumonia (lung infection)
or meningitis (brain infection).
Antibiotics block vital processes inside the
bacteria, which either kills them or stops
them multiplying. They’re one of the most
important inventions in medical history.
Severe bacterial infections often used to kill
people, until the first antibiotic (penicillin)
was invented in 1939. Today there are
many types of antibiotics, used for different
bacterial infections.
Antibiotic resistance
Unfortunately, bacteria have started to
become resistant to (stopped working
against) antibiotics. The two main causes
are:
XX Taking antibiotics when you don’t
need them. For example, if you have a
sore throat and cough, a virus is going
to be the cause in 90% of cases. But
antibiotics don’t work against a virus.
What’s worse, your antibiotic attacks
other harmless bacteria in your body,
such as gut bacteria.
XThe
X
harmless bacteria that aren’t
killed by your antibiotics can have genes
(DNA) that make them strong enough
to resist antibiotics. These genes are
passed on to harmful bacteria in the
future, giving them the new power of
resistance.
XX Not finishing all your antibiotic when
it’s been prescribed for a bacterial
infection. This allows some bacteria to
survive (not enough to cause symptoms)
and they can develop resistance too.
What to do?
If you and other people in the world continue to
incorrectly use antibiotics now, the number of
bacteria that resist antibiotics will increase in the
future.
This means you should:
yy Tell your GP you only want to take antibiotics for
a bacterial infection - and not for colds, flu and
other viral infections
yy When prescribed antibiotics, finish them all o .
For more information: Speak to your GP, visit
www.nps.org.au
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.
Can you train your brain to prevent alzheimers?
Nutrition
I
t’s normal to develop some mild
forgetfulness as you get older.
Dementia, in contrast, is a disease of the
brain that severely reduces memory and
thinking skills. It can eventually cause a
decreased ability to do daily tasks such
as driving, shopping or even talking to a
friend.
Alzheimer’s Disease is the most common
type of dementia. It gradually gets worse
over many years. While it has many
risk factors
- including
age, genetics,
environment,
lifestyle - the
importance
of each factor
varies between
individuals.
Cooking
time:
15 minutes
Serves:
4
Ingredients:
1 large head broccoli
2 1/2 cups chicken stock
”
2 potatoes, peeled, chopped
400ml can coconut milk
2 tablespoons lime juice
Fresh coriander leaves to serve
Instructions:
2. Heat a large heavy-based saucepan over
medium-high heat. Add curry paste. Cook,
stirring, for 2 minutes or until fragrant.
Gradually stir in stock until combined. Add
2 cups cold water, potato, broccoli stems
and 1/2 the broccoli florets. Cover. Bring to
the boil. Reduce heat to low. Simmer for 10
to 12 minutes or until potato is tender.
3. Blend or process until smooth. Return
to pan over medium heat. Add remaining
broccoli and coconut milk . Season with
salt and pepper. Simmer, uncovered, until
noodles are tender.
3. Serve soup topped with coriander and
add lime juice to taste.
Nutrient
Per Serve
Energy (kJ)
1446
Saturated Fat (g)
15.9
Total Fat (g)
18.5
Protein (g)
12
Carbohydrate (g)
29.7
Sodium (mg)
1281
Cholestrol (mg)
-
Fibre (g)
7
Brain training
“
2 tablespoons Thai green curry paste
1. Remove stems from broccoli and thinly
slice. Cut broccoli into small pieces.
XX social engagement; work, volunteering,
living with someone
XX mental stimulation; lectures, reading
books and magazines
XX playing games; crossword puzzles, suduko
Challenging the brain with new activities
especially helps to build new brain cells and
strengthen connections between them.
Activities can include learning
a new language or sport, and
doing a study course you’ve
always wanted to do.
Computer programs for brain
training (also called brain
exercises) are also widely
available. They can improve
memory and thinking skills if
you don’t have Alzheimer’s,
Prevention
although each type of program
It’s not known
varies in the brain functions
what can
that they help.
definitely
prevent
Challenging the brain with new Once again, however,
Alzheimer’s.
activities especially helps to build there’s no proof that brain
training can definitely
But we do know
new brain cells
prevent Alzheimer’s. In
how you can
addition, the research shows that any benefits
reduce the risk. As it happens, they’re
may be best achieved under expert supervision
the same things that decrease diabetes,
in a training centre, rather than doing brain
heart disease and cancer risk - a healthy
training alone at home. Speak to your GP, visit
diet and weight, regular exercise, not
www.yourbrainmatters.org.au
smoking.
Green curry of
broccoli soup
Preparation
time :
10 minutes
Keeping your brain active also reduces your risk.
Recommended activities include:
The limits of DIY Genetic Tests
I
t’s always good to take responsibility
for your own health. But it’s also
recommended to speak with a healthcare
professional when doing so. Do-it-yourself
(DIY) genetic tests are a good example of
the importance of this combined approach.
sending a blood or tissue sample to a laboratory
while you’re under medical care. But since the
early 2000s, DIY genetic tests have been available
that allow you to independently send a sample to
a laboratory, usually located overseas.
What are DIY genetic tests?
The potential problems with DIY genetic tests include:
yy Inaccurate or misleading
results when overseas
laboratories don’t follow
Australia’s high regulatory
standards.
yy Hard to understand results
(even if they’re reliable) because,
for example, health and disease
is often complex and involves
weighing up many factors - and
your genes may be just one factor.
Your genes are made up of 6 billion DNA
(deoxyribonucleic
acid) codes.
These codes
are instructions
for growth and
development in
every cell in your
body.
Genes can
increase your risk
of some medical conditions. However,
whether you eventually experience
a medical condition is due to a
combination of your genes and
environmental factors, such as a poor
diet, smoking and a lack of exercise.
A genetic test identifies the genes that are
specific to you. Traditionally it’s involved
What to do?
If you’re considering a DIY genetic test, speak
with your GP or a genetic counsellor before
making a final decision. You may decide, for
instance, that a test isn’t worth doing if the result
won’t actually change how you live your life. For
example, you still shouldn’t smoke cigarettes,
regardless of your cancer risk due to your genes.
More information: www.nhmrc.gov.au (see
Direct-to-Consumer genetic testing).
Women’s Health
Dr.LoL :)
Preventing perinatal depression
D
epression can happen at any stage of life.
However, it’s more likely during pregnancy
and the first year of motherhood. Fortunately,
you can help reduce the risk of this type of
depression through self-help measures or, where
relevant, treatment.
Definition , symptoms and causes
Depression during pregnancy or the first year
after a child is born is called
perinatal depression (PND); during
pregnancy only is antenatal
depression and affects 10% of
women; after birth is postnatal
depression, affecting 15%. Men
may also experience depression,
particularly partners of women
with PND.
Symptoms may include: persistent
(doesn’t go away) sadness and
low mood; loss of interest in the
world around you and pleasurable things; lack
of energy and feeling tired all the time. The
persistent feelings are different to the ‘baby
blues’, which is common in women up to 10
days after birth, but clears on its own after a few
weeks.
PND may be due to several factors including:
yy physical, emotional stress
yy hormone changes
yy health issues such as persistent nausea
yy personal situation such as an
unwanted pregnancy, poor social
support
Prevention
Speak to your GP about having an
assessment of developing PND risk
if you’ve previously had depression
or persistently felt very low during
pregnancy. If your risk is high, your
doctor may recommend treatment
such as medications.
Self-help measures that can be
useful for prevention include:
XX get as much rest, relaxation
as possible.
XX reduce stress
XX regular exercise
XX healthy diet
XX avoid alcohol
XX talk about your worries with
your partner, family, friends
Mindfulness meditation may also help
prevent depression. It involves not
worrying about the past or future,
instead paying attention to the present
moment with purpose and without
judgment. Beyondblue, a leading
Australian mental health resource, has
developed a free mindfulness meditation
app, Mind the Bump found at:
www.beyondblue.org.au
Mythbusting : Our top myths about E b o l a
E
bola is a serious and often fatal disease caused by a virus (type of germ). However there are
many myths about Ebola that should be busted.
Myth
Ebola outbreaks have
already happened in
Asia
An Ebola outbreak could
happen in Australia
What does the research say?
Animals such as fruit bats and monkeys can have the virus. It spreads from them to
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M o n i t o r Valued at $169 RRP.
Enter on your practice’s
website OR
post this entry slip to:
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Africa. The current outbreak is in West Africa.
Po Box 780
Artarmon NSW 1570
Name ______________________
The risk is very low. We have strong border protection, our health authorities
Email address*_________________
closely monitor people who may be exposed to Ebola overseas and if a case is
_____________________________
humans who eat infected animals without properly cooking the meat. Ebola has been
found in animals in Asia, but all the 24 known outbreaks in humans have occurred in
detected here, the health system is ready to act to prevent spreading.
Ebola is easy to catch
Tell us if you use an o
­ nline
appointments service to
book ­appointments with
your GP - for your chance
to WIN a
You don’t catch Ebola like the flu, for example, from someone who sneezes. You only
Med. Practice__________________
catch it from a very ill infected person who has clear symptoms and their bodily fluids
_____________________________
– like blood, semen, sweat, saliva, urine, vomit or diarrhoea - make contact through
your nose, eyes, mouth or open wound.
Ebola could change to
make it easily caught
through sneezing
The chances are remote. We can’t predict with absolute certainty what the Ebola virus
The current West Africa
We don’t know exactly when it will end, but like the previous 24 outbreaks, Ebola
outbreak will continue
will eventually stop.
will do – but we do know that a human virus has never done this before during the
more than 100 years that medical science has been observing viruses.
indefinitely
More information: See your GP, visit www.health.gov.au
In 15 words or less, do you use an online
appointment booking service with your GP
- which one?
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
Drawn 1 May 2015- winning ­entries may be
published online at yourhealth.net.au
* you must provide a valid email address to be eligible
Children’s Health
Are you over-treating your child’s cold?
Children have on average up to 10 colds
each year. And because colds are caused by
200 different viruses (germs), they can have
several colds one after the other.
A cold virus attacks the lining of your child’s
nose and throat, inflaming and causing
them to produce mucus. The most common
symptoms are sore throat, sneezing, runny
nose and cough. It usually lasts for about
a week in older children; and 10-14 days in
under 5 year
olds.
Dos
There’s no
cure for a cold.
However, you
can help your
child feel more
comfortable,
with:
yy Rest (not
necessarily in
bed)
yy Extra fluids (water, milk, juice)
yy Medications for high fever (>38.50,
which is uncommon), sore throats:
paracetamol or ibuprofen (an antiinflammatory)
yy Hot honey and lemon drink for over
1 year olds, ice cubes or lozenges for
older children
yy Eating according to appetite (you
don’t need to ‘feed a cold’)
See the GP if your child has prolonged or
severe cold symptoms, such as >38.50 fever
for more than 24-48 hours.
Don’ts
Some medications shouldn’t be given to
children at all, such as
aspirin, nor for colds in
particular, like antibiotics.
Though cough and
cold medicines have
been commonly used
in the past, there’s little
research showing proven
benefits and (while there
are no immediate safety
risks) they can cause side
effects.
As a result, cough and cold medicines
should not be given to under 6 year
olds: and for 6-11 year olds, only on the
advice of your GP, pharmacist or nurse
practitioner.
More information visit: www.cyh.com
How do I know if my child is gifted?
If you think your child is gifted, you may
well be right. Parents can become aware
very early on that their child’s behaviour
is different to other children. But you may
hesitate to suggest it’s due to being gifted
because you don’t want to appear to be
bragging.
However, parents usually
know their children better
than anyone. As a result,
you’re considered an
excellent resource by
educators when deciding
if your child is gifted.
What is being gifted?
All children have unique strengths and
talents, but an estimated 10-15% are
gifted. Being gifted is defined as having a
particularly advanced ability compared to
children of the same age, in one or more
areas including:
XX verbal, language (e.g reading,
writing, speaking)
XX logical, mathematical (e.g numbers,
classification, problem solving)
XX visual, performing arts (e.g drawing,
painting, musical)
XX body movement, psychomotor ability
(e.g dance, sport)
XX interpersonal (e.g communication,
leadership)
XX intrapersonal (e.g reflective,
self-sufficient)
When gifted children fulfil their potential
ability and achieve advanced skills and
performance they are regarded as
‘talented’ children.
For Parents
Your child, gifted or not, does
best when receiving support and
stimulation that fits with their abilities
and interests. Without this, gifted children
can, for example, show behaviour problems
due to boredom or not reach their potential
because they want to be the same as their
friends.
If you think your child is gifted, speak with
their preschool, school, a psychologist or
your doctor. An enrichment or extension
program, opportunity class or selective
school, may be suitable for your gifted child.
More information: Australian Association
for the Education of the Gifted and Talented
www.aaegt.net.au
OUR PRACTICE
Patient information and medical
records are strictly confide tial.
Please feel free to talk to your doctor
or our office manager if you have any
suggestions or concerns.
TELEPHONE CALLS
You can contact your doctor by ringing
the clinic during surgery hours.
Emergency calls will always be taken.
RESULTS
Unless previously arranged with your
doctor, patients are requested to
make an appointment for results of
investigations.
SERVICES AVAILABLE
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Audiology - hearing tests
Blood tests
Check-ups
Cosmetic clinic
Counselling; Psychology
Dentist
ECG: Heart check
Family planning, Pap smears,
Pregnancy tests, Ante-natal care
Liquid nitrogen “freezing therapy”
for sunspots and warts
Minor surgery: stitching cuts,
removing moles, skin cancers
Molewise - Skin Cancer Screening
Clinic
Pathology
Pelvic floor chai
Physiotherapy, Chiropractor,
Myotherapy
Spirometry: lung test
Sports medicine
Travel medicine including Yellow
Fever
X-Ray
FEES
Our practice has a combination of
private and bulk billings. Details of
fees are available at reception. If the
full consultation fee is paid, we can
arrange for Medicare to deposit your
rebate directly into your bank account
within 48 hours, or you can go to
Medicare to lodge your claim.
Patients are requested to pay the
out-of-pocket expenses at the time
of consultation. Cash, cheque, Visa,
MasterCard, or EFTPOS are accepted.
If you have difficu y paying our fees
at any time, please do not hesitate to
discuss this with your doctor.
All children under the age of 16 years
are bulk billed between the hours of
8am and 6pm with an appointment.
Pensioners, Veterans Affairs and
Health Care Cardholders are bulkbilled for appointments between
12 – 3pm (Mon – Friday) with certain
doctors (see Billing Policy).