Postnatal depression is more than just the ‘baby blues’ that many women experience in the 3 to 5 days after giving birth. It is the name given to a specific depression that develops between one month to one year after the birth of a baby and affects 1 in seven to ten women who give birth in Australia each year1.
Read more: More than just the baby blues - Postnatal depression
Anxiety is a normal part of life and is very common in the teenage years. Feeling anxious before an exam, job interview or before a big presentation is totally understandable and this anxiety usually goes away on its own. Anxiety can be described as feelings of tension, worry and pressure. While feeling anxious is a valid emotion to have during stressful times, if you think your teen is suffering from anxiety that is persistent and has been ongoing for a significant amount of time, there are a range of treatment options that can help.
Skin conditions are a common complaint presenting at pharmacies. With community pharmacies an easily accessible source of professional advice and support when it comes to health care, the pharmacist is very often the first place to go for help, especially when the patient believes their condition to be nonserious. Itchy skin can be incredibly annoying and when you scratch the itch you can make things worse by causing further irritation to the skin. The skin on your shins is the thinnest. I can often be the first area of the body to be affected by many skin conditions. Let’s look at some of the possible causes for itchy lower legs and ankles.
The community pharmacy system in Australia is recognized as world-best and the expertise and knowledge of your pharmacist means healthcare is available to you in a convenient, accessible and affordable manner.
Your teenage daughter may come to you complaining of heavy periods that seem to last a long time. She may be missing school because of severe cramps or waking up at night because of period pain. She may also feel embarrassed because she has experienced leaking through her pads and wants to give up sport or hobbies because her periods are impacting on her enjoyment. This can make her feel anxious about her periods and her body. It’s not always easy to know what you can do to help her.
Sometimes, the motivation to exercise and change your eating habits comes in the form of a health scare. You may have been diagnosed with a chronic illness such as type 2 diabetes or possibly suffered a serious health event such as a heart attack or stroke. You may have come to the realisation that if you don’t make significant changes such as losing excess weight and adopting a more active lifestyle, you may, in fact, have ‘lots to lose’ beyond your waistline, including your future.
Washing your hands frequently can stop the spread of germs and viruses. Doorknobs, the button on the photocopy machine, the kettle, taps, microwave door, refrigerator door handles, TV remote buttons – they are all places with high hand traffic and therefore the potential to spread viruses and bacteria across the office and your home. For hand hygiene to be effective it needs to be consistent and thorough.
Proper handwashing is the first line of defence against infections. However, frequent handwashing can lead to dry, cracked, painful and itchy skin which may lead to an infection. This is especially true for those people suffering from skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis. Dry skin is caused by an impaired skin barrier and a deficiency in the healthy fats in the top layer of the skin.
Osteoporosis is a common disease affecting an estimated 1.2 million Australians and a further 6.3 million people have low bone density1. The condition causes bones to become thin and fragile and a relatively minor bump or fall can result in a broken bone or fracture in a person suffering from osteoporosis. Osteoporosis can affect any bone in the body but the most common areas affected are the wrist, spine and hip.
Read more: Osteoporosis and the importance of Bone Density Testing
While some teens only develop mild acne, others may need to visit their doctor or dermatologist to treat the painful cysts and nodules that develop under their skin.
Your liver is the quiet achiever of all your organs, regulating many processes in your body.
Back-to-school time also means children are returning to the environment where head lice proliferate and parents are often at their wit’s end trying to find ways to get rid of them.
We’re not talking about the kind of itchy feet that make you want to travel and explore the world.
If you are caring for ageing parents, it’s important to be aware of mental health problems that may affect their wellbeing.
Unfortunately, many men tend to be a bit casual with their healthcare and avoid or delay getting help or asking questions about symptoms they are experiencing or the medicines they are taking. This is especially true when it comes to mental health or something they feel is embarrassing. The good news is your community pharmacist is well placed to provide a wide range of advice and support.
Read more: Men-friendly healthcare at your community pharmacy
Your community pharmacist is very often the first point of call for tummy troubles.
Summer is here with the rising temperatures your family may face a range of health challenges.
When it comes to medication, it’s important to remember that your child is not a ‘mini adult’.
Read more: Children are not ‘mini adults’ - Be Medicine wise
In many parts of the world measles is still a common disease. If you are planning a cruise to the Pacific, touring Asia, maybe a safari in Africa or visiting some areas in Europe; you need to be aware that outbreaks still occur quite frequently.
Read more: Planning an overseas trip this Christmas? You might need a booster
If you have been newly diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, your community pharmacist will be an important part of the team that can help you manage your diabetes.
If you have ever been confused about what or how much carbohydrate you should eat, don’t stress.
Community pharmacies can play an important role in helping patients manage their mental health. They are easily accessible and available to talk to you about your mental health and can refer you to other mental health professionals if necessary.
Read more: How your pharmacist can help support you in managing your mental health
Psoriasis is a non-contagious chronic skin condition. Psoriatic disease causes the lifecycle of skin cells to speed up rapidly, leaving a build-up of extra skin cells on the surface of the skin. This can lead to scaly, red and itchy patches that can sometimes be quite painful.
Type 2 Diabetes is a serious but manageable condition and while it requires daily management, it does not have to control your life. Your community pharmacist is there to help.
When I was a new mum in my early 40’s I definitely couldn’t relate to the “grey ladies” I’d always associated with menopause. Sure, I was older than most new mums but I was still in the prime of my active, productive years. Menopause is something that happens when you get old, right?
Diabetes is very prevalent these days. We hear about it all the time and yet sometimes it still isn’t entirely clear what it is and what we can do about it.
One of the biggest challenges facing carers is medication management, especially when the need of the person they are caring for are complex. It’s easy to forget or accidentally double up on medicines, especially if you are taking multiple medicines and at different times of the day.
Dee Brennan from Thinkoutloud is every marketer's dream, tapping into the human drive to pay attention to things that are new, different and surprising.
Some health conditions are more common during specific seasons and spring comes with its own challenges especially for those suffering from hay fever.
Read more: Spring fever – prepare for and manage your family’s health this spring
Opened in February 2018, Stellar Canberra, built by the Southern Cross Club is located in the heart of Woden. The $19 million purpose built state-of-the-art building is designed to look after the health and wellbeing needs of our local community, whilst creating a family focussed, relaxing atmosphere deigned to allow you to feel as healthy as you can be.
Read more: Stellar Canberra - creating a healthier community
Kate Freeman, founder of the Healthy Eating Hub has been going from strength to strength and we caught up with Kate to chat about the exciting new developments taking place.
Read more: The Healthy Eating Hub goes national one byte at a time
According to a study by the University of Adelaide1, inadequate sleep affects as many as 33-45% of adults across all age groups.
If you happen to be within 2 metres of a sick colleague or family member, you’re in the direct firing line of millions of viruses!
Read more: Cold and Flu Etiquette – protect yourself and others
Woden is well known as the home of Canberra’s main public hospital – Canberra Hospital an impressive operation with over 670 beds and catering to a population of around 550,000. It is a major teaching hospital and supports research through the John Curtin School of Medical Research at the ANU. Co-located with Canberra Hospital is the National Capital Private hospital and close by are specialist centres including the Woden Specialist Medical Centre which brings together a range of complimentary services including Orthopaedics, Medical Imaging and Physiotherapy.