How
September has been a busy month in North Queensland. School holidays have just come to an end and the kids are already getting excited for Halloween. Meanwhile the adults are starting the preparation for Christmas and end of year festivities.
It is encouraged to stay up to date on your vaccinations and on the health advice from the Queensland Government. It is projected that a spike in covid/ influenza cases may arise around December. It comes as no surprise as large gatherings tend to occur around this time of year. Our Pharmacies are here to help counteract this as much as possible.
As primary healthcare workers, we are working hard to deliver the needs of our local community and visitors. We are doing our best to reflect the needs of customers and appreciate your patience as things get busy and illness occasionally strikes down staff. Vaccination programs are still up and running in stores and masks, hand sanitiser, and RATS are in stock.
Our teams are dedicated to listening to and acting upon your needs as patients and customers. We hear your concerns regarding the increased cost of living and the affordability of medicines. The Pharmacy Guild of Australia and community pharmacies successfully advocated this to the Federal Government last month.
There will be a reduction in the cost medication and filling your prescription will become a little bit easier. The campaign will kick-off in 2023 and we’re excited to see more Australians having access to their essential medicines.
On another note, we advise you to stay hydrated over the coming months. Summer is sneaking up on us and the humidity of living in North Queensland means our bodies can become dehydrated a lot quicker than cooler, dry places. The easiest way to identify if you are dehydrated is if your urine is dark than usual.
When you don’t drink enough fluids, your brain signals the release of a hormone called antidiuretic. This substance will signal your body to retain more water than usual which means that the small amount of water you are drinking is channelled directly into your body to keep it healthy.
You may also notice the heat causes you to sweat more. This is the bodies behavioural response in attempt to control its internal temperature. Drinking water will help the body replenish any water lost and ensure your it can regulate your temperature efficiently.
Sweat can cause bacteria to build-up on the skin and trigger pimples, blackheads, and whiteheads. Removing sweat and oils with a gentle cleanser can combat acne. Products containing salicylic acid, glycolic acid or tee tree can prove useful. Or ask your GP about over the counter products containing Benzoyl Peroxide.
Enjoy the start of summer and remember to stay hydrated!
October counts us down to Halloween. Although typically an American celebration with pagan origins, more and more Aussies are partaking in dressing-up and trick or treating. Breaking out the old costumes and delving deep into the back of the cupboard to find the perfect outfit can cause your allergies to flare up, though.
The body’s natural response to allergens from stored, musty clothes is like a haunted house of its own. The back of the closet can be filled with cobwebs, creepy crawlies, dust, and mould. Sneezing and other symptoms won’t ease until you remove the allergen. Washing the clothes and rinsing your hands, eyes, nose, and mouth is a good idea. It can also be helpful to take an antihistamine if symptoms flare up.
Kids love this holiday because of the sugary treats, but this can turn into a nightmare for a parent as energy levels spike. Too much sugar can affect a child’s mood and hyperactivity. Over time, kids can build an insulin resistance, and this means they won’t be able to break down sugars as easily. This can cause health problems like diabetes and obesity.
Natural sugars are essential for a young child’s growth. Don’t be afraid of fruit, whole grains, beans or dairy. However, it is important to reduce added sugars like dextrose, sucrose, molasses or honey. If you start early, you can train your child’s taste buds to resist sweet cravings. By introducing solid foods with lots of fibre, it will encourage them to make healthier choices. Fibre slows down carb digestion and sugar absorption.
Read the food label. Less than 10 grams of sugar is a good starting point.
If you have to backtrack and reverse their already established sugary habits, start by making small changes. Like quitting coffee, they may experience some side effects and cravings, so don’t go completely cold turkey. If they are used to consuming sweets, it can be confusing if suddenly they are not allowed to eat what they enjoy.
Try substituting alternatives: Swap daily sugary drinks for an occasional drink or real fruit juice. Swap sweet yogurt for a plain or lower-sugar yogurt with fruit.
To prevent insulin levels from drastically spiking you can encourage your children to drink more. Water helps to encourage the digestion of sugar by diluting glucose in the blood stream. Drinking lots of water will also help them feel fuller for longer and they won’t need to eat as many snacks.
Supplements can also help keep your kids calm. Try getting them to exhaust energy through exercise or playing outside. After running off some steam, a good night’s rest is important to help their body reset and flush out toxins. Supplements and vitamins can help calm their mind and body before bed. Think magnesium, vitamin D and B, or ingredients like passionflower, chamomile, or ashwagandha.
Electrolytes are essential minerals found in your blood, sweat and urine. They are required for various essential bodily processes, including proper nerve and muscle function, maintaining your body’s acid-base balance as well as keeping you hydrated.
As we come into summer, we know Cairns’ heat and humidity can be almost unbearable at times and often leads to excessive amounts of sweating. When you sweat, you lose both water and electrolytes, mostly that of sodium. As a result, long hours of working in the sun or intense exercise can cause significant electrolyte losses.
The Hydralyte brand has a range of products including electrolyte tablets, ice blocks, powder, ready to use solutions and most recently released hot hydration drinks. They contain sodium and potassium for rehydration and are very low in carbohydrates at just 1.62g of glucose per electrolyte tab. Hydralyte can be great for those wanting to replace electrolytes lost, but who don’t need extra carbohydrates like you would get from a sports drink.
The Endura low carb is a great option for those who are working outside or engaging in moderate amounts of high-intensity exercise. It contains a few extra electrolytes including sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium but is also low in carbohydrates at less than 1.3g per serve. With the added electrolytes, it assists in the prevention of muscular cramps and relieves aches and pain without the added carbohydrate/sugar.
Most people consume enough electrolytes through their diet to replace their daily losses. However, if you are someone who works outside in the heat all day, are an endurance athlete or engage in activities resulting in several hours of heavy sweating (think hiking, gardening, etc.) you may benefit from taking an electrolyte replacement drink.
Fun
It is estimated that sweat contains 920-1380mg (40-60mmol) of sodium per litre on average.
Lastly, the Endura Rehydration Performance Fuel is for those endurance athletes engaging in intense exercise or exercise lasting several hours. It contains the same electrolytes as the Endura Low Carb solution but has 20g of carbohydrates per serve to replenish energy stores during exercise.
Dietitian Tip: It is recommended to take 30-90g of carbohydrates per hour for endurance events.
If you’re unsure on what is best for you, an accredited practicing dietitian can help you determine the right product and dosing.
Written by Jess Bax Accredited Sports Dietitian Health Management Dietitians www.healthmanagement.com.au
Having a dewy glow from your make-up is what we’re all chasing but sometimes wearing glasses makes it a little tricky. Glasses can interfere with the perfect make-up finish. Your foundation rubs off, your eyes get hidden, and the blending fails to remain intact. Try these 6 handy hacks to pull your glasses make-up look together.
Use eyeshadow primer on the bridge of your nose and touch up with setting powder. ‘Glass skin’ or a ‘dewy finish’ usually has a glowing, hydrated look, however the bridge of your nose will need to be matte to stop the glasses from sliding down your face. This area is hidden away by your glasses anyway, so it won’t ruin your look.
This one is a little random but hear it out: try drinking carrot juice. Carrots contain betacarotene – a type of vitamin A. Vitamin A protects the outer surface of your eyes and decreases macular degeneration. Carrot juice also has antioxidant properties that can help give your skin that glowing appearance.
Curl the lashes to prevent them from touching your lenses. Giving your lashes an extra boost in the morning can push them away from glasses that causes smudges. You can also opt for a waterproof mascara as these are less likely to smudge.
If your makeup is prone to smudges, try applying less make-up or mineral-based products. Apply primer under a light layer foundation and cover blemishes with concealer. A setting spray can also help keep foundation on your face and not on your frames.
If you’re nearsighted your glasses can play tricks and make your eyes appear slightly smaller. To counteract this effect, apply white or highlighter to the inner corner of your eye. Avoid a dark liner as this will make them look even smaller.
Try a bright red lip stick. This will bring the attention away from your specs and pull your entire look together.
Complete your look by freshening up your lenses. It’s an easy fix to run them under warm water and apply a mild soap (like dish-soap) with your fingers. Use a moist towelette with rubbing alcohol to clean the nose pads and earpieces on your frames.
Try Onthenose Magic Wipes to remove smudges, dirt, and residue on the go. A quick drying, multi-purpose wipe that can be used on glasses, phones, computers, camera lenses and screens.
Try Onthenose Anti Fog Cleaning Spray after cleaning to prevent fog. Especially helpful when wearing a face mask to prevent the haze coming from the heat of your mouth.
