Alive Pharmacy Warehouse - Live+ March 2024

live +

Your guide to staying healthy, happy, alive

LADIES LISTEN UP

MANAGING MENOPAUSE

A tricky phase to navigate

ALL SHAPES AND SIZES

Breast health and the screening process

HELLO MARCH

As we welcome the arrival of March, we also celebrate International Women’s Day. With so many women a part of the Alive Pharmacy Warehouse team, we honour their remarkable achievements, resilience, and contributions to the healthcare industry. Thank you!

In this month’s Live+ we discuss some women’s health topics such as breast health and menopause. With age, it’s important to have regular check-ups with your trusted healthcare professional. Identifying issues early on allows for prompt intervention and treatment, can help prevent complications, and improve outcomes.

In other news, we are excited to be attending the Australian Pharmacy Professional (APP) Conference & Trade Exhibition this month. APP is the largest pharmacy conference in the southern hemisphere for networking, upskilling and professional development. We look forward to applying the knowledge gained into actionable steps to improve our performance metrics and provide better healthcare solutions.

The pharmacy industry has experienced tremendous change in recent years, propelled by advances in healthcare technology, increasing demand for medications, and evolving patient needs. With a focus on innovation and accessibility, Australian pharmacies have expanded their services beyond traditional medication dispensing to include comprehensive patient care, medication therapy management, immunisations, and health screenings. We anticipate great discussions and networking at the APP conference and look forward to translating that into better patient care in FNQ.

Alive HQ have been hosting specialised training nights for our team members. Deeper understanding of products helps us explain product features, benefits, and usage instructions to maximise the patient benefits.

The National Immunisation Program Vaccinations in Pharmacy (NIPVIP) Program has been expanding their list of access to free vaccines in community pharmacies. The program will allow all Alive Pharmacy stores to administer more vaccines and increase the affordability to help protect our community from vaccine preventable diseases. Talk to one of our pharmacists in-store about your vaccination eligibility.

This month for the Alive Pharmacy Warehouse group is clearly a month for upskilling and education. We hope this enhances our ability to help you during your next visit to Alive Pharmacy.

Managing Director

AllandShapes Sizes

Women’s breasts come in all shapes and sizes. Females develop mammary glands during puberty and their primary function is to produce milk for breastfeeding. Breasts are made of glandular tissue, fatty tissue, connective tissue, blood vessels, and lymphatic vessels.

During menopause the reduction of hormones can lead to a decrease in size and volume of the breast tissue. With age, there is also a decrease in collagen and skin elasticity, that may affect firmness and positioning of breasts. As this process is so varied, and may factors contribute throughout one’s life, breasts come in all shapes and sizes.

Following menopause, it’s important to have regular screenings as postmenopausal women may have an increased risk of developing breast cancer. We’ve listed some common breast cancer screenings, so you have an idea of what to expect: The act of smiling can even trick your brain into a state of happiness. Adding a smile to your day might just help make it that little bit brighter.

SCREENING PROCESS

CLINICAL BREAST EXAMINATION

MAMMOGRAPHY

BREAST ULTRASOUND

BREAST MRI

A

A screening tool that uses X-rays to detect

Further evaluation of specific breast changes. An ultrasound probe scanner is pressed or applied with pressure to each breast to conduct a scan. It may take 15-20 minutes.

Scan to create detailed images of the breasts. Your breasts fit into a hollow space in a table. The table then slides into the opening of the MRI machine to conduct a scan.

LADIES

The transition to menopause is gradual, often accompanied by various hormonal, physical and emotional changes.

Perimenopause

This is the period leading up to menopause that can start several years before. During this time, there is a gradual decline in hormones like oestrogen and progesterone. This causes the start of an irregular menstrual cycle, and symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, and changes to sleep patterns start to occur.

Menopause is a natural phase of a women’s life, and there are several things that can be used to maintain general wellbeing. This includes a balanced diet and exercise, adequate calcium and vitamin D intake to support bone health, and regular check-ups with healthcare providers.

Stress management also plays an important part in navigating menopause and its unexpected mood swings and sleep disruptions. Practices such as deep breathing, meditation, or yoga can help manage stress and improve sleep. Staying hydrated can help manage symptoms like hot flashes.

Menopause

Menopause is officially diagnosed after 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period. Oestrogen and progesterone levels decrease significantly, leading to the end of reproductive capabilities. Symptoms start to include vaginal dryness, changes to libido and sleep disturbances.

Postmenopause

This is the period leading up to This is the period following menopause, where hormones stabilise at a lower rate. It’s important to be mindful of an increased risk of osteoporosis and heart disease during this time.

The

St John’s Wort is well known for its benefits associated with mood. It may be beneficial for women during menopause, minimising severity of mood. Some may even experience a reduction in hot flashes.

PELVIC FLOOR EXERCISES

The pelvic floor muscles are located between the tailbone and pubic bone within the pelvis. They support the bowel and the bladder. After pregnancy and childbirth, the pelvic floor may need to recover from muscle damage and stretching. During menopause, the pelvic floor may also weaken due to a loss of muscle mass.

Pelvic floor exercises help strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor, and are beneficial for both men and women. Also known as kegels, these exercises are recommended for various concerns, including improving bladder control, enhancing sexual function, and supporting overall pelvic health.

The Quick Squeeze The Long Hold

Sit, tall, lie on your back or kneel on your hands and knees

Think of the muscles you would use to stop yourself from passing wind or to hold in urine.

Tighten these passages and hold for 3-5 seconds. You should feel a sensation of lifting the pelvic floor muscles inside you. Then release and relax.

Repeat up to 10 times or until fatigues.

Squeeze and feel the lift sensation of your pelvic floor muscles. Hold strong and tight.

Do not try to hold on the contraction, just squeeze and release.

Rest for a few seconds between each squeeze. Repeat about 10-20 times.

Try three sets throughout the day. Always stop exercising if your muscles feel fatigued or something feels not right. Consulting your healthcare professional can help you target any concerns directly.

MAKING SENSE OF MELANOMA

Did you know?

Over 18,200 people in Australia were diagnosed with melanoma in 2023.

MELA-WHAT, WHAT IS MELANOMA?

Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that typically begins on the skin that is most exposed to the sun. Melanoma is curable when detected and treated early however, it can spread deeper into the skin and other parts of the body, becoming harder to manage.

COMMON SYMPTOMS

The first sign of melanoma are often ones we can see on our skin. This might be changes in shape or colour of existing moles, or even unusual-looking growths. Moles generally have a pink, tan, brown of black colour and a distinct border separating the surrounding skin. Any change, asymmetrical shape, or unusual colour should be checked by a healthcare professional.

CHECKING FOR HIDDEN MELANOMAS

Sometimes melanomas can develop in areas that have little to no sun exposure. These hidden spaces might be between the toes, on palms, soles, scalp or genitals. These areas are referred to as hidden melanomas. Other uncommon places difficult to monitor mucous membranes, such as the nose, mouth, anus, urinary tract, the eyes, or under nails. Healthcare professionals can help detect these and they are often rare.

Summer may be over, but the Aussie sun is here year-round. Excessive exposure to the sun or tanning beds causes melanoma, a type of skin cancer.

For the Face

For the Body

PREVENTION IS SHADY AND COOL

Seek shade, wear a hat, protective clothing and sunglasses. When possible, stay out of the sun when the UV index is 3 or greater to decrease the chance of sunburn and skin damage. Growing up in Australia we have a perception that a tan is considered healthy however, it is a sign of DNA damage and a cellular trauma response. Our skin cells are attempting to protect themselves from further damage. Sensible sun protection doesn’t risk vitamin D deficiency either. If you’re lacking vitamin D, try Swisse Ultiboost Vitamin D or OsteVit-D One-A-Day Vitamin D Range.

LAYER, LATHER, PROTECT

You’ve heard it before, any time outside requires a broad-spectrum sunscreen.

SPF of at least 50 is our best friend when it comes to preventing skin and reducing the risk of skin cancer. Reapply every 2 hours and after swimming and sweating. Apply a generous amount each time, the rule of thumb is seven teaspoons for a full body application.

EARLY DETECTION AND DIAGNOSIS

Early detection of skin cancer is critical and much easier to treat. Survival from melanoma is often associated with the depth of invasion and how deep and thick the melanoma is. Cancer Council Australia recommends people consult their health care professional when they notice any skin changes, as well as regular skin selfexaminations can be conducted at home. Higher risk individuals may include people with fair skin, those who have higher number of moles, a depressed immune system, a family history of melanoma, or a previous diagnosis.

Interesting fact: THE AVERAGE AGE OF DIAGNOSIS OF MELANOMA IS 65 YEARS OLD.